Show instruction card still working?

[McNose]

Hello,

Can anyone confirm that the show_instruction_card script still works?

I have the latest versions of PinballY and Visual Pinball installed. It only works for me while I'm in PinballY. As soon as Visual Pinball starts, the buttons stop working.

Since the code is four years old, I'm wondering if it might no longer work.

Thanks.

[Tesla1856-gh]

I'll test it. I'm also running the latest version.
I just need to move some monitors around here, and come-up with a 4th-monitor that I can hook-up to my pinball-cabinet.

[worksasdesigned]

I'm still running a old version. It works when i open the card in pinballY and tell pinbally to keep the window open while in VPX. I can't open in during the gameplay

[McNose]

Thanks to both of you.

Could it be that I misunderstood the script? I thought you could show and hide the card while playing.
If I read the description carefully, it might be exactly as you described @worksasdesigned . That would work for me too.

However, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be possible without the script as well.

But regardless, I was looking for a way to display the instruction card during gameplay. It's possible that this isn't a built-in feature.

[Tesla1856-gh]

With the latest PinballY version (and no script Addon) ... I can verify the basic functionality works. With a dedicated Instruction-Card monitor (now the cabinet's number 4) it will display the matching Instruction-Card while browsing in the Selector-Wheel, and it stays displayed while I start and play the VPX-8.0-Table.

I can also make the appropriate Instruction-Card appear on the Backglass monitor while still in the Selector-Wheel (pretending I DO NOT have a dedicated monitor attached). All very cool ... I'm glad I finally downloaded some cards.

So, you are looking for similar functionality, but without a dedicated Instruction-Card monitor? You want to be able to pause the game and have it pop-up as a large-card superimposed on top of the Backglass screen?

[McNose]

Thank you for checking.

So, you are looking for similar functionality, but without a dedicated Instruction-Card monitor? You want to be able to pause the game and have it pop-up as a large-card superimposed on top of the Backglass screen?

Yes. This is what I am looking for. Looks like I misunderstood the script.

I pretty often start a random table (we all got way too much ;-)) and when I like it, I want to know more about the rules. Ideally without leaving visual pinball again.

[Tesla1856-gh]

Yes, I also need the functionality you are describing. AFAIK, this feature we are looking for is a stock-feature provided by PinballY. The script in question appears to be a variation of it. However, I don't see how it would work if the base-feature does not already function.

I only connected the 4th monitor for testing (and to see something work "during a game"). I can't leave it hooked-up as it is just going to get knocked-over and broken. Not to mention it makes the cabinet look less authentic, there is simply no room for it in the game-room. All us cabinet owners already have 2 large-ish screens to use (some even 3 monitors).

[mjrgh]

I haven't had a chance to look at the script myself, but I can give you guys a pointer to what to look at if you want PinballY to handle keys while another program (such as VP) is in the foreground. You need to set up an event handler for the keybgdown event, which is a separate key processing event that fires when the PinballY is in the background. See Background key events in the help under Javascript Scripting > events > Event Types > KeyEvent.

keybgdown will at least get the script involved. There might be some additional obstacles to getting a PBY window into the foreground when a different program is already in the foreground, because Windows deliberately makes that kind of thing a bit difficult, to reduce the degree to which programs can be obnoxious when competing for access to the user's attention.

[Tesla1856-gh]

Thank you for checking.

So, you are looking for similar functionality, but without a dedicated Instruction-Card monitor? You want to be able to pause the game and have it pop-up as a large-card superimposed on top of the Backglass screen?

1. Yes. This is what I am looking for. Looks like I misunderstood the script.

2. I pretty often start a random table (we all got way too much ;-)) and when I like it, I want to know more about the rules. Ideally without leaving visual pinball again.

---

1. So, using only the built-in functionality ... you can do this by targeting the PlayField monitor (instead of the Backglass monitor) in PinballY's options for Instruction-Cards. Since when the game is Paused the Playfield is blacked-out anyway, it doesn't really matter where the Instruction-Card is displayed (as long as it appears for reading).

This also indicates that something is blocking the built-in functionality from using the Backglass monitor during a Paused game. I don't know for sure, but my guess is that it has something to do with recent versions of B2S-Server.

This doesn't look good for some enhancement of the built-in feature (especially if Addon script only works with Backglass). Never-the-less, I will now continue-on to install the script in question and see if I can get it to work in some way.

2. Same here. And to be clear ... Pausing is not Leaving VP, but returning to the Selector-Wheel is Leaving.

[Tesla1856-gh]

@McNose ,

Now looking at this Javascript Addon. It appears to be for displaying Instruction-Cards while playing a table (not Paused). It appears to only try to use the Backglass . As it is written, I was unable to get it to function.

It's not so surprising because we now know, (at least in my mind) that the Backglass screen is currently blocked from these kinds of uses.

However, they CAN BE displayed on the Playfield monitor while the game is Paused (which works for me). If I actually wanted to see them during gameplay, I think a small 4th screen would be more appropriate (and they would display in all cabinet modes). I've also considered just putting them on my iPhone (or even a spare iPhone or iPad).

[McNose]

Interesting. Thank you @Tesla1856-gh

I haven't tried it on the playfield yet.
The only downside is that you can't compare the playfield to the instruction card to understand it. But it's better than nothing.

Since the backglass is locked... is it possible to transfer it to a full DMD by any chance?

@mjrgh : Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I'm far from being a real programmer. But I'll take a look.

You also see more and more instruction cards in the tweak options. If someone knows how to do that and it's easy, it would also be an interesting option to add it there yourself if needed.

[Tesla1856-gh]

1. Interesting. Thank you @Tesla1856-gh

2. I haven't tried it on the playfield yet. The only downside is that you can't compare the playfield to the instruction card to understand it.

3. But it's better than nothing.

4. Since the backglass is locked... is it possible to transfer it to a full DMD by any chance?

5. @mjrgh : Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I'm far from being a real programmer. But I'll take a look.

6. You also see more and more instruction cards in the tweak options. If someone knows how to do that and it's easy, it would also be an interesting option to add it there yourself if needed.

1. Sure, no problem. It got me to finally add Instruction Cards for my top-10 tables. I was hoping this "during play" enhancement would have worked. There is not much to the script. Best I can tell it just corrals the InstructionCardWindow (or a copy of it) and re-targets it presumably after the game is started. See PinballY's online Javascript API documentation. Seems like there should be more validation of events ... but simple is good too if it works.

I was going to offer to work on it once someone notices that the built-in functionality can once again be sent to Backglass during Pause. However, my guess is that the Addon (as is) would just start functioning again (when and if that happens). Still, at that point I could adjust something if need-be ... it's just that I'm new to PinballY Javascript API so I'm very slow.

2. You probably should. In my mind, during Play ... the only candidate would be Backglass screen (as it has extra real estate). The Playfield has the ball. The DMD is usually showing the score.

3. Well, I don't consider the built-in functionality (right now) being able to show it during Pause on Playfield as "nothing".

4. I don't see why not, but then you can't see the score while it's up.

5. We all started somewhere. Go write some working code (or fix some broken code) and I'll call you a programmer while using your code on my system. I recently wrote a new PinballY "background-music while browsing tables" Addon . I've been testing it on my cabinet and it seems fine. At first, I was considering releasing it here, but it would be my first and it looks fairly involved.

6. Tweak Options?

[McNose]

Thank you for the information.

Number 3 is absolutely correct :-)

Number 6: It should actually be called the Tweak Menu. You can access it by pressing the F12 key in Visual Pinball 10.8.
There you can, for example, set the window mode for POV and, depending on the table, a lot of other things.
Some tables, like Harlem Globetrotters from VPW, also have an instruction card there.

But how does it get there?

[Tesla1856-gh]

I also wanted to mention ... this Addon (as is) does sorta function ... when it does not have to reach the Backglass DURING a game. On my cabinet when you press UpArrow on keyboard, while browsing the Selector-Wheel, it displays the Instruction Card on my little DMD-Screen. So, it's a good example of how easy it is (with this API) to corral a screen and also how to do an action after pressing a misc keyboard-key.

[McNose]

It's been on my mind ever since. I'm really interested in being able to see the instruction card and the playfield simultaneously. So I've been experimenting a bit more, and now I'm stuck. Here's my current situation. I have two approaches.

1. I tried @mjrgh´s suggestion with keybgdown and simply incorporated it into the existing script. It works immediately. However, another problem has arisen: In the PinballY Options, you have to specify whether the instruction card should appear on the backglass, the topper, or the playfield. I'd like it on the backglass. That works, but only if I have the PinballY backglass set to "always show." If I uncheck that box, I can only open and close a black window without any graphics.

So the question is: How can I load the instruction card anyway?
The script description states that "show instruction card" must be set to "always on". This made no difference for me. It only works with the fields under the Game Launch Options (Backglass, Topper, Playfield).

2. I created my own window. @mjrgh explains it very well using the example of wheel images and flyers. I was able to insert the instruction card there without any problems. However, this only happens while I'm in PinballY. Later in the game, there again is a black window with no loaded graphics that I can open and close.

Pinbally probably wants to save resources. But how can I overrule this?

Thanks.

[McNose]

I'll add something a bit crazy, as it might be the solution for some.

If I select "topper" in the PinballY Options, I can still display the instruction card on the backglass using the script. The only important thing is that the topper itself is set to "always on."

This way, topper users can see the instruction card on their backglass etc. during gameplay.

I don't have a topper myself. However, I use the window for my full DMDs. I don't want these to be set to "always on."

If I create a separate window for the full DMDs, I could move the topper to a corner and try to hide it. But I can't get it completely out of view, and it has to be "always on" for the trick to work.

I also have a few tables where I've set "always on" for my topper/full DMD in the table settings.