OS X MAME OS X keyboard shortcuts config

[macstatic]

Having first thought MAME OSX wouldn't work with 10.9 Mavericks I went ahead an installed SDL-MAME which worked fine. However, the GUI front-ends I've tried were all pretty disappointing.

So I tried installing MAME OSX and it too worked! Although it's nothing like the (now abandoned?) MacMAME (which doesn't work with Mavericks, probably because I believe it's a PPC version and rosetta isn't a part of Mavericks) it's probably the most elegant solution on the OSX platform, but I digress

I want to know if it's possible to rearrange some of the keyboard shortcuts in MAME OSX? I suppose something can be edited in one of the config files?
Specifically I would like some (all perhaps) of the F-key shortcuts to be placed somewhere else since I'm running it on a Macbook Pro where several of the F-keys are already pre-defined for other things (such as F-12 which turns up the audio volume but takes a screenshot in MAME). Maybe SHIFT along with the F-key shortcuts would solve the problem.

 

[Janichsan]

I want to know if it's possible to rearrange some of the keyboard shortcuts in MAME OSX? I suppose something can be edited in one of the config files?
Specifically I would like some (all perhaps) of the F-key shortcuts to be placed somewhere else since I'm running it on a Macbook Pro where several of the F-keys are already pre-defined for other things (such as F-12 which turns up the audio volume but takes a screenshot in MAME). Maybe SHIFT along with the F-key shortcuts would solve the problem.

I think not. As far as I know, these shortcuts are hardcoded. However, simply holding down the "fn" key while pressing a function key has it behave as "normal" function key. So, for a MAME shortcut, you'd have to press fn+F12.

You can also reverse this behaviour in the System Preferences, so that you'd have to hold down "fn" when you want to access the volume control and the other functions.

 

[macstatic]

I believe what you're saying has to do with the OSX "Keyboard" preference pane where you can enable "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys". But that means I'll have to press Fn-F12 in order to increase the volume. I'd rather have less of a hassle for everyday things (by pressing the F-keys on their own) and instead have to use the "Fn" key when I need to do something like make a screenshot in MAME.

Are you sure this is hardcoded? There's a file named "Default.cfg" in the ~/Library/Apllication Support/MAME OS X/Config/ folder but I have no idea what to put in there or if this is what makes any changes.

 

[Janichsan]

I believe what you're saying has to do with the OSX "Keyboard" preference pane where you can enable "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys". But that means I'll have to press Fn-F12 in order to increase the volume.

Exactly. It's definitely a matter of personal preference.

Are you sure this is hardcoded? There's a file named "Default.cfg" in the ~/Library/Apllication Support/MAME OS X/Config/ folder but I have no idea what to put in there or if this is what makes any changes.

Not 100% sure. It's been a while since I tinkered with MAME. Have you looked into the file whether it contains any reference to the control keys for MAME (configuration menu, service mode, screenshots, etc.). If so, that might be what you are looking for.

 

[macstatic]

Yeah, I looked into it (opening it in Textedit) but there wasn't much in it:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- This file is autogenerated; comments and unknown tags will be stripped -->
<mameconfig version="10">
    <system name="default" />
</mameconfig>

 

[lunaoso]

I believe what you're saying has to do with the OSX "Keyboard" preference pane where you can enable "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys". But that means I'll have to press Fn-F12 in order to increase the volume. I'd rather have less of a hassle for everyday things (by pressing the F-keys on their own) and instead have to use the "Fn" key when I need to do something like make a screenshot in MAME.

Are you sure this is hardcoded? There's a file named "Default.cfg" in the ~/Library/Apllication Support/MAME OS X/Config/ folder but I have no idea what to put in there or if this is what makes any changes.

That doesn't work? I don't have this program, but I was just curious if that would do it.

 

[Janichsan]

Yeah, I looked into it (opening it in Textedit) but there wasn't much in it:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- This file is autogenerated; comments and unknown tags will be stripped -->
<mameconfig version="10">
    <system name="default" />
</mameconfig>

Hm, odd. I expected more in that file.

Have you tried changing the keys in MAME's built-in configuration menu (press tab, then select "Input: General")?

 

[macstatic]

Yes!!!!
Thanks Janichsan, it worked, and for all games
The Fn-key however wasn't recognized, so I chose the ALT key (i.e. ALT-F12 for making a screenshot).

Oh, in case others want to do this and are struggling... if you want to delete an existing keyboard shortcut you have to first press RETURN (to define the shortcut) then ESC (to delete it). Next press RETURN (to again define the shortcut), then the shortcut itself (e.g. F12 and ALT simultaneously).