choose which parent or clone rom to run in mame

[Former user]

I normally import just the parent roms for mame but would like the ability to choose which version to run. This way the list would not have duplicates (clones) like other frontends (i.e. EmuLoader).

[Michael Vencio]

I logged this enhancement request, just to add more information. Most roms in mame are merged sets containing parent and clones.

this is the command line to run the normal "outrun" rom using mame D:\mame64178>mame64.exe outrun

this is the command line to run the clone "outrun" rom using mame. I prefer this version because it is full screen. D:\mame64178>mame64.exe outruneh

My workaround is to have "Use file name only without extension or folder path" option checked on the manage emulator for mame. Then copy the outrun.zip file to outruneh.zip and change the rom name in launchbox. I do this because launchbox checks if the file exists.

So in summary, I would like a way to specify to load a "clone" instead of the parent rom.

[Jay Klehr]

I keep an "active_roms" folder and then also have an "available_roms" folder or something like that. I have both directories configured in MAME as ROM directories, but only import the "active_roms" folder into Launchbox. The clone in this case would go in the "active_roms" folder but the parent would be in the "available_roms" folder. Since MAME can see both, it won't complain that the parent doesn't exist, but launchbox won't ever show the parent rom in the listing since it only knows about the active_roms list.

The only downside I've come across so far is when upgrading MAME to a new version and patching in the updated ROMs. It's not as simple as just pasting in the updated ROMS into a single directory.

[Michael Vencio]

I see what you are doing, in your case you want the total mame roms to be smaller. but in my case I prefer to have everything and mark my favorites.

Like you said, its harder to update. Can I suggest a quick fix, why not just disable the file existence check if "Use file name only without extension or folder path" is checked or just add a "disable if file exist check" option