I-PAC and J-PAC Interactive Programming and Test
ModeThis is applicable to I-PAC
2, I-PAC
4
and J-PAC shipped after 15th April 2002.
The interactive programming
mode gives an easy-to-use method of re-assigning key codes on the board. The
new codes are stored permanently, even after power-off. This method needs no
special software utility on the PC. It can do everything the GUI programming
utility can do except for store config files and download them
on-the-fly.
The assignment of keys is easy because it uses your actual
control panel to select which button to change, and a keyboard to change the
code.
A test mode is also incorporated which displays in text, any pressed
or shorted keys. Great for checking wiring and making sure there are no stuck
or shorted buttons.
You will need to have a PS/2 keyboard plugged
into the pass-through connector to run Interactive Programming and Test Mode. A
USB keyboard will not work. If using the I-PAC in USB mode, you will still need
to plug a PS/2 keyboard into the pass-through for programming and testing using
this method.
Entering test/program
mode:First, run any program which displays keyboard characters.
In Windows, the best is Notepad. In DOS, you can enter the following which will
supress the command prompt: COPY CON NULL (if you use this, hit ctrl-Z when you
have finished, to get back into the command prompt)
Ensure the shift-lock is
off.
Then, on the pass-through keyboard, press CTRL-ALT-P. You need to press
and hold the keys in that order but don't hold each key for too long otherwise
the keyboard auto-repeat will kick in and upset the sequence..
You will get
a menu sent to the screen as the I-PAC uses "virtual typing" to simulate
keypresses to generate the messages. One thing this method can't do is display
fancy graphics! This is strictly text only!
ProgrammingIn programming mode if you press a button or
joystick direction on your panel, this will tell the I-PAC that you want to
assign a new keycode to this button. Then you will get a prompt to press a key
on the keyboard which this button should emulate. It's that easy! Then when you
have finished programming, press "E" and all your changes will be saved.
For
example: Say you want to assign your Player 1 Switch 1 to "A". Just press the
Player 1 Switch 1 on the panel, then press "A" on the keyboard. If this is the
only one to be changed, then press "E" on the keyboard to save the change and
exit.
There are also some menu choices. This is what they do:
T: This enters button test mode. If you press any
button, you will see a text display of the input that's being activated and the
key-code it's set to, followed by the shifted code if one is assigned. If you
see a code displayed before you press a button you have a problem! This is a
stuck or shorted input. To exit test mode press CTRL-ALT-P again.
L: This lists all inputs and the keycodes they are currently
programmed to. The list is in 3 columns, the first is the input, the second the
key-code assigned, and the third is the shifted key-code (if one is assigned)
You will also see which input is the shift button.
E: This exits the programming mode and saves all codes. NOTE
codes are only saved at this time, when E is pressed. All changes are stored in
temporary RAM until "E" is pressed and then they are copied to permanent
EEPROM.
A: Abort. Exits programming mode and
discards all changes.
R: Resets all programmed
codes to default. If you do this, it will mean that the codes will be the same
if the MAME/ALT jumper is set to either position. This is a good first step in
programming a new board when you want to start with the standard MAME
configuration and just change a few keys. NOTE you must press "E" to save and
exit after doing this otherwise the change will not be saved.
Shift Key Programming
The I-PAC and J-PAC can
have any input assigned as a shift button. Click here for a full description of
shift functions.
When the shift button is held down, the other buttons or
joystick directions send different "shifted" codes. These shifted codes can be
programmed separately from the normal codes. To do this while in programming
mode, before pressing a control panel button, press the left-shift key on the
keyboard. This will tell the I-PAC that you want to program the shifted code
for the button. The display will confirm this.
Blanking inputs.
You may want to assign no
code to a button, or no shift code when one is currently assigned. The "print
screen" key is used as a "null" key to do this. Let's take an example. Assume
you have done a menu "R" and "E" so that the EEPROM contains all standard MAME
codes. Then you re-enter the programming mode by pressing CTRL-ALT-P
again.
Assume you don't want the shift function "esc" which is part of the
default setting for the Start2 input (ie shift-start2 exits games). You remove
the escape function by:
Hit left shift on the keyboard to select a shifted
code.
Hit Start2 on the control panel as this is the button you want to
re-program.
Hit Print Screen to select a "null" code for the shifted code
for this button.
Press "E" to save and exit.
Changing
the shift button.
If the default MAME codes are used, the shift
button is the Start1 button. You may want to change this to another button, but
be aware that the shift button should not be one that's used for game-play. You
will need to use one of the PC-based programming utilities to do
this.
Key codes which cannot be used.You
can't set any I-PAC inputs to any of the following codes:
Print
Screen
Num-Pad "/"
Pause
F7