Pinball FX2 > General Discussions > Topic Details
Von Genesis
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Mar 29, 2014 @ 6:04pm
So You Want to Move Your DMD
Firstly, if you're not well versed in pinball-speak, DMD is Dot Matrix Display. It's the part of the table where you see your score and see all those flashy updates during your game.

In the new update, the fine folk at Zen made it so we can move the DMD to another screen. That is awesome news. The not so awesome news is that it's not just a click of a button in the menu to get it to work. The awesomest news though, is that while there is no universal system settings for everyone, I am here to guide you in the right direction.
I know there is a thread stickied to another forum about this subject, but it really is lacking in a "how-to" approach. Hopefully this thread will clarify any questions people might have.

In order to get this to work, you have to have a second, or third monitor. You could do it if you had four or more, I'm sure, but that would be madness. And this is pinball, not Sparta.
First, you should go into your PBFX2 settings in your steam folder. For me, it is in "Program Files (x86)/Steam/Steamapps/common/Pinball FX2". Yours will vary depending on your Operating System. Inside the PinballFX2 folder should be a file named "dotmatrix.cfg". If there isn't one, you will have to create it.
Here is where you are going to make the file, as well as put in the default paramaters you need to get started.
Open notepad and copy/paste (or type, your choice) the following:

x=
y=
height=
width=

Don't put any values in there just yet, just save the file and place it in the Pinball FX2 folder. Now you need to make it a cfg file, not a txt file. In order to do that, just rename the file "dotmatrix.txt" to "dotmatrix.cfg". **this part assumes you do not have your file extentions set to hidden in windows. If you do, google-fu how to disable this in order to rename the file properly.**

Now that you have the file, keep it minimized, as you are going to be messing with values for this file in a minute. Next, start PBFX2 and go to your settings. Under "video" there is an option for "DMD size". Set this to "off." Exit the menu and open up a table. At this point, you should see no DMD and this is where the fun begins.

Now is when you are going to place values in your dotmatrix.cfg file. This is going to take some trial and error, and thankfully you can experiment even with PBFX2 running, saving time and frustration.

The values for the above file are as follows-

x/y is the position of the DMD. So, having x/y at 0/0 would be the top left corner of your screen.
height/width is exacly what you would think. How tall and wide the DMD is going to be.

I have my height/width set to 200/400. That seems to work for me.
I have 2 monitors, the main one in portrait mode for pinball, and the second one is landscape, where I now have the DMD. My x/y position is at 1700/350, and so far that works. Like I said, depending on your setup, these numbers will be different. Just start messing with vaules and saving the file after you change them. The DMD will update it's position every time you save new values and re-enter a table.

The only thing I don't know how to do is getting the windows border off the DMD. If anyone knows how to do that, I'd appreciate it.

A big thanks to Zen for making this happen for us. You guys are the bestest.
Last edited by Von Genesis; Mar 30, 2014 @ 10:40pm
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Showing 1-15 of 21 comments
Razorbak86
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Mar 29, 2014 @ 6:18pm 
Originally posted by Lemon Grenades:
The only thing I don't know how to do is getting the windows border off the DMD. If anyone knows how to do that, I'd appreciate it.

"If you want to remove the DMD windows borders and windows titel bar, you can use Actual Window Manager (http://www.actualtools.com/windowmanager/download/).
Just add the DotMatrix Window to the list of special windows and set it to remove everything under the main window settings.

Works like a charm, my cab has made a huge step forward toay and Pinball FX2 will autostart from now on."
-- Duglim

https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthread.php?6497-DMD-now-working-for-Cabinets-Heres-how-to-set-it-up!!&p=51146
Last edited by Razorbak86; Mar 29, 2014 @ 6:18pm
#1
Von Genesis
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Mar 29, 2014 @ 6:31pm 
^ thank you!!!!!!!!
#2
Razorbak86
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Mar 29, 2014 @ 8:21pm 
You're welcome. Post some screenshots of your new set-up.
#3
PALADiN
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Mar 30, 2014 @ 4:46am 
This should really be a guide.

Such a shame you can't reposition/rescale it if you only have 1 monitor though.
#4
Boston
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Mar 30, 2014 @ 7:59pm 
I cant get this to work.2 monitors,Playfield is portrait,2nd monitor is landscape.Set up cfg file dotmatrix.All the values i put in,I cant see the dmd.Also cant change values on the fly.My cursor wont leave the main playfield after i start up game to change values on 2nd monitor minimized file?.
#5
Von Genesis
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Mar 30, 2014 @ 8:11pm 
Originally posted by ߨ§TØÑ ©:
I cant get this to work.2 monitors,Playfield is portrait,2nd monitor is landscape.Set up cfg file dotmatrix.All the values i put in,I cant see the dmd.Also cant change values on the fly.My cursor wont leave the main playfield after i start up game to change values on 2nd monitor minimized file?.
alt-tab out of game to change the values (put the noetpad on the monitor in landscape) and then alt-tab back in for on the fly changes. Don't forget to restart the table for the changes to take effect.
As for the DMD, try negative values. I have my second monitor (landscape) on the right. If yours is on the left, the values are going to be different. (I'm not even sure that will work, but it might be worth a shot.)

Last edited by Von Genesis; Mar 30, 2014 @ 8:11pm
#6
Boston
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Mar 30, 2014 @ 9:16pm 
Thxs Lemon.There was no way i would of figured that out,Without you!.It was Epic,But worth it.alt-tab helped speed things up.my values ended up being 2233,798,200,650.Everyones values will be different.Based on monitor size and resolution and rotation and set up.Now on to getting rid of the border around the dmd!.
Last edited by Boston; Mar 30, 2014 @ 10:04pm
#7
Boston
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Mar 30, 2014 @ 9:46pm 
actual tools software was to difficult to figure out.Would need detailed instuctions to figure the border removal thing out.I uninstalled the software for now and will live with the border around the dmd.
#8
Von Genesis
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Mar 31, 2014 @ 6:49am 
I''m glad you got it figured out. I haven't messed with removing the windows border yet, so can't help you there :(
#9
markmon
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Apr 2, 2014 @ 4:20pm 
This is an awesome feature. If the developers could make the window title of the DMD window contain the name of the table (which is a very simple change), then we (community) could easily pick a dynamic "translite" based on the table currently loaded. For a full monitor, you could make a nice translite image with a bezeled out area for the DMD and place it into that spot.

For anyone that wants an easy way to locate the window position to use, you can use my showpicture program. I originally created it to allow you to put a specific backglass that changes per pinball fx table you select on monitor 2. You can read about it and download it here: http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?showtopic=24545

With this, you move the window where you want it with the mouse and resize it. It shows you exact dimensions for where this is. If you want to eliminate the window frame from the monitor but you don't want to hassle with killing the boarder, you can size the window larger than the monitor. For example, if my window fits at top of 0, I can put top of -40 and the window border is then above the screen viewable area. This won't work for a bezeled in box on a static image, however.
#10
Boston
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Apr 3, 2014 @ 2:02pm 
Here is a link to first see and then get the zip file if you wish of all current 39 Tables Backglass images for a 2 screen set up sized for 1280x1024 with a spot for the dmd to be sized in the middle of the speaker panel.U can set these as background images to take up the full monitor with no border on the backglass.Also has a Pinball FX2/The Pinball Arcade static image you can set to use for background for all the tables.So you wont have to switch the images all the time.Unless you are having a long session with buddies on a particular table.Then you can set the correct background for each table,Instead of the universal FX2/TPA.Enjoy! http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?app=gallery&album=142
Last edited by Boston; Apr 3, 2014 @ 2:21pm
#11
Von Genesis
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Apr 3, 2014 @ 2:54pm 
You, sir, are my new best friend. I was looking for just this sort of thing the other day. I found images, but not with a place for the DMD. Thank you for posting this!
#12
Boston
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Apr 3, 2014 @ 3:15pm 
Lets make it Official!.I sent you a friend request.lol
Last edited by Boston; Apr 3, 2014 @ 3:16pm
#13
Boston
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Apr 3, 2014 @ 4:05pm 
Here is a backglass for just FX2 only.
http://nsa33.casimages.com/img/2013/11/05/131105113605193702.png
Last edited by Boston; Apr 3, 2014 @ 4:07pm
#14
markmon
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Apr 8, 2014 @ 4:29pm 
I wrote a quick little program to help with positioning your DMD. You can download it here: http://pinballbulbs.com/files/pbfx2dotmatrix.zip

Simply run this, move the window into position, size the window as you want it, click "refresh" to update the position controls, then hit save. If you need to rerun it again, just use open to locate the file and open it again. By default this opens/saves to the default steam directory. If you store your files elsewhere you'll need to browse to that directory (where pinball fx2.exe is located). This will create the dotmatrix.cfg file if it does not exist.
#15
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Pinball FX2 > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: Mar 29, 2014 @ 6:04pm
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