[theanim8tor]

Hi everybody!
I really don't get how to launch a simple .exe Windows file with AKL, I remember it was so easy with the old AEL...
Wiki wasn't really helpful, could you please explain how to simply achieve this please?
Thx

I think it's supposed to work like this:

1. After launching AKL, open context menu and choose add -> Launcher -> Application launcher -> Directly execute the file itself -> Leave application arguments empty
2. Open context menu -> Add -> Source -> Standalone ROM / Application -> Select file you want to launch, set platform etc.
3. Go to Sources -> Edit ROM -> Add new launcher to ROM -> Select application launcher -> Set as default

But this is where hit a wall. I just get "Select emulator for .EXE file" every time I try to launch it, even though I've set the app launcher as default already.

This is because the default setting in AKL when a launcher isnt configured is to open retroplayer. If you disable that setting, then it will give you the error message of a launcher not being configured. Not sure why this happens. I'm going through the same issue.

[marvin2k]

Hi ! good work with this launcher, i`m on ubuntu version (xubuntu), and i have same problems that are still comented on page 6-7, the launchers do nothing. But after a lot of work (searching also on db) i found that plugin was not able to add launcher to a source, no mather what launcher try to add (also akl.db looks like correct), the log and kodi shows (default launcher:none).

There is any way to solve it?
Thanks in advance

[yawningapples1]

Anybody has been able to make this work under flatpak? changing settings using flatseal doesn't make any difference.

ok, if someone is also struggling with this I made it work, at least for AEL (I did not try with AKL). I modified main.py so that the external application is launched with 'flatpak-spawn --host'. Then in flatseal I added a dbus session talk permission with org.freedesktop.Flatpak

[nitro322]

I'm struggling with this as well.  For my case, I just want to directly launch native Linux games - no ROMs, no emulators, no wrappers of any sort, just run a game directly.  It's remarkable how difficult it is to do that with Kodi.

I actually had this working a couple Kodi versions ago, but trying to set it up again now I'm failing.  Based on the documentation (https://github.com/chrisism/plugin.progr.../Launchers), it looks like the Default plugins is needed, so I have that plus the AKL module and library installed.  Here's my process, and where it's currently failing.

1. Add a Source.  Select Folder Scanner, Unknown platform (Linux or something would be nice, but that's not an option), select dummy asset directory (dummy as in I don't expect it to be used since I'm not scraping a ROM library), then select a directory containing the game executables.  Select 'sh' as the extension filter.  Save and done.  When browsing this source, I see the one sh file that I have setup in that directory.

2. Add a Launcher.  Select Application launcher, name Linux Launcher, and set Directly execute the file itself.  No arguments since (as far as I'm aware) none should be needed for direct execution.

3. Now, associate the launcher to with the source.  Edit the Linux Games source, select Add new launcher, Linux Launcher, Yes to set it as default.  I'm then asked whether I want to "overwrite collection metadata properties with values from the launcher"?  I don't think I do, but if I select No, nothing happens.  The launcher is not added, despite the logs showing this:
 

Code:

2024-06-29 20:31:57.209 T:19541    info <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.repositories: SourcesRepository.update_source(): Updating source 'Linux Games'
2024-06-29 20:31:57.210 T:19541    info <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.commands.rom_launcher_commands: Added launcher#400f1ff72955b6cf20ff463a0390f3a9 to Source 06d913a39d50a5e6d092b73104f3071c

I can repeat that ad nauseam and nothing ever changes.  If I try to launch my game, though, I get "No launcher configured for ROM".

So I try adding the launcher again, and this time answer Yes to the overwrite collection metadata properties question.  This time it fails with an error:
 

Code:

2024-06-29 20:35:15.115 T:19541    info <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.services: {"source_id":"06d913a39d50a5e6d092b73104f3071c"}
2024-06-29 20:35:25.495 T:19541   error <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.repositories: type: <class 'KeyError'> value: 'romcollection'
2024-06-29 20:35:25.496 T:19541 critical <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.commands.mediator: Failure processing command "ADD_SOURCE_LAUNCHER"
                                                   Traceback (most recent call last):
                                                     File "/home/media/.kodi/addons/plugin.program.akl/resources/lib/commands/mediator.py", line 34, in sync_cmd
                                                       return a_command(args)
                                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                     File "/home/media/.kodi/addons/plugin.program.akl/resources/lib/commands/rom_launcher_commands.py", line 281, in cmd_add_source_launchers
                                                       source.import_data_dic(launcher.get_settings()['romcollection'])
                                                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                   KeyError: 'romcollection'

It appears to be complaining about a romcollection although I'm editing a source.  So maybe a bug?  But honestly, I'm not sure I'm doing this correctly.

@chrisism - if you're around, any pointers for what I'm doing wrong?

[mourogers]

I'm struggling with this as well.  For my case, I just want to directly launch native Linux games - no ROMs, no emulators, no wrappers of any sort, just run a game directly.  It's remarkable how difficult it is to do that with Kodi.

...

I have the same use case and made a very quick and dirty addon that just launches programs without any additional features. Untested in Linux so YMMV but it may be some use in the interim.

[FlashOne]

I have the same use case and made a very quick and dirty addon that just launches programs without any additional features. Untested in Linux so YMMV but it may be some use in the interim.

That's exactly what I was looking for, thank you very much!

[sagrath]

I have the same use case and made a very quick and dirty addon that just launches programs without any additional features. Untested in Linux so YMMV but it may be some use in the interim

THIS! Thanks for this. 
I use Steam to manage all my games, including emulators, and with this addon, I will make the use of Kodi to launch the game more simple. You can make a own thread for this one.

[Juppstein]

One of the last updates for AKL must have shredded something. All launchers seem to be corrupted somehow. Their names show up as long strings of numbers and letters and games are not launched properly anymore. Hope someone has some pointers on how to find the issue.

Issue got redudant since I installed a new Kodi box with v21.

Partial Log:

https://paste.kodi.tv/fomalereva

[Watchstate]

Many thanks for continuing and expanding the development of the fantastic AEL add-ons.

However, I have a problem with the local scraping of my ROMs.

Starting point:

• Rapsberry Pi 3B with LibreElec 12
  
• Advanced Kodi Launcher 1.5.1
  
• Advanced Kodi Launcher: Default Plugins 1.2.0
  
• some Sega Mega Drive roms in /storage/ROMs/MegaDrive
  • the ROMs in this Folder are *.gen files and additionaly there are *.nfo files previously created on another system with AEL
    
• Game Assets previously created on another system with AEL in /storage/AKL/Game-Assets/MegaDrive
  

To be able to play the ROMs via AKL I have done the following so far:

• Adding a source for the MegaDrive ROMs
  
• Creating Retroplayer as a launcher
  
• I have set the settings for scraping to Local Only, as the assets and NFO files are already available.
  

If I then scan the source for ROMs, the games are found.
However, I get an error when I try to scrape the games.

I proceeded as follows:

• "Sources" -> "Sega Mega Drive" -> Context Menu -> "Edit Source" -> "Manage ROMs..." -> "Scrape ROMs" -> "Local files" -> "Scrape"
  

I also tried:

• "Sources" -> "Sega Mega Drive" -> Context Menu -> "Edit Source" -> "Import ROMs (files/metadata) -> "From NFO files"
  

Here you can find the debug log about the procedure.

What am I doing wrong here and how can I scrape my ROMs?

[Juppstein]

What am I doing wrong here and how can I scrape my ROMs?

In the end I went with Scraping the files online. I registered with Screenscraper to get my stuff done.

[Juppstein]

Does anyone else have the issue that you cannot assign launchers to a rom collection or a source in Kodi v21 (using Linux here)? Whatever I try the moment the addon asks if I want to apply the launcher to the rom collection / source it will fizzle into an error message that the operation was not successful. 

Here's a paste of the log in debug mode: Kodi Paste Log

Looking through it those lines are triggered at the time the addon tries to apply the changes:

2024-09-13 18:01:53.826 T:87906   error <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.views: vw_misc_set_AEL_Content() Invalid AEL_Content_Value "42501"

----and---

2024-09-13 18:02:20.078 T:87648   error <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.repositories: type: <class 'KeyError'> value: 'romcollection'
2024-09-13 18:02:20.079 T:87648 critical <general>: [plugin.program.akl] resources.lib.commands.mediator: Failure processing command "ADD_SOURCE_LAUNCHER"
                                                   Traceback (most recent call last):
                                                     File "/home/kodi/.kodi/addons/plugin.program.akl/resources/lib/commands/mediator.py", line 34, in sync_cmd
                                                       return a_command(args)
                                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                     File "/home/kodi/.kodi/addons/plugin.program.akl/resources/lib/commands/rom_launcher_commands.py", line 281, in cmd_add_source_launchers
                                                       source.import_data_dic(launcher.get_settings()['romcollection'])
                                                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                   KeyError: 'romcollection'

Also tried the same on a ROM Collection but it ends with the same error. If anyone has an idea that would be swell.

[Watchstate]

In the end I went with Scraping the files online. I registered with Screenscraper to get my stuff done.

That's exactly what I don't want.
The assets for all ROMs are already available offline. Much of the content has also been added manually.
So it would be double the effort.

[eddiewould]

Hi!

Wanted to report a bug - actually two bugs!

1) I've got an existing collection of Genesis Roms & Artwork scraped using AEL, which I'm bringing over to my new Kodi box. When I add a new Gensis source & provide the ROM path and Assets path then tell it to scan for ROMS, it doesn't find any of my existing artwork. If I go into individual titles it looks like it should be using the correct paths. If I go and maually set some artwork (e.g. fanart) then it shows up

2) As a result of the above, I've tried doing a scrape and specifying local sources only. I get exceptons in my logs - I've attached a log file for your reference - https://paste.kodi.tv/idikuqosok.kodi

FWIW: I'm using Debian Trixie with the Kodi from the official Debian Repos. 

NB: Same behaviour occurs for my SNES roms too

[zachmorris]

I'm clearly doing something wrong as well. This addon is very confusing.

I've got a fresh Kodi install, with AKL installed, and all default plugins.
I've added a launcher, default named "App Launcher", Application set to "Directly Exectute the File Itself"
I've added a source, selected the exe i want to launch
I 'Edit Rom', and 'Add a new launcher' to the ROM. I select the one and only launcher i have configured "App Launcher", Set Launcher as the Default? Yes.
I try and launch the game, and get an error: No Launcher Configured.

It just seems that my launcher isn't being set. I've tried AKL from the Beta Repository and the Stable, and both have the same issue. I cannot associate a launcher with a source.

In addition, I've setup paths in the addon settings, I scrape the Game with any scraper and I get an error "Could not scrape".
The debug log shows:

xml:


2024-10-12 14:02:21.621 T:8936     info <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] resources.lib.scraper: Applied embedded public API key

2024-10-12 14:02:21.621 T:8936     info <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Scraper cache dir set to: special://profile/addon_data/script.akl.tgdbscraper/cache/

2024-10-12 14:02:21.631 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset fanart   

2024-10-12 14:02:21.631 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset banner   

2024-10-12 14:02:21.631 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset snap     

2024-10-12 14:02:21.632 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset clearlogo

2024-10-12 14:02:21.632 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset boxfront 

2024-10-12 14:02:21.632 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset boxback  

2024-10-12 14:02:21.632 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Asset Path not defined for ROM Spiritfarer asset trailer  

2024-10-12 14:02:28.487 T:8936    error <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Could not scrape "Spiritfarer"

                                                   Traceback (most recent call last):

                                                     File "C:\Users\Z\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\addons\script.module.akl\lib\akl\scrapers.py", line 373, in process_single_rom

                                                       self._process_ROM(rom)

                                                     File "C:\Users\Z\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\addons\script.module.akl\lib\akl\scrapers.py", line 433, in _process_ROM

                                                       self._process_ROM_assets(rom)

                                                     File "C:\Users\Z\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\addons\script.module.akl\lib\akl\scrapers.py", line 491, in _process_ROM_assets

                                                       asset_path = self._scrap_ROM_asset(asset_id, self.local_asset_list[asset_id], rom)

                                                     File "C:\Users\Z\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\addons\script.module.akl\lib\akl\scrapers.py", line 790, in _scrap_ROM_asset

                                                       asset_path_noext_FN = asset_dir_FN + text.str_to_filename_str(rom.get_identifier())

                                                   TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'str'

2024-10-12 14:02:28.495 T:8936  warning <general>: [script.akl.tgdbscraper] akl.scrapers: Skipping store action. No ROM data provided.

[JaKSLaP]

@chrisism

Do you have video turorial on seting this up? I tried getting it to work but i find very confusing. All i want is to add my GOG collection of games in AKL. I have tried multple options such as Source, Launcher etc but it keeps asking for "Arguments" "rom locations" etc etc. If you could please give a step by step instruction on how to setup my GOG collection, I will highly appreciate it.