Playlists are the lists of games displayed under each joypad icon in the Lakka graphical interface. Playlists can be generated automatically by the ROM scanning process or be created by users and uploaded to the Lakka device. Playlists are located within the playlists folder which is accessible via SAMBA.
Automatic playlist generation
Lakka includes an internal database that can be used to scan ROMs from many kinds of systems in order to automatically generate playlists. In order for the playlist scanner to recognize the ROMs from these systems, they must be formatted according to a standard which varies from system to system.
Manually setting the Core for a playlist
Generally speaking, Lakka will detect and use the correct core for use with the ROMs that are used as part of a playlist. Under some circumstances, it may be useful to manually set Lakka to use a particular core for one of its playlists. This can be accomplished within the Playlists submenu in the Lakka settings.
Playlist file format
Each playlist is a plain text file, and each entry in a playlist must be composed of 6 lines.
Example playlist entry:
/storage/roms/n64/Legend of Zelda, The - Ocarina of Time [USA].n64 Legend of Zelda, The - Ocarina of Time [USA] /tmp/cores/mupen64plus_libretro.so Nintendo 64 [Mupen64Plus] EC95702D|crc Nintendo - Nintendo 64.lpl- The path to the ROM
- The display name [you can use any name here]
- The path to the core, this libretro core will be used to launch the ROM
- The displayname of the core, not really useful, we keep it there because the history list is also using this format
- Link to the database entry [optional]. In this case the link is done by CRC, and in some other cases it is done by serial number. You can omit a link to the database by using the word DETECT here instead.
- The name of this playlist, ending in the extension .lpl
Zipped ROMs
If you use zipped ROMs [other than arcade ROMs], your ROM path will have to look like this:
/storage/roms/NEC - Super Grafx/Madou King Granzort [Japan].zip#Madou King Granzort [Japan].pceNote the # in the path.
Scripting
Custom playlists can be generated by some simple scripts. This is particularly useful to generate playlists for systems not supported by our scanning process yet.
You can use this example bash script:
#!/bin/bash for fullpath in $1; do echo $fullpath filename=$[basename "$fullpath"] echo "${filename%.*}" echo $2 echo $3 echo "DETECT" echo $4 doneAnd invoke it like this:
./scan.sh "/storage/roms/arcade/*.zip" "/tmp/cores/fba_libretro.so" "Arcade [FB Alpha - SVN]" "FB Alpha - Arcade Games.lpl" > "/storage/playlists/FB Alpha - Arcade Games.lpl"Result:
You can also use this script which will test if the ROM has already added to the playlist, to not add it twice:
#!/bin/bash # # Libretro playlist builder # # Usage: # scan.sh "Files path" "Core" "Core name" "Playlist filename" ["Playlists path"] # # Example: #./scan.sh "/storage/roms/arcade/*.zip" "/tmp/cores/fba_libretro.so" "Arcade [FB Alpha - SVN]" "FB Alpha - Arcade Games.lpl" "/storage/playlists/" # SAVEIFS=$IFS IFS=$[echo -en "\n\b"] CA=0 CS=0 echo " Scaning \"$1\" for \"$3\" ROMs and adding to \"$5$4\"... " for fullpath in $1; do touch "$4" filename=$[basename "$fullpath"] if [ `grep -c "$fullpath" "$4"` -lt 1 ]; then CA=$[[$CA+1]] echo "$CA - Adding $filename" echo $fullpath >> "$5$4" echo "${filename%.*}" >> "$5$4" echo $2 >> "$5$4" echo $3 >> "$5$4" echo "DETECT" >> "$5$4" echo $4 >> "$5$4" else CS=$[[$CS+1]] echo "$CS - Skipping $filename" fi done echo " Added $CA and skipped $CS \"$3\" ROMs out of $[[$CA+$CS]] scanned files to \"$4\" " IFS=$SAVEIFSIcons
If you want your playlist to be displayed with the appropriate icons, you have to name your lpl file like one of the no-intro DAT. See our icons here:
Adding your own icons is also possible, there is an overlay system in Lakka that allows you to override the content of /usr/share/retroarch-assets by placing files in /storage/assets . You have to replicate the same folder hierarchy.
-
Hello, does anyone know if there is a quick way to sort alphabetically games in playlists?
-
@saccublenda There is, but the setting is not saved between restarts. Go in the system, then press Select and choose the sorting type. By default, it will sort by Filename, Ascending.
-
For a second there I thought you were talking to yourself lol
-
@jwbmonk That’s not the first time I get this comment...
-
@mitu I am not talking about the emulation station game lists. I am talking about the playlists, the ones you create with the retroarch “scan for content” command.
-
@mitu
How about this avatar? It will surly stop any confusion ... but may ignite a discussion! -
@saccublenda said in Sort playlists:
I am talking about the playlists, the ones you create with the retroarch “scan for content” command.
It's a known issue with RetroArch 1.69. There are people discussing it here and a workaround is mentioned.
-
@mediamogul Thanks, I’ll give it a try.
-
@cyperghost LOL is that a kids valentine card?
-
@jwbmonk Really don't know
Just entered "pink megaman" in google and well this was one of the harmlesses ones ;] -
Rule 34 everywhere... >_
Playlists - Set options Truncate Playlist Names and Sort Playlists After Name Truncation to your liking.
How to set up custom playlists [Screenshots]¶
Third-Party Applications¶
Since playlists are managed in text-only JSON format, there are a few third-party applications to help manage your playlists.
- RetroArch Playlist Editor [Source]
- RetroArch Playlist Buddy [Source]
Thumbnails¶
RetroArch can display three types of thumbnails for games in playlists, depending on the specific RetroArch menu driver in use:
- In-game snapshots
- Title screen snapshots
- Boxart
RetroArch thumbnail packs¶
RetroArch provides packs of thumbnails suitable for use with many emulated systems. These thumbnail packs are recommended for most users and can be installed connecting to the internet and using the built-in thumbnails updater, available from the online update menu within the RetroArch settings interface.
These packs can be downloaded manually from //thumbnailpacks.libretro.com and individual thumbnails from within the packs can be downloaded from //thumbnails.libretro.com.
Custom thumbnails¶
Users who wish to use their own thumbnails can do so by naming PNG image files according to the RetroArch naming convention.
Thumbnail paths and filenames¶
Thumbnails should be stored in subfolders within the configured RetroArch thumbnails directory within a subfolder named exactly the same as the playlist, except without .lpl at the end. Example: If your playlist is named Atari - 2600.lpl, then your Atari 2600 root thumbnail folder should be called thumbnails/Atari - 2600/.
Within this root thumbnail folder called Atari - 2600, you should then create subfolders named Named_Boxarts, Named_Snaps, or Named_Titles for boxart/cover art, in-game snapshots, and title screens, respectively.
The thumbnail filename should exactly match the game's title as listed in the playlist with an important exception. The following characters in playlist titles must be replaced with _ in the corresponding thumbnail filename: &*/:`?\|
Example: If your content is named Q*bert's Qubes in the playlist, then its thumbnails should be named Q_bert's Qubes.png and stored at these paths:
thumbnails/ Atari - 2600/ Named_Boxarts/ Q_bert's Qubes.png Named_Snaps/ Q_bert's Qubes.png Named_Titles/ Q_bert's Qubes.png
Changing the displayed thumbnail type¶
Regardless of whether you download the RetroArch thumbnail packs or use your own custom thumbnails, you can use the RetroArch GUI to set which type of thumbnail to display. In order to change this setting, go to Menu Settings, and change the Thumbnails option to reflect the type of thumbnail you wish to display.