ROMs and CHDs

[wmed]

Dear all,

I'd like to have some informations about ROMs and CHDs.

 

I got the full Demul 0.7a Romset with CHDs.

I've configured it and everything is ok but I'd like to know how it works.

 

I put two separate folders (Roms and Chds) in RL.. When I audit the games, it find everything except the CHDs, but when I start them from HS it loads without problems.

Does the XML file work separately from RL? Does it scan for Folder's Name?

How is it working?

 

Thanks.

 

W

[rastan]

as far as I know the CHDs won't show up as they go with the ROMS.. the roms that require CHD's will load them up with the emulator.. or at least I think that's how it works. if I'm correct? it's like with mame the CHDs go in their own folder and when you launch a rom that requires the CHD data.. the emulator loads it up... it's not like the CHD's are different games... just data that goes with the roms that require them. (at least that's what I think....)

 

I need to look at my demul setup again because I remember when I was setting it up.. some games said the CHD data was missing but I had the CHDs and roms.

[wmed]

Thanks for your replies.

 

 

The audit checks based on the file name matching the game name in the database. Since CHD files aren't named to match the game name in the database it shows as not found.

 

But as long as you have Skip Checks set to Rom Only in RLUI and your rom path set in the emulator the game will launch fine because it doesn't look for the file prior to launching. It just sends the emulator the name of the rom and the emu will find the rom and launch it.

 

agent47, so you say that even if RLUI doesn't recognize the CHDs, if my emulator has right paths and everything it will load up the game?

So why the games appear in HyperSpin if XML doesn't find the right names?

 

Thanks!

[rastan]

Thanks for your replies.

 

 

 

agent47, so you say that even if RLUI doesn't recognize the CHDs, if my emulator has right paths and everything it will load up the game?

So why the games appear in HyperSpin if XML doesn't find the right names?

 

Thanks!

 

because the actual ROMS are in the XML.. (the roms and chds are one in the same as in the same game.. the CHD is just extra data)

[wmed]

because the actual ROMS are in the XML.. (the roms and chds are one in the same as in the same game.. the CHD is just extra data)

 

Nope.

For example: Beach Spikers is called GDS-0014.chd inside the folder ..\Demul\CHDs\beachspi.

The XML points at beachspi.zip that I DON'T have in my ROMs folder.

But it appears in the Wheel and it's running smoothly.

 

Is it possible that the XML creates the wheel and the emulator find the right path to load the game by itself?

[wmed]

Yes and no. Yes, emus like Demul and MAME will launch CHD games fine as long as you have your rom path set in the emus themselves, even though they show red in the RL audit.

 

The RL audit has no effect on what shows on the HyperSpin wheel. HyperSpin will show every game listed in the xml unless you have the Roms Only filter on in HyperHQ. If you have the Roms only filter on HS will only show the games that you have but that's through it's own audit, not related to the RL audit in any way.

 

If you have the Roms Only filter on in HyperHQ the games that only have a CHD file and not a rom file will not be shown for the same reason they don't show in the RLUI audit. You would have to create a dummy zip file to match the name of the game and put it in your rom path.

 

Everything is more clear now, thank you.

A "dummy zip file" means that I must create a .zip file with the .CHD in it?

[wmed]

No, you just have to create an empty zip file named to match the database name for that game. So if you created an empty beachspi.zip file and put it in your rom path that game would show on the HS wheel. But again, you would only need to do that if the Roms Only filter was on in HyperHQ for that system. If you don't have that filter on there's no reason to do it because HS will show everything in the xml and RL will launch it just fine.

 

I've tried to put the .chd file inside a new .zip file, named as xml database.

After had set up the correct location in Demul, RLUI use that .zip file like a hook for a .chd.

Now everything is totally clear!

Thanks a lot for your help.

[JoyStickKilla]

You don't need to put the chd in a zip file

[wmed]

You don't need to put the chd in a zip file

 

Is it because Emulator directly locate the game, right?

[Guest]

Is it because Emulator directly locate the game, right?

Exactly.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[phantasy]

I follow everything in this thread, but I would like a reminder on UPDATING chds...

 

IF I have my available roms up to date at version 0.177, do I need to update anything with the CHD folders or files within which are older (in my case ver 0.149)?

 

 

Since the old CHD data likely remains the same (Killer Instinct is still from 1994, haha) I can only imagine these scenarios:

 

1. The corresponding ROM for that CHD changed names and it now requires the CHD folder and/or file(s) with to be renamed

2. The original CHD was a bad dump and a new and improved one was found (and then option 1 may or may not also apply).

 

Other than time to map an extra rom path, any pros or cons to keeping say a "roms2" folder to separate your zip roms from your CHD folders/files?