Don's HyperSpin Auto File Renamer - Need your input

[emb]

It seems to be a common theme in the forums where users are requesting help on renaming their ROMsets to work with HyperSpin. The common suggestion is clrmamepro. While it is a powerful tool and has many features, it is not very intuitive to use and has of setup overhead just to rename files.

As a result I will be including an easy to use file auto-renamer in the next version of Don's HyperSpin List Generator. I would like to get your feedback on if there are any extra features you would like in this new tool (beyond what I have mentioned below).

Overview:

Think of this app as a simplified version of clrmamepro tailored for HyperSpin and to have one purpose, rename your ROMs. Unlike clrmamepro, you will not need to use any more dat files since the HyperSpin XML files now contain the need tags for renaming.

This new tool will require very little overhead to setup and run. Unlike several other renaming tools, this one does not need to do any guessing if the file name is correct as it verifies files based off of CRC and not by if the filename is similarly named..

In just be a click or two, your files will be renamed. You only need to enter in 3 fields:

1) Your HyperSpin XML file

2) Source directory (the directory where your newly downloaded ROMs exist),

3) Destination directory (the directory where your HyperSpin friendly ROMS will be created)

4) Click "Rename" and wait

Features:

1) 7z and zip support

2) Option to automatically compress (or uncompress) your files after they have been renamed.

3) Supports reading compressed files that have multiple versions of ROMs in it (e.g. GoodMerge)

4) A sortable preview table showing all the actions that will be applied.

5) Generates an exported list of games that have been converted, and a list of games that are still missing

(exported in both HTML and CSV [for spreadsheets]).

In case you were wondering, here is how it works:

It reads the CRC tag in your HyperSpin XML. If your HyperSpin XML does not have values in the CRC tags, this tool will not work (you may want to consider updating your HyperList). clrmamepro operates in a similar fashion as it verifies that the CRC of the file matches the CRC in the dat file.

Many tools rename files based on filename pattern matching. This can lead to false positives. I have used several apps which will predict the wrong game just because more characters matched. If you are matching by CRCs, you know you have the right file.

Caveat:

While this tool will be great for many console-based systems, it will not be best for MAME, due to the rapidly changing climate of their ROMset. When changing around your ROMset in MAME, you need that added functionality and overhead from clrmamepro.

Status:

API has been written. I just need to create the simple GUI and test.

[brownvim]

Cant wait for this Iv been sorting out my roms the past couple of days using clrmamepro and its not very intuitive at all, especially with my N64 roms.

I think its something to do with byteswapped files as this changed the CRC? Maybe your renamer could check this also? As the XML CRC matching will be thrown off.

[johnodon]

Same for me! This would be a life saver!

John

[brownvim]

I noticed gameboy advance Roms have really long files names and can hit the character limit causing an error in clrmamepro.

But the program doesn't state what the error is, I wasn't aware of a character limit (noob to this) so was confused. Maybe your program could just let the user know what happened?

[emb]

Preliminary screenshots. Any constructive feedback or ideas are appreciated.

[pongo334]

Preliminary screenshots. Any constructive feedback or ideas are appreciated.

I love the Layout (I can't mess up one button!). Warning this next part may sound real dumb. I don't know what the "Recursive Search" does. I looked it up and it looks like a search that goes on for ever? Maybe add an explanation next to it. That's all I have as far as nitpicks.

It looks great, cant wait to give it a try.

[Rain]

@Emb, epic level achieved! If you need access to any API's to retrieve official list or anything man just ask and I will get you the data you need. I love your work; you are very creative and that is what counts on here brother! Your a beast!

[BadBoyBill]

Nice man!

[jcm9800]

hello this will be really great

[wahoobrian]

I have found over the past year since I started messing with Hyperspin that the disc based systems are the biggest hassle to rename. Matching ISO/BIN files to their associated CUE files can be a brutal task. I found some AHK scripts online a while back that helps with this task, but it still included a lot of manual effort. Any automated feature on this front would get you nominated for sainthood, IMO. Thanks for taking the time to develop these tools, much appreciated!

[brownvim]

looks nice and simple, cant wait.

[emb]

Thanks for the feedback. I will rename the recursive checkbox to "Search subfolders". Instructions will be provided when you move a mouse over an input field.

Hmm...after some more digging it seems that quite a few of the XML files have empty CRC tags, which makes sense as no DAT files exist for them.

Looks like I am need for a Fuzzy Logic file scanner in these cases (nudge, nudge, Rain)

[emb]

Updated screenshots;.Does this still look simple enough to use?

[johnodon]

Looks great!

Will it generate a log so we can see exactly what the name was and what it became?

John

[emb]

Looks great!

Will it generate a log so we can see exactly what the name was and what it became?

John

Yep. See the pic from a few posts ago. I plan on making some modifications for that too.

[pongo334]

Excellent! I love the explanations now I don't have to guess. And now I know what a recursive search does. Thanks

[Trnzaddict]

Looks good don. It's good to have alternatives to fatmatch.

BTW your mame marquee is great. Has a nice ambient blue thing going on.

[emb]

Thanks, I made it in about 20 minutes with the help of my wife who is a graphic designer.

I am going to change it up soon. The blue kind of clashes with the red buttons on the cab. I'll be placing a nice custom overlay under the control panel too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[merugear]

Man I am keeping my eye on this topic... This is exactly what I need today .

[emb]

It's nice to hear that several people are interested in this. Here is a status update of remaining tasks:

1) Add recursive support

2) Add zip support (almost done)

3) Add 7z support (still looking for a decent C# API)

4) Clean up scanning table results

5) Use Rain's fuzzy logic API to add support (for systems that do not have known CRCs)

It is likely that this first release will contain only tasks 1,3, and 4. The release after that will contain 7z, and the fuzzy renaming support.

I figured it is better to get this done incrementally over time rather than having everyone wait a couple more months for everything to be implemented.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rain]

I would be glad to share the source code for my fuzzy library with you if you want it. Perhaps you can add some more features into it such as roman to arabic support. I would lobe to see that library become better amd more expanded. Thanks for your support.

Sent from a Droid, embracing freedom!

[Dreygor]

Friggin amazin bro!

[brownvim]

You could add bin and cue file renaming, its a pain changing the cue files too as iv realised doing my panasonic 3do set.

kodiak wrote a script for it here http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?10157-Dreamcast-renaming-your-thoughts-please/page7&highlight=kodiak+script

its post #61

[emb]

I am about 80% complete for this new renaming tool release. With that, here is the current roadmap:

2.3 - New renaming tool (using CRCs like clrmamepro does, just much easier to use)

3.0 - Tool to merge multiple XML files into one (I *finally* have an easy awesome idea for this!)

3.1 - Add fuzzy filename renaming tool support (for cases for systems without CRC support; based off of Rain's API)

3.1.2 - 7z support for the renaming tool.

(Tentative) Schedule of Releases

2.3: ~1-2 weeks

3.0: ~2 to 4 weeks

3.1: ~4 to 10 weeks

3.1.2: ~5 to 11 weeks.

With the addition of the new tools, I think I will eventually rename the program to Don's HyperSpin Tools (Version 3.0).

I would like your feedback on this:

What should I call the tool that will merge multiple XMLs (HyperLists) into one tool? The best I could come up with is "HyperList Multi-system Merger". Personally it sounds like a mouthful. I have been trying to think of an intuitive name for a few days now. The person who comes up with best name wins the gratification of knowing their name idea was used in the tool

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[Vithe]

God I can't wait for this. I've been renaming roms for a week now!