SNES database out of date with no-intro

[nightwulf]

Hello, folks. I noticed some oddities in my game list and long story short after comparing the SNES database with the most recent no-intro DAT I found quite a few discrepencies.

So, that opens up a few possibilites-

I keep GameEx auto-updated. Is it safe to assume the file on my hard drive is the most recent SNES db included with GameEx? Or could I be out-of-date and should reinstall?

Is updating this an ongoing project that I missed while searching the forum?

Are there updated databases available somewhere I'm missing? I've only really looked at SNES, so no idea what the status of the others is.

Am I an outcast using no-intro and should switch to a different naming system?

Failing all of the above, I'd certainly be interested in updating the no-intro names and sharing the resulting database.

Thanks in advance.

[Draco1962]

Welcome to the forums! No-Intro is the preferred naming system of of most systems. As with most anything in the emulation community, some aspects may not be as up-to-date as others without the efforts of our members. I am sure most will welcome an update if you are willing.

[DJoneK]

I'd be happy to contribute to db updates but there is no clear procedure to properly update them. I don't know if there is a specific tool we should use, or just plain Access, or SQLite. Then there's this "Database Manager" on the Headsoft site, but the link doesn't work without user/pass. I can work with SQLite, but seems like it's not easy to work with while keeping it clean and organized. Also, some explanation on the inner workings on them should help. Like how do they cross-reference each other under GameEx, like for ports, when they show up as "Also Available" for other consoles.

Nothing is really clear on the matter.

Ideally, GameEx should have all it's databases online so they can be edited by members with authorization, and easily downloadable to GameEx.

[Draco1962]

Greatflash and Headkaze are our DB gurus and can probably give some explanation and info to get you started.

[nightwulf]

Thanks, I'll spend some time with the SNES database and see what I can come up with. In some initial poking around, a couple questions have come up ...

Is there a way to get a GoodSNES datfile or equivalent? All I found floating around is the executable, Everything I try to do with it gives the error "Unable to open GoodSNES.db" which I've been unable to find.

There appears to be a new player in town -- HyperList. It's not quite the same as no-intro; in fact so many of the discrepancies match what I'm seeing between the GameEx db and no-intro that I wonder if HL was used for the "no-intro" column in the db. Can I add a column in the db for HL? Or is GameEx expecting the db structure to appear exactly as it does now? I noticed MAME-specific columns in the SNES db that obviously serve no purpose in that context, so I thought I'd see if the db structure was "fixed" across GameEx before toying with it.

[Draco1962]

Of the two - No-Intro and HyperList, HyperList is the new kid in town with origins in the front end HyperSpin. I would stick with the structure presently in use and, when available, I am sure wither Headkaze or Greatflash will chime in to answer some of your questions regarding.

[Tempest]

AFAIK these are the latest goodset dats.

GoodSet Dats.7z

[nightwulf]

Thanks, Tempest. Unfortunately there isn't an SNES file in there, and I haven't been able to find one anywhere.

I got somewhere by running "goodsnes list" in an otherwise-empty directory. Good grief what a mess that set is. Unfortunately I've only got names that way; it'd be really nice if I could get the CRC or SHA1 somehow to match everything up ... it was really easy with a quick Perl script to parse the TOSEC and no-intro dats and spit out a CSV file with everything matched up by CRC. Guess I'll try adding the Good set by hand if nothing else works.

[Tempest]

Sorry, I should have looked before I posted. I have a GoodNes.xmdb file, but it doesn't include any CRC info.

Since you are a scripter, I am wondering if it is possible to update your set using CMP, then create a list containing a calculated CRC and a filename from the files themselves. It would be really great if there was an automated way to update the DB's.

[nightwulf]

Finally came up with something usable; added it to the Database thread.