Rom auditing programs

[stephenp1983]

I hear most everyone uses clrmamepro, but I just found another program called rom center. How does it compare to clrmamepro. Any reason not to use it.

[Adultery]

It's pretty much the same thing but I still like clrMAMEpro more since I can easily audit ROMs and snaps and artwork and all that. It's been around a long time so I just like it better I suppose.

[stephenp1983]

It's pretty much the same thing but I still like clrMAMEpro more since I can easily audit ROMs and snaps and artwork and all that. It's been around a long time so I just like it better I suppose.

I was suprised how many errors it found from the rom set I had. I've only gone from 105 to 106. I was afraid to do this before because I was scared it would cause things not to work.

[hansolo77]

What bugs me, is that I'll download from a torrent site a complete 107 rom set, with all games ever released. Then run it through GameEx and only have about 2000 games. Then I'll run the romset through clrmame and find that its like 90% crap. Even though people of the torrent community are all praising the release. What gives?!

[stephenp1983]

Most of the regular torrent sites are useless when it comes to complete sets. Pleasuredome a private tracker is great though.

[Adultery]

Agreed. That's where I get most of my updates from. They haven't let me down yet.

[hansolo77]

Pleasuredome is where I download from! ARGH!

[stephenp1983]

I am still hesitate in upgrading from 106 to 107. I'm happy with the way it is, the only things I really would look for improving are the video in some games. Ex spiderman and games like that.

[Ricci]

I am with you..if it ain't broke, I am hesitant to mess with it

[stephenp1983]

Well I let rom center fix my 106 set on my laptop (not my main mame machine). And the total size went from around 15 gbs to over 23 gbs. Any idea what happened.

[Adultery]

You might have it set to save the ROM sets it changes as backups in case you have a problem - clrMAMEpro does this by default so I imagine RomCenter would also.

Hope that helps!

[Will]

You might have set it to scan/rebuild non-merged roms instead of split or merged roms. Non-merged my set is 24 gigs, while merged they are 14.97.

[stephenp1983]

Alright after talking a little with a guy at pleasure dome there sets are spilt or merged together, and I must have unspilt them.

I dunno exactly what the difference is or if one is better than the other, if someone could explain I'd appreciate it.

[Will]

Alright after talking a little with a guy at pleasure dome there sets are spilt or merged together, and I must have unspilt them.

I dunno exactly what the difference is or if one is better than the other, if someone could explain I'd appreciate it.

The set type refers to how the needed files are handled for each rom. Many roms have variants (world, US, different versions, hacks, etc) that cause a need for a "parent" rom and "child" roms. The different versions of the roms share some main core files, but also have their own particular files. Therefore there are three ways you can store your roms: non-merged, merged, or split.

In a non-merged set each rom (zip file) has all the files it needs, which causes some redundancy in that the child roms have copies of the parent files they need. Also, there is one zip file per rom/version. For example there would be multiple Killer Instinct zip files--one for each version, each with all the files it needs to run. This causes redundancy but is good for people who only want certain roms.

In merged sets, each zip file contains all the files for each rom group. For example the zip file for Killer Instict would have all the files needed to run version 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, etc. This elliminates redundancy and reduces file numbers, but hinders you joining a torrent to update your roms.

In split sets, the child roms still look to the parent roms for dependencies, but there is a zip file for each child. The zip doesn't contain all the needed files to run, so the parent MUST exist for a child to run. Most sites require their sets in this format so that it is easier to get what you need and not re-download roms that haven't changed. This format creates a large number of files, but is easier to catalog and audit.

Bottom line, use split sets for uploading/downloading, and (optional) convert them to a merged set for playing.

If any of this is wrong or there are other reasons I missed--please let me know!

[Adultery]

That's exactly right from how I am to understand it. The only question I have is this - if your ROM sets are merged, how do you select clone versions? Seems to me that if your ROM set is merged, it'll only play the Parent set.

Seems silly to have clone sets at all if you're going to merge them...

[Will]

That's exactly right from how I am to understand it. The only question I have is this - if your ROM sets are merged, how do you select clone versions? Seems to me that if your ROM set is merged, it'll only play the Parent set.

Seems silly to have clone sets at all if you're going to merge them...

Don't know the full answer to that one. Surely Mame32 knows how to parse them, when updating the list. My guess is with mame there is a switch to cover that case. Surely merged sets HAVE to be supported in mame, or it wouldn't be an option.

I do know that if you choose a set that includes clones in Mame32, without choosing a specific one, it will play the "default" one in the set, which is not necessarily the parent. Sometimes a hack or bootleg or older version plays better than the parent. I don't have an example of this, but I remember reading this in a reputable source.

[stephenp1983]

So my set must have been split, and rom center changed it to Non merged. So Merged would be even smaller in size (file size) that split right?

[Tom Speirs]

Just to let you folks know, the next version of GameEx will handle merged roms again.

Cheers.

Tom

[NIVO]

??? tom, can you please explain? i've always used merged romsets and they work fine for me, unless im missing what your getting at. Thanks.

WHOOPS!! disregard I see what you mean, ok ill wait for next release as well. Always appreciate your work Tom.

[stephenp1983]

So at this point does gameex only support non merged sets? And when you add support for merged sets will this include split sets as well?

[Will]

So at this point does gameex only support non merged sets? And when you add support for merged sets will this include split sets as well?

GameEx currently supports split sets and (of course) non-merged sets. Personally, I don't see much benefit in merged sets or non-merged sets as long as you are keeping a full set. Since you need them in split sets to make it easier to integrate updates, and to join existing torrents, and since it doesn't interfere with playing them at all, I don't really see the point. Now if you only want about 50 games or something and don't care about full sets, well then non-merged is still helpful. Anyone know a good reason to have a merged set?

[hansolo77]

To save space? But you're right.. split and non-merged are the best options when a romset like MAME is constantly being updated. For sets no longer being updated, merged is ideal.

[Adultery]

I don't use merged sets, but clrMAMEpro would be able to update just as easy as anything merged or not... benefeit being you save well over a couple gigs merging, if you need to worry about space. I guess it really just comes down to personal preference.

PS - GameEx supports merged sets sort of - meaning it launches the 'default' set. Merging sure makes your ROM list alot cleaner also.

[stephenp1983]

Is there a way for me to use rom center and go back to split sets from the non merged that I evidently create. Also in the future is there a setting in rom center that controls whether they are split or not.

[Will]

Is there a way for me to use rom center and go back to split sets from the non merged that I evidently create. Also in the future is there a setting in rom center that controls whether they are split or not.

I use CLRMame instead so I don't know specifically, but I am SURE there is.