For some time now, there have been questions about how to create a filtered dat file from the original dat file.
Here is how to do it with the command line tool DatUtil with an example.
Scroll to the end to see the most used commands.
DatUtil is a command line tool, which allows you to modify and adjust DAT files in many different ways. It can handle DAT files of any size, which makes it more comfortable and usable than DatWorkshop Pro.
The tool comes with a readme.txt, which is quite clear.
In the following, you can see the most important part of the readme.txt:
Fix merge (formerly the -m option)
Delete duplicate ROMs/disks/samples
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| -f | output format (listinfo, listxml, romcenter2, delimited, sublist, etc.) |
| -q | always use quotes around strings (applies only to listinfo output) |
| -k | keep as much information as possible from the source file |
| -j | Nebula Jukebox - load only Z80 and romdata sample ROMs |
| -o | output to file |
| -a | add to file |
| -t | test mode - no data file is actually saved (just loaded and cleaned up) |
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| one | author |
| -V | version |
| -C | category |
| -R | ref name |
| -F | full name (i.e. Description) |
| -T | date |
| -E | |
| -H | homepage |
| -U | url |
| -O | comment |
| -M | merge (none, split or full) |
| -P | packaging (zip or unzip) |
| -N | nodump (obsolete, required or ignored) |
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| -g | individual set selection. Use the @ symbol to specify a name file. |
| -c | include clones (use with -g option) |
| -G | select sets from a specified source file. The @ method is also supported. |
| -S | select sets using a substring description. The @ method is supported. |
| -! | change -g, -G, -S options (including -c option) to exclude sets from the list |
| -r | delete clones |
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| -l | lowercase game names and ROM names |
| -s | sort games by parent (sorted by parent name then by game name) |
| -i | include missing information from a reference data file |
| -I | Incorporate sets from a "complement" data file |
| -X | repair merge (do not use if you don't understand the consequences!) |
| -D | delete duplicate ROMs/disks/samples (as above in terms of usage) |
| -p | plune (delete) ROMs, disks and/or samples (e.g. -p disk, sample) |
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| -x | Calculate SHA1 / MD5 when scanning files or ZIP in a directory |
| -m | Use MD5 checksums instead of SHA1 (for example, using -x, -m can be used) |
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| -v | Detailed record |
| -d | Show debugging messages |
MAME - ROMs (v0.176_XML).dat to the DatUtil directorydatutil.exe -g neogeo -c -r -f generic -A Nachtgarm -C "Standard DatFile" -F NeoGeoOnlyNoClones -R NeoGeo_only_NO_clones -V "1.0" -o NeoGeoOnlyNoClones.dat "MAME - ROMs (v0.176_XML).dat"
The result will be a new dat file with the name NeoGeoOnlyNoClones.dat, which can be opened with Romulus, or clrMamePro. Included are 159 Games and a Bios.
Here is an excerpt from the created file:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE datafile PUBLIC "-//Logiqx//DTD ROM Management Datafile//EN" "http://www.logiqx.com/Dats/datafile.dtd">
<datafile>
<header>
<name>NeoGeo_only_NO_clones</name>
<description>NeoGeoOnlyNoClones</description>
<category>Standard DatFile</category>
<version>1.0</version>
<author>Nachtgarm</author>
</header>
<game name="2020bb" romof="neogeo">
<description>2020 Super Baseball (set 1)</description>
<year>1991</year>
<manufacturer>SNK / Pallas</manufacturer>
<rom name="sp-s2.sp1" merge="sp-s2.sp1" size="131072" crc="9036d879" sha1="4f5ed7105b7128794654ce82b51723e16e389543"/>
<rom name="sp-s.sp1" merge="sp-s.sp1" size="131072" crc="c7f2fa45" sha1="09576ff20b4d6b365e78e6a5698ea450262697cd"/>
<rom name="sp-u2.sp1" merge="sp-u2.sp1" size="131072" crc="e72943de" sha1="5c6bba07d2ec8ac95776aa3511109f5e1e2e92eb"/>
<rom name="sp-e.sp1" merge="sp-e.sp1" size="131072" crc="2723a5b5" sha1="5dbff7531cf04886cde3ef022fb5ca687573dcb8"/>
<rom name="v2.bin" merge="v2.bin" size="131072" crc="62f021f4" sha1="62d372269e1b3161c64ae21123655a0a22ffd1bb"/>
<rom name="asia-s3.rom" merge="asia-s3.rom" size="131072" crc="91b64be3" sha1="720a3e20d26818632aedf2c2fd16c54f213543e1"/>
<rom name="vs-bios.rom" merge="vs-bios.rom" size="131072" crc="f0e8f27d" sha1="ecf01eda815909f1facec62abf3594eaa8d11075"/>
<rom name="sp-j2.sp1" merge="sp-j2.sp1" size="131072" crc="acede59c" sha1="b6f97acd282fd7e94d9426078a90f059b5e9dd91"/>
<rom name="sp1.jipan.1024" merge="sp1.jipan.1024" size="131072" crc="9fb0abe4" sha1="18a987ce2229df79a8cf6a84f968f0e42ce4e59d"/>
<rom name="sp-45.sp1" merge="sp-45.sp1" size="524288" crc="03cc9f6a" sha1="cdf1f49e3ff2bac528c21ed28449cf35b7957dc1"/>
<rom name="japan-j3.bin" merge="japan-j3.bin" size="131072" crc="dff6d41f" sha1="e92910e20092577a4523a6b39d578a71d4de7085"/>
<rom name="sp-1v1_3db8c.bin" merge="sp-1v1_3db8c.bin" size="131072" crc="162f0ebe" sha1="fe1c6dd3dfcf97d960065b1bb46c1e11cb7bf271"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_3_2.rom" merge="uni-bios_3_2.rom" size="131072" crc="a4e8b9b3" sha1="c92f18c3f1edda543d264ecd0ea915240e7c8258"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_3_1.rom" merge="uni-bios_3_1.rom" size="131072" crc="0c58093f" sha1="29329a3448c2505e1ff45ffa75e61e9693165153"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_3_0.rom" merge="uni-bios_3_0.rom" size="131072" crc="a97c89a9" sha1="97a5eff3b119062f10e31ad6f04fe4b90d366e7f"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_2_3.rom" merge="uni-bios_2_3.rom" size="131072" crc="27664eb5" sha1="5b02900a3ccf3df168bdcfc98458136fd2b92ac0"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_2_3o.rom" merge="uni-bios_2_3o.rom" size="131072" crc="601720ae" sha1="1b8a72c720cdb5ee3f1d735bbcf447b09204b8d9"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_2_2.rom" merge="uni-bios_2_2.rom" size="131072" crc="2d50996a" sha1="5241a4fb0c63b1a23fd1da8efa9c9a9bd3b4279c"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_2_1.rom" merge="uni-bios_2_1.rom" size="131072" crc="8dabf76b" sha1="c23732c4491d966cf0373c65c83c7a4e88f0082c"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_2_0.rom" merge="uni-bios_2_0.rom" size="131072" crc="0c12c2ad" sha1="37bcd4d30f3892078b46841d895a6eff16dc921e"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_1_3.rom" merge="uni-bios_1_3.rom" size="131072" crc="b24b44a0" sha1="eca8851d30557b97c309a0d9f4a9d20e5b14af4e"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_1_2.rom" merge="uni-bios_1_2.rom" size="131072" crc="4fa698e9" sha1="682e13ec1c42beaa2d04473967840c88fd52c75a"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_1_2o.rom" merge="uni-bios_1_2o.rom" size="131072" crc="e19d3ce9" sha1="af88ef837f44a3af2d7144bb46a37c8512b67770"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_1_1.rom" merge="uni-bios_1_1.rom" size="131072" crc="5dda0d84" sha1="4153d533c02926a2577e49c32657214781ff29b7"/>
<rom name="uni-bios_1_0.rom" merge="uni-bios_1_0.rom" size="131072" crc="0ce453a0" sha1="3b4c0cd26c176fc6b26c3a2f95143dd478f6abf9"/>
<rom name="030-p1.p1" size="524288" crc="d396c9cb" sha1="47ba421d14d05b965a8d44e7475b227a208e5a07"/>
<rom name="030-s1.s1" size="131072" crc="7015b8fc" sha1="8c09bc3e6c62e0f7c9557c1e10c901be325bae7f"/>
<rom name="sfix.sfix" merge="sfix.sfix" size="131072" crc="c2ea0cfd" sha1="fd4a618cdcdbf849374f0a50dd8efe9dbab706c3"/>
<rom name="000-lo.lo" merge="000-lo.lo" size="131072" crc="5a86cff2" sha1="5992277debadeb64d1c1c64b0a92d9293eaf7e4a"/>
<rom name="sm1.sm1" merge="sm1.sm1" size="131072" crc="94416d67" sha1="42f9d7ddd6c0931fd64226a60dc73602b2819dcf"/>
<rom name="030-m1.m1" size="131072" crc="4cf466ec" sha1="6a003b53c7a4af9d7529e2c10f27ffc4e58dcda5"/>
<rom name="030-v1.v1" size="1048576" crc="d4ca364e" sha1="b0573744b0ea2ef1e2167a225f0d254883f5af04"/>
<rom name="030-v2.v2" size="1048576" crc="54994455" sha1="76eb62b86e8ed51a77f44313d5cc8091b3f58d57"/>
<rom name="030-c1.c1" size="1048576" crc="4f5e19bd" sha1="ef7975c4b33a7aea4a25a385f604799f054d3200"/>
<rom name="030-c2.c2" size="1048576" crc="d6314bf0" sha1="0920cc580d7997fcb0170dd619af2f305d635577"/>
<rom name="030-c3.c3" size="1048576" crc="47fddfee" sha1="297c505a63448c999a2510c27bf4549102134db8"/>
<rom name="030-c4.c4" size="1048576" crc="780d1c4e" sha1="2e2cf9de828e3b48642dd2203637103438c62142"/>
</game>
[...]
</datafile>
datutil.exe = The command to run the tool.
-g = Individual set or system selection. In our case neogeo
neogeo = see above
-c = Includes all games (the readme is a bit confusing here). If you don't use this option, only NEOGEO bios will be found
-r = remove all clones
-f = determines the format of the new DAT. In our case generic.
-A = Determines the author. In our case Nachtgarm.
-C = Determines the type of DAT (Category). In our case Standard DatFile . Note the "", which are necessary, because of the drafts
-F = Determines the name (Description) of the DAT in a ROM manager. In our case NeoGeoOnlyNoClones.
-R = Determines the name that is displayed in a ROM driver. In our case NeoGeo_only_NO_clones.
-V = Determines the version of the DAT file. In our case "1.0" . Note the "" here too, because of the complete stop
-o = determines the new file name. In our case NeoGeoOnlyNoClones.dat.
Each of the following strings expects the original DAT to be placed in the same directory as the datutil.exe tool
Create a DAT file that includes only NEOGEO games and their clones.
datutil.exe -g neogeo -c -f generic -C "Standard DatFile" -o NewFileName.dat "OriginalFile.dat"
**Create a DAT file that includes only NEOGEO games (without clones)
datutil.exe -g neogeo -c -r -f generic -C "Standard DatFile" -o NewFileName.dat "OriginalFile.dat"
Create a DAT file with only the parent roms (without NEO-GEO and without the clones)
datutil.exe -g neogeo -c -! -r -f generic -C "Standard DatFile" -o NewFileName.dat "OriginalFile.dat"