xdelta UI Version 1.1 KaioShin 31.05.

09 Introduction -----------xdelta is a binary patching program written by Josh McDonald, implementing the VCDIFF delta compression standard. This little front-end was written in order to make xdelta more foolproof to use for users who dislike to or don't know how to use the command-line. This front-end was primarily written to be used by the romhacking community to apply translations and other hacks to ROMs or other binary files. xdelta itself can be used for tons of applications of course and so should be this front-end. I did only test it with romhacking related tasks though. Requirements -----------The program was written in C#, and therefore needs the .NET framework to functio n. Google for it if you don't have it already. To be more specific it was compiled with the .NET 2.0 framework. Why xdelta? ----------The romhacking community has been struggling with the need for a suitable next-generation patching format for years now. One of the possible alternatives for a widely accepted standard is xdelta. It has many unique features that make it superior to formats like PPF or UPS. Reasons to use xdelta: - No filesize limitations - Efficient handling of rebuilt filesystems and relocated data structures (This causes MASSIVE patch sizes on formats such as IPS or UPS) - Protection against patching the wrong files xdelta is currently the only patching standard that can handle rebuilt filesyste ms! How to Use ---------The GUI should be pretty self-explanatory. If xdelta throws an error it'll be di splayed to you. Refer to the xdelta documentation at http://xdelta.org/ for possible soluti ons in case the error message isn't making sense to you. The most likely cause in the event of an error is that you picked a wrong file. Note that you have to patch the same file with which the patch creator created his patch from. Refer to the patch documentation to find o ut what file that is. The distribution package comes bundled with xdelta version 3.0u (Windows 32bit). If there is a new release of xdelta just replace xdelta.exe with a binary of the new version and it should be fine.

Note for Vista users: When you first use the front-end Vista will throw a warnin g asking you to confirm that the front-end may launch xdelta. This is a protection so that no harmful programs can call malware behind your back. You can safely accept the message an d tell Vista not to bother you again about it in the future. You can associate patch files with the front-end. That way they'll be automatica lly opened by double clicking on patches. I recommend to associate *.xdelta file s with the application and save all your patches as *.xdelta files. To do this, just double click on a xdel ta file and tell windows to make xdeltaUI the default to open the file. Acknowledgement and Contact --------------------------Don't forget that xdelta itself was written by Josh McDonald. I (KaioShin) just wrote a GUI to make it easier to use. All credits for the program should go to the original author. I didn't ask for explicit permission to bundle a binary of xdelta with this fron t-end, I assume it falls under fair-use. I'm not making any money of this program and I don't take any kind of donations for it. If anyone who is directly involved with xdelta has a problem with this please contact me and I'll distribute the front-end seperately. If you find an error in the GUI (and not in xdelta itself!) you can contact me a bout it and I'll try and fix it. You can reach me through a private message on the message b oard on www.romhacking.net. Changelog --------19.02.09 Initial Release 31.05.09 v1.1 - Patch files can now be associated to the patcher so they'll be a utomatically selected at startup. Thanks to Dragonsbr ethren for the suggestion.