| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
Dumping my personal collection to CSDB, assistance appreciated
Hi all,
I just finished sorting my personal collection of cracks and demos and will now add them to CSDB step by step. I'm by far no expert in the cracking scene, so it would be nice if any of the more experienced guys in the business (Rough?) could take a quick look on recent crack entries now and then, to prevent me from adding bullshit. ;-)
Thanks in advance,
Steppe |
|
| |
SECRET MAN
Account closed
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 336 |
That sounds really good Steppe !
Im just sorting my whole collection.That costs much time.
|
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
Quote: Hi all,
I just finished sorting my personal collection of cracks and demos and will now add them to CSDB step by step. I'm by far no expert in the cracking scene, so it would be nice if any of the more experienced guys in the business (Rough?) could take a quick look on recent crack entries now and then, to prevent me from adding bullshit. ;-)
Thanks in advance,
Steppe
Looks fine! :)
Tip:
I usually try to stay away from the .prg's. It's nicer to preserve the original filename. Use d64 (like most of your entries already do) or t64.
I personally prefer them gzipped, but plain, or zipped is ofcourse also good. (Gzipped and plain opens transparently in VICE.) |
| |
Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: Looks fine! :)
Tip:
I usually try to stay away from the .prg's. It's nicer to preserve the original filename. Use d64 (like most of your entries already do) or t64.
I personally prefer them gzipped, but plain, or zipped is ofcourse also good. (Gzipped and plain opens transparently in VICE.)
gzip is not open-able with many tools, and to convert prg requires often to create a .d64 image and import the prg file in it. so the best is .ZIP or .D64.
Thanks |
| |
Zyron
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 2381 |
I prefer gzip, Vice can open gzipped files, Winzip & Winrar can extract them. |
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
Quote: gzip is not open-able with many tools, and to convert prg requires often to create a .d64 image and import the prg file in it. so the best is .ZIP or .D64.
Thanks
Which specific tools do you use that opens .zip's but do not open .gz's? |
| |
SECRET MAN
Account closed
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 336 |
I prefer the d.64 files !
Here an small preview from 1 of the 1000 directories.
ion].d64 170 KB 17.10.2005 01:04:30 AM a
Vampires Empire+ 100% [Ace].d64 170 KB 20.10.2005 08:27:36 PM a
Vendetta+ [Unix+Fairlight].d64 170 KB 22.10.2005 06:56:12 PM a
Venom [Ace].d64 170 KB 17.10.2005 12:49:56 AM a
Vergeetmijnietje [Hotline].d64 170 KB 22.10.2005 10:40:06 PM a
Volleyball Simulator [The Wande... 170 KB 16.10.2005 11:12:36 PM a
Voltage [Tristar].d64 170 KB 22.10.2005 06:55:48 PM a
Vulgus++ [Decibel].d64 170 KB 18.10.2005 10:07:12 PM a
W.O.P. [Powerline 3010].d64 170 KB
Demos,Magazines and cracks of several groups will have over 20 Gbyte ! A lot of work.
|
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
A nice thing about container formats like .gz and .zip is that you get a checksum on the files. This way you will know if stuff is intact after copying it around and transfering it between sites. |
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
Hm, a little late now with preserving the filenames. I already extracted the PRGs out of their original contexts and deleted the originals. :-(
But thanks for the feedback, folks. I wonder, is .gz really so much better than plain .zip? Sure, it's more transparent, but apart from that? Anyway, gonna stick to .gz, no big deal. |
| |
Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: Which specific tools do you use that opens .zip's but do not open .gz's?
did I say I cannot open .gzip? but it's not as spread, best is .zip or the .d64 images.
I use PowerArchiver |
| |
Jazzcat
Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1044 |
Funny thing about preservation and archives - always debate rages on filenames and what is appropriate and zip format. I care for neither. Do whatever. Just _convert_ it and I will change things if I feel they need changing for my own benefit.
I have around 11 DVDs of C64 collections, all of which are in different file formats, different zip formats etc. None of which stops me from accessing anything from them. |
| |
Trazan
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 620 |
The way how to compress them is the least worry indeed, spare a 40G harddrive to put them all on, costs like nothing these days. Plain D64 is the way to go people!
|
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
Quote: did I say I cannot open .gzip? but it's not as spread, best is .zip or the .d64 images.
I use PowerArchiver
No, you said "gzip is not open-able with many tools", and "so the best is .ZIP or .D64.". Naturally I then assumed you had come across such a tool. Though I admit that I was a little sloppy by saying that you'd have to use that particular tool.
I agree with Trazan about the format though. Compression is the least worry.
I find .zip's a little inconvenient when downloading from here, as I have to unpack them before running
in vice, but that's only a minor detail. And it may also be different in combination with other emulators and software.
Personally I have all my old disks as .d64's (with error info, important!) backupped. When I add to csdb, I create the d64's and screen-shots on the fly from those images using vice and starcommander. This way I can utilize information about context, like if the disk is from one of my contacts, there can be dates in personal messages that show when I got the disk and so on...
|
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
Jörg, if you decide to use a tool (Power Archiver) that can't cope with one of the oldest established free formats (.gz), I can't help it. There will always be someone who can't open this and that format because he got used to "his" archiving tool. That doesn't mean he can't open it, you just need to get a new tool. ;-)
www.7-zip.org (freeware) is my archiver of choice, by the way. |
| |
Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: Jörg, if you decide to use a tool (Power Archiver) that can't cope with one of the oldest established free formats (.gz), I can't help it. There will always be someone who can't open this and that format because he got used to "his" archiving tool. That doesn't mean he can't open it, you just need to get a new tool. ;-)
www.7-zip.org (freeware) is my archiver of choice, by the way.
*sigh* read it again:
"Quote: did I say I cannot open .gzip?"
PowerArchiver _can_ open it. But GZIP is a Linux native (as for as I know) format and a lot of people have troubles first to find a prg that opens it. Why using a weird format if ZIP is absolutely and ok? even Star Commander can handle ZIP, it's making life easier.
|
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
Quote: *sigh* read it again:
"Quote: did I say I cannot open .gzip?"
PowerArchiver _can_ open it. But GZIP is a Linux native (as for as I know) format and a lot of people have troubles first to find a prg that opens it. Why using a weird format if ZIP is absolutely and ok? even Star Commander can handle ZIP, it's making life easier.
Ok, this doesn't matter really, but just to clarify the difference between .gz's and .zip's:
a .gz file is just a file that has been compressed using gzip. It is only one file, so programs like vice can use them interchangably as one file.
a .zip archive can contain any number of files, including text-files explaining the release, etc. A tool like vice cannot automatically assume which of the contained files are the ones to open. The zip's therefore has to be unpacked before used.
Ofcourse vice and other software could be hacked to just pick the first .d64 of a zip archive, or present a list, but it's just a bit more tricky than with gzip archives.
Again like Trazan hinted, packed or unpacked doesn't matter, because as long as the data is there it can always be converted into the format you like. |
| |
Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: Ok, this doesn't matter really, but just to clarify the difference between .gz's and .zip's:
a .gz file is just a file that has been compressed using gzip. It is only one file, so programs like vice can use them interchangably as one file.
a .zip archive can contain any number of files, including text-files explaining the release, etc. A tool like vice cannot automatically assume which of the contained files are the ones to open. The zip's therefore has to be unpacked before used.
Ofcourse vice and other software could be hacked to just pick the first .d64 of a zip archive, or present a list, but it's just a bit more tricky than with gzip archives.
Again like Trazan hinted, packed or unpacked doesn't matter, because as long as the data is there it can always be converted into the format you like.
still best is plain .D64 |
| |
TDJ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1879 |
Quote: Ok, this doesn't matter really, but just to clarify the difference between .gz's and .zip's:
a .gz file is just a file that has been compressed using gzip. It is only one file, so programs like vice can use them interchangably as one file.
a .zip archive can contain any number of files, including text-files explaining the release, etc. A tool like vice cannot automatically assume which of the contained files are the ones to open. The zip's therefore has to be unpacked before used.
Ofcourse vice and other software could be hacked to just pick the first .d64 of a zip archive, or present a list, but it's just a bit more tricky than with gzip archives.
Again like Trazan hinted, packed or unpacked doesn't matter, because as long as the data is there it can always be converted into the format you like.
Nice background info, thanks dude. |
| |
Jazzcat
Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1044 |
What a funny conversation in 2005 when people have access to all tools. The same old story every time that plagues conversion and archives. I guess it is guaranteed amusement. |
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
I decided not to waste any more thoughts on it. .gz for single files (.prg, .d64, .t64) and .zip for multiple diskside games. I think everyone will find something bad about any of the above mentioned solutions, that's life. |
| |
Trazan
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 620 |
Compressing 170k files. Cool
Whats your adress and I send you a HD instead....:) |
| |
TDJ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1879 |
Quote: Compressing 170k files. Cool
Whats your adress and I send you a HD instead....:)
You want my address as well? |
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
Quote: Compressing 170k files. Cool
Whats your adress and I send you a HD instead....:)
Checksumming aswell. The main point is of all this is the data integrity! ;)
I think Steppe made a good compromize here. .gz holds the bytes of the file together with maximum transparency. .zip holds related files together, as well as the bytes within the files, but with less transparency. |
| |
dalezy
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 476 |
not sure if this is a weird request. but how big is your collection? would it be possible for you to host the whole collection somewhere for others to download? (if not, i know where you could actually host it, if you were interested =) |
| |
cba
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 935 |
Quote: not sure if this is a weird request. but how big is your collection? would it be possible for you to host the whole collection somewhere for others to download? (if not, i know where you could actually host it, if you were interested =)
Same here, I am intrested in your collection, so I can
sort it out myself and add it to TDD (ftp.scs-trc.net)
Niels |
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
It's not too big, couple hundred releases. Download it here:
http://www.demodungeon.com/temp/Steppes_Collection.rar (15 Meg)
Take note I've already deleted the entries I added since friday from my personal pile. Should be easy for you to use the latest addition functions to get these as well (just about 50 releases). |
| |
cba
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 935 |
Quote: It's not too big, couple hundred releases. Download it here:
http://www.demodungeon.com/temp/Steppes_Collection.rar (15 Meg)
Take note I've already deleted the entries I added since friday from my personal pile. Should be easy for you to use the latest addition functions to get these as well (just about 50 releases).
Great !
tnx
Niels :) |
| |
TWR
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2004
Posts: 187 |
Just started adding from my collection. Uploads will be available this week. |
| |
Matt
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 598 |
@steppe:
really rare stuff you got there.
dunno how you got hold of those Vinzz tunes but I thought I was the only one in the world having them. he used to be my neighbour like 15 years ago and those tunes, as far as I know, never got spread.
strange, but fun! |
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
I think you're right, they were never spread. I got them from another WOW member a couple of years ago, would have to look up who exactly that was.
Did Vinzz compose more tunes, by the way? |
| |
Matt
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 598 |
no he didn't.
he had this short boost of a scene carreer.
he cracked, coded, painted and, which I forgot about, he 'composed' some tunes for wow which were never used anyway cos being too bad haha.
I did add some more of his stuff too, you can find it here: Vinzz
anyway, I'm thinking about this since years: I haven't heard or seem him since ages. you know, getting older, everbody goes his own ways, but I do recall he had a full box with heaps of WOW wares and other stuff that never saw the light of the day. maybe it's about time to contact him and ask if he still has that diskettebox somewhere.
|
| |
TDJ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1879 |
Quote: no he didn't.
he had this short boost of a scene carreer.
he cracked, coded, painted and, which I forgot about, he 'composed' some tunes for wow which were never used anyway cos being too bad haha.
I did add some more of his stuff too, you can find it here: Vinzz
anyway, I'm thinking about this since years: I haven't heard or seem him since ages. you know, getting older, everbody goes his own ways, but I do recall he had a full box with heaps of WOW wares and other stuff that never saw the light of the day. maybe it's about time to contact him and ask if he still has that diskettebox somewhere.
Yes, because this scene needs more unreleased 15 year old stuff. |
| |
dalezy
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 476 |
great. thanks. =) |
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
Hey, they were included in my personal pack, but I have no intention to release unreleased tunes. Well, at least not here on CSDb... ;-) |
| |
Matt
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 598 |
Quote: Yes, because this scene needs more unreleased 15 year old stuff.
are you cynic all the time or just plain serious?
pf, I lost the plot here man... |
| |
Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: are you cynic all the time or just plain serious?
pf, I lost the plot here man...
There are only a few people that really understand The Dark Judge. I am not sure myself, wether I belong to this cycle, but he is funny. ;) |
| |
Steppe
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 1510 |
I wondered, is it enough to assign a crack to a group just because of the BASIC line? I've got a crack of Koronis Rift here which says
1985 SYS 2288 DEA CRACKINGS GERMANY
No crack intro whatsoever, and what is even more strange: Long time ago I sorted this game into an /FAB folder, but I can't find a clue about a cracker group called FAB in the game... :-/
/Steppe |
| |
tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
Quote: I wondered, is it enough to assign a crack to a group just because of the BASIC line? I've got a crack of Koronis Rift here which says
1985 SYS 2288 DEA CRACKINGS GERMANY
No crack intro whatsoever, and what is even more strange: Long time ago I sorted this game into an /FAB folder, but I can't find a clue about a cracker group called FAB in the game... :-/
/Steppe
If it seems plausible, i.e you know of no cruncher that automatically adds that line. Just add a note saying that you got it from the sys-line.
|
| |
Tch
Account closed
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 512 |
Just want to express my gratitude towards the uploaders, especially: TLR,Zyron,Steppe and TWR+Murdock.
Great job you guys!!
Over 2000 releases added these last 2 months.
This has not happened before, according to the ´Growth´-list!
Wonderful to see so many releases from the 80´s!
May it make CSDb more interesting for the oldest old-timers. ;D
If any of you could use some help..
I have a little vacation next week,so plenty of time. ;)
Thumbs up!
|
