CHDMan Windows Instructions

Introduction


The file formats to adopt for CDs and other optical supports.

We have talked about a format, derived from researches we had on MAME, in order to be able to represent these supports in a compressed way, without losing the integrity of the data and that these can remain scrappable.

This format is the CHD (Compressed Hunks of Data), datas that could be useful for SEGA CD, PS1, PC Engine...

Unfortunately, the classic user will have difficulties to use the converter, which is a command line executable.

So here is a Zip file, with automated scripts, to convert from BIN+CUE (Redump format) to CHD, and vice versa.

It has been added also for the GDI format, which is for the Dreamcast.

For PS1 games protected by LibCrypt, normally you have SBI (Subchannel Information) files, you keep them and put them with the CHDs, otherwise your games will not pass.

If you ever lose them or make a bad manipulation, these files are available on the files of each corresponding disk at Redump, next to the re-downloadable CUE files.


Software

You can download the software by clicking on CHDMAN.zip below.

 CHDMAN.zip

In this zip you will find 6 files :

File name Description
chdman.exe CHDMAN software
CUE or GDI to CHD.bat A .bat file that allows you to convert your CUE or GDI roms to CHD.  
Extract CHD to CUE.bat A .bat file that allows you to convert your CHD roms to BIN+CUE.
Extract CHD to GDI.bat A .bat file that allows you to convert your CHD rom to GDI.
README_EN.txt  
README_EN.txt  

Readme file content

  • CUE or GDI to CHD

     

    Compresses all types of BIN disk files with a CUE or GDI header to CHD (v5) format.
    Searches all subfolders and creates CHD (v5) files in the folder where the files are placed with CHDMAN.

  • Extract CHD to CUE Decompresses a CHD (v5) file to a BIN+CUE file. The CUE format is used by games on CD. On the Raspberry Pi, CHD is supported by TurboGrafx-CD / PC Engine CD, Sega CD / Mega CD and Dreamcast.

  • Extract CHD to GDI

     

    Unzips a CHD (V5) file to GDI. (GDI is a disk format for Dreamcast).

Automated use

Convert your game from BIN/CUE or GDI to CHD

  • Put "chdman.exe" and "CUE or GDI to CHD.bat" in the folder containing your game as below.
    Example for the game "Grandia (France)":

  • Click on the file "CUE or GDI to CHD.bat" to start the conversion.

  • Once the CMD window above has closed automatically, your conversion is complete.

  • You can delete "chdman.exe" and "CUE or GDI to CHD.bat", your rom is ready.

You can also run the .bat file to start the conversion of several games at once.

Convert your game from CHD to BIN/CUE

  • Put "chdman.exe" and "Extract CHD to CUE.bat" in the folder containing your game as below.
    Example for the game "Grandia (France)":

  • Click on the file "Extract CHD to CUE.bat" to start the conversion.

  • Once the CMD window above has closed automatically, your conversion is complete.

  • You can delete "chdman.exe" and "Extract CHD to CUE.bat", your rom is ready.

You can also run the .bat file to start the conversion of several games at once.

Convert your game from CHD to GDI

  • Put "chdman.exe" and "Extract CHD to GDI.bat" in the folder containing your game as below.
    Example for the game "Grandia (France)":

  • Click on the file "Extract CHD to GDI.bat" to start the conversion.

  • Once the CMD window above has closed automatically, your conversion is complete.

  • You can delete "chdman.exe" and "Extract CHD to GDI.bat", your rom is ready.

You can also run the .bat file to start the conversion of several games at once.




































































Create the .M3U file


In CHD conversion for multi-disk games, you have to make a M3U file to declare all the disks.


The .M3U file is a list of the different CDs for a game that allows you to switch from one CD to another in a simple way by using the disc change combination (Hotkey + L. STICK to the LEFT or to the RIGHT).


Example for the game "Grandia (France)":



Grandia (France) (Disc 1).chd
Grandia (France) (Disc 2).chd




Revision #1
Created 2024-06-10 08:16:00 UTC by Ryan
Updated 2025-03-12 17:13:03 UTC by Ryan