but how are you supposed to get these large files onto the switch? I must have asked this question about 50 times over the years and still havent got a clear answer.
You're confusing transferring with installing. DBI for example will install even a 10GB game (NSP, NSZ, XCI) easily to your Switch via USB. You just need to tell it to do it. With the MTP install option, it's just drag and drop, it's that easy.
I haven't confused installing with transferring. I haven't mentioned installing yet, as there's nothing on the Switch to install yet.
But that's what I was saying. You shouldn't transfer your game files (NSP, NSZ, XCI) to the SD card. You should only install them directly over USB. That's the normal way to do it. If the MTP method doesn't work for you with DBI, there is also the backend method. Take a look at the DBI instructions over here.
Have you tried DBIbackend. It's a small app you run on your PC. Run it, then you browse to your nsp file. On the DBI side on your Switch, you choose the option "Install from DBIbackend". They'll see each other. Then you just install. Less easy than drag and drop, but it also works.
But do realize that you won't be able to run anything without sys-patch or sigpatches. Personally, I use sys-patch successfully. And once again, you can't transfer files larger than 4GB because it's a limitation of the FAT32 system. On the other hand, you CAN install games larger than 4GB by USB installation (with DBIbackend, for example). If it works for everyone else, why should it not work for you?
That, and any other split options, shouldn't really be used anymore imo. The only time you need files > 4gb is for a game install, which you can use dbi for that. It was useful when in the past, usb installs barely worked and network installing wasn't an option.
I'm not sure what to say to this. You continue to ask for help while passive aggressively attacking the people trying to help you. Perhaps instead of telling us all how we're doing it wrong and terrible helpers you should examine what you're doing and find out what you might be doing wrong.
No installers splits files. They just use native fs feature that do all the work
Yes they are archives and when placed on a FAT32 formatted card they must be broken down into ~4GB chunks. You'll see this if you peruse the Nintendo/Contents folder and start going through the games you have installed there.
Before giving up I tried a few things;
