EZC Pack Builder!
For anyone who wanted to create their own packs I've written a simple utility to do it.
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Entering the information
Entering the details about the pack is simple and straightforward but here is some basic information. Tips are always displayed on the right hand side of the window.
Enter EZC Pack Name field
This is the title that will displayed in R4 Commanders homebrew library. I usually use the full name of the homebrew program as well as the version number. So if you were making a pack for SNEmulDS I would fill the field in with SNEmulDS V0.6alpha.
Enter Brief Description field
Enter a brief description of what the homebrew program is or does. For example SNES emulator if yu were making a SNEmulDS pack.
Pack Type field
Simply select what category of homebrew the pack belongs to.
Your notes field
This can be anything you want. Put your signature in all your packs to let people know who made them!
Output folder for pack on MicroSD card settings
This is the area on the MicroSD card you want the pack installed into. It's broken up into Games for homebrew games, Emulators for emulators and Applications for all others. For any homebrew application that needs to be run from the root of the card or a folder off the root there's an option for it as well in the drop down list. If the NDS file needs to be in the root then leave the folder name blank.
File Types fields
Some homebrew applications like ComicBookDS or emulators allow you to load external files. Specially converted files called .CBDS files for ComicBookDS and a range of different file types for all the different emulators. R4 Commander V2.0 has the ability to let you drop these extra file types into the window and it will automatically copy them to the right folder. Enter up to 3 different file types in the fields and R4 Commander V2.0 will automatically add them when the pack is installed to the homebrew library. For example .SMC for SNES roms, .SMD for MegaDrive roms, .NES for NES roms.
Output folder for file types settings
This is the folder the extra file types will be copied to during a build. It works in the same way as the Output folder for pack settings.
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Adding A Picture
Adding an image couldn't be easier. All you have to is drop it in the top right hand corner panel of the window. Files can be .bmp, .jpg or .png. This is the image that will appear when browsing in the homebrew library.
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Adding Files To The Pack
This is probably the trickiest part of the whole process. I've tried to keep it as simple as possible but you may still find it a bit fiddly. Adding files to the pack is pretty simple. As most downloads from the popular sites like DS-Scene and GBATemp come in .zip, .rar or .7z format you can drop these directly into the file browser in the bottom left corner of the window. You can also drag individual files into it as well, sorry but for the moment you can't drop entire folders in.
Working with archived homebrew
If you drop an archive into EZC Builder will then unpack it to it's work folder, including any sub-folders that are included in the archive. Sometimes the homebrew archives don't unpack directly into the WORKZIP folder, like the R4DS English firmware archives - they always unpack to a folder called English. If you find your archive does this EZC Builder can overcome that easily. When you build your pack EZC Pack Builder takes whichever folder the file browser is currently in to be the root directory. You can use the delete button to remove any files that aren't needed for the install.
DLDI Patching
Although most modern flash carts for the DS have auto-DLDI patching, alot of the only do it for .NDS files located in the root of the card. To be on the safe side I always patch my .NDS files manually before building the pack. To make it a simple process I've added a button in the file browser for DLDI patching. It uses dlditool.exe and drivers in a folder called DLDI for the actual patching. The program will pause after patching so you can make sure that it it was successful. At the moment the program only has R4/M3 Simply, Cyclo Evo, SC DS 1 and DS-X built into it.
Setting a picture
If you find a .bmp, .jpg or .png file in the archive that you'd like to use as the library image simply highlight it click the button.
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Building Your Pack
Building the pack couldn't be simpler. Simply click on the Build Pack button. EZC Pack Builder will then prompt you for a file name and the location you want it saved in. Remember to add .ezc to the end of the file name as I haven't put the code in yet. The program will automatically put the card code as a prefix to the file name. Once the pack is compiled simply drop it into R4 Commander V2.0 and it will appear in the homebrew library.
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Download links
Click here to download EZC Builder in Rar format
Click here to download EZC Builder in Zip format
