XCI-Cutter

Features:
- cuts off (trims) unused sectors
- optionally cuts in pieces (splits)
- batch processing


This tool reads the XCI-Header to determine the full cartridge-size and the actually used space.

By default, the tool checks if the sectors after the used space/gamedata are really unused (filled with FF).
It refuses to cut, if it finds any data in that area (this check can be bypassed by using "Fast Mode").

The tool can be used to restore these FF-sectors and expand XCI-files back to the full cartridge size.


@ChronoX_ compiled a list with actual datasizes over at:
https://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/XCI-Cutter


UPDATE 20.06.2018:
Trimmed and split games are now fully compatible with SX OS!

!!! Important Note: !!!
Dumps that were split with a version before v2.4.2,
have to be joined/uncut using that OLDER version.
And afterwards split again using the NEW version.
!!!

Download:
https://github.com/Destiny1984/XCI-Cutter/releases


Changelog:

v2.4.2:
- changed partsize to make split-dumps compatible with SX OS

v2.4.1:
- Bugfix release
fixed splitting which was broken in v2.4

v2.4:
- added "fast mode" to batch processing
(Direct trim of inputfiles / no safety checks)

v2.2:
Changes to batchprocessing:
- added recursive folder scanning (thanks to @RapidRaid aka getraid)
- add files and folders by Drag&Drop

v2.0:
- added batch processing with optional inputfile deletion

v1.5:
- fixed some exceptions
- implemented optional splitting

v1.0:
Initial Release

 

[DontForgetLuigi]

First, thanks for an excellent tool!

About the trimming process, is it as fast as it can be?
I'm trimming my XCIs on a 2x 512 GB samsung SSD, and it takes "some time" to trim a file.

 

[PatrickD85]

Wonderful tool, ran a batch of 43 titles earlier and it was complete smooth sailing

 

[Erol]

how do I know which version I have? there is no menu and the exe is just called XCI-Cutter....

 

[uzi]

thanks for this, but the trimming is slow. why have to rebuild the gamedata?
i used this to check all 201 games to see which ones i missed trimming then i just used xci explorers trimming feature, with that it takes 2 secs to trim the file

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

First, thanks for an excellent tool!

About the trimming process, is it as fast as it can be?
I'm trimming my XCIs on a 2x 512 GB samsung SSD, and it takes "some time" to trim a file.

use xci explore to trim, takes not even 2 secs, but use this program to know what files are not trimmed.. ;]

 

[datahoarder]

thanks for this, but the trimming is slow. why have to rebuild the gamedata?
i used this to check all 201 games to see which ones i missed trimming then i just used xci explorers trimming feature, with that it takes 2 secs to trim the file

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------




use xci explore to trim, takes not even 2 secs, but use this program to know what files are not trimmed.. ;]

I'm guessing you didn't enable "fast mode" which doesn't rebuild the data/make a copy and just trims without the safety of a copy.

 

[MHDestination]

thanks for this, but the trimming is slow. why have to rebuild the gamedata?
i used this to check all 201 games to see which ones i missed trimming then i just used xci explorers trimming feature, with that it takes 2 secs to trim the file

You don't have to rebuild the gamedata. That's what fast mode is for.
I guess trimming 201 files one by one with xci explorer took a lot of time.

Trimming with fast mode is exactly the same as trimming with xci explorer.

That would have processed your whole collection in a few seconds.

 

[Insane]

Just since this came up in this thread quite often: It seems file system fragmentation has no impact on the playability of backups (ran some tests, files were fragmented and working, files were not fragmented and not working etc)

 

[uzi]

You don't have to rebuild the gamedata. That's what fast mode is for.
I guess trimming 201 files one by one with xci explorer took a lot of time.

Trimming with fast mode is exactly the same as trimming with xci explorer.

That would have processed your whole collection in a few seconds.

well i didnt do one by one just a few that werent already trimmed, and i didnt know what was what fast mode was for lol my bad.

 

[Raahz]

Works great on latest switch firmware!

 

[ils]

Note: Make sure to format the SD card with a maximum clustersize of 32k.

is this necessary? what will happen if i use 64K/128K cluster size exFAT?

 

[deedie]

I have just read through this thread and cant find the answer to my question, unless I missed it somewhere.

as an example lego Incredibles is 15gb untrimmed, and 8gb trimmed. if I install an untrimmed version, will it still install 15gb of data on to the switch, or will it only install 8gb. 8gb being the amount that is actually part of the game.

 

[MHDestination]

Note: Make sure to format the SD card with a maximum clustersize of 32k.

is this necessary? what will happen if i use 64K/128K cluster size exFAT?

The clustersize is important for splitting.
Split games won't work with clustersizes >32k.

But while using exFAT, you won't need splitting at all. Therefore it doesn't matter.

I have just read through this thread and cant find the answer to my question, unless I missed it somewhere.

as an example lego Incredibles is 15gb untrimmed, and 8gb trimmed. if I install an untrimmed version, will it still install 15gb of data on to the switch, or will it only install 8gb. 8gb being the amount that is actually part of the game.

xci-files won't be installed at all (unlike nsp-files. You just have to copy the file to your sdcard. Therefore it will only occupy the trimmed filesize (the 8gb).

 

[deedie]

The clustersize is important for splitting.
Split games won't work with clustersizes >32k.

But while using exFAT, you won't need splitting at all. Therefore it doesn't matter.



xci-files won't be installed at all (unlike nsp-files. You just have to copy the file to your sdcard. Therefore it will only occupy the trimmed filesize (the 8gb).

I actually read the difference between nsp and xci, pretty much after posting the question.

so its worth trimming xci, but not really worth trimming nsp as the install file will be deleted afterwards anyway? is that accurate?

 

[Insane]

I actually read the difference between nsp and xci, pretty much after posting the question.

so its worth trimming xci, but not really worth trimming nsp as the install file will be deleted afterwards anyway? is that accurate?

Well except the fact that you manually have to delete the NSP yes... for NSP only splitting would be usefull, if Tinfoil would support it.

But if you are anyways upgrading to the latest and greatest version of Horizon (cause NSPs might require it), one could also do the exFat update...

 

[johnybjb]

Is there a way to batch to a different folder from the source?

 

[Tere Valentin]

Awesome tool. But question: What are the potential dangers of using fast mode when trimming several xci games all at once? Is it safer to just use fast mode with one game at a time?

 

[aln1k0]

Great tool, but it looks like even trimmed XCIs are larger than NSPs. Octopath Traveler - Trimmed XCI - 3.30GB, NSP - 2.94GB. Not by much, but still. Or when NSP is installed it's going to take more or the same amount of space as trimmed XCI?

 

[Caster06]

Where can I find a compiled version?
I can't do it by myself.

 

[Asia81]

Where can I find a compiled version?
I can't do it by myself.

https://github.com/Destiny1984/XCI-Cutter/releases

 

[Caster06]

I already have gone there, but I found zip and z archive only containing file to be assembled. The download icon instead reload the same page...