Batch Convert to CHD

Batch Convert to CHD is a high-performance Windows desktop utility designed to streamline the conversion of various disk image formats into the Compressed Hunks of Data (CHD) format.

🚀 Key Features

💻 Multi-Architecture Support

• Native ARM64 & x64: Automatically detects your system architecture and utilizes the appropriate chdman binaries for maximum efficiency.
• Optimized Performance: Leverages native instructions on ARM64 hardware to reduce overhead during heavy compression tasks.
• Assembly Preloading: Background assembly preloading on startup for improved application responsiveness.

🛠️ Intelligent Conversion

• Automated Batch Processing: Convert entire directories of disk images with real-time progress monitoring.
• Smart Command Selection: Automatically detects the optimal chdman command (createcd, createdvd, createhd, or createraw) based on file headers and extensions.
• Archive Integration: Transparently handles .zip, .7z, and .rar archives, extracting and processing contents automatically.
• CSO Decompression: Built-in support for .cso (Compressed ISO) files via maxcso integration (available on x64).
• PBP Extraction: Convert PlayStation Portable .pbp files to CHD format via psxpackager integration (extracts to CUE/BIN then converts).

✅ Integrity & Verification

• Batch Verification: Validate the checksums and structural integrity of existing CHD files.
• Automated Organization: Optionally move verified or failed files into dedicated subfolders (Success/Failed) for easy library management.
• Recursive Scanning: Support for deep-folder verification passes.

📊 Performance & UI

• Real-time Telemetry: Monitor disk write/read speeds and elapsed time during operations via Windows Performance Counters.
• Comprehensive Logging: Detailed, timestamped logs for auditing and troubleshooting with automatic truncation for optimal performance.

🔄 Updates & Stability

• Automatic Update Checks: Notifies you when new versions are available on startup.
• Automated Bug Reporting: Built-in error reporting system helps improve the application by automatically sending crash reports (no personal data collected).
• Global Exception Handling: Comprehensive error handling ensures the application remains stable even when unexpected issues occur.

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📂 Supported Formats

Category	Formats
Standard Images	.iso, .cue (+.bin), .img, .raw, .toc
Console Specific	.cdi (Dreamcast/Saturn), .gdi (Dreamcast), .pbp (PlayStation Portable)
Compressed	.cso (Compressed ISO)
Archives	.zip, .7z, .rar
Output	.chd (Compressed Hunks of Data)

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🛠️ Technical Logic

The application implements priority-based logic to ensure compatibility:

1. DVD Images (.iso): Defaults to createdvd.
2. Hard Disk Images (.img): Defaults to createhd.
3. Raw Data (.raw): Defaults to createraw.
4. Multi-track/CD Images (.cue, .cdi, .gdi, .toc): Defaults to createcd.
5. PlayStation PBP (.pbp): Extracts to CUE/BIN using psxpackager, then converts to CHD using createcd.

Note: Users can manually override these settings via the UI to force specific modes (except for PBP which always extracts first).

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💻 Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10 / 11 (x64 or ARM64)
• Runtime: .NET 10.0 Desktop Runtime
• Bundled Dependencies:
  • chdman.exe / chdman_arm64.exe (MAME Project)
  • maxcso.exe (CSO Decompression - x64 only)
  • psxpackager.exe (PBP Extraction)
• NuGet Dependencies:
  • SharpCompress (v0.46.2) - Archive extraction support

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📥 Installation

1. Download the latest binary from the Releases page.
2. Extract the contents to a permanent folder.
3. Important: Ensure all .exe files (including ARM64 variants) remain in the same directory as BatchConvertToCHD.exe.
4. Launch the application.

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📖 Usage

Conversion Workflow

1. Navigate to the Convert to CHD tab.
2. Select your Source Folder (containing images or archives).
3. Select your Output Folder.
4. (Optional) Enable "Delete original files" to clean up source data after a successful conversion.
5. Click Start Conversion.

Verification Workflow

1. Navigate to the Verify CHD Files tab.
2. Select the folder containing your .chd files.
3. Configure folder organization options (Success/Failed folders).
4. Click Start Verification.

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🤝 Contributing & Support

If you encounter issues or have feature requests, please use the GitHub Issues tracker.

Support the Project: If this tool saves you time, consider supporting further development:

• ⭐ Star this repository on GitHub.
• ☕ Donate: purelogiccode.com/donate

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📜 License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See the LICENSE.txt file for details.

Acknowledgements:

• MAME Team for chdman.
• unknownbrackets for maxcso.
• PSXPackager for PlayStation PBP extraction support.
• SharpCompress for archive handling.

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Developed by Pure Logic Code