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

 

[comput3rus3r]

Wait, is this a cutter or a trimmer? Like, does it cut rom files into smaller parts? So you could fit an 8GB or 16GB game onto a FAT32 card or does it just trim blank space off the end of the rom? The name is a bit confusing.

you're confusing cutting/trimming with splitting.

 

[DocKlokMan]

you're confusing cutting/trimming with splitting.

Ah, yes! Splitting! I was thinking of cutting/splitting vs trimming/scrubbing. That's a much more clear way of pointing out the confusion in the name, thank you.

 

[ChronoX_]

Language is a wonderful thing, even for the native speakers it seems ;-)

 

[TheRedfox]

For the glorious users of Red Star OS(and other capitalist scum linux variants): https://bitbucket.org/Vrilll/hactool/src
And the static binary here: https://bitbucket.org/Vrilll/hactool/downloads/hactool

Usage: use -s or --strip with xci file appended, and it'll be stripped from all the zero's without any checks; because who needs to check shit?

 

[kataclysmicmind]

Good tool, thanks. Just trimmed 42 gigs off of 50 games.

 

[spotanjo3]

It is familiar to rom trimmer and I dont like it. I like to leave it untouched games no matter what.

 

[comput3rus3r]

Good tool, thanks. Just trimmed 42 gigs off of 50 games.

it has not been confirmed that trimmed roms work with the backup loader.

 

[OctolingRift]

Good to see this, cannot wait for backup loaders. Weird that there isn't a site that has XCI files. Can we even dump our games yet?

 

[DocKlokMan]

it has not been confirmed that trimmed roms work with the backup loader.

Since the tool can restore the padded data, it's still useful for storing the files on your computer. Just restore them before transferring to the Switch if we need to.

 

[detonyle]

Good to see this, cannot wait for backup loaders. Weird that there isn't a site that has XCI files. Can we even dump our games yet?

Maybe you didn't check very well

 

[Deleted User]

Lego.City.Undercover.USA.PROPER.NSW-BigBlueBox - 15,232.00MB -> 7,691.69MB

Insane how you can reduce half the game size with this tool.

 

[Deleted member 420418]

This will be very useful.

 

[DocKlokMan]

For any macOS or Linux users or anyone who wants to script a batch process, I made a python3 version of the trimmer here: https://github.com/AnalogMan151/XCI_Trimmer

 

[detonyle]

For any macOS or Linux users or anyone who wants to script a batch process, I made a python3 version of the trimmer here: https://github.com/AnalogMan151/XCI_Trimmer

Nice script works very well, just any chance you can add option to create a new files instead of trimming the existing one?
like blabla-cut.xci ?

 

[Maximilious]

Hey @MHDestination - Great work on this tool. I'm wondering if there's also a way to grab the header information from the .XCI files as well and if we can re-write them with our own header from a personal cart (once dumping is possible for end-users)?

Replacing the header would make it a bit more safe to go online with the public XCI's available today from BBB.

 

[Jaimy]

Cart dumps will dump the entire contents of the card (16GB, 2GB, ect.) even when the game itself could be 10GB, 1GB, ect. So we end up with a lot of blank space which is where the trimmer tools come in.

I imagine trimmed .xci's will work. I don't have my Switch right now but we could easily determine by looking at installed games from eShop. If they don't take up the full cart space but just the space designated after being trimmed then we may be good to go.

I just checked the sizes of installed games and they're all close to trimmed xci sizes posted above. Most are above probably because of patches but they are well below the original dump sizes. So I'm guessing Nintendo already trims the digital copies.

 

[thequickbrownfox]

Nintendo doesn't trim anything.
Digital games are just digital games.
Cartridge dumps are cartridge dumps, not just game dumps. If game leaves some free space on cartridge this is also dumped (in this case as FFFFs in the end). And this is what trimmer removes.

 

[CapitanSburro]

Can one good samaritan make a mac app?

 

[MHDestination]

Hey @MHDestination - Great work on this tool. I'm wondering if there's also a way to grab the header information from the .XCI files as well and if we can re-write them with our own header from a personal cart (once dumping is possible for end-users)?

Replacing the header would make it a bit more safe to go online with the public XCI's available today from BBB.

Thanks!

I don't know yet if swapping the identification is even possible.
The headers and certs contain some encrypted parts (Offset 0x190 for header and offset 0x12A for cert).

It's likely that these areas contain checksums to validate the headers. Therefore changing might break them.

I would need different dumps of the same game (and cartridge revision) to investigate.

 

[Maximilious]

I would need different dumps of the same game to investigate.

Once it's possible I'll gladly share a game dump for science to you. Preferably BotW or Mario Odyssey since they are likely the most common games to have a cart for at this point.