Advanced ROM Management

Advanced techniques for managing large ROM libraries

This guide covers power-user workflows for managing 100+ games, multi-disc collections, custom metadata, backups, and optimization strategies for large libraries.

For basic ROM importing, see Importing ROMs | For file formats, see Formatting ROMs

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Table of Contents

• Managing Large Libraries

• Multi-Disc Games

• Metadata & Artwork

• iCloud Sync Strategies

• Backup & Migration

• ROM Hacks & Patches

• Performance Optimization

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Managing Large Libraries

Organizational Strategies

Recommended structure for 1000+ ROMs:

ROMs/
├── NES/           (250 games)
├── SNES/          (300 games)
├── GBA/           (200 games)
├── PlayStation/   (150 games)
│   ├── Multi-Disc/     (Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid)
│   └── Single-Disc/    (Crash, Spyro)
└── N64/           (100 games)

Benefits:

• ⚡ Faster library loading (Provenance indexes by system)

• 🔍 Easier to find specific games

• ☁️ Better iCloud sync organization

• 📊 Clearer storage usage tracking

Naming Conventions

Use consistent naming for automatic metadata matching:

✅ Good: Final Fantasy VII (USA).chd ✅ Good: Super Mario World (USA) (Rev 1).smc ❌ Bad: ff7_disk1.bin ❌ Bad: mario[!].sfc

Best practices:

• Include region codes: (USA), (Europe), (Japan)

• Use No-Intro or Redump naming standards

• Avoid special characters: [, ], !, +

• Be consistent with revision markers: (Rev 1), (v1.1)

Why this matters:

• 🎨 Automatic artwork matching via OpenVGDB

• 📝 Accurate metadata (publisher, release date, genre)

• 🌐 Better game database recognition

• 💾 Proper multi-disc grouping

Filtering & Searching

Use Provenance's search features:

1. Library Search - Tap magnifying glass

   • Search by title, system, or genre

   • Filters: Favorites, Recently Played, System

2. Custom Collections (Favorites)

   • Long-press game → "Add to Favorites"

   • Quick access to frequently played games

3. System-Specific Views

   • Browse by console for focused game selection

   • Faster scrolling than mixed library view

Pro tip: Mark 10-20 favorite games for quick access - much faster than scrolling through 1000+ titles.

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Multi-Disc Games (Advanced)

M3U Playlists

What are M3U files? Plain text files that group multi-disc games into a single library entry with disc-swapping support.

Example: Final Fantasy VII

Create Final Fantasy VII (USA).m3u:

Final Fantasy VII (USA) (Disc 1).chd
Final Fantasy VII (USA) (Disc 2).chd
Final Fantasy VII (USA) (Disc 3).chd

How to create:

1. Use a text editor (Notes, TextEdit, VS Code)

2. List each disc file (one per line)

3. Save as .m3u with the same name as disc 1

4. Import the M3U + all disc files into Provenance

Supported systems:

• ✅ PlayStation (most common use case)

• ✅ Sega CD

• ✅ Saturn

• ✅ PC Engine CD / TurboGrafx-CD

• ✅ PC-FX

CHD Format (Recommended)

What is CHD? Compressed Hunks of Data - a lossless compression format that reduces disc images by 40-70%.

Benefits:

• 💾 Massive space savings (700MB BIN/CUE → 300MB CHD)

• ⚡ Faster loading (less data to read from storage)

• 📦 Single file (no more .cue + .bin + .sub mess)

• ✅ Full compatibility (PlayStation, Sega CD, Saturn, Dreamcast)

Conversion:

Mac/Linux:

# Install chdman (part of MAME tools)
brew install rom-tools

# Convert BIN/CUE to CHD
chdman createcd -i "game.cue" -o "game.chd"

# Batch convert all CUE files
for f in *.cue; do chdman createcd -i "$f" -o "${f%.cue}.chd"; done

Windows:

# Download chdman.exe from MAME website
# Run in command prompt
chdman.exe createcd -i "game.cue" -o "game.chd"

After conversion:

1. Verify CHD loads in Provenance

2. Delete original BIN/CUE files

3. Update M3U playlists to reference .chd files

Storage comparison (real examples):

Game	BIN/CUE	CHD	Savings
Final Fantasy VII (3 discs)	2.1 GB	1.2 GB	43%
Metal Gear Solid	702 MB	287 MB	59%
Resident Evil 2 (2 discs)	1.4 GB	623 MB	55%

Disc Swapping During Gameplay

How to swap discs:

1. Open pause menu (pause button)

2. Tap "Change Disc" (only appears for multi-disc games)

3. Select the next disc from the list

4. Resume gameplay

When to swap:

• Game prompts "Insert Disc 2"

• After major story progression (e.g., end of disc 1)

• For side content on bonus discs

Pro tip: Create save states before disc swap prompts - makes retrying easier if swap fails.

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Metadata & Artwork Optimization

Automatic Metadata Matching

Provenance uses OpenVGDB to automatically fetch:

• 🎮 Game title (cleaned up)

• 🎨 Box art and screenshots

• 📅 Release date

• 🏢 Publisher/Developer

• 🎭 Genre

To trigger re-matching:

1. Long-press game in library

2. Tap "More Info"

3. Tap "Refresh Metadata"

Improving match accuracy:

• Use No-Intro or Redump naming standards

• Include region codes: (USA), (Japan)

• Remove ROM hack tags: [T+Eng], [h1]

• Verify ROM hash matches database (use md5sum)

Custom Artwork

Add your own box art/screenshots:

1. Long-press game → "Edit"

2. Tap "Artwork" thumbnail

3. Choose source:

   • 📷 Take Photo - Capture physical box art

   • 🖼️ Photo Library - Use downloaded images

   • 📁 Files - Import from iCloud/Downloads

4. Crop and adjust

5. Save

Recommended artwork specs:

• Format: JPEG or PNG

• Dimensions: 512x512 minimum (1024x1024 ideal)

• Aspect ratio: Match original box art (varies by system)

• File size: Under 500KB for faster loading

Where to find high-quality artwork:

• MobyGames - Comprehensive database

• TheGamesDB - Community-curated

• LaunchBox Database - High-res scans

• Physical box scans (your own collection)

Metadata Editing

Edit game information manually:

1. Long-press game → "Edit"

2. Modify fields:

   • Title - Display name in library

   • Publisher - Company that released the game

   • Developer - Studio that created the game

   • Release Date - Original launch date

   • Genre - Category (RPG, Action, Platformer)

   • Description - Game summary

Use cases:

• 🎮 ROM hacks: Super Mario World → Kaizo Mario World

• 🌐 Fan translations: Add (English Patched) to title

• 🔧 Homebrew: Set proper developer credit

• 📝 Custom collections: Genre organization

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iCloud Sync for Large Collections

Enable iCloud Sync (Provenance Plus)

Requirements:

• 📱 Provenance Plus subscription

• ☁️ Available iCloud storage (check Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud)

• 📶 WiFi connection (recommended for large libraries)

Setup:

1. Provenance → Settings → iCloud Sync

2. Toggle ON

3. Wait for initial upload (may take hours for 50+ GB)

4. Verify sync status: Settings → iCloud Sync → Status

What Syncs?

✅ Synced:

• 🎮 ROM files

• 💾 Save states

• 🎯 Battery saves

• 🎨 Custom artwork

• 📝 Metadata edits

• 📁 BIOS files

❌ Not synced:

• 🎨 Skins (local only)

• ⚙️ App settings

• 🎮 Controller mappings

Optimizing for Large Libraries

Best practices:

1. Use CHD format - 40-70% smaller files = faster sync

2. Delete duplicates - Remove (Europe) ROMs if you have (USA)

3. Clean up old saves - Delete unused save states

4. Schedule uploads - Enable sync overnight when on WiFi

5. Monitor storage - Check iCloud storage usage monthly

Storage tiers:

• 50 GB: $0.99/month - Fits ~200 games (CHD format)

• 200 GB: $2.99/month - Fits ~800 games

• 2 TB: $9.99/month - Fits entire collection + backups

Sync speed expectations:

Library Size	Initial Upload	Incremental Sync
10 GB (50 games)	1-2 hours	5-10 minutes
50 GB (250 games)	6-12 hours	15-30 minutes
200 GB (1000 games)	24-48 hours	30-60 minutes

Pro tip: Import ROMs in batches of 20-30 games, let iCloud sync, then import next batch. Avoids overwhelming the sync queue.

Troubleshooting iCloud Issues

Sync stuck or slow:

1. Force quit Provenance

2. Disable iCloud Sync

3. Re-enable iCloud Sync

4. Restart device

5. Wait 10-15 minutes for queue to process

"Not enough iCloud storage":

1. Check usage: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud

2. Delete old device backups

3. Upgrade iCloud plan

4. Or disable iCloud sync for less-played systems

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Backup & Migration

Backing Up Your Library

Method 1: Mac/PC File Sharing (Best)

1. Connect iOS device to Mac via USB

2. Open Finder → Select device

3. Files tab → Provenance

4. Drag entire folder to Mac desktop

5. Store backup on external drive or cloud storage

Backup includes:

• All ROMs

• Save states

• Battery saves

• BIOS files

• Custom artwork

• Metadata database

Method 2: iCloud Drive (If Sync Enabled)

Your data is already backed up to iCloud. To export:

1. Mac Finder → iCloud Drive → Provenance

2. Copy folder to external drive

3. Store as secondary backup

Method 3: iTunes File Sharing (Legacy)

On older Macs with iTunes:

1. iTunes → Device → File Sharing

2. Select Provenance

3. Save files to Mac

Migrating to a New Device

Transfer everything from old iPhone/iPad to new one:

Option A: iCloud Sync (Easiest)

1. Old device: Enable iCloud Sync, wait for upload

2. New device: Install Provenance, log in with same Apple ID

3. Enable iCloud Sync → Wait for download

4. ✅ Done - library appears automatically

Option B: Mac Backup/Restore

1. Backup old device via Finder (see above)

2. Install Provenance on new device

3. Connect new device to Mac

4. Finder → New device → Files → Provenance

5. Drag backup folder into Provenance container

6. Restart Provenance on new device

Option C: AirDrop (Small Libraries Only)

1. Export ROMs from old device (Share → AirDrop)

2. On new device, accept files

3. Open in Provenance

4. Repeat for all games

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ROM Hacks & Patches

Applying IPS/BPS Patches

What are ROM patches? Modification files that transform original ROMs into:

• 🌐 Fan translations (Japanese → English)

• 🎮 ROM hacks (Kaizo Mario, Pokémon randomizers)

• 🐛 Bug fixes (community patches)

How to patch:

Mac/Linux:

# Install Flips patcher
brew install flips

# Apply IPS patch
flips --apply "patch.ips" "original-rom.smc" "patched-rom.smc"

# Apply BPS patch (more reliable)
flips --apply "patch.bps" "original-rom.gba" "patched-rom.gba"

Windows:

• Download Floating IPS (Flips) or Lunar IPS

• Open patcher → Select original ROM → Select patch file → Apply

• Save output with descriptive name

After patching:

1. Import patched ROM into Provenance

2. Edit metadata to reflect patch name

3. Add custom artwork if desired

Popular ROM hacks:

• Super Mario World → Kaizo Mario World (extreme difficulty)

• Pokémon FireRed → Pokémon Unbound (new story)

• Zelda: A Link to the Past → Parallel Worlds (new dungeons)

• Final Fantasy VI → Brave New World (rebalanced)

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Performance Optimization

Large Library Loading Speed

If your library is slow to load:

1. ✅ Delete unused ROMs - Remove games you never play

2. ✅ Optimize artwork - Compress images under 500KB

3. ✅ Clear cache - Settings → Advanced → Clear Cache

4. ✅ Restart device - Frees up memory

5. ✅ Disable iCloud sync temporarily - Re-enable after cleanup

Database Maintenance

Rebuild game database (if corrupted):

⚠️ Warning: Only do this if library loading is broken

1. Force quit Provenance

2. Delete database file via Finder (Mac):

   • Connect device

   • Finder → Device → Files → Provenance

   • Delete Provenance.realm file

3. Restart Provenance

4. Library will rebuild (may take 10-30 minutes)

Symptoms of corrupted database:

• Games appear duplicated

• Metadata missing

• Artwork not loading

• Crashes on library screen

Storage Management

Find biggest files:

1. Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Provenance

2. See total usage breakdown

3. Identify largest ROMs

Systems ranked by typical storage:

System	Avg per Game	100 Games
NES	200 KB	20 MB
SNES	2 MB	200 MB
GBA	8 MB	800 MB
N64	12 MB	1.2 GB
PlayStation (CHD)	300 MB	30 GB
Dreamcast (CHD)	600 MB	60 GB
PSP (ISO)	1.2 GB	120 GB

Space-saving tips:

• 💾 Convert to CHD (PlayStation, Dreamcast, Saturn)

• 🗑️ Delete (Europe) duplicates if you have (USA)

• 📦 Use 7z compression for cartridge ROMs

• 🎮 Keep only games you actively play

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Quick Reference

Essential Tools

Mac:

• Flips - ROM patcher (IPS/BPS)

• chdman - CHD converter

• The Unarchiver - Extract 7z, RAR

Windows:

• Floating IPS - ROM patcher

• CHDman - CHD converter

• 7-Zip - Archive extraction

Cross-platform:

• EmulationStation - Test ROMs before importing

• RomCenter - ROM collection manager

• ClrMAME Pro - ROM verification

File Format Cheat Sheet

Format	System	Use Case
.chd	PS1, Dreamcast, Saturn	Best - Compressed disc images
.m3u	PS1, Sega CD	Required - Multi-disc grouping
.7z	Cartridge ROMs	Compression (extract before import)
.cue + .bin	PS1, Sega CD	Legacy - Convert to CHD
.iso	PlayStation, PSP	Uncompressed - Convert to CHD

Common Issues & Solutions

Problem	Solution
Multi-disc game shows 3 entries	Create M3U playlist
ROMs won't import	Check Formatting ROMs
Metadata incorrect	Use proper naming convention
Library slow to load	Delete unused games, optimize artwork
iCloud sync stuck	Disable/re-enable sync
Duplicate games	Delete extras, rebuild database

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Next Steps

• 📖 Importing ROMs - Basic import methods

• 📦 Formatting ROMs - Supported file formats

• 🎨 Customizing ROMs - Artwork and metadata basics

• 🔧 Applying Mods & Patches - ROM modification guide

• ⚙️ Troubleshooting - Fix common issues

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Managing a massive collection? Join the Provenance Discord to share tips with other power users! 🎮

Advanced features like iCloud sync require Provenance Plus. Multi-disc support and CHD format available in all versions.