====== Directory Dir2Dat Guide ======
todo: document how to use RomVault for this, as that is a much better option

**Warning: there currently is no supported dir2dat tool that properly distinguishes between empty files and folders. As a workaround, you should use store the output of
`dir /s` (if you are using Windows) or `ls -R` (if you are using Linux) alongside the datfile.**

If the "ROM" consists of of multiple directories, you will want to use the "dir2dat" function of [[https://mamedev.emulab.it/clrmamepro/|clrmamepro]] with the following settings in the "Options" section.

{{:submission:clrmamepro_dir2dat_directory_hashing.png?400}}

In other words, make sure only the following boxes are checked in that section:
  * Scan Subfolders
  * Add MD5
  * Add SHA1
  * Add 0-File For Empty Folder
  * Set-Subfolder Mode
  * Keep Archives As Files
  * Keep CHDs As ROMs

You can also press the Load button and load {{ :general:dir2dat-directory.d2d.zip |this}} dir2dat config file to achieve the same thing. 

Make sure to lay out the data as with the following example.

{{:general:directory_dir2_dat_folder_structure.png?400|}}

You can test this setup is working correctly by hashing the contents of {{ :test_dir_structure.zip |this zip}} and comparing the datfile that clrmamepro creates with {{ :test_dir_structure.dat.zip |this pre-made datfile}} . Currently there is no solid solution for "directory hashing" that supports SHA256, so you can leave that hash type out.

There will also be a top-level entry called "Default" with a single empty folder, which should be deleted, or noted as to be ignored.