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The Games/Media/Tools tab lists the available games, media, and tools. The list is based on the available GCF/NCF files located in the GCF/NCF storage folder. It also allows to perform operations on the GCF/NCF files composing these games, media, and tools using the contextual menu.

The list can be ordered by :

  • Game, media, tool name
  • Developer
  • Item type
  • Size
  • Completion
  • Current operation

Games, Media, and Tools

Description of Game, Media, and Tools


The Steam network Games/Media/Files (the so called SteamApp) are stored on the user's computer using Cache Files. If at least one GCF/NCF file composing a SteamApp is available in the GCF/NCF storage folder, this SteamApp will be listed.

These SteamApps are described in the CDR which tells what GCF/NCF files are required and what is the latest version of each file. If the local GCF/NCF files are outdated or incomplete, the SteamApps based on these GCF/NCF files will also be outdated or incomplete and must be updated using the download features or patches.

Usually, localized versions of the SteamApps are available, using dedicated translation GCF/NCF files. It is therefore important to properly configure the Steam apps language in the Preferences tab.

If a SteamApp is listed as outdated or not 100%, it could be for different reasons such as :

  • The required GCF/NCF files are not installed, not 100% complete, outdated or corrupted.
  • The Steam apps language is not properly configured or the translation GCF/NCF file is not installed.
  • The SteamApp has been updated outside of CF Toolbox, or with patches, and its files version number superior to the one from the CDR. This means that it is important to update the CDR using the Preferences tab.

Detailed information concerning the required GCF/NCF files and their completion is available in the Games/Media/Tools properties popup.

For each SteamApp, the following information is available:

  • The SteamApp icon and name. (The winui.gcf GCF file must be available in the GCF/NCF storage folder in order to display the SteamApp icon).
  • The SteamApp developer.
  • The SteamApp type. (Media, Tool, or Game if not specified)
  • The global SteamApp size, including the shared GCF/NCF files.
  • The global SteamApp completion. A SteamApp should be listed as 100.00% to be up to date. If less than 100%, it means that its content is not entirely downloaded.
  • The current operation performed on the SteamApps files.

Detailed information concerning the SteamApps is available using the Properties function of the contextual menu.

All the operations described below are accessible from the contextual menu, by selecting one or more SteamApp to be processed.

Only one operation can be executed at a time on a GCF/NCF file. This has an impact when executing tasks on SteamApps. If needed, the currently running operation can be interrupted using the stop task function of the contextual menu.

A specific function can be associated to the double-click on a SteamApp in the Preferences tab.

Game, Media, and Tools properties

Detailed information about the Game, Media, and Tools.


The Game/Media/Tools properties popup gives detailed information about the Game, Media, or Tools, such as:

  • The SteamApp name.
  • The SteamApp common folder name for NCF files based SteamApps.
  • The Game manual URL if available.
  • The SteamApp internal ID.
  • The Global SteamApp size, including shared GCF/NCF files.
  • The list and detail of the required GCF/NCF files.
  • The properties defined for the SteamApp.
  • The SteamApp update news. (requires an Internet connection)

SteamApps batch processing

Execute a command on selected Games/Media/Tools.


To execute a batch command line on the selected SteamApps, select the Run batch function of the contextual menu. The command line is configured in the Preferences tab.

Copy the SteamApps list

Keeping a trace of the current Games/Media/Tools list.


To copy the SteamApps list and description to the clipboard, select the wanted SteamApps and use the Copy function of the contextual menu.

Validating the GCF/NCF files

Ensure the quality of the local SteamApps files.


GCF/NCF files composing the SteamApps can be validated in order to ensure that their structure and contained files are not corrupted. Two operations are possible :

  • Validate : checks the SteamApp required GCF/NCF files validity
  • Correct : checks the SteamApp required GCF/NCF files validity and correct the corrupted ones. The corrected contained files are removed from the GCF/NCF files and must be reacquired.

Mini GCF

Creating a mini gcf.


For various reasons, it may be interesting to create a mini GCF. A mini GCF is a GCF file where all the content is replaced by empty data. It can then be compressed with a very high compression ratio, but the content may have to be reacquired. Two modes are possible for the creation of mini GCF files as configured in the Preferences tab :

  • Keeping the content completion status, so the mini GCF file looks like an up to date but corrupted GCF file.
  • Setting the content as incomplete, so the mini GCF file looks like a 0% downloaded GCF file.

In order to create a mini GCF for each of the SteamApp required GCF files, select the MiniGCF function of the contextual menu. The mini GCF files will be created in the output folder as configured in the Preferences tab

Updating SteamApps

Keeping the Games/Media/Tools up to date using the Steam network.


If a SteamApp is outdated or not 100% complete, it may be possible to update it from the Steam network. This operation requires a valid Steam account owning the SteamApp to be updated. This account must be properly configured in the Preferences tab. Please read the Security warnings concerning accounts.

In order to download a SteamApp from the Steam network, the required GCF/NCF files must first be associated with a pre-configured account. It is possible to change this association using the Download / Account ... function of the contextual menu.

To resume the SteamApp download, use the Download / Resume function of the contextual menu.
In case of a pre-load, the required GCF/NCF files will be decrypted on the release date.
In case of error, you may find more details in the Logs tab.

To pause a download, you can use either the Download / Pause or the Stop task function of the contextual menu.

The required GCF/NCF files download can be monitored from the Bandwidth monitor tab

If some required GCF/NCF files for a SteamApp are not available in the GCF/NCF Storage folder, It is possible to install them using the Install tab.

Updating SteamApps using patches

Keeping the Games/Media/Tools up to date using patches.


If a SteamApp is outdated or not 100% complete, it is possible to update it using patches.

The update workflow is the following:

  • Create a set so called archive files from your local outdated or incomplete required GCF/NCF file, using the Patches / Make archive function of the contextual menu.
    The archive is a small file with a description of the GCF/NCF file such as the version, contained files, completion,...
  • Create a set of update files from the archive files and more recent/complete version of the corresponding GCF/NCF files, using the Patches / Make Update function of the contextual menu.
    The update files contain the updated descriptions and content.
  • Apply the update files on the required original GCF/NCF files, using the Patches / Apply update function of the contextual menu. The local required GCF/NCF files updated, and the available content from the updates will be added. In case of a pre-load, the GCF/NCF files will be decrypted if the update files have been created from a released version.

The archive and update files will be created in the output folder as configured in the Preferences tab

Plugins

Extending CF Toolbox functionnalities.


If plugins are installed for processing Games, Media, or Tools, a Plugins section will be added to the contextual menu. More information about plugins can be found on this page.