Feature Request: Support for PSPAR/TempAR Folder and Comment syntax in cheat files

[DobleC]

What should happen

PPSSPP should implement support for Folder and Comment codes used by original hardware cheat engines like PSPAR and TempAR.

Currently, PPSSPP treats every line starting with _C0, _C1 or _C2 as a toggleable cheat. However, the PSPAR/TempAR standard uses specific codes to create hierarchical structures and descriptive text:

Folders/Comments:
_C0 [Name]
_M 0x0000000X 0x0000000N
This acts as a container with single/multi select or comment based on the value of X and affecting N codes after them.

Proposed Behavior:

1. PPSSPP should recognize these codes and render a collapsible folder structure in the cheat menu.

2. Comment lines should be displayed as static text (unclickable) to serve as additional info or visual separators.

3. The emulator should ignore these structural lines when applying cheats to memory to avoid overhead or errors.

You can find the specific syntax documentation here: https://github.com/raing3/psp-cheat-documentation/blob/master/cheat-devices/pspar.md in the Folder/Comment Codes section.

This is how cheats are being shown in PPSSPP when using this "organizer codes":

This is how TempAR is able to proccess the same cheat file (understanding the folder structure and also being able to have folders where just 1 code can be on at the same time):

Who would this benefit

This would benefit power users and cheat creators who manage large databases.

In my specific case, I have been developing a cheat file for Tales of Phantasia Cross Edition with over 1,500 cheats. Using folders is the only viable way to navigate such a massive list effectively.

Currently, I am forced to maintain two separate versions of the cheat file:

A "PSP" version for real hardware (TempAR) with folders.

A "PPSSPP" version where I have to remove folders because the emulator interprets folder headers as broken or dummy cheats, cluttering the UI and confusing users.

Supporting this standard would unify the experience between hardware and emulation and allow for much cleaner cheat organization.

The PSP cheat file:
PSP Cheats.txt

The PPSSPP version:
PPSSPP Cheats.txt

Platform (if relevant)

None

Games this would be useful in

Any game, the cheat engine is used in all of them, but in this specific case:
ULJS-00293 Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X

Other emulators or software with a similar feature

TempAR, the best cheat plugin for PSP: https://github.com/raing3/tempar/blob/master/docs/README.md

Checklist

• Check the latest git build in case it's already implemented.
• Search for other requests of the same feature.

[hrydgard]

Had no idea this was a thing (although also, I didn't write our cheat support in the first place, I've never been too interested in cheats myself). But yeah, this makes sense as a feature request. We have UI elements like CollapsibleHeader that can be used to implement a 2-level hierarchy in the UI quite easily.

I won't get to this before the 1.20 release though. Maybe someone will pick it up?

[DobleC]

Thank you for your quick and positive response. I'm glad to hear you liked my suggestion.
The truth is, the documentation on folders and comments is pretty buried, and it's understandable that no one bothered to implement the functionality back then, but it makes things much easier for users and, above all, can help make cheats more foolproof.

Thanks for everything :)!!

[Domiiniik]

Speaking of cheats, plugins and stuff @hrydgard Any chance for at least bootable - basic old PSP Plugins support like these GTA's "Cheat Device" plugins one day? That'd be great.

[NABN00B]

I understand that TempAR is different from CWCheat, which is what PPSSPP supports.

[hrydgard]

Yeah but not that different, as TempAR supports the same codes as CWCheat (in addition to action replay codes). I assume what's used here is codes in CWCheat format but with the extra organization supported by TempAR.

[NABN00B]

Somewhat related: #15442 (comment)