NDSForwarder 3DS

NDSForwarder
General
Author	MechanicalDragon0687
Type	Utilities
Version	1.2.0-beta
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2021/08/25
Links
Download
Website
Source

NDSForwarder is a homebrew application that can create NDS forwarders and install them to the home screen of the 3DS.

Features

• Custom dsiware banners.
• Custom Icons.
• Auto Random TID. This allows separate forwarders for romhacks that dont change TIDs.
• Custom Title. If you dont have a custom banner, or want one but need a different Title, check the box.
• Install all in folder. You can install forwarders for all nds files in any given folder.

Installation

Note: This homebrew requires full CFW via Rosalina (b9s+luma3ds).

The easiest method of installation will be to download it from Universal Updater. This will include all required files/forwarder pack for the SD card (see tutorial).

To install manually:

• You also need the nds-bootstrap forwarder pack, of which the forwarders created with this app work in conjunction with.
• Extract the forwarder pack, copy the _nds folder from the for SD card root folder to the SD card.
• Copy ndsForwarder.3dsx to the /3ds/ folder of your SD card.

Notes from developer:

• It is recommended to use full dumps (not trimmed ones) as the current dumping tools on both 3DS and DSi seem to have issues dumping trimmed files.
• Read more about it on the GBATemp page (NDSForwarder takes the place of the Forwarder3-DS java app listed on this tutorial).

User guide

How to use

• Open the Homebrew Launcher.
• In the Homebrew Launcher, open NDS Forwarder Generator.
• Navigate to your game’s location and press A.
• Confirm you wish to install by selecting Yes.
• After it is installed, your game will now appear as a title on your HOME menu.

Game compatibility list is available here.

Custom dsiware banners

• They must be named the same as the nds file.
• If your nds file is Jamal's Home Cooking.nds your custom banner should be Jamal's Home Cooking.bin.
• Custom banners can be located with the nds file or in /3ds/forwarder/banners/.
• DSiWare Template can be downloaded from http://olmectron.github.io/forwarders/sdcard.(fwd/nds)

Custom Icons

• They must be 4bit BMPs, 32x32 pixels and be named the same as the nds file.
• If your nds file is Jamal's Home Cooking.nds your custom icon should be Jamal's Home Cooking.bmp.
• No Colorspace info (compatibility options when exporting in GIMP).
• Color at index 0 will be transparent/white.
• Custom icons can be located with the nds file or in /3ds/forwarder/icons/.

Changelog

1.2.0-beta 2021/08/30

• Supports BMP files for custom icons:
  • 4 bit.
  • 32x32 pixels.
  • No Colorspace info (Compatibility options when exporting in GIMP).
  • Color at index 0 will be transparent/white. You have been warned.

1.1.0-beta 2021/08/12

• Warns user when reaching the limit of dsiware installed.
• No longer brown, now blue.
• Version is displayed on the bottom screen.
• _nds folder is hidden.
• If more than one template exists, can select which template to use.

1.0.0 2021/04/12

• Initial release.

Credits

• Thanks to Olmectron for providing templates via their website.
• Thanks to Martin Korth for GBATek, which provided pretty much all the information needed about the nds and dsi formats.
• Thanks to 3DSGuy and everyone else who contributed to CTR Toolkit (of which, make_cia which is used in Olmectron's forwarder3ds app)
• Thanks to RocketRobz and the DS-Homebrew team for all the nds-bootstrap and TWiLightMenu++ stuff.
• Thanks to Evie (pk11) and the Universal Updater folks for helping bring things to the Universal Updater with automatic install of sd card files.
• Thanks to Oreo639, Piepie62, Fenrir, and everyone else who helped me in my development career.
• Thanks to lifehackerhansol for helping me test
• Finally, thanks to the DevKitPro team for the toolchain (wintermute et al). Without that, homebrew just wouldn't be a thing.
• The progress is a product of the community and all it gives back. Thank everyone for being a part of it and helping.

External links

• GitHub - https://github.com/MechanicalDragon0687/NDSForwarder
• DS-Homebrew Wiki - https://wiki.ds-homebrew.com/ds-index/forwarders
• GBAtemp - https://gbatemp.net/threads/nds-forwarder-cias-for-your-home-menu.426174