/!\ New format not yet supported by MAME or any frontend, please don't download it if you are an user /!\
History.dat, the XML version
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As MAME, here is a "time for an overhaul" of history.dat.
The DAT format used by the History.dat (and other support files) is old and no more adapted for storing a big game information database.
We decided to migrate to a more modern format, the XML format. A format made for faster reading by the programs and for big data storage. We have already tested it in a home-made frontend and the gain of performance (at reading) is highly notable.
If a mamedev can add support for this new format, here is the file: https://www.arcade-history.com/temp/history-xml5.zip EDIT: file updated to the latest valid structure.
If a mamedev says this format has problems, the idea will be abandoned (or at least put aside) and we'll continue with the DAT format.
We are open for improvements or corrections to our XML design, in case there are any.
But our MAME frontend implementation proofs the XML design works very well and can be easily read (and/or transfered to a database like SQLite which is currently used in MAME for converting history.dat).
Anyway, for now, the History.dat will continue to be exported as a DAT file. The two formats will be available on our Download page for the next release and as soon as the XML version is supported by MAME, the DAT version will be stopped.
[Posted by: Alexis B.]