Nancy Drew DAT

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DAT, CAL, CIF

• Format Type : Archive
  
• Endian Order : Little Endian
  
• Signatures : CIF TREE / CIF FILE / WayneSikes / HerInteractive
  

Format Specifications

// header
4 bytes (char) - signature // "CIF "
4 bytes (char) - file type // "TREE" or "FILE"
12-16 bytes (char) - unknown  // "WayneSikes" or "HerInteractive"


// TODO

Notes and Comments

• Those DAT archives contain puzzle overlay images (basically any movable object in a puzzle), character dialog animation videos, interface images, and the game logic.
• The format for the CIFTREE.DAT archive changed with almost every game.
• The format uses LZSS compression method.
• The format occurs in games made by Her Interactive.
• The format doesn't store extensions for files.

Games

List of games using this file format:

• Nancy Drew: Alibi In Ashes (*.DAT)
• Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill
• Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger
• Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion
• Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch
• Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor
• Nancy Drew: The Final Scene

QuickBMS Script

• nancy_drew_ciftree.bms

Compatible Programs

• Game Extractor
• GOBREAD
• oldhertools
• Ravioli Game Tools
• ScummVM (Nancy Engine)

See Also

• Her Interactive CIFTREE File Format
• resource.cpp (from ScummVM source code)