Better PC Game Importer

This plugin automates the process of adding PC games to LaunchBox by intelligently identifying titles and executables while offering bulk folder renaming and shortcut management for titles already imported. It is designed to replace the tedious manual importing process with a smart, heuristic-driven workflow. Can link to my other plugin "The Game Scraper" to help sync folder names.

Why does this exist?

LaunchBox excels at automatically importing games purchased from major storefronts, but adding independent or DRM-free titles manually often requires navigating deep folder structures to find the correct executable. While some users create shortcuts and house them in a single folder to speed up the process, managing those shortcuts is still a tedious, manual task. This plugin automates that entire workflow—scanning your folders, identifying the best executables, and managing your library with minimal effort.

🚀 Key Features

• Effortless Bulk Importing: Add dozens of PC games to your LaunchBox library at once instead of one by one.

• Smart Library Matching: Automatically connects your folders to the correct game titles already in your LaunchBox collection, even if the folder names are messy.

• Automatic File Selection: Identifies the actual game executable while skipping over "junk" files like installers, setup tools, and uninstallers.

• Physical Folder Renaming: Renames your game folders on your hard drive to match the clean, professional titles found in your LaunchBox library.

• Centralized Shortcuts: Automatically creates and stores game shortcuts in a single folder, keeping your library paths organized and easy to move.

• High-Speed Scanning: Uses a "self-healing" cache to remember your folders, so re-scanning large collections takes only seconds.

📋 Requirements

• LaunchBox: 13.26

• WindowsShortcutFactory: Required for the plugin to generate and manage desktop-style shortcuts. (INCLUDED)

🛠 Installation Instructions

1. Extract the archive to your root Launchbox folder. 

📖 How to Use

1. Open the Plugin

• Open the Tools menu in LaunchBox and click Better PC Game Importer.

2. Configure the Scan

• Select Folder: Choose the folder where your PC games are stored. Both Imported and Non-Imported. Your folder names should match the game titles as close as possible.

• Platform: Select the LaunchBox platform you are importing into (e.g., "Windows").

3. Scan and Review

• Run Scan: Click Scan Folders to begin the analysis.

• Check Status: Review the Status column. The plugin identifies games as "New Game," "In Library (Locked)," or "Update Link".

• Fix Matches: If a folder is labeled "New Game" but it is actually already in your library, manually select the corrected title from the game title dropdown. This instantly changes the status to Update Link.

• Auto-Rescore: Changing a title triggers the plugin to re-score the folder's executables, often finding a better match based on the updated name.

• Manual Overrides: Use the Selected EXE dropdown or the Browse button if you need to manually pick a specific file.

4. Execute Import

• Select the games you want to process (Shift + Click works for bulk selection).

• Rename Folders: Check this box to physically rename your folders on your hard drive to match the corrected titles.

• Create Shortcuts: Check this to generate .lnk files in your designated shortcut folder.

• Unlock 'In Library' Games for Editing: Unlocks In Library games for editing.  

• Click Import Selected to update the LaunchBox database and process your files.

🔄 Real-World Workflow Example

Imagine you are cleaning up a directory with a mix of new downloads and existing library entries:

• 1. The New Game: You have a folder named Super_Racing_2024. Since this isn't in your library, it appears in the grid as a New Game with the title defaulting to the folder name Super_Racing_2024. You can leave it as-is or click the field and manually correct it to Super Racing to keep your library clean.

• 2. The False Positive (clos2): You have a folder named clos2. Because it doesn’t match any games in your library, it shows as a New Game titled clos2. You think this is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 so you go to the title field and either start typing or drop down and find and select Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. The status instantly changes to Update Link. Because you changed the title, the plugin re-scores the folder—now recognizing that CLOS2.exe is a high-score match because it fits the acronym of your new title.

• 3. Fixing Broken Links: You notice Portal in your library is currently pointing to a configuration tool instead of the game. You check Unlock In Library, which scans your existing games and makes them editable. You can now use the Selected EXE dropdown on the Portal row to switch the executable from config.exe to portal.exe.

• 4. The Cleanup (Rename & Shortcut): Before finishing, you check the Rename Folders and Create Shortcuts boxes.

  • Rename Folders: The physical folder Super_Racing_2024 will be renamed to Super Racing on your hard drive to match your corrected title.

  • Create Shortcuts: Instead of pointing LaunchBox to an EXE buried deep in subfolders, the plugin creates a Super Racing.lnk in your central shortcut folder. LaunchBox will now launch through that shortcut, making your library paths clean and portable.

• 5. The Result: You click Import Selected. The plugin physically renames the folders, generates the shortcuts, updates your existing Portal path, and adds Super Racing to your LaunchBox database all at once.

TIPS: This plugin works best when your folders are named correctly. If you use this you should check out my other plugin, "The Game Scraper". You can download metadata, media, and hltb data. It also integrates nicely with this plugin to help you sync folder names after The Game Scraper changes the title to match Steam. 

Any bugs or questions please feel free to ask. I'm also in the Discord. 

Thanks to 7nseccmem for helping test this.