[Tutorial] How to extract and rebuild CTFs using CTF Manager

[Oyabun]

What is CTF Manager ?

Red Squirrel's CTF Manager allows you to easily extract and rebuild CTF theme files.


This application will allow you to easily customize CTF theme files to your own liking, by allowing you to extract the contents of a CTF file, replace or modify RCO and PRX, gameboot, 01-12.bmp, etc., and rebuild the CTF.



Download ➡ CTF Manager v.5.00


When you first start the application, you will see a warning message:






You need these 3 decrypted/decompressed prx (common_gui.prx, paf.prx, and vshmain.prx) in order to compile/decompile a CTF.



Here are the required decrypted/decompressed prx for each firmware version the application supports.

If you want to extract the contents of a 5.00 CTF, download the 5.00 PRX, for a 4.01 CTF, the 4.01 PRX, etc:

➡ 5.00 prx

➡ 4.01 prx

➡ 3.90 prx

➡ 3.71 prx


Click OK on the warning and browse to each of the three decrypted/decompressed prx you downloaded.


Since the application supports prx for 5.00, 4.01, 3.90 and 3.71 prx, make sure you select the firmware version in the lower right box for the prx you are using before clicking install:






In this case i want to extract the contents of a 5.00 CTF, so i will be selecting the 5.00 decrypted/decompressed prx.

The three decrypted/decompressed prx will be installed to the CTF Manager/Data/Support/500 folder:






Notice there are 4 folders created in the support folder now: 371, 390, 401, 500:






The application will not give you a warning message after you install one set of prx, so you can just manually add the prx to each directory, or you can click on "Install PRXs in SUPPORT folder" to install the three required prx if you plan on extracting and rebuilding CTFs for different firmware versions.

Again, make sure you select the firmware version when you are installing the prx so they get installed to the correct firmware folder:








Once the three decrypted prx are installed, you are now ready to extract the contents of your CTF.




Click on file, Extract files from a CTF:






Browse to the CTF you want to extract and select an output folder as well. For the output folder, select the CTF Manager directory:






Again, make sure you select the CTF firmware version as well.





Click on extract.


After extraction is complete, hit any key to return to CTF Manager:









You'll find the font, vsh and default.ptf in the EXTRACTED folder:






Replace or modify whatever theme files you want.


If you decide to use prx and rco from other themes, make sure they are for the same firmware version. Do not mix rco and prx from different firmware versions.



Once you have completed modifying the theme files to your liking, you can now compile the theme files back into a CTF file.



Click on file, Create a CTF file:






Browse to the vsh folder you extracted, the font folder, and the default ptf.

Select an output folder (CTF Manager), a CTF name, select the firmware version again, and click on Create CTF.






After the CTF is created, hit any key to return to CTF Manager:









You will find your new modified CTF in the CTF Manager directory.