[FlyingFire64]

I've downloaded some hacks, but some of them weren't in ips format. Because of this, I can't patch these hacks to my roms with Lunar Ips. I've even tried converting these patches in to ips format, but they only make the rom unreadable. How do I fix this?

[Lenophis]

You'll probably need to look at the extension to get an idea of the format, then use a patcher made for that format.

I've also never heard of a patch converter. I hope you didn't "convert" by simply changing the extension.

[FallenAngel2387]

MAC:
pretty much all you'll need:
http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/746/


Windows:
.bps:
http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/893/ or http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1040/

.ups:
http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/677/

.xdelta:
http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/598/

You'll need to specify if it's anything else. I don't think I've come across a different patch type myself.

[FAST6191]

FallenAngel2387 said most of what I would, though xdelta can be split between the classic ( http://www.evanjones.ca/software/xdelta-win32.html ) and 2.0 line ( http://xdelta.org/ ), go with 2.0 first though. There are two other formats seen from time to time in ROM hacking, usually on newer systems or disc based systems. There is also the full on custom stuff.

The other "common" formats
BSDiff. A lot of "Scene" patches use this one. Back in the normal world it is Xdelta's main competition, and it is competitive with it.
https://github.com/mendsley/bsdiff  https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=bsdiff&sektion=1&manpath=FreeBSD+5.5-RELEASE and http://www.pokorra.de/coding/bsdiff.html if you just need a windows patcher.

PPF. Various sub formats/versions can get in the way here, originally made for the playstation (Playstation Patching Format) but saw various uses over the years, up to and including some aspects of Wii game modding (though here you will probably instead have to pull apart/decrypt the game, patch the files and rebuild).
Something from http://www.romhacking.net/?page=utilities&category=2&platform=&game=&author=&os=&level=&perpage=20&title=&desc=ppf&utilsearch=Go should do.

I think I did once see a patch conversion program but most people would instead just get the ROM/a file of equivalent size, patch it and generate a new patch using the alternative method.

[puzzledude]

How do I patch non-IPS files to roms?

The same way as IPS files, but using a different program for patching.

I've downloaded some hacks, but some of them weren't in ips format. Because of this, I can't patch these hacks to my roms with Lunar Ips. I've even tried converting these patches in to ips format, but they only make the rom unreadable. How do I fix this?

Long story short, you can't fix this. You need to re-download the patches and do Not try to "convert" them. If they are not in ips, you obviously can not use Lunar Ips. You need to use another program, based on what type you have. Most common is Ups instead of ips or xdelta.

If you are wondering why some patches are in a different format. Ips is actually outdated and can produce bugged roms if patched to wrong original roms. Ups and xdelta have a security to prevent this and if the original file is false, then they do not patch. Everything should be non-ips actually.

The logical next step from ips is Ups. Everything should be in Ups patch. I really don't know, why Ips is still winning since most patches are still in this format.

If it were not for Iso/Rom info (and there was a time, when it wasn't), you would basically have no clue where to patch to, or if what you have patched is actually a correct rom (since some falsly patched roms still load the game, until they crash the game somewhere in the middle of it).

So much for Ips format, and its dumb statement "patched successfully". The message should be more like "the program has patched, but has no clue if the process was correct, don't be surprized if the game crashes in the middle or doesn't load at all".

Rom hackers, don't use ips, step out of the dinosaur-era and use something, that at least has a checksum-validator of the original game and prevents false patching.