What is the DSV file format?
A .dsv file is a saved game file created by DeSmuME, the open-source Nintendo DS emulator. It stores a snapshot of the DS cartridge's save memory - the exact contents of the EEPROM, SRAM, or flash chip that a real DS game would write to the cartridge - plus a short DeSmuME-specific footer that identifies the save chip type and file version.
The data region is a raw binary dump, so its internal structure is entirely game-dependent. The DeSmuME footer at the end of the file is what distinguishes a .dsv from a plain .sav file used by other DS emulators and flashcarts. File size matches the save chip capacity of the original DS cartridge, ranging from 512 bytes (small EEPROM) to 512 KB (large flash storage).
Because the data section is nearly identical to generic DS saves, .dsv files can be converted to the .sav format for use with other emulators such as melonDS or real hardware via a flashcart. DeSmuME's built-in File > Import/Export ROM Save File menu handles this conversion, and third-party tools such as the DeSmuME Save Converter are also available.
DeSmuME runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Save files for games running on Android are typically handled by ports such as DraStic or RetroArch's DeSmuME core.
Security & safety
RISK: LOW.dsv files are passive game save data with no executable content. No security risk from opening them in DeSmuME. Downloading ROMs may raise copyright concerns depending on your jurisdiction; save files themselves are not legally problematic.
Format details
in a nutshell- Microsoft SQL Server Data Source View - SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) uses .dsv for Data Source View files - XML files defining the metadata/schema for an OLAP data source, unrelated to emulation.
- Delimiter-Separated Values - A generic tabular data file where fields are separated by a custom delimiter (not necessarily comma); a text/CSV variant used in some GIS and data tools.
Programs that open DSV files
Windows2 apps
DeSmuME
Open-source Launch a Nintendo DS ROM in DeSmuME, then File > Import ROM Save File > select the .dsv to load the save. 
MelonDS
Open-source Convert .dsv to .sav first (remove DeSmuME footer) using the DeSmuME Save Converter, then load the .sav in MelonDS. 
macOS1 app
Linux1 app
DeSmuME Save Converter
Free Upload .dsv and download as .sav (or vice versa) to transfer saves between emulators. Technical details
deep spec| File structure | Raw Nintendo DS save RAM dump (game-dependent content) + DeSmuME proprietary footer appended at end |
| Byte order | Little-endian (Nintendo DS uses an ARM processor in little-endian mode) |
| Typical size | 512 bytes - 512 KB (matches the DS cartridge save chip capacity) |
| Save chip types | EEPROM (512B-64KB), SRAM (32KB), or NOR flash (128KB-512KB) depending on original cartridge |
| DeSmuME footer | Appended at end of file; identifies save chip type, chip size, and DeSmuME version metadata |
| Relationship to .sav | Data content is nearly identical to generic `.sav` files; the DeSmuME footer is the only structural difference |
| Conversion | DeSmuME's File > Import/Export ROM Save File converts `.dsv` to/from `.sav`; third-party DeSmuME Save Converter also available |
| Internal checksums | Many DS games write their own checksums within the save data region; DeSmuME adds no separate container-level checksum |
| Compatible emulators | melonDS reads `.sav` format; converted `.dsv` files work in melonDS and other emulators after format conversion |
| Source code | Open-source project at github.com/TASVideos/desmume |
| Released | c. 2006 (DeSmuME emulator early versions) |
| Specification | github.com |
DSV conversions
Community Q&A
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