Cleanitol and DatPacker

[Bumdark 3]

I searched for a while through the forums, but so far I couldn't find what I need, so I'm posting it here instead. If any Mods think this should be elsewhere, I beg you to relocate it, I'm just not sure how to tackle this.

Thing is, my Plugins have started becoming hectic for a long time – when I download a file I just dump all the contents as they are into the folder itself (I do read the Readmes of course), but that's starting to come back to bite me in the arse, as it's nigh impossible to find any particular files in there amidst all the junk.

So, through the weeks of browsing the Forums here, I've come to hear about two programs – the Cleanitol and the DatPacker. And here's where the questions overthrow the dam...

1 – I've searched but can't find an answer – what exactly is Cleanitol, what's its function?

2 – I've read it needs files, in .txt format, to search for files – could someone clarify that please? I haven't the foggiest what it means.

3 – Similar to question one, what is the DatPacker?

4 – Finally, just in case all the answers to the above questions are answered in the individual programs' Readmes (I assume they have them), could someone direct me to where you can find them please?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Sam 163]

Cleanitol is a BSC program that looks for duplicate and obsolete dependencies and removes them to a backup folder. It can be used in some cases to see if you have the necessary dependencies for the download you are installing.

However it relies entirely on the downloads creator providing a suitable text file with the download to instruct the program what files the new download is either replacing or requires as dependencies. Not all custom content makers provide such a file.

For example if a new Mega Prop Pack X combines obsolete prop packs A, B anc C, the the creator might supply a text file with this information. You run Cleanitol, give it the text file and it removes prop packs A, B and C if you have them anywhere in your plugins folder, to a backup folder. Then you can install Mega Prop Pack X knowing that the old files will not interfere.

Similarly if a lot requires prop packs X, Y and Z, and the lot maker provides a cleanitol file, it can check if you have prop packs X, Y and Z in your plugins already.

This one is checking for Deadwoods dependencies I don't have:

Many creators provide Cleanitol files with their downloads if they are intended to replace obsolete files:

This one is checking that obsolete NAM files are removed before installing a new version:

DatPacker is a program that combines all (or a large number) of your plugins into one big dat file. You can then use the new packed file instead of your regular plugins. Fewer files means the game loads and runs faster. But you must not use packed dats if you are creating custom content because they will not give reliable dependency readings. You must use the normal plugins as distributed for making custom content.

Both programs are on the SC4Devotion LEX - www.sc4devotion.com

[Dublin 15]

Can"t you just delete or backup all duplicate dat files with a duplicate file finder and then datpack the remaining files with no ill effects. It just seems that instead of using Cleanitol for each plug in that you could install multiple files and run duplicate finder once and be done with it. It seems it would work for the dats and other files in the same manner, with the exception of doing it multiple times. An example would be installing BSCMEGAProps_JRJ_Vol01 thru BSCMEGAProps_JRJ_Vol06 and running a find once compared to six times. Also a question about DatPacker, once you've done this once are there any problems with re-running after you've installed several new plug ins. New to this and just trying to make it simpler. Looking forward to any input. Thanks

[masochist 111]

Actually, not really.  A better way to understand what the Cleanitol does is to think of it as getting rid of obsolete files (as opposed to duplicate files).  When a big Mega Pack comes out that replaces 5 or 6 prop packs, it's usually one gigantic file already...which means if you run a duplicate file finder, it won't find anything (because it'll be just that one large file replacing the 5 or 6 smaller files).

Also, the Cleanitol doesn't just get rid of duplicate files, it also gets rid of "unnecessary" files; that is, it moves files like read-me's and pictures out of your plugins folder and into a back-up folder so that the DAT Packer compresses only the files that really need to be there.

As for the DAT Packer, it's designed to repackage folders if you've added anything new to them, so you're fine adding files to folders and then re-packing them again and again.

[Dublin 15]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, I hadn't expected such a quick and informative reply.

[richthetaff 0]

Right, I've been trying to download BSC Cleanitol for about an hour now and I must be doing something cretinously wrong. No matter what I try I can't actually download the software. Whenever I look for help anywhere it's always for people who have got Cleanitol up and running.

I go here...

https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=97

...but I can't see anywhere to download the software. I must be missing something really simple but I can't see what. Can anyone help? I use Firefox as my browser if that's any help.

[SC4BOY 20]

Are you registered at the site? Both SC4Devotion AND csxlex must be registered for.