Renaming Folders

[Joetropian1 1]

I wanted to terraform, add trees and highways, etc., but I don't want to play with a bilion plugins. Can I rename my plugin folder "Unused" or something temporarily without it affecting the game?

TY in advance

JT1

[ewd76 2]

I don't think that simply renaming your folder will affect things as long as you remember what it is and make sure that anything else you download gets there(I could be wrong). However, if you remove things accidentally which should not have been removed, such as parts of bigger sets or things you have already used within the game, you might have some trouble.

[Joetropian1 1]

ewd, it shouldnt be affecting anyhing while im playing the game. I just want to work on my blank tiles, terraforming, ading trees, making some highways, etc. That has nothing to do with custom content, as far as I know, except maybe the highway asphalt texture mod thing i have.

ty

JT1

[ewd76 2]

Originally posted by: Joetropian1 ewd, it shouldnt be affecting anyhing while im playing the game. I just want to work on my blank tiles, terraforming, ading trees, making some highways, etc. That has nothing to do with custom content, as far as I know, except maybe the highway asphalt texture mod thing i have.

ty

JT1quote>

Ok, I misunderstood

[JakeMD 107]

Yeah renaming your plugins folder to a different name will be just fine. The game will create a new one which is empty. You just have to rename it back to Plugins when you are done and want custom content.

[Joetropian1 1]

ok ty swat that answers my question!

JT1

[Livin in Sim 83]

Hi, Joe,

Yeah, I've been "foresting" my new, empty region with a blank Plugins folder.  Doesn't it load head-spinning-ly fast?    I have my former Plugins folder in another location, and it is renamed Pluginsxxx for now.  If you're interested, following a tip from mrbisonm, I put my terrain mod and tree controllers in the Program Files Plugin Folder, and it works fine.  I plan to leave them there, so when I switch the My Documents Folder in and out they will stay put.  When I start on the roads, following another mrb tip, I plan to put the NAM and all the transit mods I need into the Program Files Plugins and leave them there.  I'll put everthing back when I start zoning and other developng.

I have also created some specialy folders, Urban, Rural, Mountain, etc, for just lots that are only used in certain areas.  Forearmed with backups, I plan to try putting them one at a time into an otherwise empty My Documents Plugins, Datpacking them, after which renaming them to their original names, Urban, etc, (Datpacker names the large DAT file Compressed Plugins) and taking them out--to be put in when needed.  (Didn't you do this, SWAT-MEDIC?)  I think it'll work, but I'll let you know if it doesn't.    If you haven't used wouanagaine's Datpacker, it works great, and seems to cut down on CTD's for me.

SC4 Terraformer I've also recently tried.  It works great for region terraforming, especially for rivers, etc, that run across several tiles.  It has a great Harbour Tool, and you can fine tune terraforming to a tee.  It does take RAM, I have 1.5 and it seems to run fine.

I may also see if I can master Andreas' Startup Manager and some of DocRorlach's stuff. Need I mention all these wonderful programs require excruciatingly thorough study of the readme's? 

Well, enough rambling, sorry for all the detail. 

Have fun.

--Liv

[Joetropian1 1]

TY livin in sim! That helps alot. When i went into the game 2nite i forgot my water mod (i dont even know where it is anyway , land mod and NAM. I exited out, named back my plugin folder, and played with my excruciating 4.79+ gig plugin folder. Its not the biggest, but it stil causes some CTD and lag.

Well, ty! And good luck with the DATpacker. Ive never tried it but ive heard nothing but good news about it.

JT1

[Livin in Sim 83]

You're welcome.  Ya know, I mysteriously lost my water mod, too.  I even searched all files, and it was gone.    So, yeah, I re-downloaded it into the Programs Files Plugins and it should stay put now.  I'm not sure if anything that needs to load last should be kept there, any thoughts, anyone?

Thanks.

--Liv

[Joetropian1 1]

livin i have realistic water mod but dont like it and i cant even find it to delete it... lol. the files called bluishgreenish if memory serves right. i got it over a year ago so...

i want to get pegs wate mod tho, so im still lookin for the file... lol

JT1

[Livin in Sim 83]

I use Peg's Brigantine.  If you do a search it should show up if it's still in your files.

[CaptCity 4,672]

Originally posted by: Livin in Sim ... I'm not sure if anything that needs to load last should be kept there, any thoughts...quote>

 

According to what some have posted and in my experience, anything that is supposed to be loaded last should be put in the Documents plugin folder (I use a 'ZZZ' folder just to be sure). This is due to the fact that the game loads all the Program Files plugins first, then the Documents plugins. So even with a 'ZZZ' folder in the Programs folder, anything in the Documents folder will override it. Hope this makes sense and is helpfull...

Also, I will be curious how it goes with Datpacking your specialty folders. I've done this and then used Startup Manager to control which ones are used in each region. For the most part, it worked and made things easier than swapping plugins in and out. I did have issues with certain files that needed to be loaded in a certain order as Datpacker creates just a single file for each group. So you might run into that. Just a thought...

CaptCity

[Livin in Sim 83]

Yeah, I thought I had seen that, Capt, that the MyDocs Plugin loads last.  I, too, have a ZZZ folder, mostly modds of which the creators have specified that, or that didn't work until I put them in there.  So far I've only used it in the MyDocs.  I do think a person probably shouldn't Datpack most modds, as it might mess up the order.  And of course the NAM is included in that rule of thumb.  As far as putting the NAM and it's accompaniments in the ProgFiles Plugins, mrbisonm seems to do OK with that.  I haven't actually started doing the main roads yet, still foresting, so we'll see. 

But I did pack up my specialty folders last night, doing them one at a time.  Each file was the only folder in the (MyDocs) plugins when I ran it.  When they were done, I took them out, renamed the folder (the Dat itself was correctly named).  The program also leaves the uncompressed files in as usual, so I moved them out as well.  I think they'll work fine since they were mainly models, descriptor files, lots, and some specialty props.

Thanks, Capt, for your input.  If anyone else has any, especially about the NAM in ProgFiles, feel free to share.

Bye for now.

--Liv

[CaptCity 4,672]

More thoughts...

Originally posted by: Livin in Sim ...As far as putting the NAM and it's accompaniments in the ProgFiles Plugins, mrbisonm seems to do OK with that...quote>

 

I was going to mention that but forgot. I have placed the NAM (along with addons) folder in the Program Files folder (also per mrb) and have had no problems. Actually I keep several versions (for test purposes) and swap them in and out with Startup Manager as needed. I also keep several terrain mods and water mods in the Program Files folder, making it easy to change terrain and such independent of which 'specialty' folder I use.

Oh, I was curious as to how you are handling dependencies in relation to packing your specialty folders. That seemed to be my largest hurdle when I did it. I tried a couple of different ways and didn't realy like either one. I'm still open to suggestions on that one...

and to Joetropian1...

...I have realistic water mod but dont like it and i cant even find it to delete it...quote>

The Realistic Water Mod is a file named DarkBlueishGreenish. Maybe the 'Dark' at the beginning will help you find it.

[Joetropian1 1]

Still cant find the stupid water mod. I have wanted brigantine since early 2008 but still cant find the darn file. lol. I give up. thx anyway Capt.

JT1

[Livin in Sim 83]

So NAM is OK in ProgFiles, cool, thanks.

As far as dependencies, I have a huge props folder with all the BSC, etc. mega and resource packs, and some smaller sets that I use everywhere.  When I download an item, I put in on the desktop and separate it as much as I can.  If a prop pack is small and I don't think I'll use it everywhere, I put it with the rest of the download in a specialty folder.  I have to be careful with this, tho, so I don't do it if I'm not sure it won't be used for something general.  I have my prop folder Datpacked, too, since it is so big.  Textures are put in a separate file as well, with the same consideration.  The Datpacked Prop and Texture files are kept in ProgFiles Plugins.  When a Cleanitol file needs to clear out something, I have to run it on my uncompressed files, and then re-Datpack the affected folders.

Joe, since Peg's water mod is basically a texture, if you rename it by putting a zz in front of the title, then it may possibly override your other one.  Take the dat itself out of the folders it comes in and rename it.  It may work, and I don't think it will hurt anything to try this.

Enjoy the game.

--Liv

[CaptCity 4,672]

Livin in Sim...

Originally posted by: Livin in Sim ...I have a huge props folder with all the BSC, etc. mega and resource packs...quote>

I can understand that. It's what I was trying to get away from.

...I put it with the rest of the download in a specialty folder... quote>

 

I also try to do that as much as possible. Even to the extent of having some duplicates in different folders that I know I'll never use at the same time. Thanks for the input...

Joetropian1...

Originally posted by: Livin in SimJoe, since Peg's water mod is basically a texture, if you rename it by putting a zz in front of the title, then it may possibly override your other one.  Take the dat itself out of the folders it comes in and rename it.  It may work, and I don't think it will hurt anything to try this.quote>

 

That will work. I once did it by accident and never even noticed untill it was time to clean up some plugins. Just put the water mod in a 'Z' folder or rename it as Liv said. Might want to be sure to put it in the Documents plugins so it overrides anything in the Program Files plugins. Actually, you might try both to see if you can narrow down where that other mod is. Just a thought...