A request for BATters using zip files

[rp2005 165]

I've noticed in a few recent downloads that some fellow BATters are zipping up a set of loose files (model, desc and lot) for upload to the STEX. 

 

Can I suggest that people create a directory for the whole upload - drop in all the content and then zip the directory.  It makes things far more manageable in the plugins directory - particularly where you have props or multiple lots. 

 

Many people already do it, some new BATters probably haven't thought about it yet and some very well established people (identities protected ) are inconsistent about whether they do or not.

 

If you name the directory like 'battersname-nameofbat' it also keeps all your stuff in an organised block in whichever directory the person downloading it decides to place it in.

 

 

Just a suggestion ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[frogface 352]

please put all requests in the official ba... oops

good idea, i havent thought of that before (probably the reason my plugins folder is in a mess)

i'll be doing that for anything new I release

[rp2005 165]

Date: 7/10/2005 3:07:29 PM Author: frogface

please put all requests in the official ba... oops

quote>

 

[scififan68 23]

Date: 7/10/2005 2:59:21 PM Author:rp2005

I've noticed in a few recent downloads that some fellow BATters are zipping up a set of loose files (model, desc and lot) for upload to the STEX.

Can I suggest that people create a directory for the whole upload - drop in all the content and then zip the directory.  It makes things far more manageable in the plugins directory - particularly where you have props or multiple lots. 

Many people already do it, some new BATters probably haven't thought about it yet and some very well established people (identities protected ) are inconsistent about whether they do or not.

If you name the directory like 'battersname-nameofbat' it also keeps all your stuff in an organised block in whichever directory the person downloading it decides to place it in.

Just a suggestion ...

quote>

Great Idea! If the creators don't do that,it spams your plugin folder. [That makes me mad]

[T Wrecks 10,209]

IMHO, that's no problem at all. I don't unzip downloads into my active plugins folder anyway - first, I unzip into a plugins archive, where I get rid of readme file and screenshots and put ploppable and growable versions into separate sub-folders manually. Only after doing so, I copy the folder that contains the desired version into my plugins folder - properly renamed to suit my system, of course.

And if you do unzip directly into your plugins directory, just use WinRAR. It makes a sub-folder by default, eliminating the problem.

From my point of view, a far worse problem is all those exe installers. They cause much more hassle for me than any ZIP. I can't just open Winrar, select some file, hit unzip and do the sort-and-rename game. Instead, I have to point each and every installer to the desired location. Then, a readme pops up, and I must close it. Then, the installer must be closed by clicking on finish. Afterwards, I must check my plugin folders in case some textures, props or other files got installed in sub-sub-sub-folders like plugins\BSC\farms\csx\rewards\xyz, and finally I must browse a folder called STEX downloads (the creation of which I never wanted, approved of or was even asked for) and its (by now) numerous sub-folders to dig out the readme and the screenshots, which I then put into the archive, so that I have the readme and some pics in the main folder and the building versions in sub-folders ready to get copied into the active plugins folder.
It's five times more work than creating a sub-folder or two in case some files are unzipped without folder structure.

Sorry about the rant, but that's just my opinion.

[underworld 129]

On one hand i agree with T wrecks: It is more work to manage the proces he describes, different readme files on different places in your system,etc. On the other hand (I am guilty of that myself) batters should make the zipfiles as mentioned by RP2005. The exe files keep the important files together, the (loose) zip files clutter your plugin folder with filenames like: flat_a0c04350_129afa9.sc4model.

 

That brings me to another point: Naming your files.

It`s easier when people rename the *.sc4model, *.sc4desc and the *.sc4lot file. (atleast remove the number/letter combo at the end of it)

It`s very simple to do:

After rendering, open explorer, rename the *.sc4model file to whatever you want.

After the plugin manager, rename the *.sc4desc file. (remove the number/letter string)

And finally, rename the *.sc4lot file.

 

A second option is to merge the three files into one *.dat file with files2dat  from ilive.

 

Just my 2 cents

 

[T Wrecks 10,209]

@ underworld: What you say about renaming is SO true.

Merging files into a DAT can be ok, as long as the DAT doesn't contain various versions (growable AND ploppable, for example).

Another downside of DATs can occur when two or more lots are merged into a DAT - if you think the building grows too much or you simply don't like one of the lots, you can't just delete the corresponding lot file.

IMHO, an ideal ZIP would look like this:

Building X by BATter Y (main folder contains readme and screenshots)
|
+building (contains the .sc4model)
|
+ growable (lots & descs for growable version)
+ ploppable (lots & descs for ploppable version)
+ landmark (lots & descs for landmark version)

[underworld 129]

@Twrecks: You are right bout the dat files, but that`s easy to fix, one dat-file for each version of a bat, users can choose which version they want to use.

As for the perfect zipfile: the way you mention is perfect, except the screenshots, they are not needed i think, users normally choose to download a bat on the pics they see in the STEX.