Where to place plugins

[yayaya1 22]

I was wondering, can you place mods in your c: drive or only in my documents?

[Magneto 316]

On your C drive the mods won't load. Apparently it is possible to install some mods in the plugins folder that is located under C: /Program Files/ SC4 Deluxe, but I don't think it's recommended. Better stick to the usual My docs/ Plugins folder...

[yayaya1 22]

Ok, because I don't want to go to admin just to download a mod

[.anonyman 28]

You can, but maybe you shouldn't. 

 

When I feverishly started adding mods and custom content, it got all mixed up. Some were in My Documents; some were in Program Files. IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. I moved them back and forth; I even renamed the folders higher up in the hierarchy. The game and all the plugins ran just fine.

 

Having said that, it gets confusing, redundant and inefficient to use both locations, especially if you have many files.

[yayaya1 22]

I found out that I dont have to go into to admin

[infamousjbe 593]

I've read of other players using solely their C:/Progams/Plugins instead of the Doc/Plugins due to speeding up the load time a bit. So it can be done.

 

Due to the fact that a lot of content is packed in Installer.exe's, it makes it a bit more difficult to use other folders. 

 

I personally don't care for installers on most content. I would rather manually install the files I want and leave out ones I don't.

[Cyclone Boom 17,032]

I suggest sticking to the default "Documents" plugins folder. One problem is if you have to uninstall the game, all files will be wiped out, including the "Program Files" plugins folder.

But if you like, it is possible for the game to load your user directory (including both plugins and regions) from a different location.

 

To do this, firstly, move your entire \Documents\SimCity 4\ folder to the new desired location, on the drive of your choice. Or you can create a new folder, named anything you like, and the required subfolders will be automatically created on first load. Then go to your game's shortcut, and open 'Properties', and add the following command at the end of the target box, first adding a space:

-UserDir:"x:\New User Directory\"

Replace x with the drive letter, and New User Directory with the new location of the folder.

For example:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -UserDir:"x:\New User Directory\"

 

For this preference to work, remember to start the game each time using the same shortcut.

[Prophet42 1,503]

I also thought (but not sure) that there is a loading order.  I think the game loads the C:\program files\...\plugins first then loads the ...\mydocuments\simcity4\plugins.  This could mean that if you have a new mod in the c:...plugins folder and an older version of the mod in the documents folder, the new mod will be overwritten by the old one.  I believe that is one of the reasons the NAM uses an folder called z_NAM in the documents plugin folder to insure that any old mods that have been loaded are overwritten by the new ones.

[z1 566]

I think the game loads the C:\program files\...\plugins first then loads the ...\mydocuments\simcity4\plugins.  This could mean that if you have a new mod in the c:...plugins folder and an older version of the mod in the documents folder, the new mod will be overwritten by the old one.  I believe that is one of the reasons the NAM uses an folder called z_NAM in the documents plugin folder to insure that any old mods that have been loaded are overwritten by the new ones.

 

This is all correct (except that the folder is actually named z___NAM, with three underscores).

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Unless you are a systems programmer and are willing to accept the burden you should keep away from the Program Files folders altogether.  A couple of reasons:

 

• If you do a reinstall, the area is wiped out.
• If you have multiple accounts on the same machine, all players get whatever is in Program Files ... Plugins.  Not good for freedom to chose your own plugins.

Now, about having plugins elsewhere.  You could try it for some of the bigger ones like the NAM by using links.  You replace the NAM folder, for example, with a link (short cut) to another location where you maintain the NAM.  Works on Linux.  No guarantees for Windows.  Probably not worth the trouble. 

 

At one point I had my plugins on an external disk because I was running two operating systems.  Just causes extra disk accesses during loading and any redraw operation like zooming and scrolling.