SC4 Startup Manager - manage your plugins!

[deanva 70]

I download the start up manager and had problems! After I created a new region, I had my sims and vehicles, even the clouds etc. going at the cheetah speed on turtle setting. When I tried cheetah setting the cars and sims would slow down but the day counter would be going at cheetah speed. I tried reinstalling the game it didn't help at all. I uninstalled the start up manager and left the region in the game and no change. I then deleted the region that was made and uninstalled SC4 and all plugins and mods. Reinstalled the SC4 and everything is back to normal. I have reinstalled everything EXCEPT the start up manager and the game is running with NO problems.

[Andreas Roth 607]

This is probably not related to the SUM, as the problem stayed the same even after uninstalling the SUM. Maybe your region got screwed up somehow. Unfortunately, you skipped one step (deleting the region, but not uninstalling the game), so we cannot tell if it was the region or the game that was acting up.

[SC4BOY 20]

Wondering if there is a way I can direct SUM to find my regions in a different location? I have moved the execution target using a "-userdir:" string. When I start SUM it only finds the OLD Regions location (where I store backups). I know this is not "typical" but for using DatPacker it is much easier to relocate the dat area to a different location.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Well, the SUM reads the path of the SC4 installation from the registry, and I would think that it automatically assumes the plugins are located in \My Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins. Not sure if that can be changed, though.

[SC4BOY 20]

Ok thanks.. that would be a nice change is ever another update is provided. I looked fairly carefully through the program pages and the doc's and found no reference to being able to do it, so I expect you are correct... Don't know if the -userdir: string can be used on it or not. The easiest way from a user's standpoint would be just to let the page that shows "region" listed to allow a redirect to another folder by double clicking for a window, but I'm sure JLP2 would know the "best way" to get it done..

[GMT 389]

I got a problem with SUM.

Every now and then, it loses the configuration for both itself and the regions. So far not that bad as I usually create a backup of the config files once I change something.

But today, it really got annoying because everytime(!) I start the game, it does lose the configurations. Tried it 10 times already, everytime with the same outcome.

Any ideas to solve it?

EDIT: Reinstallation seem to have made it even worse, now SUM seems to randomly initiate plugins, no matter if selected or not.

a certain terrain mod, a water mod and that's it, and I do get an artistic mixture of all my available terrain mods in one map, and loading times imply that entire plugin folders are loaded rather than the 2 selected folders.

Doublechecking the 2 mentioned mods they don't reveal any anomalies, so I wonder what's wrong at all??

EDIT2: I was right, it does load both the my docs and the games root plugin folder entirely, even tho only a few selected are supposed to be loaded. This is the first time ever I encounter such troublesome problems with the SUM, first time on this machine also.

[blaza6925 16]

I used the SUM for a long time on Windows XP but I have recently switched to a new computer with Windows 7 and the SUM is not working that well. The issue im having is that no matter my plugging combination, there is snow covering the ground. I have dropped all snow mods, it is not December 25th, and I have no texture mods. Running in XP compatibility mode did not fix the problem. Any ideas?

[Vern 29]

Anyone here using SC4 with Win 7? It seems to work fine except for when you try to go back to the program after exiting your city.

EDIT: I just heard back from JeanLuc and he recommended I use this config (sumhkmodule.ini) and it worked. Yeah!!!!

[sumfcserver]

FileControlMethod=sumnjserver, sumfmserver

Reorder the "FileControlMethod" to:

[sumfcserver]

FileControlMethod=sumfmserver, sumnjserver

  Edited April 5, 2011 by Vern  

[nicolasville 2]

Hi,

I'm having some issues with Startup Manager. First of all, I run a Windows 7 64 bit (I heard it might have problems with it). The program itself works fine, as I was able to create profiles and choose my plugins with no problems. However, when I tried to start the game from the startup manager, the window pops up, saying it's initializing "sumnjserver'...but then it freezes and i have to close the program on task manager. I tried switching "sumnjserver" and "sumfmserver" in the configuration file, but now when I try to open the region, a window pops up that reads "Datei 'c:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins Disabled\Reintegrate.vbs' kann nicht erstellt werden Access is denied;" and the second aforementioned window pops up, now saying that "sumfmserver" and the file manager server has worked, but it stays on "hide relevant files" for the longest time until I run out of patience and just close the program. Although I am an administrator on the computer, I have had some weird access problems with windows 7 in the past. I'm really hoping to find an answer to this mystery, as I am very excited to start using this incredible program.

[Moonraker0 192]

I'm not sure if the program is still being developed, but if it is, I think a great feature to have would be copying profiles. I have a lot of folders in my plugins, which means that when I want to, for example, use different tram or elevated train skins for different cities in one region, I need to re-select from a hundred folders the same ones as the existing profile, but with only one difference in the end, and usually I forget one folder or add one folder and make a change that I didn't mean to. It would be easier if I could copy/duplicate the existing profile and make that small change in the new copy. I would be very happy if this was added in a new version. I'm probably going to start DATPacking again soon, so I guess it won't matter as much then, though.

I also use the File Moving server because the other one doesn't work for me. It takes a while to work, though, so I would like to get the other method working if there's a way. I use Windows Vista 64-bit; has anyone had success making the Injection server work on a similar system?

@GMT: I occasionally have the same problem on my main computer. My laptop with the same config file gets it every time. What I do is, like you said, make backups of the configuration file for Startup Manager in my Documents folder. If it happens every time, a workaround I use is to make the file read-only in its properties whenever I'm not trying to change profiles; this way, SUM cannot corrupt the file, and having it read-only doesn't cause any problems, except for it needing to update any changed region thumbnails every time it loads. I get around the inability to edit profiles by changing them on my main computer and copying the file to my laptop, setting it as read-only then.

Anyway, Startup Manager is a very useful program; I don't know what I'd do without it.

[ja/att 61]

I am using Windows 7 now as well and just like Nicholasville the SUM works fine till it tries to intiate and then it freezes. Any solutions?

  Edited July 15, 2011 by ja/att  

[Andreas Roth 607]

It is possible that the SC4 Startup Manager doesn't work properly in Win7 64 Bit, as it was developed quite some time ago already. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to try it myself, and RL is preventing me for getting back to the game again (haven't touched it a single time since the beginning of the year). Not very helpful, I know, but unless JeanLucPicard2, the creator of the program, doesn't have a look, I can't tell there's something that can be done about the problem.

[sim_city-freak 0]

any updates I too is also using windows 7 64-bit and SC4 Startup just freezes in the initialization stage.

[georgejr49802 0]

any updates I too is also using windows 7 64-bit and SC4 Startup just freezes in the initialization stage.

I am also having the same problem. Has anyone yet found a solution to this issue?

[ja/att 61]

Has there been any resolution to the problem associated with the SUM not hiding the appropriate files but loading the entire plugin folder when starting the game. This is a new problem with my windows 7.

[JeanLucPicard2 2]

I am using Windows 7 now as well and just like Nicholasville the SUM works fine till it tries to intiate and then it freezes. Any solutions?

any updates I too is also using windows 7 64-bit and SC4 Startup just freezes in the initialization stage.

I am also having the same problem. Has anyone yet found a solution to this issue?

Has there been any resolution to the problem associated with the SUM not hiding the appropriate files but loading the entire plugin folder when starting the game. This is a new problem with my windows 7.

The SUMv3 comes with a Windows service that can intercept process I/O operations and block file access to hide the appropriate plugins. Unfortunately the library used for this purpose does not work under Windows x64 (and maybe even does not work under Win7 at all). As a consequence the initialization does not simply fail but freezes the entire application. So the SUM cannot continue using an alternate approach where it just moves the concerning plugins to a directory where Sim City won't find them.

You have to edit the “sumhkmodule.ini” to use the alternative method (as pointed out a few posts above):

Reorder the “FileControlMethod” to:

[code][sumfcserver] FileControlMethod=sumfmserver, sumnjserver[/code]

Note that using this method, the SUM needs writing access to both Sim City plugin directories. There is a good chance that you will need administrator privileges to access the Sim City installation directory plugin folder. So you may need to run the SUM with elevated privileges. Depending on your UAC settings, any application will be run using standard user privileges (even if you are logged on as administrator). So you may play around with the compatibility settings of the “sc4stupmngr.exe” and “sumfcserver.exe” in the SUM installation directory (right-click and “Properties”). Especially you may try the “Run this program as an administrator” check box.

Principally the SUM can successfully be run on Win7x64. At least it works on my system (having write access to the Sim City plugin directories).

[The_City_Builder 299]

Um, where can this be downloaded?

[fiver 306]

Thanks to all the creators of this tool. I have not tried it yet, but I believe it is wonderful and helpful.

Please confirm if my understanding is correct (or not):

It is impossible, using SUM, to apply different profiles (sets of chosen custom BATs/Lots/etc) to one city - correct?

I mean, say I'm building a city using a SUM profile with Maxis and custom buildings together, and then I want one of my districts to grow only Maxis buildings. Could I make up a profile with custom buldiungs disabled and then allply it to the same city, and after some time return back to the first profile? Or only one profile can ever be applied to a city?

Thank you.

  Edited July 19, 2012 by fiver  

[Magneto 316]

It is impossible, using SUM, to apply different profiles (sets of chosen custom BATs/Lots/etc) to one city - correct?

That's correct.

[fiver 306]

It is impossible, using SUM, to apply different profiles (sets of chosen custom BATs/Lots/etc) to one city - correct?

That's correct.

I knew it

But I think this great tool will come in handy anyway. Thank you!

[Yuu Caa Sim 55]

Actually, I've gotten two different profiles to be set into one region before. It's not at the same granularity as city level profile swapping, but as long as you remember which profile your using and the cities you want to use them with, it's around the same effect.

Obviously, you wouldn't want to use a profile with a city that contains buildings that's not present in the profile, but if you're going from Maxis-only to Maxis + CC, it should be fine.

[fiver 306]

Obviously, you wouldn't want to use a profile with a city that contains buildings that's not present in the profile, but if you're going from Maxis-only to Maxis + CC, it should be fine.

The hope was, I might go the other way around, Maxis+CC to Maxis-only (and then back, some time later). But that is impossible, I assume.

[eastwinds 0]

Hello, where can this be downloaded? It looks like a very useful mod but I can't find it anywhere.

[fiver 306]

Hello, where can this be downloaded? It looks like a very useful mod but I can't find it anywhere.

Check the tools on this page

[Aditya reddy 0]

Introduction

Are you tired of manually moving items out of your plugins folder when you don't want them to use in your current region? Don't you want to rename several plugins folders constantly, getting rid of the annoying intro movie and have full control over your downloads? Then you might want to use the new SimCity 4 Startup Manager, created by JeanLucPicard2 from the SimForum BAT Team.

SimCity 4 Startup Manager is a small tool that can associate certain plugin folders with a region. With one click the region with the appropriate plugins can be loaded in SimCity 4. Intricately moving or renaming of the plugins folders by hand is no longer necessary.

Features

Region Profiles

You can create arbitrary region profiles and assign different plugins folders to them. By clicking on a profile, SimCity 4 automatically starts and loads the selected plugins only. In addition, the opened region is stored with each region profile, so each profile can be associated with any region, which is then loaded automatically by starting SimCity 4.

Development Profiles

You can assign different plugins folders to development profiles, as well as to the region profiles. However, SimCity 4 is not started, but a development program, if desired. Therefore, arbitrary development programs can be defined, such as the Lot Editor or the Plugin Manager.

Plugins Management

The plugins are managed by using two folders:

• Plugins (the normal plugins folder, these plugins are to be loaded by SimCity 4)
  
• PluginsDisabled (here all plugins are placed, which are not assigned to the active profile)
  

The program automatically detects all plugins and manages them as desired. All profiles control both the plugins folder in SimCity's installation folder and the plugins folder in My Documents.

Download

You can download the SimCity 4 Startup manager at the official download site .

Screeenshots

Select region profile and start SimCity 4 with a single click:

Create region profile and select the plugins that should be loaded with SimCity:

Create a development profile and start any development program with just the selected plugins:

Can u provide me the link to download the sc4 PIM. I am not able to find PIM

[elendell 0]

Hello,

This is a machine translation because I do not speak English. I hope I understood and that you forgive me.

I used the SUM 2.1.2 and the 3.0 in a previous installation of SC4 few years ago ..
I just reinstalled the game and SUM v3.0 on the same PC (XP SP3) but I can not run the SUM.

When I run a region, everything seems to work normally, but the game does not start:

 

At this point, if I start the game with the shortcut normal SC4, I have all the plugins in the game, even with the SUM function.

If I run the shortcut that is in the directory of SUM, my game has only plugins chosen for my area, but the SUM Starter options do not work and it forces me to do two operations instead of one .

In addition, when I leave the game, I also leave the SUM separately.

The problem is that the launch of SC4 from SUM does not work.

I said that I tried version 2.1.2 and it launches successfully but the game is much less than the 3.0 SUM I find fantastic.

Can anyone help me with that?

 

[diego6677 6]

 

I am using Windows 7 now as well and just like Nicholasville the SUM works fine till it tries to intiate and then it freezes. Any solutions?

any updates I too is also using windows 7 64-bit and SC4 Startup just freezes in the initialization stage.

I am also having the same problem. Has anyone yet found a solution to this issue?

Has there been any resolution to the problem associated with the SUM not hiding the appropriate files but loading the entire plugin folder when starting the game. This is a new problem with my windows 7.

The SUMv3 comes with a Windows service that can intercept process I/O operations and block file access to hide the appropriate plugins. Unfortunately the library used for this purpose does not work under Windows x64 (and maybe even does not work under Win7 at all). As a consequence the initialization does not simply fail but freezes the entire application. So the SUM cannot continue using an alternate approach where it just moves the concerning plugins to a directory where Sim City won't find them.

You have to edit the “sumhkmodule.ini” to use the alternative method (as pointed out a few posts above):

Reorder the “FileControlMethod” to:

[sumfcserver]
FileControlMethod=sumfmserver, sumnjserver

Note that using this method, the SUM needs writing access to both Sim City plugin directories. There is a good chance that you will need administrator privileges to access the Sim City installation directory plugin folder. So you may need to run the SUM with elevated privileges. Depending on your UAC settings, any application will be run using standard user privileges (even if you are logged on as administrator). So you may play around with the compatibility settings of the “sc4stupmngr.exe” and “sumfcserver.exe” in the SUM installation directory (right-click and “Properties”). Especially you may try the “Run this program as an administrator” check box.

Principally the SUM can successfully be run on Win7x64. At least it works on my system (having write access to the Sim City plugin directories).

 

 

 

Thank you for this great tool.  Unfortunately it still doesn't work properly on Win7 64x and I followed your instruction exactly.  The tool still loaded all plug-ins for one city after I specifically selected several plug-ins NOT to be loaded into that city.  I tried to develop one city in Japanese theme and I plan to develop different city which are "mountain theme".  Both of these cities are in 1 same region.  The tool doesn't work properly on Win7 64 bits sadly. ((   I have to delete this tool and I have to accept that I have to load all plug-ins for any cities. I guess I won't see two different cities of styles in one region.

 

Maybe I hope this tool is revamped one day for the use of Win7.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Well, you can still manage your plugins manually, you know. If you structure your plugins folder smartly, all it takes is a few seconds at startup to rename and/or move a few folders. Not quite as comfortable as using a tool, but still better than nothing, I guess. And it works in all environments.

[ReshiramLover 48]

No link to Startup Manager? Mine won't work (Probably outdated)

[rsc204 21,808]

Oh surprise, it's the first link from a Google search for SimCity Kurier.

Also there have been recent problems with the site, which may still not be fully restored to working order: