Using DAMN Manager with Steam version of SimCity 4?

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

1 hour ago, CorinaMarie said:

So, if y'all would test this file and let me know if it does in fact create DamnLocation.ini in your SimCity 4 folder in Documents that'll let me know if this part is ok.

Great work!

I especially like how you've added the check for the 32-bit registry entry which doesn't look in the "Wow6432Node" branch.

Testing here on Windows 7, I can confirm it's fully functional:

 

And opening the INI file at the outputted location at the root of SimCity 4 has the following written inside:

C:\PROGRA~2\Maxis\SIMCIT~1\ 

With my game being the disc based version of SC4 installed in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\

 

I can also confirm the path in the INI corresponds to that as shown in the Registry entry at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Maxis\SimCity 4

As follows:

 

So maybe if those with GOG and Steam based games could test it out too and check the path shows up correctly saved in the INI.

This is just a plain text file which can be opened using Windows Notepad. Along with the command line, it's likely there will be a difference shown here, where they should match where the game is located. For the registry entries along with 64-bit vs 32-bit, I wonder if there's a difference such as with Steam having a client manager? Maybe it could be in their own structure, and likewise for those who use GOG Galaxy instead of the direct SC4 installation.

Should this be the case, I guess Cori could incorporate additional Goto sections into her batch file script.

[CorinaMarie 29,857]

7 hours ago, Cyclone Boom said:

I guess Cori could incorporate additional Goto sections into her batch file script.

Yes. If it turns out Steam uses a different registry key I can add in a check for that too.

Upon reflection I've decided this could be used for more than just DAMN for anyone who codes up LUA scripts for the game. So, I've made the command file more generic inasmuch as it now creates SC4InstallDir.ini rather than one which looks like it could only be used for DAMN. I tweaked the display text too and added a line to check that the expected file really did get created.

^ So as long as it doesn't say File Not Found in that last part it should be good to go.

I've tested this new one for GoG on Win 7 and for the disc version on XP and the created file contains the proper path to the install dir. What I need now is for someone using the Steam version of the game to test and let me know the contents of the created SC4InstallDir.ini file and whether or not it got created in the root of SimCity 4 in Documents. Also, if anyone has any version of the game installed in a non-default location that would be extra useful to see that this command file locates the right path.

Newest official version: Create SC4InstallDir INI.cmd

[rsc204 21,857]

I'm having problems with both scripts, getting this result initially:

Quote

Checking registry for the installation path of SimCity 4 . . .

\Maxis\SimCity was unexpected at this time.

When I modify the Registry Paths as follows (added trailing forwardslash):

@Echo OFF

:: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:: Cori code to write SC4 installation directory path to an INI file for use with DAMN
:: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLS

  Echo Checking installation path of SimCity 4 ...
  Echo.

  setlocal EnableExtensions


:64Bit
  Set KEY_NAME="HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Maxis\SimCity 4\"
  Set VALUE_NAME="Install Dir"

  For /F "usebackq skip=2 tokens=1-3*" %%A IN (`REG QUERY %KEY_NAME% /v %VALUE_NAME% 2^>nul`) DO (
    Set SC4Name=%%A
    Set SC4Type=%%B
    Set SC4Value=%%C
    Set SC4Path=%%D
  )

  If defined SC4Name (
    Echo SC4 Install Dir = %SC4Path%
    Goto :CreateFile
  ) else (
    Goto :32Bit
  )
  Goto :Exit

:32Bit
  Set KEY_NAME="HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Maxis\SimCity 4\"
  Set VALUE_NAME="Install Dir"

  For /F "usebackq skip=2 tokens=1-3*" %%A IN (`REG QUERY %KEY_NAME% /v %VALUE_NAME% 2^>nul`) DO (
    Set SC4Name=%%A
    Set SC4Type=%%B
    Set SC4Value=%%C
    Set SC4Path=%%D
  )

  If defined SC4Name (
    Echo SC4 Install Dir = %SC4Path%
    Goto :CreateFile
  ) else (
    Goto :NotFound
  )
  Goto :Exit

:CreateFile
  Echo.
  Set SC4Damn=My Documents\SimCity 4\
  Echo %SC4Path% > "%USERPROFILE%\%SC4Damn%\DamnLocation.ini"
  Echo File created: %USERPROFILE%\%SC4Damn%\DamnLocation.ini
  Goto :Exit

:NotFound
  Echo Path not found.
  Goto :Exit

:Exit
  Echo.
  Pause
  Exit

 - In short the last char of the first line of the 64Bit and 32Bit functions need a \ before it runs -

Now things get weird, I did get it to create the .ini file once, although the contents contained the variable %%D, not the path. This was using a Win7 x64 Ultimate system with SP1. My laptop, running Win7 x64 Professional with SP1, never once created the .ini file. More odd, having done so the first time, my main system now only gives me the same error as the laptop "Path not found"

Both machines use GoG and the registry entry is there and correct as you would expect. So, something is not right here, which I would put down to scripting changes for Vista/7, of which there are many, except that CB didn't suffer the same problem with Win7. So I'm struggling to explain what's happening here. If it changes anything, I'm running the scripts from the root of X:\ and running them from an open command line, rather than double-clicking the shortcut. Although I've tried with the original names and from the root of C by double-clicking too, which changes nothing.

[CorinaMarie 29,857]

I did add a newer version in my previous post, but it's quite unlikely to change any of your findings. Also, whether double-clicked or run from the command line itself won't matter. While writing it I was at the command line testing and only added the final Exit line when it worked here on Win 7 Pro and XP. (I did then also test double-clicking from within Windoze Explorer and that too worked.) Location of the command file should not matter either since the full paths are specified.

So it seems there are too many idiosyncrasies between OS versions that it'll be beyond my ability to read the registry and output the correct information.

However, all is not lost. We could go back to Plan A where the user creates the .ini file by hand using the copy path as text option when they've browsed to the correct location and paste that into the new proper .ini file. LUA itself won't care how the SC4InstallDir.ini gets created, just that it is in text format and located where it expects it to be.

Keep in mind too my last version of the damnControl.dat should now work in 99% of all cases. (This was when following the exact DAMN install instructions posted by @Pixelrage in this post and then swapping in my .dat.) The idea with creating and reading a custom .ini file was so the goofy install locations could also be handled automatically. If peeps are doing that then they might also likely be capable of doing the LUA edit to accommodate their special requirements. I could tighten up my code in my last damnControl.dat file and call it a day, but since it already works we might as well use it as is.

[CorinaMarie 29,857]

13 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

I could tighten up my code in my last damnControl.dat file and call it a day, but since it already works we might as well use it as is.

Ok. So I was a bit discouraged, but I was literally (tho I didn't know it at the time of my previous post) a dozen keystrokes away from the new draft version of damnControl.dat which reads the SC4InstallDir.ini and works perfectly in the game. To be sure that part (and only that new code part) was working I commented out all my previous direct access code so the only way it could find the DAMN-index.txt file was if it built the path based on the .ini contents.

Now it does seem useful to finish it up by tightening the direct access code and then make that part only be executed should the .ini not be found or valid. It really shouldn't be too hard to write documentation to tell peeps how to put the correct info in the .ini file and even then that'll only be for the rare cases when the game install is non-standard. Not having the .ini file won't bother the code. It'll just check for it first and if not found it'll move on to the next checks.

[CorinaMarie 29,857]

Hopefully this is the final version we need: damnControl.dat

This has been tested after installing DAMN according to the aforementioned @Pixelrage's instructions. Then replace the initial damnControl.dat with mine. This version will first check for SC4InstallDir.ini in the root of SimCity 4 in your Documents folder. It knows how to find that by accessing the OS variable USERPROFILE. Should this not be set properly then the .ini file will not be found by the LUA code.

On my XP comp I checked in a command window:

 

And in Win 7:

 

So the LUA code builds the path by appending \My Documents\SimCity 4\SC4InstallDir.ini to the data in the USERPROFILE. If the code cannot find said file it will then check the default location for GoG, Steam, and Disc version installs. As a last resort it will use @Daeley's original code and tweaks to the Start In line of your SC4 shortcut can be used to fine tune that method.

As we've learned the SC4InstallDir.ini file must be created by hand if you wish to use that option. This should only be needed if your game is installed in a non-standard location. The contents should be text only and have the complete path to where the game installation can find the Plugins folder. (Not the one in Documents.) Do not add a trailing backslash or any trailing spaces. Do not enclose it in quotes even tho the path might have spaces.

Examples for the content for standard installs:

• C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe
• C:\PROGRA~1\MAXIS\SIMCIT~1
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe

Do not use my prior Create SC4InstallDir INI.cmd script to create this file. That adds a trailing backslash and a space for disc installs and a trailing space for others when read from the registry. My prior LUA code stripped out the extras, but we've found the auto creation of the .ini doesn't work on all versions of Windoze so I cut that part back out of the LUA code.

As before this is a beta version which I believe to be ready for real use. However, extensive testing should be performed and ideally report back with what game version you tested it with and how it worked. I do assume you have the DAMN part set up correctly.

Code for this version:

-- Code by Cori to look for a custom path to the index and if not found, look in logical places
  luainput = nil

  -- Build path to ini file
  local cmUserDir = os.getenv("USERPROFILE")
  cmSC4IniFileName = cmUserDir .. [[\My Documents\SimCity 4\SC4InstallDir.ini]]

  -- Try to open said file
  cmIniFileFound = io.open(cmSC4IniFileName)

  -- If all good, read contents
  if (cmIniFileFound) then
    io.input(cmSC4IniFileName)
    cmInstallDirPath = io.read()
    if (cmInstallDirPath) then
      -- Create full path with file name of the index
      cmDamnIndexFile = cmInstallDirPath .. [[\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]]
      -- Open the DAMN-index.txt
      luainput = io.open(cmDamnIndexFile)
    end
  end

  -- If above open fails check in default GoG path
  if not (luainput) then
    luainput = io.open([[C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
    -- If not Gog then check Steam
    if not (luainput) then
      luainput = io.open([[C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
      -- If not Steam check Disc 32bit OS
      if not (luainput) then
        luainput = io.open([[C:\PROGRA~1\MAXIS\SIMCIT~1\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
        -- If not Disc 32bit check Disc 64bit
        if not (luainput) then
          luainput = io.open([[C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
          -- All else failed so try Original Daeley Code
          if not (luainput) then
            luainput = io.open([[Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
          end
        end
      end
    end
  end

-- End Cori new code.

-- (Original Line) local luainput = io.open([[Plugins/DAMN/Support/DAMN-index.txt]])
 local line = 1 
 while (line) do
  line = luainput:read("*l")
  if (line) then
   DAMenu.interpret(line)
  end
 end

 DAMenu.currentMenu = DAMenu

-- Release variables used (luainput is here now cause I didn't set it to local since it's nested in the IFs above)
  -- Cori Code
  luainput = nil
  cmIniFileFound = nil
  cmSC4IniFileName = nil
  cmInstallDirPath = nil
  cmDamnIndexFile = nil
  -- Cori Code End

Edit: Fixed a code typo. (I changed all the forward slashes to back slashed cause it looks prettier and LUA doesn't care. I'd missed one.)
Edit Too: @Cyclone Boom found and fixed another bug where the menu in game came up blank if the .ini wasn't present. I've patched the file and the code list above so now it does what I claimed it did if the .ini file isn't found.
Edit Thrice: I fixed a bug where if the .ini is an empty zero byte file the menu in game didn't appear. That's handled now too.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

1 hour ago, CorinaMarie said:

As we've learned the SC4InstallDir.ini file must be created by hand if you wish to use that option. This should only be needed if your game is installed in a non-standard location. The contents should be text only and have the complete path to where the game installation can find the Plugins folder. (Not the one in Documents.) Do not add a trailing backslash or any trailing spaces. Do not enclose it in quotes even tho the path might have spaces.

With a script to read and write the path from the registry seemingly not viable for all systems, I think this does sound an excellent alternative. The copy path option from the location bar of Windows Explorer doesn't include quotes either, so it can easily be pasted and saved into an INI file located in the root of SimCity 4.

Here's a preview pic for anyone unsure of where to find this option:

 

For me this copied the path like so in the correct format:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe

With this added to the manually created INI text file, I like the idea of how the LUA code can check here first. Since anyone creating the INI would be doing so given they'd be using a non-standard location. Then as a fallback should the file not be present or it's been specified incorrectly, it looks for any of the predefined installation paths for the game. All this happening within a very short space of time means there's negligible waiting around for the checks to complete. Also it'd be possible for the path to be updated simply by editing the INI, and for a newcomer this would be more accessible than needing to install Reader to edit the LUA code directly.

[CorinaMarie 29,857]

So, I've edited my post above fixing up little oopsies. If you downloaded the file before, grab the new one attached to the same post.

[Pixelrage 34]

I actually planned on using the Steam version only - kind of regret getting the GoG one, now that it's not really worth much to me...and the money didn't go to Maxis, but to EA. I do use the following parameters to get it working:

-w -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1600x900x32 -CPUCount:1 -CPUPriority:high

I've actually never gifted something in Steam before...could we pass the copy back & forth - as in, if I gifted to you, and you worked on it, could it be gifted back? SC4 rarely goes on sale (next time will be the holiday sale), and I pretty much will never use the GoG version and I'd really want to use Steam as I have something like 80 games with my achievements & hours being logged.

I'm reading the rest of this post now to look at all of the updates!

 

On 09/09/2018 at 4:04 PM, CorinaMarie said:

Newest official version: Create SC4InstallDir INI.cmd

Hi @CorinaMarie - is this the file I should try out?

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

@Pixelrage

I'll try to clarify...

That attached file you quoted is a batch script designed to find the path of the game's installation. Where upon running it should create the SC4InstallDir.ini text file in the root of your SimCity 4 folder under Documents, with the path written inside from a registry entry lookup. However, we've since found it seemingly may not work on all systems depending on the type and configuration. So now that idea has been superseded in favour of manually creating the INI with the path copied in by hand. In fact, Cori has re-written her custom code to support the manual method only, meaning we no longer need this batch file testing (although you can give it a try if you're curious).

The main file containing the logic is the damnControl.dat which the most recent revision can be downloaded from this post above. It features a special function Cori coded which checks for the SC4InstallDir.ini file inside "Documents\SimCity 4". This INI is useful for different install paths, and won't be needed providing your Steam game resides in the default location. Since if not present, the code checks for paths being those as standard for Steam, GOG, and the disc based versions on 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

So the damnControl.dat is the one to copy in your "SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\DAMN\Support" folder and replacing the original in there. Then all being well the script will recognise your path to your DAMN installation inside the Plugins folder as bolded in the above path.

I think that's everything, but I'm sure @CorinaMarie will pick up on any key points I may have missed in my attempted summary.

[CorinaMarie 29,857]

1 hour ago, Cyclone Boom said:

I think that's everything, but I'm sure @CorinaMarie will pick up on any key points I may have missed in my attempted summary.

That is everything completely and correctly explained.

[Pixelrage 34]

Thanks @Cyclone Boom! I dropped the file in and restarted - everything still works! The tree plugin is still showing up and working properly

Thanks to you too, @CorinaMarie for the scripting work!

[HORSEY 17]

Great work here. I'm on steam and I had been using a work around by not going near the indexer on DAMN manager. It took me a while to figure it out, and as you've found out its the Customdat that held the key to figuring out getting it working properlly. I knew those lua were important!!

There was a file within the  DAMN NAM, and BSC larger window which could be off help with getting this to work, but seems you have a fix!!! Great work to all here!! 

[HORSEY 17]

On 08/09/2018 at 2:37 PM, rsc204 said:

This is good news, clearly you,ve managed to get to the source of the problem with Steam + DAMN. I look forward to a version in the future that doesnt take a few days work to get right. Ive read all this and gone over what i learnt when i was fiddling abut trying to get this to function perfectly, and realised it still a headache even with all this valuable information you have here.

I'll sit patiently waiting for this because i just lost 24 hours without success! DAMN it again! 

Well done!! Beat me to it 👍

[Jurmash 4]

On 11.09.2018 at 2:21 AM, Cyclone Boom said:

@Pixelrage

I'll try to clarify...

That attached file you quoted is a batch script designed to find the path of the game's installation. Where upon running it should create the SC4InstallDir.ini text file in the root of your SimCity 4 folder under Documents, with the path written inside from a registry entry lookup. However, we've since found it seemingly may not work on all systems depending on the type and configuration. So now that idea has been superseded in favour of manually creating the INI with the path copied in by hand. In fact, Cori has re-written her custom code to support the manual method only, meaning we no longer need this batch file testing (although you can give it a try if you're curious).

The main file containing the logic is the damnControl.dat which the most recent revision can be downloaded from this post above. It features a special function Cori coded which checks for the SC4InstallDir.ini file inside "Documents\SimCity 4". This INI is useful for different install paths, and won't be needed providing your Steam game resides in the default location. Since if not present, the code checks for paths being those as standard for Steam, GOG, and the disc based versions on 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

So the damnControl.dat is the one to copy in your "SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\DAMN\Support" folder and replacing the original in there. Then all being well the script will recognise your path to your DAMN installation inside the Plugins folder as bolded in the above path.

I think that's everything, but I'm sure @CorinaMarie will pick up on any key points I may have missed in my attempted summary.

 

On 10.09.2018 at 2:50 AM, CorinaMarie said:

Hopefully this is the final version we need: damnControl.dat

This has been tested after installing DAMN according to the aforementioned @Pixelrage's instructions. Then replace the initial damnControl.dat with mine. This version will first check for SC4InstallDir.ini in the root of SimCity 4 in your Documents folder. It knows how to find that by accessing the OS variable USERPROFILE. Should this not be set properly then the .ini file will not be found by the LUA code.

On my XP comp I checked in a command window:

 

And in Win 7:

 

So the LUA code builds the path by appending \My Documents\SimCity 4\SC4InstallDir.ini to the data in the USERPROFILE. If the code cannot find said file it will then check the default location for GoG, Steam, and Disc version installs. As a last resort it will use @Daeley's original code and tweaks to the Start In line of your SC4 shortcut can be used to fine tune that method.

As we've learned the SC4InstallDir.ini file must be created by hand if you wish to use that option. This should only be needed if your game is installed in a non-standard location. The contents should be text only and have the complete path to where the game installation can find the Plugins folder. (Not the one in Documents.) Do not add a trailing backslash or any trailing spaces. Do not enclose it in quotes even tho the path might have spaces.

Examples for the content for standard installs:

• C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe
• C:\PROGRA~1\MAXIS\SIMCIT~1
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe

Do not use my prior Create SC4InstallDir INI.cmd script to create this file. That adds a trailing backslash and a space for disc installs and a trailing space for others when read from the registry. My prior LUA code stripped out the extras, but we've found the auto creation of the .ini doesn't work on all versions of Windoze so I cut that part back out of the LUA code.

As before this is a beta version which I believe to be ready for real use. However, extensive testing should be performed and ideally report back with what game version you tested it with and how it worked. I do assume you have the DAMN part set up correctly.

Code for this version:

-- Code by Cori to look for a custom path to the index and if not found, look in logical places
  luainput = nil

  -- Build path to ini file
  local cmUserDir = os.getenv("USERPROFILE")
  cmSC4IniFileName = cmUserDir .. [[\My Documents\SimCity 4\SC4InstallDir.ini]]

  -- Try to open said file
  cmIniFileFound = io.open(cmSC4IniFileName)

  -- If all good, read contents
  if (cmIniFileFound) then
    io.input(cmSC4IniFileName)
    cmInstallDirPath = io.read()
    if (cmInstallDirPath) then
      -- Create full path with file name of the index
      cmDamnIndexFile = cmInstallDirPath .. [[\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]]
      -- Open the DAMN-index.txt
      luainput = io.open(cmDamnIndexFile)
    end
  end

  -- If above open fails check in default GoG path
  if not (luainput) then
    luainput = io.open([[C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
    -- If not Gog then check Steam
    if not (luainput) then
      luainput = io.open([[C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
      -- If not Steam check Disc 32bit OS
      if not (luainput) then
        luainput = io.open([[C:\PROGRA~1\MAXIS\SIMCIT~1\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
        -- If not Disc 32bit check Disc 64bit
        if not (luainput) then
          luainput = io.open([[C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
          -- All else failed so try Original Daeley Code
          if not (luainput) then
            luainput = io.open([[Plugins\DAMN\Support\DAMN-index.txt]])
          end
        end
      end
    end
  end

-- End Cori new code.

-- (Original Line) local luainput = io.open([[Plugins/DAMN/Support/DAMN-index.txt]])
 local line = 1 
 while (line) do
  line = luainput:read("*l")
  if (line) then
   DAMenu.interpret(line)
  end
 end

 DAMenu.currentMenu = DAMenu

-- Release variables used (luainput is here now cause I didn't set it to local since it's nested in the IFs above)
  -- Cori Code
  luainput = nil
  cmIniFileFound = nil
  cmSC4IniFileName = nil
  cmInstallDirPath = nil
  cmDamnIndexFile = nil
  -- Cori Code End

Edit: Fixed a code typo. (I changed all the forward slashes to back slashed cause it looks prettier and LUA doesn't care. I'd missed one.)
Edit Too: @Cyclone Boom found and fixed another bug where the menu in game came up blank if the .ini wasn't present. I've patched the file and the code list above so now it does what I claimed it did if the .ini file isn't found.
Edit Thrice: I fixed a bug where if the .ini is an empty zero byte file the menu in game didn't appear. That's handled now too.

Thank you very much guys for all your work here! It helped me a lot.
To people, who still can't get it - reinstall SC4 to on of the common paths, that been named in upper messages. Then install DAMN menu and DAMN manager. Then replace DamnControl.dat file. 
(Sorry for bad eng.)

[Somnolence 81]

On 9/9/2018 at 7:50 PM, CorinaMarie said:

Hopefully this is the final version we need: damnControl.dat

To anyone wondering if this works on Linux, I tried it and... it does!

[vvscv 2]

Found out that the installer/updater in "DAMN Manager" is the cause for an empty menu.

I finally managed to have a beautifully organized menu with 100's of buildings:

• use DAMN manager to build menus
• back up main menus from DAMN>Root + hidden menus from MyDocs>Plugins
• delete DAMN completely from SC4 install location > Plugins
• download DAMN installer from SC4evermore (formerly SC4devotion) https://sc4evermore.com/index.php/downloads/download/38-other-mods/61-daeleys-advanced-menu-navigator-damn
• install DAMN, make sure your menus are still there
• run the "indexer" inside your SC4InstallLocation>Plugins>DAMN>Support
• replace the "damnControl.dat" as above
• make sure \Apps isn't in the Start-In line in your SC4 desktop shortcut (necessary? idk)
• never run DAMN manager again so you don't break the menu
• run the game
• oh my goodness everything is ORGANIZED and ACCESSIBLE!! 

[Ulisse Wolf 4,444]

7 hours ago, vvscv said:

Found out that the installer/updater in "DAMN Manager" is the cause for an empty menu.

I finally managed to have a beautifully organized menu with 100's of buildings:

• use DAMN manager to build menus
• back up main menus from DAMN>Root + hidden menus from MyDocs>Plugins
• delete DAMN completely from SC4 install location > Plugins
• download DAMN installer from SC4evermore (formerly SC4devotion) https://sc4evermore.com/index.php/downloads/download/38-other-mods/61-daeleys-advanced-menu-navigator-damn
• install DAMN, make sure your menus are still there
• run the "indexer" inside your SC4InstallLocation>Plugins>DAMN>Support
• replace the "damnControl.dat" as above
• make sure \Apps isn't in the Start-In line in your SC4 desktop shortcut (necessary? idk)
• never run DAMN manager again so you don't break the menu
• run the game
• oh my goodness everything is ORGANIZED and ACCESSIBLE!! 

I'm glad you solved the problem but just today we decided to deprecate DAMN with a more modern and organized version which would be Submenus DLLs that do a much better job than DAMN

[Propfam 2,295]

On 2/28/2024 at 2:45 AM, Ulisse Wolf said:

I'm glad you solved the problem but just today we decided to deprecate DAMN with a more modern and organized version which would be Submenus DLLs that do a much better job than DAMN

You're a bit ahead on yourself. But we need to make a submenu manager first, much like with the DAMN. Just my 2 cents.

[rsc204 21,857]

Well everyone will feel differently about the various options but personally I found DAMN to be too much work to setup and too finicky in practise to be usable. MMLs annoy me more than they help. But SubMenus, f* yeah, they are amazing.

As for making tools, we all recognise its clunky to add the necessary properties. Coming from someone who’s done that for many hundreds of items already, meh I can live with it. But right now there isn’t an easy solution to doing it except manually in Reader. Although, I believe that will be solved better by updating some popular content so it’s SubMenu ready more than creating an app to do it. All of this relies on some standards we’re in the process of pinning down but I believe we’ll only see more and more support and usage of SubMenus as time goes on. 

[Sabretooth78 808]

At the risk of necromancing, I figured I would chime in that if you did install to a "non-standard" location, it does appear to be sufficient to "fake" a standard folder with symlinks in lieu of reinstalling or dealing with the SC4InstallDir.ini process (which I was not able to get to work).

For example, with the GOG Galaxy install path of C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\:

• Create folder C:\GOG Games\
• Drop a symlink of the folder "SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition" in "C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\" into the "C:\GOG Games\" folder you just created.
• Replace the "damnControl.dat" as instructed above.
• Profit.

[Ulisse Wolf 4,444]

13 minutes ago, Sabretooth78 said:

At the risk of necromancing, I figured I would chime in that if you did install to a "non-standard" location, it does appear to be sufficient to "fake" a standard folder with symlinks in lieu of reinstalling or dealing with the SC4InstallDir.ini process (which I was not able to get to work).

For example, with the GOG Galaxy install path of C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\:

• Create folder C:\GOG Games\
• Drop a symlink of the folder "SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition" in "C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\" into the "C:\GOG Games\" folder you just created.
• Replace the "damnControl.dat" as instructed above.
• Profit.

DAMN has been retired as it is now obsolete with DLL Mod.

It is recommended not to install this mod but to proceed with Submenu DLL Mod.