JeanLucPicard2

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).

As in the previous version, you can define arbitrary region profiles, wich are basically a set of which plugin directories should be used and which should not be used when running SimCity 4. You will find a quick overview at the download page. There is also a detailed description included for every application window. The help files can be found in the "\Help\en" folder and are accessible via F1. If you have a specific question after having read that, feel free to ask!

The SUM v3 is now available at the SimCityKurier - you can download it here: http://kurier.simcityplaza.de/details.php?file=311

The appropriate value for “HKLM\Software\Maxis\SimCity 4\Install Dir” is the path to the “\SimCity4” folder (not to the “\SimCity4\Apps” folder). Additionally, you should make sure that there is a “My Documents\SimCity 4” folder.

There is nothing special about the numbers, their byte order is little endian. Concerning the directory files: Im not quiet sure, but afaik only the file TGI:E86B1EEF-E86B1EEF-286B1F03 is interpreted as directory.

I'm currently still working on a that new feature. I rewrote a lot of the code. And I know it takes long. But at least, it seems to work so far.

I'm very happy that you like the tool and found a way to use it suggestively . I spent much time programming the tool and I'm always glad to hear the users uses it.

Date: 12/24/2005 12:46:35 PM Author: fisherman But the fact that I'm getting an error window from the Startup Manager instead of a successfully opened executable makes me think there's something else I have to tell it to help it find the game.quote> The Startup Manager retrieves the SimCity4 installation folder from the registry key HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Maxis\SimCity 4\Install Dir (as Andreas already wrote). The fact that your plugins in the [sC4 folder]\Plugins folder are listed indicates that this part has worked correctly. The Startup Manger then tries to load [sC4 folder]\Apps\SimCity 4.exe. If this file exists, SC4 should be loaded without any problems. The Startup Manager does not need further information to load the game. So I'm not really sure what goes wrong. Perhaps you should check again, if it's really the correct path in the registry (the path of the SimCity4 folder and not of the SimCity\Apps folder where the exe file is stored).

Date: 12/18/2005 12:15:50 PM Author: R-One I wanted to load one of my region this morning. When I clicked on the manager, I had a message in german (that I couldn't understand) and all my regions setting were gone !! I spent hours fot chosing the right plugins for the right region and it's all erazed Did that happened to someone else ??? I'm really sorry that all your profiles were deleted. But I don't know what happened. As far as I know, nobody else have had such problems. The personal settings (especially the region profiles) are stored in the My Documents\SimCity 4\SimCity 4 StartupManager.cfg file. Perhaps you should backup this file to guard against further problems.That you had a german message is also very strange because without a German.language file, the application is only able to display English messages. I hope your problem will stay unique. But if it will occur again, please contact me. Secondly : some plugins I've chosen for a region don't appear on the map (the Peg seawalls and de JRS seawalls).I suggest that you check if you have really assigned the seawalls and all dependencies to the relevant region profile.

In order to put it straight: regions for the purpose of the Startup Manager are not regions for the purpose of SimCity4. In the Startup Manager you can define region profiles. How to add your existing regions to the region profile list is described in the readme file (and I've posted here in the third post .)

Date: 12/16/2005 10:25:39 PM Author: baller23 I have a problem with the program and i cant get it to work it only says 'Simcity not Installed' is it because i installed it on my D drive instead of default? No, you can install SimCity and the Startup Manager on any drive you want. That can't be the problem. The Startup Manager retrieves the SimCity4 path from the registry. If the installation of SimCity4 is incorrect and the program cannot retrieve the path, the message SimCity4 is not installed is displayed. This message is also displayed if there is no My Documents\SimCity 4 folder.

If you get brown boxes, you surely have not assigned the plugin folder containing the required dependencies to your region profile.

Thanks again for all the nice comments. concerning the sub-folders selection: As I can see, there really seems to be a need. Although I (personally!) do not need this feature, I will possibly try to implement this in the next version.

Date: 11/28/2005 4:36:31 PM Author: DJGspinNhitz Is there a way to load sub-folders from inside folders? This functionality is not implemented at the moment, but it would be possible. But I think (as Andreas already wrote) it would make the plugins selection too complex.

Date: 11/28/2005 2:32:34 PM Author: Fred_Ginger Hi guys, first let me say thank you for this great tool, now if i could only figure out how to make it work. I've read the read me twice and still don't know how to load my existing regions.Could some one give me step by step instructions? I've used computers for years but don't always understand how they work, but am really good at following instruction.Please be patient with me! Ok, try the following: First click New Region button Enter the name for the new region profile in the textfield above Select the plugin folders which should be associated with the region Click the New Region button below On the next page, click the Load SimCity4 button and SimCity should start up Now load an existing region or create a new once. This will be the region, which will be associated with the region profile you have created just now. Then you can close SimCity (or play somewhat, if you like) The next time you run the Startup Manager, you just have to click on the region profile in Load Region and SimCity will start with the correct plugins and the correct regionI hope that will help you.

Date: 11/28/2005 7:53:02 AM Author: pmiller19574 this tool is great... I have a question: if I reorganize my plugins folders will it copy all the plugins to the non use plugins with the same file name? {foldername} I mean... Example c:\mydocuments\simcity4\plugins\LOTR Lots will it copy this folder to the new location with the same folder name? Lynks c:\mydocuments\simcity4\plugins\LOTR Lots is moved (not copied) to c:\mydocuments\simcity4\PluginsDisabled\LOTR Lots, if the folder is not assigned to the active profile. The folder name LOTR Lots is not changed. The folder is just moved to the PluginsDisabled folder.

Date: 11/27/2005 6:26:45 PM Author: pmiller19574 I have seen one bug and that is if you tell the config to use windowed you can't scroll the region it seems stuck where ever it loaded the region... If SimCity is running in a window, you cannot scroll anymore by moving the cursor near the window's border. But right-click and moving the cursor should work.

Thank you for the great response. I'm very glad you like the program.