BSC Regional Tracking Mod-Help

[Bluebeard]

I'm sorry if this in the wrong area but Vista has me on my last nerves.

  When I using Win 98 it wasn't any problems removing the BSC Fields Dat &Popfile Dat but Vista has hidden these files.
   So where would Vista hide these files because I already looked in the Apps folders?.Thanx

[dedgren]

I feel your pain, my pirate friend.  I'm sure someone has an answer to this.


David

[Bluebeard]

Dedgren you have no idea how much pain vista has caused me.I am now stuck because of 2 files that got sucked away by vista.

[Bluebeard]

Hello is anyone home?.
    Am I to understand that with no reply to my problem that I skip BSC/CSX downloads altogether?.I understand your all busy but I would like to play this game and I would appreciate a little help.Thanx

[BigSlark]

Bluebeard...

The people that make this content and provide support for it have busy real lives. If it had been two days without a reply I admit I'd bump the topic. But 12 hours? Not to mention that the non-North Americans (BarbyW, Andreas, Colyn, just to name a few) are on a completely different time zone from us.

I really, really like SC4D because everyone is friendly, patient, and courteous. Please don't steer this great forums in the wrong direction.

My apologies if I offended anyone, but I had to get it off my chest, and I suppose I should say that last thought is just a general opinion.

Cheers,
Kevin

PS-I happen to agree, Vista does bring upon some very, very strange things. It probably thought those files were malware or something of the sort. Go figure.

[Pheonix Rising]

The biggest issue is not how fast someone here gets back to you but if very many here USE Vista. I have a copy but do not use it for development, coding, or gaming. I would rather have a paper cut on my bunghole than to use Vista for anything other than annoying my family and myself (stupid unwanted security features). Your problem is not so much a SC4D problem as a question of where in Vista you can find how to change file properties and locate what Vista may consider system files etc.

1. Try a full search, either specific file names or use wildcards *
2. Search the web for Vista eating files of other ppl even though its not related to SC4. Sometimes this will give HUGE clues
3. Be patient, you arent the only one who hates Microsloth Blista

[BarbyW]

I am more curious as to why you want to remove two innocent itty-bitty files that do nothing unless you have Regional Tracking enabled. The are inoffensive files that can help give you information if you want it but will not interfere with game play at all.
As for Vista, when I bought a laptop this year I searched long and hard to find one WITHOUT it. I am not contributing to the Gates empire for a flawed program. When it reaches SP2 I might consider it but until then I am more than happy with XP.

[Diggis]

barby,

sometimes those files can get corrupted and need reinstalling, and also if you accidently track a city you need to delete and start over.

[BarbyW]

Ok, Diggis, point taken. The easiest way to find them would be a Search of the computer then - if Vista allows that.

[Bluebeard]

Sorry folks for the short fuse but Vista is a real pain in the backside.Diggis is right why I need to find the files and Goddess I tried the search but zip.
    If I can find the time between hooking up my new PS2 then I'll try a re-install.Worse case it don't work and I use SC as a drink coaster.
  I didn't mean to start any problems it's Vista is killing me.Thanx

[daeley]

so tracking works but you can't see the files?

well they will definatly be in the apps folder then, if not the mod wouldn't work... maybe Vista is hiding the files as it thinks they are system files? I'd try looking for an option "show hidden files" or equivalent (at least that's what it's called under XP... I don't have a clue if it even exists under Vista...) and (un)tick it.

[mattb325]

BB - I don't think many people have Vista which is why you've had to wait.

Under The Windows/Start menu go to the right-most column

Search -> Click 'Advanced Search' dropdown box.

Make sure 'Show All' is highlighted
Make sure the location is specified from the drop-down box (I think default is 'indexed')
Make sure "include non-indexed, hidden and system files' is checked.

Then type those file names in the top most right hand corner to search

[Bluebeard]

The Main Tracking file dat. is there but not the 2 you need to start over as suggested in the read me.So I take nobody has jumped over the deep end to Vista yet?.
    Maybe I'm installing it wrong even though I had no problems with my 98.I had no choice in getting Vista it was this or nothing seeing how the old system fryed out.
   I appreciate all the help but appears Vista isn't very BSC friendly.Goodluck with the CAM and all your future projects.
  It was fun while it lasted.Oh I ain't leaving SC4D only SC thanx to Vista.
   

[ScottFTL]

I think there may be a problem with the Regional Tracking Mod under Vista.  I hadn't noticed it was not working until I saw this thread, but I am not seeing the popup message when entering cities with RTM installed.  I haven't seen problems with any other mods running SC4 under Vista for the past several months.

To test, I reinstalled RTM but still no popup messages when entering cities.  I also ran SC4 as administrator since most incompatibilities under Vista are caused by new security restrictions, but I still did not see the popup message.

I do have the BSC_RegionalCounter.dat file in the root of my plugins folder.  I also have the BSCfields.dat and popfiles.dat files in the C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps folder.  I would have to double check this, but I believe that Vista restricts the ability of programs to write into the Program Files area.  The only thing that puzzle me is that this still doesn't work with administrator rights, but I am granting the rights to the SC4 program rather than the code that operates the mod.  I don't know of any way to escalate a helper program like that.

EDIT: I removed these files from the Apps folder and played SC4, and these files were not recreated.  It looks like the installer can place the files, but they cannot be read or written to by the mod itself.

If there is any interest in additional troubleshooting for Vista problems, I would be happy to help.

BB - To find these files, go to Computer from your start menu.  Go into the drive where SC4 is installed (usually the C: drive), then Program Files > Maxis > Sim City 4 Deluxe > Apps.  The BSCfields.dat and popfiles.dat files are not hidden, but I don't think deleting them will help if you are having the same problem I am.  There is something not quite right about Vista search, so it doesn't always find files that are really there.  Let me know if you need any other help taming Vista.

[Bluebeard]

Thanx Scott:
  But I look in the Apps and zip.Also I ain't running Deluxe like yourself not sure if that makes a difference.I appreciate the thought but I'm still dead in the water.
   The goods news is my PS2 came today and this weekend I'm going game shopping at Walmarts.Then I can finally stop screwing around with SC for good.

Edit:Well after un-installing the game and re-installing the game still zip.So my question is can the BSC/CSX rewards and other lots function without the Tracker?.Thanx
   

[Pheonix Rising]

and the answer is.....

YES The RTM is only for additional information to the mayor, not the game

[daeley]

and the answer is.....

YES The RTM is only for additional information to the mayor, not the game

err... that's generally true... a couple of mods use information stored by the RTM though, such as the money transfer mod I created
a couple of rewards also use data created by the RTM, but only a few.

[Bluebeard]

Awesome and thanx.
    Maybe someday when RL will allow it you take a look at Vista and this Mod.It was a great little Mod and I'll miss it but at least for now I can play without it.Thanx again.

[Bluebeard]

Hey am I the only nut using Vista?.
It seems no matter what site nobody has a straight foward answer to Vista and the game.

[ScottFTL]

No, I have been running SC4 under Vista for several months now.  I honestly haven't had many problems with SC4, but Vista is still a work in progress.