Plug ins Folder how to organise?

[TheTeaCat]

I was wondering what is the best way to organise your plugins folder as some download installers place their files into the C drive floder and others in the My Docs folder.

Where should I put the dat files in c or in my docs?
Why is there a folder for exemplers in my docs when nothing goes in there?
How many of each files should Ihave only one? 
Do I keep the props seperate etc

I use the start up manager by the SFBT team and its a Godsend but I don't always want to wade through it before I start a city.I don't always use the same plugins in every city. For example I don't need harbour stuff when doing a mountain region. So do you have a separate folder for each city or what?


Any help would be appreciated.

[jeronij]

Hi TTC, the best way depends on the person 

There are two folder for one reason:

The SC4 program files folder contains the core files as well as the files that will be shared by all the computer users.
The SC4 MyDocs folder contains the files for each computer user.

Usually the installers (at least BSC ones) do install in the MyDocs folder and not in the Program Files folder. Anyway, the result for you will be the same wherever you install the files if you are the only user in that computer that plays SC4.

You do need to have installed all the plugins you want to play, plus all its dependancies. You may want to have a folder for all your props and textures (dependancies) so it is easy to check if you have a determinated file or you need to download an extra one. Try to not have duplicates of files. In this case, the game will load the last one it finds, alphabetically "talking".

There is people who has a plugins folder for every city or region, and he/she renames it conveniently depending on the city/region he/she wants to play. It is not a bad system, but you need a HUGE hd !!!

I do have my plugins organized in a very particular way.

This is my organization:



The folders that are closed in the pic do contain no main subfolders.
The folders that are opened in the pic, do contain main subfolders ( also seen in the pic )

Anyway, some sort of organization is always HIGHLY recommended 

I hope this helps you somehow.

[TheTeaCat]

Jeronij

Many thanks for replying. Its much appreciated as i was having a hard timetrying to sort stuff out. I can see that being organised would be advantagous as i had gotten myself into a mess after "overloading" on the downloads. (Recently got internet again after long time found ST and wanted everything at once) With your help things shall improve.

This is a great site you've started and it has already helped before this  just by going through the forums. Hope this site has a very long life.    Many thanks once again 

[wouanagaine]

hey jeroni !, 'PluginsNoCompressed', mwouhaha!!!

back from the private joke, you have a very interesting structure.
Myself I tend to organize by creators ( BSC/SFTB/NDEX etc.. ) then for not so huge team, I made folder like 'Residentials','Comm','Landmark' etc..

About the plugins folder in myDocs or in the ProgramFiles, the game will first load the plugins in the ProgramFiles, then the plugins in MyDocs ( files first ( alphabetically sorted ), then recurse the subfolders ( alphabetically sorted ) ).
so a zzz.dat will be loaded after 000.dat ( if located in the same folder ).

[TheTeaCat]

About the plugins folder in myDocs or in the ProgramFiles, the game will first load the plugins in the ProgramFiles, then the plugins in MyDocs ( files first ( alphabetically sorted ), then recurse the subfolders ( alphabetically sorted ) ).
so a zzz.dat will be loaded after 000.dat ( if located in the same folder ).

Wouanagaine

I seem to be saying this to you alot these days, Thanks once again!

ok i got a grasp of this now. anything in the program files will be shared by all users and my docs by revelant user. two players on this pc you see

So if we both want it, put it in program folder, if not put it in my docs for the revelant person?

[jeronij]

So if we both want it, put it in program folder, if not put it in my docs for the revelant person?

This is exactly the point 

[TheTeaCat]

Jeronij

Thanks for helping with this dude much appreciated.

[FromTheAshes]

I'm allways creating some sets like "europe", "mediterranean", "caribean", ...
When I'm planing to build a special city, I just drop the relevant pack in my plugins-folder.  that works fine at all 
Here's a little screenshot of my folder how it looks like at the moment (I know, it's german...):
ps: the "maxis blocker" should be dropped into "mods"... however

[SC4BOY]

This is my organization:



The folders that are closed in the pic do contain no main subfolders.
The folders that are opened in the pic, do contain main subfolders ( also seen in the pic )

expired pic link kinda kills this advice.. hehe

[M4346]

Here's my organisation: I think it would be a functional approach, instead of a creator approach to it.

[SC4BOY]

Yea, I like functional too.. I think it best relates to whether a given feature should be in or out of a region/city's profile. On the other hand, due to the extreme cross-function and cross-linking of dependencies, no matter which form you take, there will be many concessions and inefficiencies all said and done..

So I'd say organize it however you like, but organize in some way that makes sense to you.. For download updating and dependency maintenance, you're still kind of stuck with the author's file folder packaging.. then do what you can with datpacker or whatever to streamline loading and processing.