DDO Not Respecting Library Changes (Win 7 x64 Pro)

[Karranor]

OK so I just built a new computer because my old one went boom. :mad: Most everything is working great except that DDO does not seem to respect Windows 7 (pro x64) Library changes. Meaning, I have changed my library for my documents to D:\Libraries\My Documents instead of C:\Users\Doc\Documents. However, when DDO saves SS it still saves them to C and not the new library D. This is a problem because I do not want DDO to fill up my SSD and it should be going to D. D is the only library listed in Windows 7 as the "My Documents" folder. How do I get DDO and the (Preview) version to save to the folder in D where it should be and not the default of C. I assume I need to change a config file but I can not find it.

Also DDO is not showing any text feedback when screen shots are taken. Not a huge deal but really helpful when filling out bug reports so I know what file to send in.

Thanks for the help!

[AZgreentea]

How big/new is your SSD? Using the method you are describing to move your files to a different drive is really only necessary for sub 100 GB SSD's. Most newer SSD's have long passed that mark (and the 200GB mark), and many older SSD's dont support the tech that really make SSD's viable (TRIM especially on a Win 7 machine). I can see keeping say your music on a different drive, but most other files can live where they are. My 140 GB platter drive has been in use since 2009, and it still has 55 GB free even though it is the only drive in the machine. I really need an SSD though.

Anyway, about the screenshot feedback. The feedback for screenshots appears from the (Standard) input source, so make sure you are looking for it in a chat window that has (Standard) enabled.

[Flavilandile]

I think you are mistaking the Library Path and the Home Path.

Library Path is where you tell Windows to look for libraries ( DLLs ) that cannot be found in the Windir Path.
Home Path is where you tell windows the home directory of a given user is.

Setting the Home Path for your user to D:\<Whatever Dir> should solve the problem.

[Karranor]

In Windows explorer you have a section that says libraries. These are My Music, My Video, My Pictures etc. When you are in one of these libraries you can click the locations link at above the browser window and it shows you which areas are included in the library you are currently in. The default for Windows is C:\Users\Doc\Documents. I have changed this library to be in drive D instead, removing the reference to C.

This has worked fine in the past.

I just installed DDO on this new computer and instead of it saving the files in the My Documents Library I have set up (in D) it still saves them in C which has been removed from the documents library.

I also noted that the DDO FAQ says that it saves the files to DDO Unlimited directory but it made a Dungeons and Dragons Online directory instead.

Is there a configuration file that can be altered to make sure that DDO saves screen shots in the correct place. I take thousands of screen shots and need these to go to the directory they are supposed to.

[Flavilandile]

That's not libraries for me, that's directories, libraries are DLLs... But that's nitpicking, and Microsoft loves to confuse people with terms that are not exactly what they are.

DDO creates a Dungeons and Dragons Online directory in your $HOME/My Documents directory.

So just change your $HOME to point where you want it to point.

Note : this will have an impact on all your directories as Windows will consider the new $HOME are your root directory.

As I don't have Windows 7 I can't tell you how to do that.
In W2K it was in the user options.
In XP Pro it's not there any more ( or I couldn't find it ), but it can be edited through regedit.

[Untitled]

Windows 7's inclusion of a Library system is to create a single spot to encompass all related media. Documents Library, Music Library etc. This Library as a collection of included Folders. Programs do not directly write to a Library, view it is a Symbolic Search of related files. DDO will write to your My Documents folder. If you wish to include that folder in your Documents Library you can do so, but nothing will 'write to your library' so to speak.

However, note you can go into your User Folder, and pull up the Properties for 'My Documents' individually of your Library setup, and redirect that folder to your external drive, this will change where DDO Writes to and has nothing to do with the Library system.

[LOOON375]

I was thrown off by your use of "respecting".

[bigolbear]

Windows 7's inclusion of a Library system is to create a single spot to encompass all related media. Documents Library, Music Library etc. This Library as a collection of included Folders. Programs do not directly write to a Library, view it is a Symbolic Search of related files. DDO will write to your My Documents folder. If you wish to include that folder in your Documents Library you can do so, but nothing will 'write to your library' so to speak.

However, note you can go into your User Folder, and pull up the Properties for 'My Documents' individually of your Library setup, and redirect that folder to your external drive, this will change where DDO Writes to and has nothing to do with the Library system.

+1 sir, I have to say I was going to give you an indepth explanation of what a library is in windows.. but this person has done so, and I might add done so clearly and consisely.

[Karranor]

I appreciate the explanation of what libraries are. You can designate a different place where your My Documents are. The default for this is on C. I don't want to save these on C. I have changed it to D. Most programs when saving stuff look to the OS and asks it where is My Documents/My Pictures/My Videos etc, then save it there. With Win 7 OS it should not be hard coded to be a certain directory.

I have gone into the libraries and changed all of these to a different drive, D:. Drive C is not even listed as a place where My Documents resides. However, DDO screen shots are still being saved to C:. I want to change this. Why doesn't DDO recognize the OS reference to a different location. If it is supposed to, why doesn't it? Is this set up during the install? Does DDO create a config file somewhere that holds these preferences?

If I installed DDO on Drive E, with My Documents having only one directory on D, why is the program still saving on C?

I have set this up in the past and it has worked just fine.

Thanks all for your help.

[Flavilandile]

There is nothing in the registry ( I looked ) for DDO, there is nothing in the parameter files of DDO giving a location for the screenshots.

as I said, DDO looks for your $HOME ( by Default C:\Users\<user>\ ) and if not found defaults it to C:\Users\<user>\
And changing it cleanly seems to be something really tricky in Vista/7 :
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/win7-how-do-i-move-user-folder-to-a-different/565f16a5-e5ed-43c9-8422-4f56aebb296e

Have a good read.

Really W2K was great for that, you just added a HOME environment variable to the user environment and that was it. ( I used it at that time, with a home on E:\ [ mirrored SCSI HDs ] )

There seems to be an easy version using a Symbolic link in C:\yadayada pointing to D:\yadayada though, but I let you find how it works.

[Missing_Minds]

as I said, DDO looks for your $HOME ( by Default C:\Users\<user>\ ) and if not found defaults it to C:\Users\<user>\
And changing it cleanly seems to be something really tricky in Vista/7 :
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/win7-how-do-i-move-user-folder-to-a-different/565f16a5-e5ed-43c9-8422-4f56aebb296e


*reads a bit*

Sounds like M$ decided that would be really bad to do given how they rigged up 7 to work now.

[Karranor]

Thanks this was helpful.

After some more investigation when you want to do this you have to include X folder/directory in the library as stated about but that isn't all.

ALSO

You need to go to the base/default folders and go into their properties. Then there is a Location tab. On this tab you have to click the Move... button and select the folder/directory you want to be the new default location. When you are doing this be sure to move and migrate all files overwriting the new old ones (if present) so programs you run have the files they need to work.

Doing that should get all your defaults right so the programs save things where they should. In this case saving screen shots in My Documents but this can also be applied to your My Music, My Videos, My Contacts etc.

Thanks all!

[Untitled]

I appreciate the explanation of what libraries are. You can designate a different place where your My Documents are. The default for this is on C. I don't want to save these on C. I have changed it to D. Most programs when saving stuff look to the OS and asks it where is My Documents/My Pictures/My Videos etc, then save it there. With Win 7 OS it should not be hard coded to be a certain directory.

I have gone into the libraries and changed all of these to a different drive, D:. Drive C is not even listed as a place where My Documents resides. However, DDO screen shots are still being saved to C:. I want to change this. Why doesn't DDO recognize the OS reference to a different location. If it is supposed to, why doesn't it? Is this set up during the install? Does DDO create a config file somewhere that holds these preferences?

If I installed DDO on Drive E, with My Documents having only one directory on D, why is the program still saving on C?

I have set this up in the past and it has worked just fine.

Thanks all for your help.

Edit: Going to leave this for others but I was writing it as you posted above making it redundant. :)

Just to clarify, I believe in the quote above when you mention 'My Documents' only have one directory on D, I believe you are referring to the 'Documents Library' only containing the contents of a folder on your D: drive. This does not change the actual location of 'My Documents'. To change it's folder location you have to goto the Properties page of Documents inside your User folder and redirect it, this should remedy your issue and store the pictures wherever you point that folder to.

<start boring tech ****>
I am fairly certain DDO uses the 'Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFold er.Mydocuments)' variable for determining the location in which to write the files to. If it is not using that then it is referencing %USERDIR%\Documents as a gloval environmental variable. You can use the method I listed above for redirecting 'My Documents' to your D: drive, or edit the following registry key:

Insert typical disclaimer of registry modifications
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

The first method should be the easiest and I will test it later myself. I still believe you are thinking it should be writing to the 'Documents Library' when it in fact writes to 'My Documents' which are two completely different things.