Can I simply just copy my ORBX folder from an external backup that I have into P3D v4, and then run the new FTX Central 3.2 to have it update? I really don't want to reinstall P3D v3 just for this. :/

10 minutes ago, Greggy_D said:

It seems like an awful waste of space to copy the Orbx files from P3D3 (or FSX) to P3D4.  Why don't they just use pointers in P3D4 back to the original Orbx files in P3D3?

 

7 minutes ago, AviatorMoser said:

That's what I would love to see. Just use some symbolic links. Oh well....

What if I delete the ORBX folder from v3 installation and point the new v4 installation location also for v3 in the scenery.cfg? Am I being a smartass??

For anyone who's a little OCD (like all of you), this is most likely your best chance to see:

(tick) You own every Orbx product in North America!

(tick) You own every Orbx product in FTX Global Range!

...though there's no doubt a few out there who see this message under normal circumstances.

Edit: I've also got:

(tick) You own every Orbx product in Aircraft! 

1 minute ago, costamesa said:

 

What if I delete the ORBX folder from v3 installation and point the new v4 installation location also for v3 in the scenery.cfg? Am I being a smartass??

Well, technically it sounds like that would work, but the reality is that the libraries between v3 and v4 will be different -- so I wouldn't recommend it.

You shouldn't reuse your V3 Orbx directory in V4. There are some differences, besides copying the files, some small updates are also downloaded for each region. If you reuse a V3 directory there is no way to know which files should be updated, it is recommended by OrbX not to do this.

1 minute ago, AviatorMoser said:

Well, technically it sounds like that would work, but the reality is that the libraries between v3 and v4 will be different -- so I wouldn't recommend it.

I personally think that trying to shortcut here is asking for trouble. I don't really understand what's being transferred from the v3 Orbx folder, and what is being freshly downloaded. Some of the regions seem to install very quickly, whereas for me Global Base is a 5 gig download.

19 minutes ago, AviatorMoser said:

Ah, yes, good point.

Which makes the case for Orbx to be installed in its own directory structure outside of the sim's and use pointers and redirectors.

4 minutes ago, bakayoyo said:

You shouldn't reuse your V3 Orbx directory in V4. There are some differences, besides copying the files, some small updates are also downloaded for each region. If you reuse a V3 directory there is no way to know which files should be updated, it is recommended by OrbX not to do this.

So are you saying, that if i download the install_client.msi for P3D v3 and reinstall that, and then copy over my ORBX folder into Prepar3D v3 and then run the new FTX Central v3.2 that it won't work?

 

But how is it working for users who simultaneously have both P3D v3 and P3D v4 install? When they run the new FTX Central v3.2 it's copying the files from their P3D v3 folder into P3D v4. 

1 minute ago, captain420 said:

So are you saying, that if i download the install_client.msi for P3D v3 and reinstall that, and then copy over my ORBX folder into Prepar3D v3 and then run the new FTX Central v3.2 that it won't work?

No that's not what I meant. I meant you shouldn't copy a v3 orbx directory into a v4 installation manually. What you describe above will work correctly.

5 minutes ago, captain420 said:

So are you saying, that if i download the install_client.msi for P3D v3 and reinstall that, and then copy over my ORBX folder into Prepar3D v3 and then run the new FTX Central v3.2 that it won't work?

 

But how is it working for users who simultaneously have both P3D v3 and P3D v4 install? When they run the new FTX Central v3.2 it's copying the files from their P3D v3 folder into P3D v4. 

I have both installed. It's not just copying, there's a substantial amount of downloading that seems to be happening as well. I've been transferring/downloading for over an hour now. FTX Global BASE pack is the only one that is taking a long time (3.77 GB downloaded, I'm sure most of the regions only took a few minutes but I don't know what the fresh download size was).

2 minutes ago, captain420 said:

So are you saying, that if i download the install_client.msi for P3D v3 and reinstall that, and then copy over my ORBX folder into Prepar3D v3 and then run the new FTX Central v3.2 that it won't work?

 

But how is it working for users who simultaneously have both P3D v3 and P3D v4 install? When they run the new FTX Central v3.2 it's copying the files from their P3D v3 folder into P3D v4. 

It is indeed copying from the v3 install, and adding things while doing so. If the v3 client only is installed and there is a full ORBX directory (from a backup) I do not see why this should be different to a full v3 installation. 

Put your v3.4 backup back onto the drive where it was, in the same folder structure. Download and install P3D v3.4 client (two minutes). Be sure you install it to the same drive/folder it was before.

Open FTX Central and choose v4. Select the products you want to install and it should see the v3.4 directories and copy them. That's your best shot without a full reinstall of v3.4. 

 

9 minutes ago, OzWhitey said:

I personally think that trying to shortcut here is asking for trouble. I don't really understand what's being transferred from the v3 Orbx folder, and what is being freshly downloaded. Some of the regions seem to install very quickly, whereas for me Global Base is a 5 gig download.

Ah ok. I thought FTX is only downloading new files, but not also replacing some of the existing ones with newer versions. But after the process, I'll just rename the v3 orbx folder and give it a go just to see what happens, hopefully this weekend.

31 minutes ago, dmiannay said:

No, they do not... unfortunately.

Quelle Surprise.....

3 minutes ago, costamesa said:

Ah ok. I thought FTX is only downloading new files, but not also replacing some of the existing ones with newer versions. But after the process, I'll just rename the v3 orbx folder and give it a go just to see what happens, hopefully this weekend.

I'm in the midst of installing everything apart from NZ North Island and Northern Ireland (for now, I'm two regions away from being an Orbx completist - any chance of bringing the sale back, JV??).

I'm going to keep an eye on the download sizes of the other regions, once Global BASE eventually finishes. As far as I know, I had everything installed and up to date in v3, if I was missing anything it's not likely to have been much - so the downloads appear to be necessary even if you had an up-to-date v3 Orbx install.