Hi all,

When Prep3D is installed a folder named "Prepare3D v4 Files" is created in the user's "Documents" folder. I would like to relocate this Prep3D folder onto the SSD where my other Prep3D folders reside. Whilst the moving itself  is trivial I have no idea what to do to let Prep3d know where "Prepare3Dv4 folder" is now located. Can anyone explain to me what needs to be done in order for Prep3d itself to know about this move so that it looks to the new location to find its files?  I checked the P3D config file out but had no joy there.  

Just an idea (I don't have a solution for you), is to check the SDK docs to see if they discuss file structure.

Best of luck!

P.

What about creating a link so P3D does not need to know that the file has moved..

Edited July 30, 20196 yr by Bert Pieke

As Bert says, just create a link at the old location which points to the new location. P3D will never know the difference. This will do it for you:  https://junction-link-magic.software.informer.com/  ......................Doug

I guess my comment is Why? It seems a waste of good SSD space, there's no real benefit for the move. If you just want to keep all the P3D files together then you need to look at several more locations. If you must, the mklink suggestion is the most efficient.

 

Vic

I hope that the SSD is not chosen to be an additional drive rather than the boot drive so that the sim can be loaded into a faster drive while not being the boot drive, that is a mistake. Best thing to do is use the faster drive as the boot and put the sim on it in the stock location. Add Modify Allow Security Edit to the Users group on the sim program folder to eradicate any need to install in user folder or other drive. That also produces the most reliable system. Move large stuff if it must be on other drives with cfg, xml addon paths, and link techniques.

The reason that I'm out to do this is because my "Docs" folder also contains my emails many of which are for record keeping purposes. A few days ago I had reason to reload P3d from My backups. This meant reloading my "Documents" partition  which would have meant that any email received since the backup was made would be wiped. If I can move the Prepare 3D folder in question to a free area that I have on my Prep3D SSD then it will relieve that issue.  

As far as Junctions go this is a better reference for Win 10 "https://mywindowshub.com/how-to-create-and-delete-a-junction-link-on-windows-10/". That is fine whilst things go well and its only when one gets a weird problem maybe some years after the Junction was created and then long forgotten that the head scratching start. I am a great believer (at my age anyway) to keep strictly to the KISS principle.

I still think that it should be possible to move the folder in question and just "Tell" Prep3D where it is. I say this from personal experience. When I first installed Prep3D I made up some folders and told Prep3D where they are as part of the installation process. I seems that this has been changed as part of the Prep3D version upgrade process as the sub folders are now all in a Single P3D folder.

@ Steve W, all of my SSDS are the same speed and size and as a matter of personal IT policy I put nothing on the "C" (system) drive that doesn't need to be there, hence the reason that my Documents folder is on a separate drive to the system drive and Prep3D on another drive.   

 

19 hours ago, yellowjack said:

@ Steve W, all of my SSDS are the same speed and size and as a matter of personal IT policy I put nothing on the "C" (system) drive that doesn't need to be there, hence the reason that my Documents folder is on a separate drive to the system drive and Prep3D on another drive.   

 

That's normal on a network anyway since those folders are not on the PC and held on the server for the account. With most systems around they are changing to all SSD, but a lot have the SSD C drive and HDD for a second large drive. So it's a good idea to be sure that users looking for solutions are aware of what we are talking about when recommending methods of installation.

I've been active in the forums about these issues recently as I've been addressing several others systems over the months with problems resulting in tangles from relocated P3D systems.

Regards

Steve

I found the answer:

P3D config file opened with notepad++ revealed the following Line:

SITUATION=D:\Documents\Prepar3D v4 Files\Previous Flight

So I changed it to:

SITUATION=Q:\Prepar3D v4 Files\Previous Flight

I then moved all of the Prepar3D V4 Files folder their new home

Problem solved.

My thanks to all those who took the time out to contribute.

I haven't tested it thoroughly yet but I am sure that I am on the right track. 

 

On 7/30/2019 at 11:06 PM, yellowjack said:

I checked the P3D config file out but had no joy there.  

 

1 hour ago, yellowjack said:

P3D config file opened 

 

Do you mean Prepar3D.cfg?

 

I suppose a good test would be to load a plane, load a plan, save the flight, then reload it.

You can't "move" that folder... it is expected to reside within your system's Documents folder.

If you are targeting your entire Documents folder as a Prepar3D backup... perhaps you should consider being a bit more "surgical" and only backing up the actual Prepar3D folders in the Documents folder?  Just a thought.

Lets' see. I'm fairly excited to see if the reloaded flight works.

The problem isn't getting a backup, that's easy.

Instead the problem is the state of the system and how it is understood by addons, generally not tested in such odd systems.

The simulator itself shows programs where it will be and it may or may not make a new folder there if you delete or move it.

I think the link idea Bert suggested was the right approach. Other than starting again.

+ 1..............

 I have now tested Prepare3D with my Prepare3D.cfg change and all is well, but if it had or does go pear shaped  it would be easy to return to the original arrangement by simply reversing the process i.e. changing the .CFG file name back to point to the Documents folder and copying the files back to my "Documents" folder.