Another tool to organize your MSFS addons easily

[TomCYYZ 205]

Thanks, I have now updated my version and everything seems OK 👍. This is fantastic! So, in effect, I can virtually move anything that is in my " ...Packages\Official\Steam\ " folder out to my "MSFS Official Addons" folder that I created on another drive. Then Activate everything In "AddonLinker" (green) and leave it... MSFS2020 will treat the data is if it is physically in the Community folder (even though it is NOT)...and in the end I have reclaimed disk space on the MSFS2020 drive. I was also wondering if this possibly could impact the regular Asobo Update rollouts by doing this? Would I have to move everything back into the " ...Packages\Official\Steam\ " folder every time there is an Update?

Regards

 

[Bad_T 581]

well hmmm .. the 'official folder' linking was mainly developped for addons (for example bought from the marketplace or installed by 3rd party vendors), i wouldn't really avise anyone to start moving official files, it will probably work but it's not really something i would do myself. Not sure how it will react for updates so i wouldn't want that you to find out one day that it causes a problem.

That's also the reason why that option to link through the 'official folder' is a bit hidden in the 4th tab of the options screen and why there is a little text of warning 🙃.

I'm not sure if other users have done what you are describing with official FS files and passed through several updates without problems, i haven't so i can't really comment on that, but let's say the official word is 'it's probably better not to move official files around'. 😶

[TheJAG 57]

Logically that's exactly what would happen right? You'd move official things out of the official folder, MSFS thinks "it's not there" and start downloading again. For fun, I've moved EHAM out of the official folder and booted MSFS to see what would happen - sure enough, when reloading the sim it comes up with the "Update" screen and start downloading EHAM. So Bad_T is right, only move addons that were installed externally by third party providers out of the official folder if they have been installed there. Be mindful that some third party providers have their own ways of managing the currency of addons like Aerosoft and Orbx so moving them somewhere else could make that process a lot harder.

Edited March 7, 2021 by TheJAG

[TomCYYZ 205]

Thanks guys, I do not want to delve into the unknown and start messing with the official folder items. I will take your advice and only worry about 3rd party mod and purchased addons. Glad I asked. Appreciate the feedback.

[sauviat 137]

@Bad_T Hey, long time no contact, hope you are keeping well?

With MSFS now running for 7 months, yep, many addons installed! In the presets "Edit the currently selected preset" dialogue you have a standalone box that opens so you can edit what you want in MSFS for that play. Well, is it possible to have the folders in that box collapsed as the default, rather than open? EG you have **msfs addons** then you have the named folders which I have created a dozen or so. These are all open by default and it would be better to have them closed, so that you only open the sub-folders you want to work with.

At present with them all open, it is a tedious task each time you want to launch the sim to select what is wanted for that particular flight.

Thank

Martin

[Bad_T 581]

Hello Martin, going well, hope the same for you 🍻

i have a little updated version that added a few buttons at the top of the preset screen (expand/collapse all / view only selected / select here), you can get the exe here (you still need all other files just replace the EXE file).

feel free to let me know if it's not good enough 👍

 

Edited March 27, 2021 by Bad_T
removed the link, looks like it contains a little bug

[sauviat 137]

OK @Bad_T I placed it in the current folder and overwrote the previous. When launching as admin I get an unhandled exception message.

[Bad_T 581]

😱😱 ooops should work though, another user tested it before you and all was fine.. are you maybe using an old version or the last one available at flightstim.to ? If you had an older version, the EXE might not be compatible.

please send me via private message the full text of the error, thank you

Edited March 27, 2021 by Bad_T

[sauviat 137]

@Bad_T It's on a different computer. I'll close here and set up another PC.

[Bad_T 581]

for info and if someone else wants it, here's the fixed EXE (previous one had a little bug causing a crash if you had a folder in the community folder that was not managed by the tool). Just the EXE you still need all other files from flightsim.to.

https://gofile.io/d/qFqyUI

Edited March 27, 2021 by Bad_T

[skysurfer 76]

Hello. 

Didn't see it was mentioned here, I might have missed it, 30 pages topic. How can I link ORBX sceneries? Do I have to create or change ORBX library folder and place it in inside the folder I use for addons in Addon linker? 

[ARCO 245]

The ORBX sceneries I have were all linked automatically by ORBX to the Community folder although they were installed in a separate ORBX folder that I created. To summarize, you should not have to link them yourself.

[andy1252 3,748]

13 hours ago, skysurfer said:

Hello. 

Didn't see it was mentioned here, I might have missed it, 30 pages topic. How can I link ORBX sceneries? Do I have to create or change ORBX library folder and place it in inside the folder I use for addons in Addon linker? 

I create folders for the Orbx products in my addons folder structure. I then create symlinks in these new folders to the actual Orbx files in the Orbx Library folders. I then delete any Orbx created symlinks in the MSFS Community folder. When I activate an Orbx scenery via the Addons Linker, it places a Junction entry in the community folder which points to my Addon Folder which in turn points to the Orbx library folder.

Sounds complicated but it's not really. And it means you can dynamically add/remove your Orbx sceneries along with everything else, but still let Orbx manage its own Libary.

NOTE: whenever Orbx updates a scenery via Orbx Central, it will place a new symlink in the community folder. Just delete that entry. Your own entry in your addons folders will still be valid.

 

Edited May 10, 2021 by andy1252
typo

[TheJAG 57]

Thanks for the explanation Andy, I was wondering what the best process would be myself!

[andy1252 3,748]

5 minutes ago, TheJAG said:

Thanks for the explanation Andy, I was wondering what the best process would be myself!

You're welcome. I can't imagine using MSFS without the Addons Linker. I have it set up to control the stuff I bought from the store that went in to the Official folder as well, I used it to create a group that lets me make all my Contrail managed stuff active for updates etc, all in addition to the basic switchin on of geographical groups of sceneries etc. You can create combinations of specific aircraft, liveries and sceneries, and all sorts of other weird and wonderful setups. Absolute magic!