10 hours ago, Bad_T said:

thank you for your feedback, and yes @Adamski_NZ, this issue with 'encryption' is annoying (or whatever it is, maybe it's just permissions issues and not encryption, i never had the problem myself so i could not really see it 'first hand'). I think maybe it would have worked if you had copied the files and then deleted them in the community folder instead of moving them (but reading your message it seems you have tested that already to and i didn't work, i'm not sure i understand correctly, for some people copy or move means the same)

so when you say ' copying the files retained the original encryption ' you really used the 'copy' option and not the 'move' options ? sorry if it's obvious but i have to be 150% sure of that because i had a few users that told me 'copy' and it turned out later that they had 'moved' the files 😉

i'm usure in what situation you are now, have you moved everything back in the community folder ? Then try to copy (not move) the files from 1 addon only to your addons folder and delete that addon from the community folder ?

To avoid moving lots of files, you should really try with one addon only and make sure it works properly before going too far.

Also please just confirm that if you download a new addon and you install it straight in your custom addons folder it will work without problem (to make sure there are no other problems). Check that there are no error msg in the tool and that the newly installed addon is working inside the sim when 'linked'.

If you have done this, you would have 1 addon installed directly in the folder that works, and the one you copied from the community folder that doesnt work. Check their properties and check you if you see something different (security tab, and advanced button to see ownershop). Try also opening the manifest.json file, can you open it and read it with notepad for both addons, it should be 'plain text' and not be encrypted ?

in the tool you can also enable the log in the options screen. Restart the tool and then check the log.txt file located here C:\ProgramData\MSFS Addons Linker folder. It should tell you if it has problem reading the manifest.json files (like 'can not read file, permission denied' or something like that)

hopefully we'll find a solution, but it might take a few precise steps to pinpoint exactly what's happening. if you're in NZ we might have huge timezone difference (i'm CET) so it might not be easy to have quick replies, sorry in advance.

hopefully it's not too confusing, let me know thank you. 🍻

Thanks for the super-fast (and detailed) response! I'll try to answer all your questions ...

Firstly, I don't think it's a permissions problem. If you look at the properties of any of the files in any of the copied folders, the check box "Encrypted" is enabled. Looking at ownership and permissions for those folders, I see no ownership problems and have full permissions/rights. I think the MS Store protection system does this.

On my system I *moved* all the folders - though have also tried simply copying/pasting from this new location to my final (target) folder. The effect is the same. On my friend's PC, I was more careful - and only *copied* one add-on. The same problem (his is also an MS Store version).

The stage I'm at now is that I have all my original addons moved to a separate drive. Though the Linker can't use them, I'm using them as a reference for reinstalling my add-ons one by one - into my Linker "target" folder, which is outside of the main MSFS folder. All my newly reinstalled addons (into the new target folder) work beautifully with the Linker - and I'm looking forward to setting up some sensible tags and filters. None of the newly installed addons suffer from the encryption problem and are totally viewable and editable - unlike the others, where I get an "Access denied" error. Note that even attempting to copy these encrypted folders brings up an "Access denied" error though (strangely) the original *move* operation didn't.

No worries about timezone differences - I'm hopeful that we'll get to the bottom of this eventually!! As I said, I'm more or less "sorted" as my freshly reinstalled addons are working fine - I just hope we can help other users out there that also have MS Store versions with tons of legacy addons.

IMHO, Asobo really dropped the ball with the MS Store method - introducing way too much complexity and creating too many associated problems by using ludicrously long folder names in the process.

 

thank you very much for the complementary informations.

so yeah it's encryption then, not really sure how that works within Windows and why that would get applied to addons you install yourself (ok i would understand for store items that need to be protected but for stuff in the community folder it seems a bit too much 🙃).

I had a few chats with users who had the same kind of problem as you (as i said, i didn't experience it myself so i never had, and still haven't, a clear picture of what happens). For most, i think, copying insead of moving resolved the issue but yeah, for a few of them, it was more like you describe, they couldn't even copy the files and they had to reinstall their addons which is obviously very annoying if you have hundreds of them 😳... not really sure what triggers those differences between users and probably not much we can do.

I also did some search this evening about those file encryptions but, for now, did not really come across something very helpful.

btw if you have the long file names problems i think it could be easily fixed in Windows 10, just a little parameter to change (that max length limitation is really not needed, not sure why it's still on by default). For example this link tells you how to do it (https://www.howtogeek.com/266621/how-to-make-windows-10-accept-file-paths-over-260-characters/)

sorry for not being help to help that much, let me know if some magic occurs and you find a solution as i would be so happy to have a 'one and for all' solution for this, i'll certainly do the same, thank you ! 🍻

Thanks for the feedback ... it's an annoyance isn't it?

As regards the long filenames thing, I tweaked the registry many moons ago but there's still the odd addon app that barfs with that dreaded error. When I try to access a file that's buried deep in the hierarchy in Explorer I get a pop-up warning but it still allows me to do the operation. Maybe these other apps can't cope with the initial error.

I'll certainly keep experimenting. My own system is pretty well nearly re-created but this friend of mine's setup is still at stage one (and he's really not looking forward to having to reinstall all his liveries etc.!).

My latest theory is that very early adopters (via MS Store) inherited a much more rigorous form of DRM protection, which maybe the later installs didn't [quite] have. No evidence whatsoever, so just a guess LOL!

Hi Adam,

 

coud it be the same problem that I had at the beginning?

As I told, I got two folders, they are the same and in the same real drive, but with different driveletters (C: and N:) N is encrypted C is not.

Maybe that brings a little light in your problem.

 

Edited January 22, 20215 yr by sal9000

Try creating a NEW folder in a different location (and not in the main MSFS folder) ... then add that folder to the Linker.

Once you've done that, try adding a NEW addon from a your downloads archive (into this new location) and then enable it in the Linker. See if that works in the sim.

@Adamski_NZ, @Bad_T, the way I remove the encryption is just by unticking the encryption box in the folder properties and 'apply'ing. However, I haven't used any form of MS file manager since about 1988, so it may well be that the standard file manager doesn't do this properly. For the last couple of decades I've used a thing called Directory Opus as my flile manager. Very powerful, multi window and multi function. Bit pricey but with a multi-PC license it's acceptable and I couldn't work without it now. On the occasions an installation package drops me into MS explorer I look at it and wonder "where did everything go?"

2 hours ago, andy1252 said:

@Adamski_NZ, @Bad_T, the way I remove the encryption is just by unticking the encryption box in the folder properties and 'apply'ing. However, I haven't used any form of MS file manager since about 1988, so it may well be that the standard file manager doesn't do this properly. For the last couple of decades I've used a thing called Directory Opus as my flile manager. Very powerful, multi window and multi function. Bit pricey but with a multi-PC license it's acceptable and I couldn't work without it now. On the occasions an installation package drops me into MS explorer I look at it and wonder "where did everything go?"

I used to have Directory Opus - a great program.! Since then, I'm using XYPlorer (or Explorer++ on other PCs).

No matter which program I use, unticking then applying gives me that Windows access error.

1) Are you using the MS Store version or Steam?
2) Are you able to get the properties encryption to apply using just the standard (ghastly) Windows Explorer?

TIA!

@sal9000 and @andy1252 thanks for your inputs, every idea might help 👍

@Adamski_NZ you said 'tweaked the registry many moons ago but there's still the odd addon app that barfs with that dreaded error' ... yeah that is possible, i think applications running under .net framework before v4.6.2 (quite a lot of tools use that nowadays so maybe you have one of those) have that limitation of characters probably even if you have changed the windows settings. I just read something about this recently and updated my version to 4.7.2. Not sure my info is 100% accurate though.

guys, maybe before loosing too much time with my tool, you should try the new one that just got released yesterday (search for 'msfs addons collector' at flightsim to). It seems it takes over pretty much all of what my tool does and add more things like BGL scanning and automatic sorting (things i just don't have the skills to do). I havent tested it, and i won't, but i certainly don't want to enter some some sort of race for features, i'm just a late night hobby programmer for fun and i don't make money out of it so if there's something better available i'm very fine with it and i can spend more time on other 'real life' stuff. I had a map in dev mode and some other features for the linker but i probably can't (and i certainly don't want to 😋) compete with other more professionaly made tools. So make sure you check that other tool to see if it fits you better and maybe some of the limitation will be solved. It has certainly been a great ride no matter how it ends 👍

Edited January 22, 20215 yr by Bad_T

@Bad_T

You have such a respectful attitude and so much humility.  I wish there were more like you!  

Why would I EVER not use Fsaddon Linker. Without your software my Community folder would be a TOTAL MESS, I would have CONSTANT conflicts with junk freeware and payware, And my load times would be MINUTES longer.

Regards

Dennis Waggoner

 

 

@Denwaggyou can maybe replace it with something better that does basically the same thing 😛

and don't worry, if you still want to use my tool and need support you certainly know where to find me 🍻

Edited January 22, 20215 yr by Bad_T

There are probably many like me who use addon linker in a limited way, which fulfils my specific requirements. I certainly don't use all the features; probably not savvy enough as my I get more grey cells!

@Bad_T you have become a virtual friend, what with all your communication with me, which I suspect you do with others as well.

Martin

5 hours ago, Adamski_NZ said:

I used to have Directory Opus - a great program.! Since then, I'm using XYPlorer (or Explorer++ on other PCs).

No matter which program I use, unticking then applying gives me that Windows access error.

1) Are you using the MS Store version or Steam?
2) Are you able to get the properties encryption to apply using just the standard (ghastly) Windows Explorer?

TIA!

Hi Adam,

I just tried Win Explorer and it was ok to change the encryption status on a sample folder.

A couple of things that may or may not be relevant. First, I'm talking about changing the encryption status of the folder I've previously copied (not moved) from my community folder to my separate addons folder tree, not making any changes within the actual community folder itself. When I then use the addons linker to place the symlink into the community folder, it doesn't seem to matter that the link refers to a non-encrypted folder.

Second, in answer to your question, I'm using the MS Store version. But when I installed it I first specified an alternate drive to the default C drive for installation of any new apps. So my installation is on my H drive, with the longest g*dawful link name you've ever seen in the C drive, and an equally insane folder structure on my H drive. I obviously miised the prompt that gave me the option of specifying a sane folder name at install time and I ain't going back and reinstalling it now!

Hope that helps

1 hour ago, Bad_T said:

@Denwaggyou can maybe replace it with something better that does basically the same thing 😛

and don't worry, if you still want to use my tool and need support you certainly know where to find me 🍻

I had a quick look at the description of the other tool , and although I will download it and take a look, I get VERY worried about any software that says it will automatically organise all my stuff for me. Past experience tells me I usually need to run a full set of backups before doing this and I usually end up having to use them afterwards.

Your little program does everything I need and it does it well, so I'll likely just keep using it at whatever version you stop, or until sometime as something changes on the system that makes it unusable.

Bad_T,  you really are a real gentleman! You are always helpful and respond quickly to help us with any questions!
And finally, many thanks for your program!
Greetings
imb12