Free up your Hard drive or SSD, and .....

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

create a Community.zip    archive and add your entire Community Folder contents.   Then, you can delete all those files you have downloaded from various sources. If ever you need to reinstall, or whatever, merely use the Community.zip to repopulate your Community Folder.

Done...

[captain420 3,099]

What do you mean?

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

Just now, captain420 said:

What do you mean?

I mean, highlight ALL your folders inside your Community Folder, then right click on them as blue highlighted, and then scale down to your ZIP menu, and use add to 'Community Zip'.  When that is done, move that zip file to your storage hard drive.  If you ever need to bring anything back into a clean install...just move the Community Zip file into your Community Folder, and un zip.  You will have everything back into your Community Folder.  You don't need to keep the downloaded files for those Community Folder content.  

[cianpars 1,163]

Whereas, when I download addons, I unzip them and delete the zip files, I think the OP is keeping his zip files.  I'm not sure exactly what he is suggesting tbh.

MSFS can't seem to read anything outside of it's own directory and won't allow you to move files out of it save for deletion to the recycle bin.

I may be misunderstanding though.

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

10 minutes ago, cianpars said:

Whereas, when I download addons, I unzip them and delete the zip files, I think the OP is keeping his zip files.  I'm not sure exactly what he is suggesting tbh.

MSFS can't seem to read anything outside of it's own directory and won't allow you to move files out of it save for deletion to the recycle bin.

I may be misunderstanding though.

What I am suggesting, is that instead of keeping archives (backups) of all your downloaded content,  you only have to create a zip of ALL your Community Folder content. Then, you can COPY that zip out of your Community Folder to a back up folder. Then...if ever, you wish to re populate your ENTIRE community folder content, you only have to place that zip into the folder...and let 'er rip.   

[hansb57 492]

A lot of the files in your zip file will be outdated by the time you have to use the zip and you can (if you f.i. have download from Flightsim.to) download them again.

I use add on linker and that shows me (most of the time) the version number and my community folder is empty with 1 click

 

Edited August 14, 2021 by hansb57

[orchestra_nl 923]

13 minutes ago, hansb57 said:

A lot of the files in your zip file will be outdated by the time you have to use the zip and you can (if you f.i. have download from Flightsim.to) download them again.

I use add on linker and that shows me (most of the time) the version number and my community folder is empty with 1 click

I was thinking the same way: Most of the addons I use get updated frequently but even if they don't, Addon linker works practically the same way as the procedure the topicstarter.proposes except more userfriendly.

This procedure might be more practical for the addons in the Official folder, since it redownloading your official addons takes a loooong time after a re-install of the sim.

[Dominique_K 10,133]

Keeping addons in a zip as they were downloaded, sometimes months ago, is a sure recipe for CTD in a clean install. The sim knows every so often updates that break compatibility and addons are then a major cause of CTD. Common sense dictates to avoid like plague older versions of an addon and redownload everything.

[orchestra_nl 923]

1 hour ago, Dominique_K said:

Keeping addons in a zip as they were downloaded, sometimes months ago, is a sure recipe for CTD in a clean install. The sim knows every so often updates that break compatibility and addons are then a major cause of CTD. Common sense dictates to avoid like plague older versions of an addon and redownload everything.

Even if addons have not been updated or if an update is not required one would still need to check them all just to make sure. Even addons that don't conflict with new SimUpdates require updates for bugs that are less obvious than CTD's; a bug in a single airport can cause issues with lots of other airports. e.g. missing vehicles on all airports in the region because an author made an error. If you never revisit these downloads, you are likely to end up with lots of issues in the sim caused by addons you 'just know are 100% free of issues'.

Until we have a utility that checks all addons for updates on flightsim.to (or other sites) we will just have to do that manually at a regular basis. In fact, the same is true for all commercial addons as well, unless purchased via the marketplace.

 

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

Well, I did the Zip...and it worked perfectly.  Took 135 GB's down to 47 compressed. I just copied it to my archive folder.  If not for anything else, if I have until the next update, a full crash..it will be zippy-doodah to just bring the zip into my empty community folder, and let er rip.  Easy peasy...  I merely COPIED the Community.zip over to my MSFS Purchases Folder and am good to go. Insurance until the next major update.... 🙂!

 

Post Edit. For anybody else that doesn't want to deal with the 137 GB's that I have in my C.C., is to as I said create a Community.zip.  It forms in the Community Folder. When done, mine took about an hour to compress 137 GB's to 47 GB's, then, you COPY it over to where ever you want to store it. When you have done that, merely DELETE the Community.zip within the Community Folder.  There you go...and so easy to repopulate everything you have in your Community Folder, and if there is a new update and if you NEED to get an updated airport, plane, whatever, you would only address that particular airport, plane, library, and you don't have to, as in my case, update the entire 137 GB's...for I have never had to do that...and there would not necessarily bee 137 GB's of updates. 

So, this is as great way and painless way to get back all you had...or to EVEN REMBER (LOLOLO) all your 'junk'...you placed in the C.C.!!!!   This way, you don't have to have a great memory that spans 137 GB's....lol.

 

Edited August 14, 2021 by Sesquashtoo

[Twenty6 692]

MSFS Addon Linker is so much more efficient than zipping 135GB of data then copying 45GB to another location. And then reversing the process to put all that back again if needed.

But to each their own. Good luck.

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

Just now, Twenty6 said:

MSFS Addon Linker is so much more efficient than zipping 135GB of data then copying 45GB to another location. And then reversing the process to put all that back again if needed.

But to each their own. Good luck.

I dunno...walked away from the computer, an hour later it was done...whipped it over to my storage H.D.. If needed, whip it back...unzip and walk away for dinner....20 minutes later, everything is back, as it should be.  I dunno...no sweat in how I see that. 🙂

[ARCO 245]

Ses, did you try MSFS Add-on Linker? If not, do try it and revert here with your opinion, it is simpler, faster, more efficient, user friendly, and... no CTD! Available at Flightsim.to.

 

[GSalden 4,655]

Addons Linker all the way….

 

[Twenty6 692]

11 minutes ago, Sesquashtoo said:

I dunno...walked away from the computer, an hour later it was done...whipped it over to my storage H.D.. If needed, whip it back...unzip and walk away for dinner....20 minutes later, everything is back, as it should be.  I dunno...no sweat in how I see that. 🙂

With MSFS Addon Linker it's two mouse clicks (maybe three) and the Community folder is emptied instantly. Not an hour. And all your addons are already backed up in their original location just waiting to be relinked into the Community folder either individually or all 135GB ..... instantly.

Work smarter, not harder even when you're not actually having to do the work.