Save Copy of Configuration As problem

Things you’d like to miss in the future...
j_c_hallgren
XY Blog Master
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Re: Save Copy of Configuration As problem

Post by j_c_hallgren »

admin wrote:Yes, but the recommended and code-supported way is to have them in subfolder \Data:

Code: Select all

v8.80.0060 - 2010-01-27 22:50
      then the app data path is auto-set to <xypath>\Data.
      Reason: Keeping the variable user data together in one place is a 
      good idea. 
Ok, that's fine but it doesn't really apply to us old-timers who still have it all together...I wouldn't object to having it that way but there was no (or did I miss it?) automated method to get our setups migrated to that config usage?
Still spending WAY TOO much time here! But it's such a pleasure helping XY be a treasure!
(XP on laptop with touchpad and thus NO mouse!) Using latest beta vers when possible.

admin
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Re: Save Copy of Configuration As problem

Post by admin »

j_c_hallgren wrote:
admin wrote:Yes, but the recommended and code-supported way is to have them in subfolder \Data:

Code: Select all

v8.80.0060 - 2010-01-27 22:50
      then the app data path is auto-set to <xypath>\Data.
      Reason: Keeping the variable user data together in one place is a 
      good idea. 
Ok, that's fine but it doesn't really apply to us old-timers who still have it all together...I wouldn't object to having it that way but there was no (or did I miss it?) automated method to get our setups migrated to that config usage?
Correct. But doing it manually takes 20 seconds. :wink:

j_c_hallgren
XY Blog Master
Posts: 5824
Joined: 02 Jan 2006 19:34
Location: So. Chatham MA/Clearwater FL
Contact:

Re: Save Copy of Configuration As problem

Post by j_c_hallgren »

admin wrote:Correct. But doing it manually takes 20 seconds. :wink:
Maybe with two good eyes and good mouse/keyboarding...more like double that here...anyway, since it was never forced on us, we never converted and thus still likely have our stuff mixed in common folder which then seems to cause issues with this command/function.

Not sure how best to handle this case...
Still spending WAY TOO much time here! But it's such a pleasure helping XY be a treasure!
(XP on laptop with touchpad and thus NO mouse!) Using latest beta vers when possible.

Stefan
Posts: 1360
Joined: 18 Nov 2008 21:47
Location: Europe

XYplorer: Portable versa Installed, the details

Post by Stefan »

admin wrote:Yes, but the recommended and code-supported way is to have them in subfolder \Data
Ah, i see. OK, an subfolder "Data" should be no problem...wait...Done!

Now "Backup All Settings" works as indented, by just copying the whole Data-folder.
From now on i will store my own settings like my User.ini in that data folder too,
and other stuff like my Tools-subfolder i will stay out of "Data" and keep care on my own.

Thanks for taking the time to clarify this issue.

--------------------------------------


For reference, here the start of an wiki article i want to do for an long time,
so all the cluttered info are collected at one single place :


(Sorry, there are more and more infos but no really structured written. :oops:
I will collect here all details and once, maybe even in this life, i will made an real how-to post :whistle: )




Generally XYplorer have two main folders:
1. "Application Path" - aka "Program Folder", the directory with the application exe --- For scripting usage: <xypath>
2. "Application Data Path" - aka "Data Folder", the directory with the application (configuration) data --- For scripting usage: <xydata>

The "Application Data Path" is always there where the "XYplorer.ini" is found first.
So to prevent yourself from mistakes be sure to have only one file named "XYplorer.ini" in the folders mentioned below.

For No-Install portable-use the "Application Data Path" is an sub-folder "Data" in the XYplorer program folder.
(In the past it was by default the same main "XYplorer"-folder where the XYplorer.exe was located too, but this is undesirably this days)
For an Installation the "Application Data Path" is an "XYplorer"-named folder located at your Windows default %appdata% folder.


By the way,
you can setup XYplorer to use two other folders too:
"Scripts Path" (see: XYplorer.ini >> ; Tweak: absolute or relative to app path >> ScriptsPath= )
and "Thumbs Cache Path" (see: Tools > Configuration > Thumbnails)
At default they are both in the "Application Data Path" too.


-------------------------------------------------------------

There are two different download packages for your selection


http://www.xyplorer.com/download.php


Installer Package (ZIP archive, 2,308 KB)
Recommended for most users.
Includes installer and uninstaller.


If you prefer to extract the program files manually choose one of the following packages:
No-Install Package (ZIP archive, 2,711 KB)
Extract to any folder and run the application.



Please note that both packages contain the same.
Both are "portable" ("green") application and works exactly the same.

The difference of the "Installer Package" is the presence
of startup.ini which has become necessary due to UAC.
The setup copies the XYplorer Data Folder to your user profil
and the startup.ini points to that data folder. This refer is relative to the user,
so each logged in user will get his own XYplorer Data Folder in his profil.
Also the installer helps you on creating the XYplorer Application Folder
and an start menu entry for you. Also it provides an uninstaller.
Please note that the nature of an installer is to leave tracks behind on an PC.
Refer to this FAQ entry to switch your installed to an portable version.

The "No-Install Package" is portable per se anyway.
The XYplorer Data Folder is here created on first launch as an sub folder "Data".
There is nothing changed to your files or registry by using this version.
You have to remember on which place you have un-packed it yourself.
Refer to this FAQ entry to switch your portable to an installed version.



--------------------------------------------------------------

Some deeper background informations


Portable setup:

Code: Select all

v8.80.0060 - 2010-01-27 22:50
    * Startup, App Data Path: Now, if
      - no app data path is set by command line
      - AND (no startup.ini is found in app path OR startup.ini contains no app data path)
      - AND no XYplorer.ini is found in app path
      then the app data path is auto-set to <xypath>\Data.
      Reason: Keeping the variable user data together in one place is a
      good idea. Even in portable installations which is the typical
      context for this scenario.
So we should have this folder structure:

Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\RECYCLER\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\CatalogDefault.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\LicenseXY.txt
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\ReadmeXY.txt
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\TipOfTheDay.htm
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.exe
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.url

Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\FindTemplates\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\NewItems\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\Panes\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\Scripts\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\action.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\catalog.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\fvs.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\ks.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\lastini.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\tag.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\udc.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\XYplorer.ini

(Note: you may have not all of that *.dat files, depending on your use of XYplorer)

Example Info from "Help > Various Information"
App: X:\xyplorer\XYplorer.exe
Ini File: X:\xyplorer\Data\XYplorer.ini
App Data Path: X:\xyplorer\Data\
Scripts Path: X:\xyplorer\Data\Scripts\
Thumbs Cache Path: X:\xyplorer\Data\Thumbnails\

- - - - -

"old portable setup"

Before v8.80.0060 - 2010-01-27,
all sub-folders and files of
"Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Data\"
was stored in the
"Drv:\path to\XYplorer\"-main folder too:

Drv:\path to\XYplorer\FindTemplates\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\NewItems\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\RECYCLER\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\Scripts\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\action.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\catalog.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\CatalogDefault.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\fvs.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\ks.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\lastini.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\LicenseXY.txt
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\ReadmeXY.txt
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\tag.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\TipOfTheDay.htm
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\udc.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.exe
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.ini
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.url


But this is not recommended and supported anymore.

To went from "old portable setup" to the "new portable setup" you may do this:
- use menu "Go > Go to Application folder"
- create an new folder "Data"
- right click on the Data-folder and chose Explorer to start WinExplorer
- close XYplorer
- in WinExplorer, go one hierarchy up
--- and move the above mentioned files and folders to "Data"
- start XYplorer
- check XYplorer menu "Help > Various Information" if "Ini file" and "App Data Path" points to the right folder


--- --- ---


Non-Portable / Installation / Multi user mode:
grindax wrote:For Windows XP it was OK to have everything in one folder. But for Windows Vista and Windows 7, because of UAC and security permissions trickiness involved in writing to the 'Program Files' folder, the preferred location for settings and configurations is the user's own profile directory.

Thus in XYplorer you have the Application Folder, which houses the XYplorer program files (and which gets written to following a UAC prompt when installing the software), and the Application Data Folder which houses everything configuration-related.
If you Install XYplorer by using the setup, you will be asked: "for anyone" or "just for me".
The difference is the start menu used; that for "All Users" or just your own start menu only.
If you chose "for anyone" and IF an second user would use XYplorer on your PC too, and the startup.ini is present,
this user will get his own "Data" folder, because the Windows var "%appdata%" is relative to different users.


Warning about Installer:
if you later de-install XYplorer again, all your own folder and files in data-folder are deleted too!
(The own files in program folder seams to remain)
So make an backup before de-installing IF you want to keep some own files (or at least your register details in the XYplorer.ini)



The program file XYplorer.exe is stored in the path you selected from the install dialog.
On default to "C:\Program Files\XYplorer" (Vista/Win7 UAC will ask you to allow this creation)

Installer package will create an startup.ini next to the XYplorer.exe.
((The portable package have this not (but one could create them on there own)))

If you have an startup.ini next to the XYplorer.exe good changes are
(If the startup.ini contains an valid path to an other dir) that your "Data"-subfolder
is not in the same folder as the XYplorer.exe
but in your Windows AppData-folder for example on default setup.


So we should have this folder structure:

Drv:\path to\XYplorer\RECYCLER\
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\CatalogDefault.dat
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\LicenseXY.txt
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\ReadmeXY.txt
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\startup.ini (which points to: Path=%appdata%\XYplorer )
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\TipOfTheDay.htm
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.exe
Drv:\path to\XYplorer\XYplorer.url


%AppData%\XYplorer\FindTemplates\
%AppData%\XYplorer\NewItems\
%AppData%\XYplorer\Panes\
%AppData%\XYplorer\Scripts\
%AppData%\XYplorer\action.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\catalog.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\fvs.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\ks.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\lastini.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\tag.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\udc.dat
%AppData%\XYplorer\XYplorer.ini


(Note: you may have not all of that *.dat files, depending on your use of XYplorer)



The size of an empty "startup.ini" is 18 byte only,
and should be 34 byte if it would contain the following usually standard:
[Appdata]
Path=%appdata%\XYplorer


%appdata% BTW points too:
On Vista/Win7: C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\
On Win2000/XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Application Data\

So you should have one of this folders:
On Vista/Win7: C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\XYplorer\
On Win2000/XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Application Data\XYplorer\

((Where here "XYplorer" contains the same folders and files as the "Data"-folder does as shown above at portable mode))



Note:
If you are on Vista/Win7
AND your "Data" folder is by "mistake" under "Program Files" too
but there you have no write access to on default,
then Windows will redirect your writings silently to
"C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\XYplorer\"
or
"C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\XYplorer\"
(see Upgraded ... and all configuration lost)

----------------------------------


Tips:

You can use XYplorer help menu to see where your folders are located:

XYplorer menu "Help > Various Information" will show you where XY settings are stored.


Example Info from "Help > Various Information" (on Win2000/XP)
App: C:\Program Files\Xyplorer\XYplorer.exe
Ini File: C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\<username>\Anwendungsdaten\Xyplorer\XYplorer.ini
App Data Path: C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\<username>\Anwendungsdaten\Xyplorer\
Scripts Path: C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\<username>\Anwendungsdaten\Xyplorer\Scripts\
Thumbs Cache Path: C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\<username>\Anwendungsdaten\Xyplorer\Thumbnails\


Example Info from "Help > Various Information" (on Vista/Win7)
App: C:\Program Files\Xyplorer\XYplorer.exe
Ini File: C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\XYplorer\XYplorer.ini
App Data Path: C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\XYplorer\
Scripts Path: C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\XYplorer\Scripts\
Thumbs Cache Path: C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\XYplorer\Thumbnails\



XYplorer menu "Go > Go to xxxx" will bring you to the folders where XY stuff are stored.



-------------------------------


Registry-Entries (if you use the installer)

ToDo: how looks the registry entries

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\XYplorer.exe\="C:\Programme\XYplorer\XYplorer.exe"
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\XYplorer





-----------------




What is what for?

Please note that the XY-settings are stored in different files:

Startup.ini - (if exist) points to an folder containing the following files and folders:
(If startup.ini not exists {to test: or point to an non-valid dir} the following are located in an sub-folder next to the XYplorer.exe)

catalog.dat - XYplorer Catalog on the left at the navigation pane
CatalogDefault.dat - just factory defaults. Not needed to backup.
fvs.dat - XYplorer Folder View Settings
ks.dat - XYplorer Keyboard Shortcuts
lastini.dat - Remembers last used ini
tag.dat - XYplorer File Tags and Comments
udc.dat - XYplorer User-Defined Commands
XYplorer.ini - Holding your license and settings like main XY config and tweaks, CustomToolbarButtons, MRUs, Favorites, PFA FileAssoc,

If you have modified the content of this folders, you may backup them too:
NewItems folder
Scripts folder



---------------



ToDo, i want to add this infos too:


- what are "non-valid dir's" ?
- how to change from installed/Multi user to portable or vise versa?
- how to modify the permissions so you can have all files in XYs app folder, UAC or not (see http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 386#p45386)
- or install to an other folder then "C:\Program files\" where you may have more rights

- I don't have a xyplorer.ini in either folder and each launches successfully.
-----You can start XYplorer without an ini.
-----But your configurations (and your registration details) are saved to such file
-----once you use the related menu item or close XYplorer.

- howto start with an fresh xyplorer.ini?

- add this http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 756#p44756
----I rather think the data are buried here:
----C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\XYplorer\
----This happened to a couple of users where the auto-upgrading did not work out for them.
----The reason is, IF you are on Vista/W7, Vista/W7's file system virtualization.


---



-ToDo:
use startup.ini for portable use to get different "Data"-folder per different PC,
like:
[AppData]
Path=%ComputerName%

or perhaps
[AppData]
Path=%UserName%

---


Corrections and additions are welcome. Don, you may edit my post if i wrote nonsenses!

Based on this posts at least:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 756#p44756
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 386#p50386
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 393#p50393
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 210#p52210
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 298#p72298


-------------------------------------














Backup or transfer settings to an other pc


aurumdigitus wrote:Given this discussion of the different XY install packages what is the best and safest
method to migrate all of a carefully honed working version several years in the making to a new computer? :veryconfused:
If you have all stored in your "Application Data Folder", (use menu "Go > Go To Application Data Folder" to see)
it is enough to execute menu "File > Settings > Backup Application Data Folder..." and store it on your USB-Drive.

If you have something in your "Application Folder" other then the default files (see >here< for an list)
then you may copy this files too. Use menu "Go > Go To Application Folder" to see.
Maybe the file "Startup.ini" is from interest here to copy too.

On your other pc, install XYplorer, start it, use the links in the GO-menu to go to the XYplorer folders
and copy your saved files back. Be sure to not overwrite newer executables with older ones.




admin wrote:
aurumdigitus wrote:Given this discussion of the different XY install packages what is the best and safest method to migrate all of a carefully honed working version several years in the making to a new computer? :veryconfused:
FAQ #4:
http://www.xyplorer.com/faq-topic.php?id=migrate
A Frequently Asked Question
How do I migrate XYplorer to another computer / OS?

It's very easy. Since XYplorer is a portable application you don't need to do any uninstalling or installing.
Simply copy XYplorer's application folder and application data folder with all contents to a USB-stick and transfer them to the corresponding locations in the target system. Your complete configuration including registration is now migrated.

Remarks

The application folder is typically C:\Program Files\XYplorer, and the application data folder typically %appdata%\XYplorer. The easiest way to go to those folders is by menu Go | Go to Application Folder
and Go | Go to Application Data Folder inside XYplorer. Note that in older setups both folders can be identical.

The application data folder is typically defined by an entry in the file Startup.ini located in the application folder.
It will probably look like this:

Code: Select all

[Appdata]
Path=%appdata%\XYplorer



aurumdigitus wrote:So the next computer gets a brand new Installer Package first and then gets started. Then using the nascent XY the files get copied to it. Yes?
Yes. Just start your new fresh XYplorer and use the Go -menu
to go to the two XYplorer folders and copy your old files back.
But you may want to keep the newer EXE files (XYplorer.exe is protected anyway if XYplorer is running)
At what point does the fresh software learn of the registration number?
Your license is store in your current ini-file, XYplorer.ini on default.
You should keep your registered name and the key on an save place.
You can also enter this two details in an dialog via help-menu .
This arises over the question of just how portable is portable.
Thought maybe it was simply enough to copy C:\Program Files\XYplorer and that would do it.
In the old pre-Vista/UAC days yes.
But since XYplorer behaves to the standard installation path C:\Program Files\
and since the UAC of Vista/Win7 doesn't allow write access on default to that path (even for admins)
the XYplorer data folder has to be at an writeable path,... your user profile and there to AppData\XYplorer.

If you don't need the help of the installer (creating folders, startup.ini, start menu entries,...) you can just use the non-installer package.
You just have to remember where you have un-packt the archive and have to create an start menu entry yourself. Do-able?


Other possibles are to NOT install to C:\Program Files\ but to an place you have write access to (e.g. to "C:\myApps")
or, to give your self write access to C:\Program Files\XYplorer (i think i have posted this how-to too?)

To both ways you have to copy (*1) the content of your "%appdat%\xyplorer" folder
to an "Data" sub folder of your XYplorer installations folder,
and to disable the startup.ini by renaming them to startup_ini

(*1)
if you need them, read: if you have made any changes.
If not, the Data sub folder is created fresh anyway on first XYplorer start if you have disabled the startup.ini
But you may want to copy your XYplorer.ini, or enter the registration again via help-menu.


j_c_hallgren wrote:
Stefan wrote:
At what point does the fresh software learn of the registration number?
Your license is store in your current ini-file, XYplorer.ini on default.
The only exception to this (I believe) is the GOTD vers (Giveaway Of The Day) which appears to have a special vers of EXE (from other posts here) and thus doesn't use this same method.
Absolutely right.

For the GOTD version the XYplorer.exe is the important part to keep your license.
XYplorer.exe, v10.80.0.200, 4.861.952 Bytes, 03.02.2012 15:21 , MD5 fc1f1d91fd8c89c754f989a0daa37f2c

Here the XYplorer.ini holds only the made settings but no license info.
(Note: That's different from an purchased version, where the ini with your license is the important part.)

If you have overwritten this exe file by an update you have dropped your giveaway license.
Terms and conditions

Please note that the software you download and install during
the Giveaway period comes with the following important limitations:
1) No free technical support
2) No free upgrades to future versions
3) Strictly non-commercial usage
So better keep the v10.80.0.200 exe in an save place. The better thing to do would be buying
the full lifetime version, as you may have seen that it is worth the price and you will get all new features :wink:

Related post: Welcome to GOTD (GiveawayOfTheDay) users & notice to others


.
Last edited by Stefan on 13 Apr 2012 21:45, edited 14 times in total.

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 60357
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1 @100%, Win10 @100%
Contact:

Re: Save Copy of Configuration As problem

Post by admin »

Stefan wrote:
So you should have one of this folders:
C:Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\XYplorer\Data\
C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Application Data\XYplorer\Data\
<Where "Data" contains the same folders and files as shown above at portable>

---

Corrections and additions are welcome. Don, you may edit my post if i wrote nonsenses!
Long post. :) The part above is wrong: the Data folder is only created below app path, not below app data path. The Data folder IS app data path.

The conditions I gave can be improved as such:
If
- no app data path is set by command line
- AND (no startup.ini is found in app path OR startup.ini contains no app data path)
- AND no XYplorer.ini is found in app path
then the app data path is auto-set to <xypath>\Data.

Conc. the wiki: jacky told me the wiki server is gone forever. he kindly gave me the wiki backups, and I'm still making up my mind about whether to put it up again or not.

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 60357
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1 @100%, Win10 @100%
Contact:

Re: Save Copy of Configuration As problem

Post by admin »

j_c_hallgren wrote:
admin wrote:Correct. But doing it manually takes 20 seconds. :wink:
Maybe with two good eyes and good mouse/keyboarding...more like double that here...anyway, since it was never forced on us, we never converted and thus still likely have our stuff mixed in common folder which then seems to cause issues with this command/function.
Issues? There are no issues. The command works as advertised. Only the name was misleading and this will be changed in the next version.

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