Can we put mods in Saved Games\DCS yet?

[doveman]

I recall there were some plans to enable us to put mods in Saved Games\DCS rather than the actual game install folder. This obviously has the advantage of not needing to uninstall/reinstall them when updating, which even though I use JSGME is still a bit of a pain.

 

So can we use Saved Games\DCS for mods yet? I'd still use JSGME there to make it easy to toggle mods on/off but essentially it would be putting the folders and files from the mod in this folder, so there might be Saved Games\DCS\Script\export.lua or Saved Games\DCS\mods\aircrafts\KA-50\Cockpit\Resources\IndicationTextures\font_Ka-50_SHKVAL.tga and so on.

[SilentEagle]

Yes, it works exactly the same. I believe there is a priority order, so make sure you don't have different versions of the same file/mod in the install and saved games directory. You will have to create the Mods and aircrafts folder I believe, but afterwards you can just drop your mod in and forget about it.

Edited September 18, 2013 by SilentEagle

[JayPee]

With regards to updates, you still need to manually check the mods to see if they are still compatible. So Imho placing them in a folder to use regardless of updates will probably cause you to apply mods which -due to the update- aren't applicable anymore, at least in their current state.

[doveman]

Yes, it works exactly the same. I believe there is a priority order, so make sure you don't have different versions of the same file/mod in the install and saved games directory. You will have to create the Mods and aircrafts folder I believe, but afterwards you can just drop your mod in and forget about it.

 

It would be great if that was the case but unfortunately it doesn't work completely. If I put my JSGME folder in Saved Games\DCS and enable a single mod, DCSW will no longer launch. If I disable the mod, it launches fine. These are the same mods that work fine in the DCS install folder. I tested with just A10C Horse of War and A10-C Bigger HUD Font and then just the latter. I did a repair on the DCS install folder as well just to check that was OK.

 

Just enabling "Diversified Switch & Key Sounds" is OK, as is "Ricardo's Blue HD KA-50 Cockpit", so it seems some mods are OK there but others aren't but it's nothing to do with the folders they use, as Ricardo's and the A10-C mods all go in mods/aircrafts/ .

 

I've tested now with all the mods I normally use and only those two A10C ones (which are the only A10-C mods I currently use) cause this problem and if I enable them with JSGME in the DCS install folder it launches fine.

[doveman]

With regards to updates, you still need to manually check the mods to see if they are still compatible. So Imho placing them in a folder to use regardless of updates will probably cause you to apply mods which -due to the update- aren't applicable anymore, at least in their current state.

 

Sure but even when I have JSGME in the DCS install folder and disable the mods before updating and re-enable them after, I still should check they're still compatible. Not that I ever did unless I ran into any problems as it's too much hassle finding each thread and posting "Does this still work?" to each one.

 

I did propose a thread which would list in a regularly updated first post which mods are recommended/compatible with the current version but obviously that would require someone with the time to keep it updated.

[doveman]

Having launched DCS now, none of the mods enabled in Saved Games\DCS are actually loaded. I had headtracker enabled in there as well (puts .dll in bin and bin/headtracker) and the trackir column wasn't present in DCSW until I moved it to the install folder, so that should have been a clue.

 

So it seems this isn't working at all, although I don't know why enabling the A10-C mods would have caused DCSW to fail to launch in that case.

[cichlidfan]

I still find JSGME, right in the main folder, easier to maintain. Otherwise many people will have to create a link to some other disk/folder in order to have enough free space for their mods (my mods folder is currently over 5GB).

[doveman]

I still find JSGME, right in the main folder, easier to maintain. Otherwise many people will have to create a link to some other disk/folder in order to have enough free space for their mods (my mods folder is currently over 5GB).

 

I've just relocated my Saved Games folder (using Windows Right-Click - Properties - Location) off my C: to my E: to avoid that problem.

[cichlidfan]

I've just relocated my Saved Games folder (using Windows Right-Click - Properties - Location) off my C: to my E: to avoid that problem.

 

Oh, I understand the process. There will however be those that don't want to mess with that. In my case, DCS is the only game/sim on the machine that would benefit so it's a step that I find unnecessary.

[doveman]

Oh, I understand the process. There will however be those that don't want to mess with that. In my case, DCS is the only game/sim on the machine that would benefit so it's a step that I find unnecessary.

 

Sure, although I find moving Saved Games once preferable to having to disable/re-enable mods repeatedly when updating (if having mods in Saved Games actually worked that is!).

 

I moved My Documents for the same reason, tons of programs use it as a dumping ground for their data now.

[cichlidfan]

Sure, although I find moving Saved Games once preferable to having to disable/re-enable mods repeatedly when updating (if having mods in Saved Games actually worked that is!).

 

I trust JSGME, and myself, more than I trust ED when it comes to putting my mods where I want them. ;)

[doveman]

OK, so we've established that we can't put mods in Saved Games yet.

 

What about files in Config/? Can we put our edited versions of these (graphics.lua for example) in Saved Games/DCS/Config/ and have DCSW see them and use them rather than the ones in the install folder? Does this apply to any files in subfolders as well, such as Config/MonitorSetup?

 

I see Saved Games/DCS/Config already has subfolders for View and Input but it might be hardcoded to only use those, so I can't assume that all files and subfolders will work the same.