Modding on Vista... warning!!!

[cephalo]

I just got a new computer with Vista, and I have found a rather serious issue that you guys should know about. The issue has to do with "Program Files Virtualisation" and my understanding of it is not entirely solid, but because of this you can NOT edit files that reside in the 'Program Files' directory. This includes your BtS/Mods directory!!

What happens is that not only are programs like python's IDLE not aware of this rule and think they can edit files, what seems to be happening is that Windows is actually keeping multiple copies of each iteration of a file for each program that uses it. That means the file you just saved in IDLE is only actually changed when you are using IDLE, not when you are using civ, and not when you are using notepad!

Anyway, I think you can avoid this problem by installing Civ in the root C drive rather than in 'Program Files', but so far I haven't reinstalled everything yet. I hope it works!

I expect this to become a very serious problem for mod users as well as mod makers. Heads up!!!

 

[TheBladeRoden]

huah? I edit files in the Program Files directory all the time

 

[cephalo]

huah? I edit files in the Program Files directory all the time

Did you have to do anything to set that up right? Right now if I edit my python file with IDLE (the Python IDE), what comes up is a different version of my file than I get with notepad. That's scary stuff. This is after right clicking on the file in the same window of windows explorer. Edit with IDLE... I get version A, Open with Notepad... I get version B.

 

[cephalo]

Ok, I was just able to get Civ and Notepad to use the same version of the file by setting the permissions of my mods directory. Python's IDLE is still not working however. The scary thing about this is that it just silently creates a new 'hidden virtual' file without telling you.

 

[xienwolf]

Have you disabled UAC yet Cephalo? I'll look for a link on how to do ut, but a search of the net should prove fruitful (I might have it linked in the "Proper Installation Guide" on post #2, can't recall). I think it stands for User Account Control. The basic gist is that under default Vista, you aren't an admin on your own computer.

EDIT: Yeah I was smart enough to link it in my other thread for the day I am forced to join Vista. Here it is.

 

[cephalo]

Ok, I have things working again. You have to make sure your user has full permissions to write that file.

If you don't, the way to get everything back on the same version is to go to your *user*\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\ directory and delete the phony version of the file.

Wow, as if modding wasn't confusing enough sometimes.

 

[cephalo]

Have you disabled UAC yet Cephalo? I'll look for a link on how to do ut, but a search of the net should prove fruitful (I might have it linked in the "Proper Installation Guide" on post #2, can't recall). I think it stands for User Account Control. The basic gist is that under default Vista, you aren't an admin on your own computer.

EDIT: Yeah I was smart enough to link it in my other thread for the day I am forced to join Vista. Here it is.

I some ways, I like the idea of UAC, but still being new to Vista, I wonder if it's just going to make things impossibly difficult in the future. What else can you tell me that might convince me to scrap the whole UAC thing?

 

[Wolfshanze]

Well, you know what Hitler says about Vista.

 

[Popcornlord]

I just mod in the Mygames/civilization4/mods folder. Vista doesn't care wether you edit files in there.