Feedback: How to manage Windows config file and directories?

Post by **Nach** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:27 am

With the release of Windows Vista with an overhauled multiuser setup, and some feedback and submissions over the past few months, there's some questions which need to be asked, and we require your feedback on how you would like things done.

(Not Windows users please ignore)

First off, where do you want the ZSNES config stored?
Three options:
1) With the ZSNES executable.
2) In profiles/myuser/zsnes (CSIDL_PROFILE/zsnes)
3) In profiles/myuser/apps/zsnes (CSIDL_APPDATA/zsnes)

Method One is currently what we do now. Method Two and Three will allow per user configuration files, which is currently not supported. Method Two has the directory in easier access than Method Three, but Method Three is more standardized. (see here for data)

There's also the possibility of only doing this for certain versions of Windows and up. pagefault suggested we use Method Three for NT 5+, and Method One for anything before that. I personally don't like NT 5's user directory setup, but NT 6 (Vista) is much more enjoyable.
If you think we should use Method Two or Three from a particular Windows version, mention that too.

Note: We can't offer a GUI/Config option for this.

Once that's decided, where do you think default saving should be? With the config file or with the ROMs? Does your opinion differ depending on which method above is used? This will be offered a choice though to change where you want it.

If you believe we should change from what we do now, how do you suggest we migrate? Should we perhaps just let the user figure it out? Should we provide an app to move your config file to the new location? Should we start bundling ZSNES with an installer to handle this?

Please discuss.

Jipcy · Post by **Jipcy** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:50 pm

Many open source software provide both ZIP files (extract/run anywhere) and set-up executables that install start menu icons and use the APPDATA path for config and data files. So you could do something like that. I think ZSNES should always be offered as a stand-alone executable with a local config files, but any additional installers would be fine.

In terms of generated data, perhaps SRMs should be saved/loaded from ROM directories by default (makes sense for a standard, cross-program data), and all other files be saved to a ZSNES-labeled folder. Many programs save user-generated data in a subfolder of My Documents. Generally, I think saving user-generated data in APPDATA is not cool because it's too easily overlooked.

And of course, all paths should continue to be fully configurable.

franpa · Post by **franpa** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:14 pm

erm, if it IS to be changed... will we have the option to have it how it was before it got changed?

Nightcrawler · Post by **Nightcrawler** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:08 pm

I prefer keeping things as they are. Local config, option 1. I doubt many people would actually take advantage of multiple user config anyway. Why start spreading ZSNES out all over the computer? Don't turn it into the crap that every other program is. uninstalling becomes more difficult because those config files aren't removed from the applications directory. I haven't seen any program that actually removes that data. These are some root causes of fragments of crap being left overs all over the computer. It should also be consistent for every version of ZSNES from here on out.

As for default saving. I prefer default saving to be with the ROM. It just makes the most sense to me. This is independent of whatever is chosen above. If a user wants the saves stored anywhere else, they can just change the directory in the GUI.

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:11 pm

i rather like how it is currently as well.

if zsnes doesn't have to insall itself, and the config has no gui, then there's no reason to have an installer and make it so that things are all moved around.

if the cfg had a gui, and you got to insert those nice browse buttons so you could easily find the paths and files you need, then i'd be more for making it more of a "standards" program as far as that goes.

but at the moment, it's sounding like the current setup is the best.

funkyass · Post by **funkyass** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:16 pm

if vista was designed sanely, then I'd suggest APPDATA

the better location would be My Documents\Zsnes Settings(or My Documents\My Games\Zsnes).

my suggestion would be to use either APPDATA or one of the My Documents suggestions, and have a backup where the executable is stored.

qwerty` · Post by **qwerty`** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:07 am

First choice 1
Second choice 3
Third choice destroy zsnes
Fourth choice 2

If people want a multiuser configuration setup they can just make 2 directories and copy zsnes.exe to each one (it's not even 1MB when compressed). Everyone else will just be annoyed by the migration I think. Right now the configuration files are easy to access and I like that a lot, doesn't need to be changed.

Firon · Post by **Firon** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:12 am

Location 1.

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:25 am

i absolutely hate when games save in my documents. ie. max payne.

so stupid. while it may be for my "convenience," it clutters up my my documents folder. right now i have an updater5 folder from i don't know which app that won't go away, it never has anything in it. i loathe programs inserting crap into my documents so much.

SamB · Post by **SamB** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:44 am

sweener2001 wrote:i absolutely hate when games save in my documents. ie. max payne.

None of the suggestions involve storing saves in My Documents, dude.

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:09 am

Jipcy wrote:Many programs save user-generated data in a subfolder of My Documents.

funkyass wrote: the better location would be My Documents\Zsnes Settings(or My Documents\My Games\Zsnes).

my suggestion would be to use either APPDATA or one of the My Documents suggestions

i'm just responding to the thread. no need to "freak out."

blackmyst · Post by **blackmyst** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:50 pm

I prefer option 1, for pretty much all the reasons stated above.

As for the default saving directory, I really don't care because I'll make a separate save directory within the Zsnes directory from the start anyway. In fact, is there a reason why Zsnes can't have default subdirectories for saveram, states, screenshots etc. like many other emulators do? (once all the paths have been implemented anyway)

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:55 pm

blackmyst wrote:I prefer option 1, for pretty much all the reasons stated above.

As for the default saving directory, I really don't care because I'll make a separate save directory within the Zsnes directory from the start anyway. In fact, is there a reason why Zsnes can't have default subdirectories for saveram, states, screenshots etc. like many other emulators do? (once all the paths have been implemented anyway)

You can test the path code that is in SVN... although if you are using anything but Linux, you won't get sound.

Lord Alpha · Post by **Lord Alpha** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:38 pm

Nach wrote: pagefault suggested we use Method Three for NT 5+, and Method One for anything before that.

Seconded.

Store the SRMs, ZSTs etc, with the ROM (assuming of course that no paths are specified)

As for the installer, there was a user that was already handling this in an unofficial capacity wasn't there? To be honest though, I prefer not to have the installer, that just clutters things up.

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:55 pm

Lord Alpha wrote:
Nach wrote: pagefault suggested we use Method Three for NT 5+, and Method One for anything before that.
Seconded.

Store the SRMs, ZSTs etc, with the ROM (assuming of course that no paths are specified)

As for the installer, there was a user that was already handling this in an unofficial capacity wasn't there? To be honest though, I prefer not to have the installer, that just clutters things up.

Coincidentally, there was a discussion for this actually. I don't think we will use the one that the old thread was using.. but something a little more encompassing... giving Nach ideas is insane.

As a side thought, I believe NT5's system is just as atrocious as 9x. Vista has the most sane path structure finally (I mean, Linux got this right for a while anyway).

Truth Unknown · Post by **Truth Unknown** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:48 pm

While I like method 1. Method 3 will be nice, but I think you should merge parts of method 2 for saves, image dumps, sound type dumps, and patching. This way the config is in a nice safe area but backing up saves and patches are easy and retrieving dumps simpler. I can't why a GUI/Config wouldn't work but I'm not the programer.

And if it turns out that a installer is needed, I guess I can try another try at NSIS or LDAWG with his (I forget what Software he used).

Post by **pagefault** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:52 pm

Despite what Nach says a GUI option will be available....

Naelphin · Post by **Naelphin** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:41 am

I would like Option 2 for NT and Option 1 for 9x. Option 1 breaks LUA in XP.

zoink · Post by **zoink** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:16 am

i would like configuration files to be saved to zsnes/myWinUsername/cfg saves would go to zsnes/myWinUsername/saves folder, etc...

that way everything would be in one folder, and we'd have multiuser support.