Option to save the location of savegames

[PC89]

Hi

I wasnt sure where to place this topic in the forum.

However, as with the current WZ2100 beta release 4, the config and save files are stored in "My Documents" for Windows. I find this a nuisance as I do not want it there, I much rather it to be in the "Program Files" where the installation of Warzone 2100 are done.

Is there a way of making the option of location of savegames to be in My Documents or in installation folder?

In this case, this would be a feature request!

Thanks!

Phil

[Zarel]

However, as with the current WZ2100 beta release 4, the config and save files are stored in "My Documents" for Windows. I find this a nuisance as I do not want it there, I much rather it to be in the "Program Files" where the installation of Warzone 2100 are done.

This is impossible. Modern computing does not allow saving games in the Program Files directory; it is a security risk. Windows XP and below will allow you to do it if you're running as Administrator, but newer versions of Windows will not under any circumstances, and it's a terrible idea (and horribly insecure) in either case.

Is there a way of making the option of location of savegames to be in My Documents or in installation folder?

There is a command-line option called --configdir which you may find relevant: http://developer.wz2100.net/wiki/Comman ... tions#Data

It will allow you to put your savegames and other data wherever you want. However, the Windows security model still won't allow you to place it in protected directories such as Program Files.

In this case, this would be a feature request!

It's not a feature request if, as above, we already have this feature.

[PC89]

Impossible? Are you sure?

I was trying to remember where I had this game where I could choose to have the game saves/config files saved to program files or documents upon installation. I remembered. It is Wesnoth, a open source game such as Warzone2100.

Upon installation of that game, i have checked that the game saves made from the game was actually saved to the program files itself! This was installed on Windows 7, which I am using for WZ2100.

It does not seem to stop this other game from saving it to the program files.



:-S

Phil

[Zarel]

Impossible? Are you sure?

I was trying to remember where I had this game where I could choose to have the game saves/config files saved to program files or documents upon installation. I remembered. It is Wesnoth, a open source game such as Warzone2100.

Upon installation of that game, i have checked that the game saves made from the game was actually saved to the program files itself! This was installed on Windows 7, which I am using for WZ2100.

It does not seem to stop this other game from saving it to the program files.

I've played Wesnoth. It saves to [user]\Documents\My Games\Wesnoth1.6\. Older versions try to save to Program Files, but from Vista onwards, this fails and is intercepted, and the saves are in [user]\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Wesnoth\userdata\.

If you are lying, I should point out that it'd be better to choose a game I haven't played.

See: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/maga ... 6.uac.aspx

[Ai_Tak]

If a file write is redirected due to UAC virtualization, it may still appear as if it really is in the location it attempted to save in from the point of view any UAC virualized program, but it will not really be there. You can tell for sure if you go to that folder in explorer, it will say "Compatibility Files" near the top of the window (right of 'views').

I do agree that user data files should not be saved in the same directory as program files. UAC virtualization is just a temporary thing to ease compatibility issues for programs that don't know any better, it may not exist forever, programs need to learn to do it the right way in the meantime.

[PC89]

Ah I see.

So despite Wesnoth's given option of location of saved games, telling it to save it in the programs files are actually illegal in computer programming sense? So therefore does this mean that Wesnoth are doing it wrong?

I only used Wesnoth as an example of being able to save in different locations.

I have checked and the save file was located as follows:- Local Disk C:\Program Files\Battle For Wesnoth 1.6.5\user data\saves\Liberty-The_Raid_Turn_1.gz

I am not lying in terms of what you have said. Though I am very surprised by why yours differs from mine. I have Windows 7 with UAC completely disabled. From the article you have given me the link, I presume that my UAC disabled is the main reason why this is different?

[Ai_Tak]

Disabling UAC is inadvisable as, among many other reasons, internet explorer no-longer runs in protected mode, protected mode significantly mitigates most exploits. As of yet no other browsers take advantage of protected mode (aka process running at low integrity level). I would recommended running window 7 at maximum UAC level as it closes the gaps that were opened by the changes to UAC in windows 7 from vista, but any level of UAC is better than off.

[PC89]

Interesting. I never understood why the "Protected Mode" for IE Windows was said to be off despite it being switched on, was all down to UAC!

I have switched the UAC on to maximum level, and replayed the Wesnoth, and now it is saving the savegames in the Virtual store where Zarel has specified.

I would have thought the savegames could be saved in Programs Data as an alternative location?

[Zarel]

So despite Wesnoth's given option of location of saved games, telling it to save it in the programs files are actually illegal in computer programming sense? So therefore does this mean that Wesnoth are doing it wrong?

Yes. That's why they changed it so it doesn't do that anymore. Current versions of Wesnoth save to ~\Documents\My Games\, as mentioned above. (1.6.5 sometimes does, sometimes doesn't; I'm not sure on the specifics of why.)

Basically, back in the days of Windows XP, programs were saving to the Program Files directory (despite lots of Microsoft advisories telling them not to), and viruses were everywhere, so finally Microsoft gave up and implemented UAC to stop them.

I have switched the UAC on to maximum level, and replayed the Wesnoth, and now it is saving the savegames in the Virtual store where Zarel has specified.

There's no need to set UAC to maximum (it gets really annoying at maximum). Just setting it to minimum (i.e. one level above off) is fine for standard computing.

[PC89]

You're right, UAC DID get annoying. So set it as minimum. anyway I had a look on http://developer.wz2100.net/wiki/CommandLineOptions for being able to choose where to save the config files/save games location. I've not had much luck on getting this working as it keeps saying error with what i put in. I'm presuming that I am doing it all wrong!

What should i put in at end of the shortcut key for lets say i want to put info in "Program Data" folder? (Not program files, as obviously, computer-sense illegal! (For Windows 7)?

Help is much appreciated. Thanks.