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"use public documents folder"

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"use public documents folder" 27/11/2012 at 23:10 #38218
jc92
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3626 posts
just an idea, but would it make more sense for the use public documents folder option to be unchecked by default? it seems to me that the less likely option is the one selected, causing more of a headache.

it is of course a legitimate option that i imagine a fair few people use, but I just imagine this would be the more efficient way.

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 02:30 #38224
GeoffM
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6274 posts
I've found out how to set the installers to set up the option if it's not already defined, so newbies get the timetable in the right place. The original idea was that storing the timetables under Program Files was a bad idea (well, it wasn't back in 1998!)

You'll be glad to know even newer versions have changed the way this works so everybody* is happy.

* Well, bound to be some naysayers no matter what I do. :dry:

SimSig Boss
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 04:01 #38227
alvinhochun
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249 posts
Actually, I think storing default timetables under %ProgramFiles%\SimSig\<sim> is a good idea, but isn't for custom timetable. I think even if "use public documents folder" is checked, it should also check for the above path for default timetables.
_ _ _ _,_ _ _ _! (censored by the Hong Kong national security law)
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 11:26 #38239
Josie
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310 posts
Why should there be a distinction between timetables packaged with the sim and ones downloaded or created by the user? Surely they should all be in the same place otherwise it's just even more confusing?
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 11:56 #38240
Stephen Fulcher
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I suspect the distinction is with the way Windows treats the Program Files folder.

If the SimSig installer installs a timetable in there it would be ok, but Windows is likely to make it very difficult to copy what it considers to be a "random" file for a downloaded timetable in there, assuming the Anti-Virus software doesn't take exception to it first.

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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 16:47 #38245
postal
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5189 posts
Given the number of people who clearly don't understand the import of the Public Documents check-box (or the meaning of the Search box at the top of the Forum), the sooner a change to the system is rolled out, the better,
“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 17:35 #38247
Peter Bennet
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We should charge a £1 for the advice and help pay for the site.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 17:40 #38248
postal
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5189 posts
" said:
We should charge a £1 for the advice and help pay for the site.

Peter
Charge 1p and there are probably enough takers to fund the site.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
Last edited: 28/11/2012 at 17:40 by postal
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"use public documents folder" 28/11/2012 at 19:01 #38256
Sacro
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" said:
We should charge a £1 for the advice and help pay for the site.

Peter
That's good advice, I trust you'll be dropping £1 into the donations box!

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"use public documents folder" 29/11/2012 at 14:01 #38287
Lardybiker
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771 posts
" said:
I suspect the distinction is with the way Windows treats the Program Files folder.

If the SimSig installer installs a timetable in there it would be ok, but Windows is likely to make it very difficult to copy what it considers to be a "random" file for a downloaded timetable in there, assuming the Anti-Virus software doesn't take exception to it first.
The history of this goes something like this....
With the advent of Windows Vista and Window 7, Microsoft applied significant restrictions on what applications could do with files placed in the Program Files folder which meant it basically became a read-only resource. This means that when a sim was installed, you found you were unable to save or modify a timetable. Geoff was therefore forced into moving the TT's to a different place for those with these newer OS's. However, he then got backlash from XP and earlier users who complained they couldn't find the TT's so he added an option to select where you want the TT's to go.

As for why downloaded TT's should be treated differently...Only in the sense you need to save them and you can't put them in Program Files without upsetting Windows and even if you did, you wouldn't be able to edit them and save your changes as the OS would restrict the application from doing so. For the TT's that come with the sim, having them as not overwritable might be an advantage as you always then have the default TT available and can't accidentally overwrite it.

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"use public documents folder" 29/11/2012 at 15:15 #38289
jc92
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I have Win7 on my laptop but it doesnt apply those restrictions and all my .WTT and WTR. files are in programme files (x86)/SimSig/simfolder.
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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"use public documents folder" 29/11/2012 at 16:37 #38291
postal
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5189 posts
" said:
I have Win7 on my laptop but it doesnt apply those restrictions and all my .WTT and WTR. files are in programme files (x86)/SimSig/simfolder.
Probably depends on whether you have administrator rights.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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"use public documents folder" 29/11/2012 at 19:41 #38317
Lardybiker
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771 posts
Joe: That may be the case but you are in the minority and not all users are in the same boat as you will see....

John: Actually, it has little to do with being an Administrator or not.

From Vista onwards, Windows had a new feature implemented called UAC (User access control). By default, this is turned on. What the UAC does is add a layer of security designed to prevent unauthorized changes to your machine. This is is what prevents changes to anything within the Program Files folder.

However, you can turn this feature off and I suspect that's the way Joe's machine is setup. There may be a good reason for doing so (I can't think of any but I am sure someone will) but turning it off obviously removes the extra layer of protection it provides. That said, the vast majority of users should therefore leave it enabled and I suspect most don't know you can actually disable it!

Some applications get round this by installing themselves into a different location not covered by the UAC, the AppData folder being one of them (there has to be some areas the applications can write to without restriction after all!!). The downside is that the application files aren't then protected by whatever protection the UAC would afford them if they were.

As for SimSig, the vast majority of SimSig users will no doubt have UAC enabled (and that includes me, BTW), SimSig has to assume there are restrictions on what can be written to the Program Files folder, as you can't expect people to have to disable a security feature so they can run SimSig particularly as don't have to for other applications after all.

Last edited: 29/11/2012 at 19:42 by Lardybiker
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"use public documents folder" 29/11/2012 at 19:53 #38318
AndyG
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1830 posts
I seem to have avoided this as I've got my sims set up in C:\SimSig\sims
I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either.
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