[REL] Selecting subsets of content for single-player

Discussion in 'Other' started by Seven Smiles, Sep 8, 2019.

  1. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    Edit: New, much simpler version with GUI below

    It’s lovely to have an rFactor with only the 60s F1 cars and just click Select All to race against them. And just the 60s F1 tracks so you don’t have to scroll through all sorts of irrelevant and often confusingly-named others.
    __________________________________________________________________________________

    I have about 150 tracks installed (multiplied by all their variants) and a similar number of cars. With the present UI this means it's hard to find my way around, also possibly slows loading rFactor. I never want all this content available at one time so I came up with a way of dividing it into subsets and only selecting a subset of tracks and a subset of cars. It's all done with the magic of symlinks and a Windows batch file :cool:

    First you have to create the subsets.
    1. Add a new folder rFactor 2\UserData\ContentStorage
    2. In there put the familiar Locations and Vehicles folders and a new one SafetyCars
    3. Now decide on the subsets you want and make a folder for each under Locations and Vehicles
    I went with
    • Australasia
    • Europe
    • F1
    • Fantasy
    • Historic
    • Karting
    • New (tracks I haven't tried yet)
    • NorthAmerica
    • SE_Asia
    • UK
    and
    • F1
    • Historic
    • Karts
    • LMP
    • Novel
    • OpenWheelers
    • Saloons
    • Sports
    • Sports_GT
    but you can make whatever categories you want.
    4. Now move all your content into your folders (and SafetyCars) as you like
    5. Finally, delete rFactor 2\Installed\Locations and Vehicles

    Now you're all set. All you need is some batch file magic which I've attached.

    To use it:
    1. Extract rF2_content_selector.bat from the zip and save it somewhere
    2. It has to be run as Administrator so that it can set up symlinks
    3. https://windowsreport.com/make-files-apps-run-as-admin-windows-10/
    4. In brief: make a shortcut to the file then set "Run as admin" in the shortcut
    5. Run it
    6. It asks Do you want a specific SUBSET (S or Return) or ALL content (A)? : if not goto 12
    7. If you've previously selected content it asks whether you want to change. If not, goto 12.
    8. Press TAB until the set of locations you want is shown
    9. Press Enter
    10. Press TAB until the set of vehicles you want is shown
    11. Press Enter
    12. It starts rFactor 2 Launcher
    13. (At this point there is a temporary symlink pointing to all your content so the Launcher is happy)
    14. Once the rFactor 2 Launcher is loaded
    15. If you selected SUBSET earlier it deletes the temporary symlink and all rF2 can see is your selected Locations and Vehicles subfolders.
    16. Voila! When you start single-player only the tracks and cars you've selected are present.
    ___________________________________________________________________________________
    Once you have used it to select a subset you must always use it to start the Launcher. If you want to stop using it, answer A to "All content" That will leave a symlink set up to all content, without that the Launcher will re-install the "missing" content. Similarly if you want to start a Multiplayer session running content that is not in your subset.
    ___________________________________________________________________________________


    To completely uninstall it

    1. Remove the directory rFactor 2\Installed\Locations (removes the symlink)
    2. Remove the directory rFactor 2\Installed\Vehicles ( " )
    3. Create new Locations and Vehicles directories
    4. Move your content back from rFactor 2\UserData\ContentStorage
    ___________________________________________________________________________________
    Here it is in use

    Code:
    rFactor 2 Content Selector V0.4
    ===============================
    Do you want a specific SUBSET (S or Return) or ALL content (A)? :
    Currently Locations is set to "UK" and Vehicles set to "LMP"
    Do you want to change content? (Y/N): y
    Available sets of tracks:
    
    Australasia
    Europe
    F1
    Fantasy
    Historic
    Karting
    New
    NorthAmerica
    SE_Asia
    UK
    
    Press TAB until the set of locations is reached: Europe
    
    Using Location set -- Europe --
    
    Available sets of cars:
    
    F1
    Historic
    Karts
    LMP
    Novel
    OpenWheelers
    Saloons
    Sports
    Sports_GT
    
    Press TAB until the set of vehicles is reached: F1
    
    Using Vehicle set -- F1 --
    
    
    (Note: Simlink to ALL location/vehicle files so Launcher doesn't re-install them)
    Starting rFactor 2 Launcher...
    Once the rFactor 2 Launcher is loaded
    Press any key to continue . . .
    Only Locations "Europe" and Vehicles "F1" present
    
    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    In c:\...\rFactor 2\UserData\ContentStorage I have this folder structure
    Code:
       Locations
           Australasia
           Europe
           F1
           Fantasy
           Historic
           Karting
           New
           NorthAmerica
           SE_Asia
           UK
       SafetyCars
           Clio_PC
           CorvettePC
           CorvettePCLights
           ISI_MercedesSLS_SafetyCar_2012
       Vehicles
           F1
           Historic
           Karts
           LMP
           Novel
           OpenWheelers
           Saloons
           Sports
           Sports_GT
    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    One small gotcha: if the Launcher installs a new file it will go into the currently selected Locations or Vehicles subfolder. Just cut and paste it to which subfolder you want.
     

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    Last edited: Nov 18, 2019
  2. Filip

    Filip Registered

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    Very nice solution!
    I guess you mean here about automatic steam updates?
     
  3. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    Yes, and anything manually downloaded into Packages.
     
  4. dylbie

    dylbie Registered

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    More awesome work! But this is beginning to depress me, and I'm beginning to seriously wonder why haven't Studio397 hired you already?! Does it really take an unofficial modder to quickly improve the UX on his own? Especially with your fantastic work on the gearbox and lights simulation also.

    Please don't let my opinion on this discredit your work, which I think is amazing. But why aren't you getting paid for doing this? And/or why aren't Studio397 working on stuff like this themselves.
     
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  5. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    Haha! I'm available :D But just like everyone else modding cars and tracks and stuff, I'm just doing it as a hobby, driven by the need to do things just a little bit better (or the way I want them anyway). This one I knocked out in a few hours and as long as I resist the temptation to add features, maybe a GUI, it's finished.
     
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  6. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    I think my "HistoricF1" category needs a bit of work...
    HakkinenLongford.JPG
     
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  7. ADSTA

    ADSTA Registered

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    Seeing as S397 are neck deep in unravelling and rewriting the unfriendly ISI method of coding the UI I would imagine, from a business side, that it would be false economics to bother adding to the old UI.
     
  8. dylbie

    dylbie Registered

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    I'd say this is more UX actually. It's function over form. If he put some of his ideas and code to Studio397 I'm sure they could use it and add the functionality to the new UI.

    But yes, I appreciate they have a hell of a task. I'm just getting frustrated seeing unofficial addons like this which are fantastic, and nothing new from the official channels.
     
  9. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    atomed and dylbie like this.
  10. dylbie

    dylbie Registered

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    I completely agree. But all the work you've done so far should be included in the core of the game itself in my opinion. Flashing headlight tool, gearbox simulation tool, content subset tool or filter. All these things I'm 'hoping' will be included in the new UI but I've seen no indication of that yet.

    I'm hoping they have someone employed who is doing all this behind the scenes. If not, they have your details here @Seven Smiles ;)
     
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  11. ADSTA

    ADSTA Registered

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    :confused:
    Dopey me saw UX in your first post and thought it was a typo and you meant UI.
    I then see Seven Smiles use UX. :eek:
    Curiosity wins and I use the free 24hr hotline to Professor Google.

    Knowing what UX is I now see what you meant.
    My apologies. :oops:
     
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  12. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    I have an improved version. It sets up a dummy "rFactor" folder with links back to the original but populates it with only the Locations and Vehicles you specify in a data file. As it's all done with links it's practically instantaneous, doesn't modify the rFactor installation at all and takes up virtually no HD space.

    V1.6 @Dave^ edition Allows the modfile to be dragged and dropped on to ModMaker.bat
    V1.8 Minor change: temporary_copy folder follows any change in rf2dir
    V1.9 Make sure the temporary_copy folder is successfully created


    Now there's a GUI wrapped round it (ModMaker.bat is included in the .exe)


    (If Steam is not running it will start it, otherwise the Launcher starts to download all the stuff it thinks is missing)


    Code:
    c:\> ModMaker.bat 1960s_F1_UK.modfile.txt
    
    rFactor 2 ModMaker V1.6
    Using 1960s_F1_UK.dryrun.modfile.txt
    Name: 1960s_F1_UK
    rf2dir: c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2
    temporary_copy: c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2\UserData\temporary_copy
    
    "Steam.exe" is running
    Creating rFactor copy in c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2\UserData\temporary_copy\1960s_F1_UK
    
    Added Location CRYSTAL PALACE 1969
    Added Location Silverstone90s
    Added Location BrandsHatch
    Added Vehicle Brabham_1966
    Added Vehicle Ferrari_312_67
    Added Vehicle Historic Challenge_EVE_1968
    
    Starting rFactor 2 singleplayer...
    
    rFactor loads and runs
    When you exit

    Code:
    c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2\UserData\temporary_copy\1960s_F1_UK deleted.
    Press any key to continue . . .
    
    The data file contains
    Code:
    # Comment
    name=1960s_F1_UK
    
    Location=CRYSTAL PALACE 1969
    Location=Silverstone90s
    Location=BrandsHatch
    
    Vehicle=Brabham_1966
    Vehicle=Ferrari_312_67
    Vehicle=Historic Challenge_EVE_1968
    You can make copies with different content as you like.

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Technical stuff that doesn't affect most people


    By default it puts the copy in a folder in rFactor 2\UserData\temporary_copy but if you add a line to the mod file you can put it anywhere you want, even on another drive.

    temporary_copy=c:\temp

    Also if your rF2 is not installed in the default path it can be overridden in mod file
    rf2dir=<path to rF2 install>
    Similarly for the command to start Steam
    SteamCmd=<Steam.exe command>



    There are two more options, for fault-finding:
    verbose=2 prints stuff as it's working
    dryrun=1 does everything but skips loading rF2
     

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    Last edited: Dec 12, 2019
    atomed, Dave^, Corti and 2 others like this.
  13. bears

    bears Registered

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    You are a very smart guy :)

    So if i understand this correctly I could have all of my install on another drive and only link to it saving space on my main harddrive ?
     
  14. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    I suppose so but why not just install rFactor on the other drive? I suppose a modified version of what I’ve done (one with permanent symlinks rather than temporary ones) could split the install but the most obvious split is to put the Steam download folder on another drive. I had already done that after I saw it suggested here somewhere. This one maybe https://forum.studio-397.com/index....-by-moving-workshop-folder.59125/#post-931830
     
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  15. bears

    bears Registered

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    Thanks I will check it out
     
  16. Dave^

    Dave^ Registered

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    Been playing around with this today, I'm sure I had something similar for SCGT.

    I can get the early version to work fine, but the "simpler" version leaves me a bit confused. o_O:D

    What am I supposed to do with the data files once I have them?

    I've tried double-clicking the bat file, which just tells me how to creat the data files, and I've drag-n-dropped the data file onto the bat file, which does nothing...

    Am I being dumb? :p
     
  17. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    You have to open a command window and run the batch file giving it the name of the mod file.
    Like this

    Code:
    c:\> ModMaker.bat 1960s_F1_UK.modfile.txt

    I’m "old school" so that’s obvious to me, I’ve never thought a dragging a data file onto a batch file, I don’t think Bill Gates has either :D

    I made a start on a gooey version but got over ambitious with features and work on it slowed to a crawl.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2019
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  18. Dave^

    Dave^ Registered

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    I tried to create a shortcut with that and that didn't work either.

    Just waiting for a new see to turn up so I can finish building my pc, so I'll start afresh and try again.

    Ta.
     
  19. Seven Smiles

    Seven Smiles Registered

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    Every day is a school day - I didn't know you could drag and drop on to a batch file. It required a single edit and works nicely :cool:
     
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  20. Dave^

    Dave^ Registered

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    Awsome. :cool:

    While I've got your attention... :D

    Your exe for creating the career.blt file for the rankings, could you edit that so it opens the rankings site on the upload page?

    I created a bat file yesterday to run your exe, then open the website, but it would be much neater if it was all in one package. ;)
     

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