Support Forum

Thinking out loud:

Current situation: Fixture creator asks the user what the new filename should be.
New situation: Fixture creator generates the file name (and if needed the path) with the known values of the fixture. Corresponding to the new file naming convention that we are thinking about here.
Brand and Model are available in Fixture creator, Mode could be added, as for version.

Then no one has to "learn" those rules, they just have to be implemented in the Fixture creator and if applicable FreeStyler needs an adaption that it can find those files.

Ofcourse there are the already existing fixture profiles that does not meet the new file naming convention. So there needs to be a one time "conversion".
Or just leave it so and make FreeStyler compatible with both types.

So my suggestion would be:
Fixture creator:
- Add fields like mode and fixtureversion and fileversion
- When the user clicks "save" then Fixture creator generates the filename all by himself, but still asks the user if that filename is okay. The user should be able to change it whenever and for whatever reason.

FreeStyler:
- If needed change the routines to look for the fixture files. Search through nesting directories.

About the filenaming itself:
Onge said: manufacturer_model_version/revision_mode_fixture_file_version
I thinks its better to do: manufacturer/model_version/mode_fixture_file_version or manufacturer/model_version_mode_fixture_file_version
On behalf of getting too much directories and to much mess, but maintaining some kind of overview I'd vote for the last one:
manufacturer/model_version_mode_fixture_file_version

Last note:
If this new technique gets implemented somehow, FreeStyler must not (never) rely on the filenames itself.
So if someone makes a file: Martin_MAC600_x_Mode1_1.0 in the Martin path, that someone can rename the file to whatever.pff, place it in some other fixture file directory, then still FreeStyler has to find the file correctly, regardless of its name and path.
So this naming convention we are talking about here should only be helping us "people" to quickly see what file it is and what it is for.
FreeStyler works this way at the moment, it does not matter how the file is named, as long as its in the right path, it works. It should stay that way. So only a slight adaption can be made. Make FreeStyler to iterate through subdirectories to see all the files there.

Onge wrote: Something else I would like to see is away of identify what fixtures files have been changed by the user so they do not get overwritten when FreeStyler is installed/re-installed or the ability to "copy" them somewhere and "restore" them when FreeStyler has finished installing.

For this part there is a simple solution that Raph needs to implement in his setup procedure.
Every installer has parameters to overwrite existing files that are older or newer then the to be installed file.
Currently the FreeStyler setup overwrites everything always, wich is good if you want to be sure having a good installation.
But is bad if you want to keep your own changed fixture files (and FreeStyler.ini for example and maybe some registry settings).
At the moment, when reinstalling FreeStyler, the complete configuration is lost and reset to "factory defaults".
It does not have to be as far as I'm concerned, but I don't know Raph's reason why this is the case.

About finding the fixtures file, currently FreeStyler does not display the fixtures filename. It could be a minimum change to do that and have big impact on everyone looking for the right fixture file. So maybe thats something that can be implemented.
As you say and do, I also find myself looking for some weird named file over and over again, becuase in FreeStyler you can't find the filename of the fixture anywhere. (Or can it? if so, where?)

Onge wrote: Something else I would like to see is away of identify what fixtures files have been changed by the user so they do not get overwritten when FreeStyler is installed/re-installed or the ability to "copy" them somewhere and "restore" them when FreeStyler has finished installing.

You can use the backup feature in Freestyler. The backup saves the current fixture files in the fixture folder. after reinstalling a new version of FS the restore bakcup feature will overwrite files with same name thoug.

I have Started to Create Sub Folders in the Forum for User Created Fixtures by Manufacturer.

I Also started moving Posts into them!

Moderators, CAN YOU PLEASE HELP!!! Move the fixtures into the folders (Dont leave a shadow copy please)

Hi

In the next version of FS you will have some extra info visible: Filename, date created and change date.
Also the open dialog in the FixtureCreator has een replaced by the one used in FS (by company).

An extra option has been added to the installer, you can check an option to overwrite all profiles (by default unchaecked).

I hope to release a new beta version soon.

Best regards

Raph