Downloads folder

Beetle

L9: Fashionable Member
Aug 17, 2008
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Download folder

I was just wondering, does TF2 force a copy of your custom stuff into the download folder no matter what? I don't recall ever putting it in there, yet I can find all my custom stuff in there.

Should I also no longer bother putting custom stuff in the old "normal" location?
 
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UKCS-Alias

Mann vs Machine... or... Mapper vs Meta?
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Sep 8, 2008
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Although the idea of the download folder was good to spread the custom stuff from the default they got 1 major flaw. Custom content like maps get still put in the main one. So even if you put it in the downloads the next time you compile it gets put in the main.

I wouldnt bother too much about it personaly. If you are for example making a custom model its much easier to just have a folder within the custom folder. That way you can keep everything together much cleaner.
 

Beetle

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Aug 17, 2008
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Slightly related, maybe, but as far as packing goes, I can no longer pack my nav file. With VIDE it caused my packed map to instantly crash to windows upon loading with no error and with Pakrat it packs fine but the bots stay still as if there's no nav. All other custom content is packed fine. (PackBSP throws up a gameinfo.txt error before I even get to that point)

Did something change with navs?
 

A Boojum Snark

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Nov 2, 2007
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I was just wondering, does TF2 force a copy of your custom stuff into the download folder no matter what? I don't recall ever putting it in there, yet I can find all my custom stuff in there.

Should I also no longer bother putting custom stuff in the old "normal" location?
The download folder should only be receiving stuff that you acquire off a server.

All your personal customization is meant to be placed in tf\custom\somenamehere.

The "normal" folders aren't meant to have any customization whatsoever.

Although the idea of the download folder was good to spread the custom stuff from the default they got 1 major flaw. Custom content like maps get still put in the main one. So even if you put it in the downloads the next time you compile it gets put in the main.
Where stuff goes after a compile is a matter of your Hammer settings. It has nothing to do with the game file structure. I have my compile output to tf\custom\snarkstuff\maps.
 

Beetle

L9: Fashionable Member
Aug 17, 2008
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Where stuff goes after a compile is a matter of your Hammer settings. It has nothing to do with the game file structure. I have my compile output to tf\custom\snarkstuff\maps.

Wait wait. The only reason I have a tf/custom folder is because of settings from downloading your resource pack. You're saying (for the sake of clarity) put all the stuff I made into, say, tf/custom/beetlestuff/maps,models,etc and delete all other custom content in the download/maps,models,etc and "normal" tf/maps,models,etc folders?

Right now, my organization is a mess yet still technically works (but I'd rather it be organized and not redundant)

(still have that nav problem too)
 

A Boojum Snark

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Yes. That is the intended usage of the folders that Valve outlined in their steampipe transition article. Main: official content. Custom: stuff YOU add. Download: stuff SERVERS add. Any of it will work anywhere, but that's the best for ease of use and removal.

The idea is if you end up visiting some of those servers with all kinds of mods and extras, you can just remove the entire contents of the download folder and not have to worry about losing something you chose to add, nor messing up the stock content.
Granted, maps will download into there too, but if there is one you like you can always move it to custom. Also makes it much easier to remove countless versions of maps we test around here.
 

Beetle

L9: Fashionable Member
Aug 17, 2008
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So many questions, I understand if you get tired of answering them.

Once you test out your map once, won't the stuff in your custom folder also go into your download folder?
Does packing work the same way, just instead of trying to make it look int tf/ you makes it look in tf/custom/beetlestuff?
Why do I have both a download folder and a downloads folder?
 

A Boojum Snark

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If you already have the content, the server won't be sending you another copy. As far as the game is concerned it can be in any valid location and it counts the same. YOU can put stuff anywhere and it will be seen and used. When obtaining content off a server it will ONLY go to download. Your maps and personal content can remain in custom forever.

I can't answer about packing, as I've never been one to use automated tools. I always made a list "by hand" and have BSPZIP run as part of my compile process. My assumption would be some tools should already support the steampipe content structure and work properly, since some games have used it forever.

Download
is the new steampipe content location that replicates the content tree structure. Downloads has existed since the beginning, and is where other players' custom spray logos are placed when obtained from the server upon joining. It might have other functions in certain cases/mods/games, but I'm not aware of them.
They're all saved as DAT files, but they are really plain VTFs. You can rename the extension and use them like any other.