Multiple INI support

[Xander9009]

I requested a feature for multiple INI support, but after submitting the request, it occurred to me there might actually be such a feature in place already and I just don't know about it. I ddin't see anything related to it, but that doesn't mean I didn't just overlook it. Is there a feature to handle this already?

 

Also, as a stopgap, I made a small utility to handle this myself, but it's very basic. It consists of three files. The bat file is only there because the exe is 64-bit and MO can't run a 64-bit program, but it can run the bat. The bat just starts the exe. The second file is the ini. It lists 4 settings, two pairs. These will change the resolution of ALL SkyrimPrefs.ini files in your profiles. Just list the two resolutions that you need, and when the program is run, it'll change the current setting of all profiles' SkyrimPrefs ini files to whichever that particular file is not set to. THe last file is the exe, which obviously performs the actual work.

 

For the record, this exe was made with AHK, and Resource Hacker can display the script inside if you want to make sure it's safe (look in RCData; it's 18 lines, and of those, only 9 even do anything).

 

If anyone wants this expanded upon, it'll be fairly simple to do. Features I can easily add are: scan for a different ini, scan for specific ini settings, scan for an unlimited number of ini settings, upon running, prompt for which settings should be used (version1's settings or version2's settingsm, instead of switching all inis, it would switch those that don't match), operate only on specified profiles.

 

As I mentioned, the bat file is there because MO can run it. Just add it like a normal program (that's what I did, and it worked). Make sure all three files are in your Mod Organizerprofiles folder. (Or add a shortcut to the exe/bat wherever you want instead of inside MO.)

 

FYI, the reason I made this was because I need two ini files for the same profile for Skyrim. I play on my laptop screen sometimes, and sometimes on a larger external monitor, and they require different resolutions (the game's edges are off the screen with the large screen if it's set up for the smaller screen, and the other way around won't even allow the game to start).

 

(Feel free to move this topic if it would better fit somewhere else.)

 

EDIT: Apparently I'm too new to post files. It's on my google drive and publicly available, so if anyone is interested, just PM me and I'll link you to it.

 

EDIT 2: Scratch that, it's because it was 38 KB too big. Remove the .zip extension from each and then extract one of them. (Mods, if this kind of workaround isn't acceptable, let me know.)

Switch Resolution.zip.001.zip

Switch Resolution.zip.002.zip

Edited August 18, 2014 by Xander9009

[DoubleYou]

Isn't that what creating new profiles is for?

[Xander9009]

If I create a new profile, then I can't, say, continue with the saved games and mod list. Playing on two separate monitors with different required resolutions would mean having two completely different characters in Skyrim. I'm using the same character, but to do so, I need to edit my ini's resolution each time I switch from one screen to the other (I play on the smaller one during the day, and in the evening when I can relax in my room, I hook up to my tv).

[Aiyen]

Seems like an awful lot of work just to avoid altering two lines! :) But I guess it could be used for something a bit more complex. 

[Xander9009]

It wasn't a lot of work. It took less than 5 minutes to do. It literally took me longer to write the original post than it did to make the file. It literally consists of "Read these four lines. Does this key match the first one? Yes, change them to the second two lines. No, change them to the first two". But yeah, it could be used to switch quest markers on and off depending on your mood without switching to a different character/profile, various display settings, a few control changes to make switching between mouse/gamepad a bit easier (I'm assuming this, I've never used a gamepad for Skyrim), and debug settings. It's not going to be a massively useful utility, but if anyone wants it expanded to allow these (or if it'll be useful for a different game), that'd take longer than 5 minutes, but it still wouldn't be too difficult. AHK, the program I used to make this, is pretty well suited to such a task.

[DoubleYou]

If I create a new profile, then I can't, say, continue with the saved games and mod list. Playing on two separate monitors with different required resolutions would mean having two completely different characters in Skyrim. I'm using the same character, but to do so, I need to edit my ini's resolution each time I switch from one screen to the other (I play on the smaller one during the day, and in the evening when I can relax in my room, I hook up to my tv).

I guess you never heard of the Copy Profile function...

 

OR you could simply set it up as an ini tweak inside one of your mods.

[Xander9009]

I guess you never heard of the Copy Profile function...

 

OR you could simply set it up as an ini tweak inside one of your mods.

I have heard of that function, and I've used it a number of times. But if I copy the profile, then I now need to maintain two profiles just so I can play on different screens. Not to mention that unless I disable the Local Savegames feature, then any saves I make for my character while playing on my small screen would be unavailable while playing on my large screen and vice-versa because they're now separate profiles. And disabling the Local Savegames feature isn't an option because I do in fact use multiple profiles.

 

Would setting a resolution change in a mod's ini settings take effect before the game is run? Because, as I mentioned, the game crashes when I'm using the wrong resolution on my laptop's screen. It never even hits the full-screen point. It tries to load the game and immediately fails. And does an ini tweak require an esp, which would mean an annoying pop-up every time I disable the mod to play on whichever screen the actual ini is set to? If that would work, then okay, and it might even technically be easier, but considering the amount of work for this was negligible, that's a moot point. Not to mention I don't know how to make an ini tweak for a mod. If this method would work, and if I'd known it would and how to do it from the start, and it's as easy or easier than the method I already used, then I would have gone this route. But since I've already done the minuscule amount of work, why not just use that?

[DoubleYou]

https://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Mod_Organizer#INI-Files

[Xander9009]

Okay, so it's achievable with either a blank/empty mod which I check or uncheck before starting the game or by running a small utility before starting the game. Neither really seems better or worse than other.