iClone File Management for Ken Mathews


https://forum.reallusion.com/Topic157482.aspx
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By colour - 13 Years Ago
Hello Colour,

Thanks for your comment on USSS Manitou, and your advice on folders/subfolders.

A question, if I may... I'm a bit apprehensive about moving folders from Iclone (on the c: drive) and placing them on a different drive. This is me trying to address the fast filling up of my SSD c: drive.

I was thinking about moving the content folder to another drive, but I'm a wee bit feared (as they say) that Iclone will lose their location. I already store my movie clips on a different drive, however when it comes to the Iclone main programme, I don't know enough about the inner workings of a computer, to feel confident about what I'm doing. Can you give me any guidance please?

Best regards.

Ken  

Ken.

I work exclusively from my 500Gb OS Physical Mechanical Drive (C:). Where I currently have 11.2Gb iClone Content (See Screenshot). Plus 1Gb iClone Personal Project Files, as per my previous Screenshot. iClone's Project Temp Render File is automatically Deleted here on a daily basis. 

You are limited to a 120Gb? Solid State OS Physical Drive, where ideally all of your Programs should be installed.

All of the iClone related Files in my first paragraph will build-up over time with more Content. Current Project Files will be Deleted upon completion. But storage space isn't limited.

In view of the above & your 120 GB SSD limited storage space, you need a separate working Physical Mechanical internal Drive for your iClone Content.

IMO, Directing your iClone Content & Temp Render Folder to one of your internal Physical  Drives, would solve your SSD insufficient space problem.

I don't have an SSD, so don't know if iClone has problems with accessing Content on another Drive. It doesn't matter on which Drive Content is stored with NLE Programs.

Those who have small capacity SSDs should be able give you the best advice Eg; Alley.

Anyone-else?

  

 

By animagic - 13 Years Ago
I have my content on a separate drive, but I have chosen that location during install.

It is possible to change it afterwards, but that involves editing register values. There are posts out there on the forum which tell you which ones they are. I'm not at my animation PC right now, so I can't tell you at the moment.

The one issue you may run into is when a project references items rather than including them in the project file. This is always the case for videos I believe. So if their location is changed, they will no longer show properly and you may have to refresh the reference (i.e., load the video again).
By prabhatM - 13 Years Ago
animagic (6/26/2013)


The one issue you may run into is when a project references items rather than including them in the project file. This is always the case for videos I believe. So if their location is changed, they will no longer show properly and you may have to refresh the reference (i.e., load the video again).


ICLONE does not handle EXCEPTIONS gracefully. If the Video files are not those directories, then the Project file may get into ENDLESS LOOP and take ages to load ( if at all ).

Did I say RL needed to take a fresh look at the CODING RELATING TO THE FILES ?
By kenmatthews - 13 Years Ago
Hello Animagic,:)

Thanks for your answer. Is it possible to do a re-install and put the contents into a separate drive (as you did), without disturbing everything else?:blink:

Best regards.

Ken :ermm:

By kenmatthews - 13 Years Ago
Hello prabhatM,:)

Thanks for your reply, that appears to be one thing that I did do right...:blink: I have put all my video files on a separate drive... 

Best regards.

Ken :ermm:

By animagic - 13 Years Ago
kenmatthews (6/27/2013)
Hello Animagic,:)

Thanks for your answer. Is it possible to do a re-install and put the contents into a separate drive (as you did), without disturbing everything else?:blink:

Best regards.

Ken :ermm:

If you feel brave and rested, you can edit the registry as I describe in this thread: https://forum.reallusion.com/Topic146683-281-1.aspx.

Basically, suppose your new drive is D:, you could then create a directory "Reallusion", so "D:\Reallusion" is the new root for content.

You will now change the registry values "Template Data" and "Custom Data". For example, "Template Data" would become: "D:\Reallusion\Template\iClone 5 Template\iClone Template".

I recommend in my instructions that you back up that node of the registry first before making any changes.

As an alternative you could reinstall. I would first move your content to its new destination, so you will not have to reinstall all content. Then uninstall (while connected to the internet to preserve your seat), and then reinstall, making sure to set the new content paths during installation. Most of your content should then in its place and working. As an extra safeguard you could make a copy of the data on an external drive, although that may not be necessary.

By DELETED2 - 13 Years Ago
This is the solution. Easy, quick and harmless. No fiddling bout w. registry values. 

See this page for the software.
SOFTWARE TO MOVE PROGRAM FILES FROM WINDOWS C DRIVE TO ANOTHER DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE EASILY.

Or you can do it the simpler way like this.

Move (not copy) the desired folder (let’s call it ExistingName) by the usual methods to its new destination on the X:\ volume or whatever drive you use.
Give it whatever name you choose.
Let’s call it NewName but it can retain ExistingName if you wish.  

At this point programs and Registry references may be broken.
It is necessary to move the folder first since otherwise no symbolic link can be created on the C.\ drive.

Next open a command prompt.
Enter the command mklink /d C:\ExistingName X:\NewName 

The switch /d indicates that we are linking folders (directories).
No switch would be used if a file was being linked.
If your folder name has spaces, you have to enclose the path name in quotes.

A link is successfully made and the command line will show a message “symbolic link created for ExistingName <<===>> X:\NewName”.

Your programs and etc are moved and nothings wrong or changed.
Close the command prompt.

What happens is windows puts a small object on C and instructions in this tell anything that tries to call on it that its somewhere else and auto redirects. Easy!

By kenmatthews - 13 Years Ago
Hello Animagic and Armstrong,:)

Thanks for your answer to my question. Now I'm going to quietly ponder... :crazy: Do I gird my loins and just do it? :cool: Or, wait until my SSD is full and I have no option...? :crying:

Best regards.

Ken :unsure:

By kenmatthews - 13 Years Ago
Hello Armstrong,:)

I took your advice and loaded SymMover in order to move my files. It worked like a dream and I've got another 20+Gb in the tank. Many thanks to everybody for your collective advice.:D

Best regards.

Ken.:cool:

By JasonWynngard - 13 Years Ago
kenmatthews (6/27/2013)
Hello Animagic,:)

Thanks for your answer. Is it possible to do a re-install and put the contents into a separate drive (as you did), without disturbing everything else?:blink:

Best regards.

Ken :ermm:


A comment. Disclaimer: I don't vouch for me as I'm not pro and for some reason, often get away with stuff I shouldn't. Plus I don't think this really answers your question but might be helpful anyway.

I live in fear my computer may fail and all the iClone stuff I have accumulated will go poof, forcing the exasperating task of reinstalling. So here is what I've done:

1. Used Acronis to clone my HD periodically.
2. Made a screen shot of my iClone folder structures. See # 3 for why.
3, Copied entire folders of iClone stuff to a separate 250GB HD.
Why? If necessary, I can put the folders into the proper sequence if
I have to reinstall iClone of a new computer.

Does this work? In my case, yes. I was forced to replace beast notebook Sager NP7282 with another custom built beast and did this. iClone didn't hiccup except for a while I had x64 problems so used the x86 version. Lately, the x64 issues seem to have resolved themselves but yes, my tactic worked--again, in my case.

As usual, I'm probably overdoing things. But I just believe that there is no such a thing as being too cautious. Especially after my DAZ and Poser realtime folder horrors. Which is why I'm an iClone fn forever, even when RL ticks me off big time.