Hi,

Over the last 6 years I've made a lot of tweaks to XP for working with A:M and animation in general. I mostly forget this stuff but it occurred to me some out there might be interested in some of this. I'm sure many after seeing this will know how to do it. Here's a few...

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Notice then entries circled in red... they get you...

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This is a much larger tweak... when I start a new project...
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My own folder structure and file template setup for animation projects (I posted this folder/file structure on my site recently and posted a link).

There's more little goodies (like bat files that create file structures for all the project scenes, others I can't remember off hand) but enough for now. If there's any interest, I (or another xp show off LOL) can show you how to implement these little goodies if you don't already know.

Cheers,
Rusty

Edit: Sorry for granny images, I seem to running out of space. :-( Already deleted stuff I'm sorry I deleted! :-((

I am interested in the way you make a new project...
I have a folder-structure-example which I copy, but your way is even better... do you use a bat-file or how is it done that you can acess it via RMB?

*Fuchur*

Hi Gerald!

I'll gather the parts that accomplish this and post them -- its not that hard, just a bit under the hood. Got to give me a few days though... I over commited myself (I thought retired people died of boredom). If 3 days go by please send me a PM to remind me. I'm suddenly buried with work!

Cheers,
Rusty

Fuchur,

Okay, here you go but first a disclaimer... this adds stuff to the registry and if you screw it up, I'll erase my posts and deny everything!

Here's the registry entry you need to add -- study closely, all the info you need is in the following images:
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and the command value points to the bat file.
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Here's 'my' bat file... adjust as needed for yourself. If your not sure what I'm doing, send a PM with questions.
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Now your styling! Hell, you'll start new projects just to use this! :-)

Besides the project level structure, I also have folder structures and tracking and control files for models, sets and scenes and, since I dug all this stuff up for you and have the registry open I'm taking this opportunity to add menu options for these.

Cheers,
Rusty

Ey, rusty! Hi , I'm very interested on this, cause in general something is learned and ideas arise always you see how others manage their projects, although for some reason, and despite have followed all your steps carefully, I can't make your utility works...

Here is the error I get after confirm the name project in the console:



...Then the console window is closed and no folder is created ...Well, as I said before I've checked all the paths and it seems that all is correc in this aspect, but in the other hand it's clear that surelly I could be missing something...

Well, any help would be very welcomed as well as any other interesting & usefull applycation like this , BYE & THANKS!

Oooooh... I think this line could the problem:



Hmmm... How this exactly works? I must supposely have a template of my desired folders there? I thought all that folders were created by the BAT file instead be copied from some place, although in that way it have more sense speaking of...

Well, I'm going to try and then tell! So loOong!


EDIT:
Very well, now it copy the folders that I have created in that path but some files are still missing... Really it'd be very usefull if that "00_VMS Project Template" file be included into the ZIP file, isn't? So PLEAAASE , cause as I said above I'd be even more gratefull for all!

...Ohhh!!! I think I have it! Well, It´s nothing to shout about, I know... but at first I have not idea about how that BAT file worked around and after open it and dedicate some minutes to it... I catched it! So I'm happy to can make my own templates and learn something new every day since I hava A:M , well, and as I said I'd be very happy if more tools like this one be added for enjoy learning and save time using it! ...BYE!

Very nice! Thanks rusty!
I have the same problem with xcopy because he doesnt seem to know that command... but I will look if there is a workaround

Thanks again
*Fuchur*

Hmmm... HI! Again... Well, I have now some little related questions... What exactly are this folders entended to be used?:

        000 A-New-Project Cache (...Possibly for very general, original or project shared files?)
        015 A-New-Project RAD (No idea...)
­­        013 Sets (Well, I think I can imagine this one but I'm not totally sure... sets of what?)

Well, it's only that I'm trying to customize the utility to my own use and wondering this kind of things all the time, so... why not make a question here? And that's all, THANKS for any clue!

Ouh, you know I was curious and it seems that I still know two at least, or I think so...

        RAD, or... Rapid Application Development to store some specific project utilities like this one?
        Sets, maybe someplace to store environment elements and backgrounds?
        Cache, hmmm, I think I still have some doubts with this word! But it seems that I was not far worng? Or I hope so...

Well, and all thanks to Wikipedia! Although any other suggestions would be very welcomed too , BYE!

I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. This must be questions on the file structure I use for projects. And I guess the 'readme' file does not explain the 3 folders so here it goes:

RAD = Research and Development This is a folder were I keep my testing for, well, anything. Right now in the RAD folder of my current project are a a whole lot of folders: AfterBurner is were I worked out the sprite effects and emitters for space ship rockets; BlastWaveThroughBuildings are a mixture of AM features and plug-ins and tests for how to do this; Galaxy is the folder where keep everything on creating a particle based galaxy such as tests, forum links, tut files, etc.

Sets = This is like a movie set or a movie 'location', a Set is a collection of models that might make up a hospital room, or the cockpit of a space ship. Almost always 'sets' are kept in chor files. In most cases Sets are not maintained separately and are just part of the Scene folders but sometimes more then one Scene uses a Set or a Set is so complex that it is built outside of the Scene folder.

Cache = A place for files (usually large files) that you do not want to include in the nightly backup or, send to a person who is helping you. This has to be setup; you have the <Project Name> folder and the <Project Name>_Cache folder in the same folder. Folders in the project folder such as 'Screen Tests', 'Stills', 'Promotional', will be copied to the 'Cache' folder and linked back into the project folder. As an example in the ..\<Project Name>\Models\Actors\<Leading Male Model>\Maps\Face folder will hold the tga images used for the model's face and also a folder called wip (Work In Progress) which will contain the Photoshop files (usually huge files) I used to create the face maps. I will normally move the wip folder to the Cache folder and a link to it also called wip put in its place. Also, the Cache folder will have the same folder path to the stored folder. For instance in the above example the wip folder will be located in ..\<Project Name>_Cache\Models\Actors\<Leading Male Model>\Maps\Face\wip.

This is just the way I do it. I'm not sure that there is an industry standard -- I looked for one before creating my own and if there is one or one becomes available then I will certainly switch to that.

Cheers,
Rusty

Edit: Please keep in mind that this entire thing is something that I just made up. I needed something, couldn't find anything so I created something. If TWO had been around back then, I certainly would have looked at what TWO was using and adopted that. You might be far better served looking at what TWO is using.

...EY! Rusty, THANKS for the reply and for your time, very much! ...As you said there is no a template (as far as I know too...) for this and I always find very usefull can compare this kind of things to see what can be improved or simplified, that is the same... Well, the case is because your post and your utility I'm "reconsider" my production structure and looking for a more effective way of work and cause of this I asked that little doubts although I think I had just a few more...



And I think this could be the problem, cause there is no any 'readme' file inside the your "00__VMS_Project_Setup.zip" , there I only can get the "00_ VMS Project Setup.bat" that contains the instructions to rename some files and "copy" all that I have created by hand (mainly based on your images) inside a folder called "00_VMS Project Template". Of course I couldn't see which the contain of that folders was and cause of that I found it so mysterious , now I have your explanations and I can't be more very gratefull! Jeje, "Research and Development", of course... that Wikipedia...

...Well, now I'll study better your words and see what can I improve with all that usefull info, SO LONG & THANKS again!!!

PS: And... of course if someone knows some interesting (or more "standard") template this could be like a splendid place to write about! Isn't?

EDIT:

QUOTE(rusty @ Sep 18 2007, 02:10 PM)

If TWO had been around back then, I certainly would have looked at what TWO was using and adopted that. You might be far better served looking at what TWO is using.

Oooh... Very good advice! I've still been stealing'em some scripting resolution issues succesfully, BTW


RE-EDIT: ...D'oh!

Well, changing my mind, I'll try to take some advantage of this accidental post, ahmmm... here I go, are you using that in capitals '---PRE - PRODUCCTION ---' folders to store real data inside of them, or are they only intended to establish an order inside your <Project Name> folder? I don't think so, but I'm not totally sure about that, ermh... for... some reasons that frankly I'm not sure I can explain in English, well... sorry & THANKS!


RE-CONTRA-EDIT: Hmmm... Interesting POST! It's a pity here be "4:49 AM" and I must go to the bed ...See you tomorrow!

...Hello again!!! As you can see I'm still having some fun with your application ...Well, but there's something that I'd like to ask you; as far as I open your "00_VMS_Project Setup.bat" file and try to study it, I think I can understand and modify some commands and lines to adapt them for my own use, but I have problems understanding a part of this one:



...Specially with this "/E /V /Q /H /-Y", cause I can see how the line is intended to copy the content of the Template folder inside the new project folder but I have no idea about that letters means and it seems to me very difficult to found some info about that, cause if I go to Google and tip this "/E /V /Q /H /-Y" I can't hope to obtain usefull results... I'm trying too studing some documents about batch programming but it seems that's too much to me...

Well, and all this happens cause I think that if I understand that, I'll found some explanation for a little problem here about the copied folder/files atributes, so if you can help me on this I'll be very gratefull again ...BYE!

Hi Ramon,

A standard way for Windows commands to show explanations for their parameters is to run them followed by "/?". So in a command window you would type:

xcopy /?

and that returns this:

Copies files and directory trees.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
[/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U]
[/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z]
[/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

source Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
/A Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
doesn't change the attribute.
/M Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
turns off the archive attribute.
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
Specifies a list of files containing strings. Each string
should be in a separate line in the files. When any of the
strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be
copied, that file will be excluded from being copied. For
example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude
all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the
.obj extension respectively.
/P Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/V Verifies each new file.
/W Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q Does not display file names while copying.
/F Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L Displays files that would be copied.
/G Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does
not support encryption.
/H Copies hidden and system files also.
/R Overwrites read-only files.
/T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
empty directories and subdirectories.
/U Copies only files that already exist in destination.
/K Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/N Copies using the generated short names.
/O Copies file ownership and ACL information.
/X Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/Z Copies networked files in restartable mode.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.


-Jim

Oh, THANK YOU!!! I don't know why I don't thought about that possibility, sorry , jeje... Well! The best thing is that I have been lucky with this and I have solved my problem at the first try! I mean, the problem basically was that it seems as if some folder atributes were not copied and the first level of folders did't show the icons with which I customized them in the template folder, even though all the files were copied... (the weird thing is that the secon level of subfolders showed its icons correctly...) Anyway I added that "/K" parameter in this way:



...and now all seems to work and its showed as I expected at first! Well, now I think it's time to start the "real" project , Ufff... BYE!

I'm glad you worked it out and that it will help you. Feel free to field any more questions you may have.

Cheers,
Rusty

...Oh, rusty! And I can't be more gratefull for all, I've learned some useful things and finally I think I'm still content with my actual "in theory" project setup based on yours, TWO and mine, I hope have kept with the best of three! Although I'm sure it will undergo some changes and modifications in the "practice", or I hope at least... cause that would mean I'm really using and taking advantage of it! Well, and what can I say... THANK YOU very much for sharing your knowledge, utilities and time!!!

You're welcome.

Cheers,
Rusty

Hello! Again... Well, after the time all is fine with this method and I love it , but the only problem I have had lately using thew the *.bat is related with the file names length and I haven't been able to find a solution until now, so here I go...

...Do you know why the Windows Console can not manage the files and folders when the name have arround twenty of thirty characters? It seems to me like a too much limitation for a file name, is't? And of course the Windows interface limit is much more far away (255 if I'm right) than that... So, well, do you know if that limit can be extended a little more in someway? Maybe With some of that litte letters or something? Hmmm... I don't think so, cause limits are limits, but It'd be very usefull don't have to worry about that when create a project with a pretty long titles or a large paths in subfolders and I prefer to question here just in case...

Well, and that's all... THANKS & SORRY for your time (again) in advance!


PS: ...BTW, another thing about I'm a little worried is if all this stuff will be able to be used in Windows Vista in the same or some way, do you think that will be possible?

I just do not know about the filenames -- I've never had a problem but I try to keep my filenames short.

As for Vista, again, I don't know. Maybe someone with Vista can help.

Cheers,
Rusty

Hi rusty, so... really you never have had such a problem??? Then maybe I'm doing something wrong cause I start to have problems as far as I treat to use project names like "The_Yellow_House" in this case...



* El nombre del archivo o la extensión es demasiado largo. <-- The name of the file or the extension is too long

And as you can see the renamed files that going exceeding that "little" limit start to be ignored in the process obtaining that warning message in the console window, and "The_Yellow_House" is not an unusual name in the end... Well, I'll continue ivestigating about that and I'll try to do more tests to see what could be wrong, but this is a field where I have not much knowledge and I wanted to know how you avoided that problem or if could exist a possible solution, well, anyway THANK YOU for the quick answer!

I'm baffled. I don't know Spanish. What OS are you using? XP?

r

Edit: Find the first failure. Then enter the command in a command window and type in that command. When the error comes up, copy all of that and find a Spanish XP newsgroup and post to it asking why it is failing.

...OK, sorry for that, certainly I shouldn't have pressented it in that way...

Well, at least after investigate and fight during large time with some issues realated with Windows folder attributes and other strange things, I think I've something like a solution to can extend that names sufficiently , it was modifing the *.bat and renaming the project file at first with a very short name until all the copy and rename procces is finished, all that in a way that I don't know how to explain better but I only hope it doesn't be "buggy" in the future for some reason... so I'll make some more tests although I think it will work...

Well, it's good to find solutions and learn new things in this so, until now, unknowed area so thanks for all again and let's see if this time could be the last one I baffle you , jeje... BYE!