Difference between Setup and ZIP versions

[Ilikemyprivacy]

I've been getting notified to update my XnView and I notice two different kinds, a setup and a zip. Is the difference that the setup installs the program in specific places on my C drive while the zip is a stand alone folder that can go anywhere? Because I hate programs that install parts in one place, parts in another, and can't be moved around without complications. I love stand alone programs that can be backup up and moved into either new computers or new places to be used.

If that is the case and I want to uninstall the setup and use the zip then to get the new zip to have the same files and settings like the old setup do I just need to copy the files in the C:\Users\(my profile)\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP folder into the zip?

I'm worried I'm going to download the zip, move the files, uninstall the setup, but still lose everything.

[cday]

I've been getting notified to update my XnView and I notice two different kinds, a setup and a zip. Is the difference that the setup installs the program in specific places on my C drive while the zip is a stand alone folder that can go anywhere? ... I love stand alone programs that can be backup up and moved into either new computers or new places to be used.

I think that actually the location of all the files you might wish to relocate in either version can be seen in Tools > Settings... > Integration > Paths. You should therefore be able to copy any relevant existing files into the ZIP locations you wish to use.

In fact, even if you use the ZIP version, when you check the set paths the .ini file at least will still be set to the .../Roaming/XnViewMP folder.

I'm worried I'm going to download the zip, move the files, uninstall the setup, but still lose everything.

Certainly proceed with caution whichever way you go, if necessary make some kind of full backup, but I think that with enough attention what you wish to do shouldn't be difficult.

You can actually have both versions installed at the same time, so you could copy existing setup version files into your preferred ZIP version locations, leaving the setup version files as a temporary backup.

[Ilikemyprivacy]

I mustered up the courage and uninstalled the setup and used the zip and yes, the zip works.

How do I change the path of all the config files? I want all the config files to be on an external hard drive, along with my zip folder of xnview so it's completely contained.

EDIT:

I only see an "open config file location" but I do see the option of changing everything from User (system) to program (xnview) however I would rather it go in the folder XnViewMP-win-x64 instead of the actual XnViewMP folder. The reason is I'm worried if I update the zip and copy and past new settings files they will delete the old settings and I want to make sure the settings are separate from the program that gets changed as updates arrive.

[cday]

How do I change the path of all the config files? I want all the config files to be on an external hard drive, along with my zip folder of xnview so it's completely contained.

I only see an "open config file location" but I do see the option of changing everything from User (system) to program (xnview) however I would rather it go in the folder XnViewMP-win-x64 instead of the actual XnViewMP folder. The reason is I'm worried if I update the zip and copy and paste new settings files they will delete the old settings and I want to make sure the settings are separate from the program that gets changed as updates arrive.

You can make many changes using the Integration - Paths dropdowns and browse buttons, if there are paths that you can't set to the location you wish report back...

[Ilikemyprivacy]

The XnView settings only allow either User (system) or program (XnView). I really want all the important files in a separate folder because I'm worried that if I update it the update will copy over the important files like picture ratings or checked boxes.

The other settings do allow a choice but I think the catalog and the thumbnails is the location of the pictures, those are already on my external, and I don't want to experiment with the other one that says "folder for other files" unless I know what will happen. Like I said, I'm worried about losing hours of work by messing up my settings.

According to https://www.xnview.com/wiki/index.php/S ... _Ini_Files "The place where your settings are stored depends on the option "Use registry to save options", which you can find by selecting menu "Tools > Options", category "System integration"." but I don't see an options option in tools.

[cday]

The XnView settings only allow either User (system) or program (XnView). I really want all the important files in a separate folder because I'm worried that if I update it the update will copy over the important files like picture ratings or checked boxes.

According to https://www.xnview.com/wiki/index.php/S ... _Ini_Files "The place where your settings are stored depends on the option "Use registry to save options", which you can find by selecting menu "Tools > Options", category "System integration"." but I don't see an options option in tools.

I would suggest that you start a new thread under the Suggestions heading requesting that the .ini file location be freely selectable.

[Ilikemyprivacy]

OK, thank you for your help