How to switch to using a portable version?
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How to switch to using a portable version?
I downloaded the latest version [1.4.3] and left the installed one [1.0.1] alone
I wanted to change my folder holding settings which is
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\
Or to be precise: from using option
Tools > Settings > Integration > Paths > XnView settings > Use .ini file in folder > User (System)
to >>Custom<< and then picking manually
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\config\
But as there is no >>Custom<< for the INI file in the end I have returned to what it was set to [i.e. >>User (System)<<]. And deleted the
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
file which was created when I was testing available options. This apparently resulted with XnView 1.4.3 Portable, after its reopening, to picking up default settings
So how is this suppose to work? If I run the EXE of the portable and leave / choose in its settings >>User (System)<<], then the >>xnview.ini<< file is created in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\
But if I delete this INI then how is
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe
suppose to know to use
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
?
I mean: where is this one pivotal information stored at? In other words: how to migrate from using installed version to portable one, import all of the old settings, use from now on a chosen location for storing settings, retain refraining from using Registry; and re-register all of associated files to the portable EXE?
There is this >>Associate files with XnViewMP.exe<< file but it has just a few file formats on its list
But as there is no >>Custom<< for the INI file in the end I have returned to what it was set to [i.e. >>User (System)<<]. And deleted the
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
file which was created when I was testing available options. This apparently resulted with XnView 1.4.3 Portable, after its reopening, to picking up default settings
So how is this suppose to work? If I run the EXE of the portable and leave / choose in its settings >>User (System)<<], then the >>xnview.ini<< file is created in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\
But if I delete this INI then how is
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe
suppose to know to use
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
?
I mean: where is this one pivotal information stored at? In other words: how to migrate from using installed version to portable one, import all of the old settings, use from now on a chosen location for storing settings, retain refraining from using Registry; and re-register all of associated files to the portable EXE?
There is this >>Associate files with XnViewMP.exe<< file but it has just a few file formats on its list
I wanted to change my folder holding settings which is
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\
Or to be precise: from using option
Tools > Settings > Integration > Paths > XnView settings > Use .ini file in folder > User (System)
to >>Custom<< and then picking manually
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\config\
But as there is no >>Custom<< for the INI file in the end I have returned to what it was set to [i.e. >>User (System)<<]. And deleted the
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
file which was created when I was testing available options. This apparently resulted with XnView 1.4.3 Portable, after its reopening, to picking up default settings
So how is this suppose to work? If I run the EXE of the portable and leave / choose in its settings >>User (System)<<], then the >>xnview.ini<< file is created in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\
But if I delete this INI then how is
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe
suppose to know to use
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
?
I mean: where is this one pivotal information stored at? In other words: how to migrate from using installed version to portable one, import all of the old settings, use from now on a chosen location for storing settings, retain refraining from using Registry; and re-register all of associated files to the portable EXE?
There is this >>Associate files with XnViewMP.exe<< file but it has just a few file formats on its list
But as there is no >>Custom<< for the INI file in the end I have returned to what it was set to [i.e. >>User (System)<<]. And deleted the
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
file which was created when I was testing available options. This apparently resulted with XnView 1.4.3 Portable, after its reopening, to picking up default settings
So how is this suppose to work? If I run the EXE of the portable and leave / choose in its settings >>User (System)<<], then the >>xnview.ini<< file is created in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\
But if I delete this INI then how is
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe
suppose to know to use
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
?
I mean: where is this one pivotal information stored at? In other words: how to migrate from using installed version to portable one, import all of the old settings, use from now on a chosen location for storing settings, retain refraining from using Registry; and re-register all of associated files to the portable EXE?
There is this >>Associate files with XnViewMP.exe<< file but it has just a few file formats on its list
Last edited by The Electro Machine on Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Author of XnView
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
XnView check first if xnview.ini exists in folder's program, and if it doesn't exist check in user's folder
Pierre.
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
Right now it does not because I deleted it as for now I am keeping the
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\
folder, that I can have all config files in one place in a form easy for copying them
In the future I wan to keep them in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\WHATEVER CUSTOM NAME\
as I cannot be expected to hand pick all those BAR, DB and INI files and no make a mistake of omission at some point
Thus:
And also how to
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\
folder, that I can have all config files in one place in a form easy for copying them
In the future I wan to keep them in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\WHATEVER CUSTOM NAME\
as I cannot be expected to hand pick all those BAR, DB and INI files and no make a mistake of omission at some point
Thus:
?The Electro Machine wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:20 am [...]
So how is this suppose to work? If I run the EXE of the portable and leave / choose in its settings >>User (System)<<], then the >>xnview.ini<< file is created in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\
But if I delete this INI then how is
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe
suppose to know to use
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
?
I mean: where is this one pivotal information stored at? In other words: how to migrate from using installed version to portable one, import all of the old settings, use from now on a chosen location for storing settings, retain refraining from using Registry
[...]
And also how to
The Electro Machine wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:20 am re-register all of associated files to the portable EXE?
There is this >>Associate files with XnViewMP.exe<< file but it has just a few file formats on its list
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- XnThusiast
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
+1The Electro Machine wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:11 am In the future I wan to keep them in
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\WHATEVER CUSTOM NAME\
as I cannot be expected to hand pick all those BAR, DB and INI files and no make a mistake of omission at some point
i like user_profile folders
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- Author of XnView
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- Location: France
Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
"User (System)" is always c:\UserData\...\Roaming\XnViewMP
"Associate files with XnViewMP.exe" is for Windows 7 system, so no need to use it... Associations is made with Windows settings
The only way to use your custom folder for xnview.ini is to use argument
"Associate files with XnViewMP.exe" is for Windows 7 system, so no need to use it... Associations is made with Windows settings
The only way to use your custom folder for xnview.ini is to use argument
Code: Select all
-ini C:\Portables\XnViewMP\WHATEVER CUSTOM NAME\xnview.ini
Pierre.
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
So users of portable versions are suppose to manually associate 209 file formats with XnViewMP? And not make a single mistake about it? And after taking it on a pendrive to another machine repeat the whole process?
You mean to e.g. create an LNK file with Targetxnview wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:56 pm [...]
The only way to use your custom folder for xnview.ini is to use argumentCode: Select all
-ini C:\Portables\XnViewMP\WHATEVER CUSTOM NAME\xnview.ini
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe -ini C:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings\xnview.ini
?
If yes- then it did not work for me; i.e. I experience default settings and these files are created
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\Thumb.db
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\XnView.db
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
And had it worked, would it also use
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings\
folder also for reading / storing of those DB files?
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- Author of XnView
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- Location: France
Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
209?? "Associate files with XnViewMP.exe" doesn't works on newer Windows system, you need to use Windows Settings>ApplicationsThe Electro Machine wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 2:42 pmSo users of portable versions are suppose to manually associate 209 file formats with XnViewMP? And not make a single mistake about it? And after taking it on a pendrive to another machine repeat the whole process?
Yes, do you have created an empty xnview.ini?C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe -ini C:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings\xnview.ini
?
If yes- then it did not work for me; i.e. I experience default settings and these files are created
the folder for other files is in xnview.iniC:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings\
folder also for reading / storing of those DB files?
Pierre.
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- Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:59 am
Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
Well, 552? I have no idea now just where I saw that 209 number, because under the
Help > About > Formats
it now clearly says
Formats in reading: 552
After my second attempt at creating LNK with its Target set to
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe -ini C:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings\xnview.ini
and executing it, this time only this file was created
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\XnView.db
So the file xnview.ini [by default located at >>C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\settings\<<] stores info that correct path is e.g.
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\XnView.db
?
If yes then is find not even one occurrence of
Code: Select all
\XnViewMP
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- Author of XnView
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
By default if xnview.ini doesnt have paths, it uses 'C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP'The Electro Machine wrote: ↑Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:53 pm So the file xnview.ini [by default located at >>C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\settings\<<] stores info that correct path is e.g.
C:\Users\YOUR-USER-NAME\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP\XnView.db
You need to change
Code: Select all
dbFlag=
dbFolder=
otherFlag=
otherFolder=
Pierre.
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- Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:59 am
Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
But when changing them I need to use
C:/Portables/XnViewMP/settings/
instead of
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings
like the
History=C:/Users/YOUR-USER-NAME/Documents/
line in xnview.ini suggests me, right? Well I got some of my old settings but apparently some not, like the dark mode
All in all this whole shebang is getting plain ridiculous
Just how many adjustments does a user have to do in order to start using XnView as a portable on a new system? And what about file associations? Why is no there no way of adding them through Settings or at least reworking some REG hack in which user adjust path to EXE?
C:/Portables/XnViewMP/settings/
instead of
C:\Portables\XnViewMP\settings
like the
History=C:/Users/YOUR-USER-NAME/Documents/
line in xnview.ini suggests me, right? Well I got some of my old settings but apparently some not, like the dark mode
All in all this whole shebang is getting plain ridiculous
Just how many adjustments does a user have to do in order to start using XnView as a portable on a new system? And what about file associations? Why is no there no way of adding them through Settings or at least reworking some REG hack in which user adjust path to EXE?
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- Author of XnView
- Posts: 45247
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:31 am
- Location: France
Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
you can use XnView to create your default xnview.ini and put it after where you want
Pierre.
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
I still do no know if I can / should associate to portable version of XnView all 509 file formats
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- XnThusiast
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
you do not need to assosiate with all 509 filesThe Electro Machine wrote: ↑Thu Apr 06, 2023 5:07 pm I still do no know if I can / should associate to portable version of XnView all 509 file formats
assosiate only with few formats you use via
- normal way
- right click on file in windows file explorer > Open with >
- select Xnview (guess it requires to run xnview with admin rights first to let windows show it here)
OR
- select 'Choose another app' and locate xnviewmp.exe manually
- go to windows settings > 'Default apps' and assosiate from there
- right click on file in windows file explorer > Open with >
ps. I would also suggest not to store your valuable data on disk C (eg split disk to few logical: system and data), but thats offtop.
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
Seems to me users of portable versions are not supposed to associate file formats at all. The essence of "portable" is that it makes no changes to the installed OS and it's settings. File associations are part of the OS settings. Neither should it be installed on the computer's hard drive.The Electro Machine wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 2:42 pm
So users of portable versions are suppose to manually associate 209 file formats with XnViewMP? And not make a single mistake about it? And after taking it on a pendrive to another machine repeat the whole process?
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Re: How to switch to using a portable version?
This seem to be logical assumption; the philosophy beyond their concept
But my modus operandi is this:
1] use as many programs in portable versions as possible
2] keep them in one folder
3] regularly update and backup this folder
[and then]
4] restore operating system from image
5] replace old version of folder holding portables with the newest backup of it
6] run any needed complementary REG files
7] create new image of system
This:
I] saves me time while also keeping my OS safe; by not making permanent changes before trying out new programs and / or settings
II] makes it much quicker and easier to set-up a new system from scratch; like when after buying new motherboard
III] provides ability to quickly adjust some other Windows / machine to make-over it closer to my needs; like when trying a friend to repair broken system
And thus to make this MO really work while also utilizing the 500 file-formats capability of XnView- a big REG file would be needed, which with just two clicks would associate different formats with portable version of XnView
So: my starting point would be this
?
Because no one who uses a portable version has such REG file - and had associated file formats manually on a one-by-one basis
Last edited by The Electro Machine on Sat Apr 29, 2023 1:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.