Macro question... help please

Sanosukex

Sanosu
Adventurer
Joined
Oct 7, 2005
Messages
14
I was just wondering if there was any way to move macros from one computer to another, as it is my understanding they are client side. I looked through the PoL/FFXI folders and nothing stood out to me as being the correct thing to move between computers. Any suggestions?
 
If you want to do it the old fashioned way of file transfer and all that, you need to find the USER folder inside the FFXI directory. Example (my machine) the USER folder is located here: C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\USER
Inside will be a few folders, depending on how many characters are on your account. If you've just one, open it up, and copy everything. I believe this will also take your text colours and a few other goodies along with it. If you've more than one, for example, a mule and your main char, the main char will have a folder with significantly more files (again, this is in my case, your experience may be different)
After you've copied the contents of the folder to a temp folder, drop that on a usb key, and bring it over to whatever machine you need the macro's on. Open up to the same USER directory there, find the correct character folder, open it up, then delete everything inside, and finally copy the contents of the temp folder into that one. Just remember to open the folders, and use CTRL+A to select everything, both for copying and deleting.

Hopefully that made sense.
 
Makes perfect sense, just one question. If I copy the entire USER folder over, and just replace the USER folder on the new computer with the one from the flash drive, will that work as well?
 
Short answer: Probably not.

Long answer: Probably not, and that's due to the folder names that ffxi gives to each of your characters. Currently, the folder that represents Seteyu's macro's/settings on my machine is called "bec678". Why? I have no idea, but I'd bet its stupid programming on SE's part. I don't know if I install FFXI on a new machine, or even if I activated my POL account on another POL/FFXI installed machine, that the folder then would still be called "bec678" on that new machine. For that reason I said what I said in my first reply was because I assumed the worst possible case, and gave the method that would work regardless of setup.
However, I'm betting you are just trying to do a straight swap, FFXI on a new machine, you want your macro's transfered. In that case, do this instead. Just copy the USER folder onto your flash key. Walk over to the new machine. Make sure you've all characters/accounts activated on the new box (very important). Open up the USER folder on the flash key, drag the window to the upper left of your screen. Then go find the local USER folder on the new box. Open it up, and drag it to the lower right part of the screen. Compare folder names. If all the names match, just overwrite the local USER with the flash key's version. If some match, but not all, overwrite the same-named local folders with the flash key version. If none match, well I can explain how to figure that out, but it means another wall-o text. This method is a little more risky than my first one however.

Man, explaining what I just..know without sounding like an ass or making a huge ass wall of text is hard.
 
FFXI will never overwrite your macros and other general settings if the file for that users already exists.

It's the same principal of having your friends send you their macros, placing them in the correct place and then logging into their character.

All FFXI character name codes are the same, it's either a server sided code or it has some way of enumerating them client side, either way my folder name; f56gh2e (for example) will be the same on my computer, your computer, a japanese person's computer, or any person's computer.

Also, if you're migrating an install, you may wish to burn your entire playonline folder to a DVD (dual layer, a couple of disks if you don't have dual layer) then install the game manually (with expansions, as this will create the registry values for you, which can be a pain to perfect) and then paste your old PlayOnline folder (the one from the DVDs) over the one you just installed. When it comes to logging in, PoL will just check the files, it'll see they're updated and no download will be necessary.

This also works across networks (if you're moving installations from one computer to another) although it helps not to do it wirelessly as speeds will be dramatically cut than if you were doing it via 100mb/s ethernet connections.
 
Also, if you're migrating an install, you may wish to burn your entire playonline folder to a DVD (dual layer, a couple of disks if you don't have dual layer) then install the game manually (with expansions, as this will create the registry values for you, which can be a pain to perfect) and then paste your old PlayOnline folder (the one from the DVDs) over the one you just installed. When it comes to logging in, PoL will just check the files, it'll see they're updated and no download will be necessary.

This also works across networks (if you're moving installations from one computer to another) although it helps not to do it wirelessly as speeds will be dramatically cut than if you were doing it via 100mb/s ethernet connections.

jesus christ i do install migrations all the time (not PoL) and i would not have thought of applying that to PoL. i've been thinking of rebuilding my system for a while and was dreading reinstalling PlayOnline/FFXI.
 
Back
Top