Automation Batch Tools Portable Mode and Data Location
It is possible to configure where and how automation batch tools stores data and project files. If you want to run Automation Batch Tools in portable mode, you should read this.
With new program versions of
Automation Batch Tools, the software will install and configure itself in a way that always works - but still allow you to override where program data gets stored later on.
On older versions of Windows and Automation Batch Tools, you will get prompted to select where data should be stored.
Newer operating systems default to only allow
administrator accounts write files to disk.
Only a few specific directories can be written to if the operating system / software is running under a
limited user account.
The installation will by itself default to the best choice depending on e.g. operating system.
It will also try to detect if you are installing over an old version of the program and default to the old setting.
You can read more about
file permissions and errors.
You can always see where automation batch tools data is stored in the
About dialog.
Locate the file
muc.ini stored in the program installation directory. Open it using a text editor.
You can configure where program data is stored by editing the key
DataAccess
with valid values being
app and
os.
- All users access the same application data = app.
- All users access their own application data = os.
If you change from
app to
os following happens:
- Program will first time it starts try to copy all relevant files from old directories to the new ones (including program setup and projects).
- The files copied will also continue to stay in their original location as an extra precaution and backup.
- Program will from this point on use these new directories to load and save data from.
If you change from
os to
app, you will have to move the relevant files yourself.
To run Automation Batch Tools in
portable mode, you will need to do the following steps:
- Move the entire application directory to portable media such as CD / DVD and USB flash disk drives.
- Ensure that the DataAccess setting is set to app.
If key
DataAccess is set
to
app, you can set
DataUserPath
to override the data directory path.
Note: If you on newer Windows versions install Automation Batch Tools into
C:\Program Files you can usually not use the
app storage mode.
If you do so,
Windows VirtualStore will redirect all file access outside
standard user
directories to a directory similar to this:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\Program Files\%software%.
Some example configurations of the
muc.ini file:
- This uses Windows defaults for data:
[Misc]
DataAccess=os
- Places data in application subfolders:
[Misc]
DataAccess=app
- Overrides where data is placed:
[Misc]
DataAccess=app
DataUserPath=D:\MyOwnDataDirectory\MyProgram\