Problem with installation

[flex42]

Well the odd thing is the FilterscapeVA popped at my vst list... But, not the other ones

not sure if this has been mentioned. FilterscapeVA is an instrument so it only shows up in the instrument list whereas the eq and filterscape itself only show up in the effects list.
might be obvious, but still...

[eduardo_b]

I'm a very experienced Windows user, and the install for Filterscape is non-existent. It doesn't create any folders because the zip file only unzips to the default directory of the zip utility being used.

The zip file unzips to whatever folder you ask it to, and it contains the folder structure necessary. WinZip (which I use) has an option called "Use folder names". If this option is activated, the folder structure of the zipped archive is preserved. I am sure other zip utilities have the same option in some form.

All three plug-ins show up in all my hosts, and none are blank. Check your zip utility to make sure you unzip with folder names, then the plugs should work with no problem.

I'm using Winzip 8.1, which always by default automatically creates whatever folder structure the zipped file contains. The option you are referring to is checked by default (and I just confirmed in Explorer Enhancements that it's still checked). There is apparently no folder structure in the v1.1 zip I downloaded yesterday -- if there were, it would be created when unzipping. I've had many free plug-ins do a much better job of installation than this, let alone one that sells for well over $100.

[flex42]

dear very experienced windows user:
dir structure is there, i just downloaded it...

[eduardo_b]

Well the odd thing is the FilterscapeVA popped at my vst list... But, not the other ones :shock:

not sure if this has been mentioned. FilterscapeVA is an instrument so it only shows up in the instrument list whereas the eq and filterscape itself only show up in the effects list.
might be obvious, but still...

Actually, it's not necessarily obvious because one tends to think of them as being together. It would help if this were noted somewhere in the docs as a reminder.

[Urs]

When using WindowsXP (see System Requirements) then you don't need any zip utility. Just double click the download file, see an Explorer window open up and everything is layed out perfectly.

Cheers,

Urs

[eduardo_b]

dear very experienced windows user:
dir structure is there, i just downloaded it...

Okay, then apparently this is a problem with Winzip that I can't account for given that all other zip files with folder paths unzip to those folders. It would be better to create a self-extracting install file, which is how the majority of commercial plug-ins are configured. And having noted the problems the person who started this thread was having, I can only assume he and I are not the only ones. Users (customers) should never have to deal with issues such as this, and I've installed hundreds of apps and utilities over many years on many computers.

[flex42]

naaaahhh, installers suck...i definitely prefer to have the option of moving vsts around without having to install/reinstall. offering both options would be best i guess.

[eduardo_b]

When using WindowsXP (see System Requirements) then you don't need any zip utility. Just double click the download file, see an Explorer window open up and everything is layed out perfectly.

Cheers,

;) Urs

This is only true if no other unzip utility is installed and associated with zip files. Double-clicking always brings up the associated app for that file type. But I will try using the XP native unzip util. Thanks.

[eduardo_b]

naaaahhh, installers suck...i definitely prefer to have the option of moving vsts around without having to install/reinstall. offering both options would be best i guess.

Actually, I agree with you. I like to know exactly where the DLLs are going to be, and I always wonder what else the installer is going to be doing. Many plug-in installers don't even write to the registry, which is the real purpose of installers. Oh well, I'll give this zip file another try.

[eduardo_b]

When using WindowsXP (see System Requirements) then you don't need any zip utility. Just double click the download file, see an Explorer window open up and everything is layed out perfectly.

Cheers,

;) Urs

Okay, it turns out that Winzip (at least version 8.1) will not create the folder structure, but right-clicking on the zip file and choosing extract to temp\filescape worked fine. So the XP unzip util does work, but given the number of people who use more advanced zip utils, there appears to be some sort of problem.

[Urs]

Hiya,

well, I couldn't foresee all the ircks and quircks of zip utilities. Nevertheless I think that folders within zip files are state of the art standard and any serious zip utility should respect this.

In the normal case you just have to copy a folder to your Vstplugins directory. I think that's very easy.

My software does never ever touch the Registry or any other hidden place to install anything. Upon first launch they'll create a folder C:/Program Files/u-he/ where all the things go that you want to keep along versions/updates, such as presets, preferences etc.

The need for the uhe_data folder is easily explained: It contains files that are shared across each dll. This saves memory and space, and I can distribute updates that only contain the dlls, without tons of graphics.

However, Windows is still new to me, so there might be a lot of room for future improvement.

Cheers,

Urs

[luCiPHer]

When using WindowsXP (see System Requirements) then you don't need any zip utility. Just double click the download file, see an Explorer window open up and everything is layed out perfectly.

Cheers,

Urs

Okay, it turns out that Winzip (at least version 8.1) will not create the folder structure, but right-clicking on the zip file and choosing extract to temp\filescape worked fine. So the XP unzip util does work, but given the number of people who use more advanced zip utils, there appears to be some sort of problem.

yes, the most common "some sort of advanced zip util" these days is winRAR, and that clearly shows the folders, unlike winzip, which hides folder structures (it does NOT make sense to hide the structure).

[eduardo_b]

>well, I couldn't foresee all the ircks and quircks of zip utilities. Nevertheless I think that folders within zip files are state of the art standard and any serious zip utility should respect this.<

I would think that Winzip, which I've used through many versions, would recognize and create the folders, so I'm wondering if this isn't something related to Microsoft's XP implimentation of zipping and unzipping. I've had Winzip correctly create folders while unzipping files, but I don't know that these files were created using the XP util.

>In the normal case you just have to copy a folder to your Vstplugins directory. I think that's very easy.<

Yes, it is very easy, but only if the folders are created. I think the suggestion to offer a zipped version and a self-extracting exe is a good one because it gives the option of choosing the exe if the zipped file proves problematic.

>My software does never ever touch the Registry or any other hidden place to install anything. Upon first launch they'll create a folder C:/Program Files/u-he/ where all the things go that you want to keep along versions/updates, such as presets, preferences etc.<

Why not place the u-he folder as a subfolder for Filescape? When I back up VST folders, I don't want to have to go find another folder somewhere else. Plus, people have a way of deleting folders they don't recognize in Program Files.

>The need for the uhe_data folder is easily explained: It contains files that are shared across each dll. This saves memory and space, and I can distribute updates that only contain the dlls, without tons of graphics.<

I understand that you are sharing PNGs across DLLs and this is the basis for the folder configuration, but you may well find yourself making GUI changes that will require revised or additional PNGs. I assume you wanted to keep DLL sizes small by not compiling the graphics and factory presets into the DLLs, but I tend to favor compiling everything together given that most users have broadband and the DLLs still won't be all that large -- the separate files should take up less space when compiled into the DLL, yes?

--eduardo

[eduardo_b]

When using WindowsXP (see System Requirements) then you don't need any zip utility. Just double click the download file, see an Explorer window open up and everything is layed out perfectly.

Cheers,

;) Urs

Okay, it turns out that Winzip (at least version 8.1) will not create the folder structure, but right-clicking on the zip file and choosing extract to temp\filescape worked fine. So the XP unzip util does work, but given the number of people who use more advanced zip utils, there appears to be some sort of problem.

yes, the most common "some sort of advanced zip util" these days is winRAR, and that clearly shows the folders, unlike winzip, which hides folder structures (it does NOT make sense to hide the structure).

Actually, I've found that rar files are mostly common in the VST plug-in and related files community, and mainly in Europe. I would say rar files are virtually unkown to 99.9% of computer users in the U.S. Hell, even zip files are a mystery to many users who really aren't "into" computers (my wife being a perfect example of this).

[eduardo_b]

When using WindowsXP (see System Requirements) then you don't need any zip utility. Just double click the download file, see an Explorer window open up and everything is layed out perfectly.

Cheers,

;) Urs

Now that everything is installed and seems to work, I'm wondering why the presets don't show up in Filescape but are found in VA. The presets are in the Presets\Filescape folder as installed, and the folder structure is apparently hard-wired into the DLL. Is it me or...?