How I Set Up 1.84 and 1.91

[Slynky]

First of all, thanks to Geo for getting me started

(1) I use Windows Commander (can't recommend it enough!) but it works the same with Explorer. So...I went to MM folder. Created a new folder called SE 184.

(2) Copied the original folder (Space Empires IV) to it (the one called, "SE 184").

(3) At this point, I have 2 folders that are identical (mods, shipsets, etc.) except for the folder name.

(4) Then, I ran the 1.91 update (from my "F" drive since I have twin spindles) to do the update. It couldn't find the EXE file, so I had to tell it where it was...simple enough...I pointed it to the folder that had the original name..."Space Empires IV". The update ran perfectly .

(5) Then, I renamed that folder to "SE 191".

(6) Now, I have 2 folders, one called "SE 184" and the other called "SE 191". The folder named "SE 191" had the updated EXE file in it.

(7) Now, the shortcuts. I have them on my Quick Launch bar, but the procedure is the same if they are just on your desktop. Copy the shortcut and paste it. (Now, both shortcuts go to the same old folder..."Space Empires IV). NOTE: Since Geo recommended it, I use the Launcher...so my shortcuts bring up the Launcher in each of the different Versions. From here, my info deals with the Launcher but should be similar to just starting the program EXE.

(8) Edit one of the shortcuts and change 2 things: Target and Start In. Change it to have a folder name of "SE 191" for both.

(9) Edit the other shortcut and change 2 things: Target and Start In. Change it to have a folder name of "SE 184" for both.

(10) Now, you have 2 shortcuts that lead to 2 different folders to start up 2 different Versions of the game. You can edit each of the shortcut names (in the general tab) to show the name as you want it to be on the screen. (I used "SE 184" and "SE 191). Duh! Now you know which one to click.

(11) Then, I deleted all the games from the Savegame folder in the "SE 191" folder that were still running under the 1.84 patch.

(12) Also, I deleted all the games from the Savegame folder in the "SE 184" folder that were running under the 1.91 patch.

(13) Now, Launcher will only show the games in each patch folder that it can run.

(14) As a final touch, since I use the Quick Launch bar (which doesn't show the name like a desktop shortcut does unless you pause over it), I made a new icon for the 1.84 patch (screen copy, paste into an editor, crop down to the icon pixels only, and pasted into a freeware icon editor called IconEdit32...adjusted the colors to make it a bit different on the bar, saved to the "SE 184" folder and then edited the shortcut for the "184" Version to have a new icon...browsed to it and made the change).

I don't claim this "mini-tutorial" to be perfect but perhaps close enough to help others that might be concerned about running 2 Versions of the best 4X game ever made.

Hope this helps some.

[ February 28, 2004, 03:09: Message edited by: Slynky ]