Multiple builds of 7D2D on the same PC

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DocRussel

Active member
I thought this was answered on the forum but I can't find it.  Please link to such a discussion if this has been fully answered already.

I want to have 2 (maybe more) builds of 7D2D on the same PC from the same Steam account.  One will be fixed to a certain game build and remain there while a video project is being worked on.  The other will be at the latest experimental/stable version.  The update controls seem to be done only in Steam so I don't see how players do this.  I've heard of players doing this with mods, such as a Darkness Falls build and a vanilla build.  Is it possible to have multiple vanilla builds on the same PC with independent mods?

 
I run all versions of the client at one point or another.

Basically it is pretty simple. First you will have different versions in different folders. Like E:\Games\7 Days\alpha21.2 is where i have Alpha 21.2 for that version of Darkness Falls and other mods.

Then I am additionally starting them up with custom shortcuts so that each uses a different path for the user/save data.

This is an example of my DF startup from above.
 

"E:\Games\7 Days\alpha21.2\7DaysToDie.exe" -UserDataFolder=D:\SaveGames\DF -logfile=D:\SaveGames\DF\logdata.log




That way I can put the DF mods into D:\SaveGames\DF\Mods

Then for District Zero, I have

"D:\Games\Steam Games\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die\7DaysToDie.exe" -UserDataFolder=D:\SaveGames\DZ -logfile=D:\SaveGames\DZ\logdata.log


(Because it is Stable for version 1.2, and DF isn't there yet)

For much older versions of the client that don't accept the -UserDataFolder argument, you can edit the serverconfig file and point the client to load that config file using -configfile=serverconfig.xml. (I am honestly not sure if any versions do not accept the UserDataDolder argument. We were only informed it even existed a couple of years ago, and I have not spent time testing it on versions before Alpha 20.)

 
And the Steam setting for "latest experimental" does not affect all of the builds?

Any issue with being on the same drive but in different folders?

 
DocRussel said:
And the Steam setting for "latest experimental" does not affect all of the builds?

Any issue with being on the same drive but in different folders?
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That is for the version you want Steam to have loaded.  Latest Experimental is only active when there is a current experimental build available for testing.  Right now it would most likely just give you the current stable version.

No issues with it being on the same drive, though you do want the saves to be on a fast one.

My particular setup has primary Steam games, and my 7 Days saves on D which is my NVMe RAID. I have the older version folders all loaded on E: which is a fast SSD.

 
I have probably 30-40 different versions spread across my drives, you're good to go there :)

I do suggest, if you're going back and forth between major updates (e.g. V1 and A20), making a backup of the registry entry for 7 days to die (7dlauncher -> tools -> open game settings -> right click the main 7 days folder -> export); once exported, you can rename it to whatever to organize it.

 
Sorry, I meant for the builds on my PC.  If I have 2 folders of 1.2 b27, one to stay there and the other to update when one becomes available, both come from Steam, so Steam doesn't know to only update the one.  I also don't see an option to download the game again since it's already installed.  I see where I can move the install folder and create a backup but not duplicate it.  Maybe the 2 are related since there is only one option for install folder.

 
DocRussel said:
Sorry, I meant for the builds on my PC.  If I have 2 folders of 1.2 b27, one to stay there and the other to update when one becomes available, both come from Steam, so Steam doesn't know to only update the one.  I also don't see an option to download the game again since it's already installed.  I see where I can move the install folder and create a backup but not duplicate it.  Maybe the 2 are related since there is only one option for install folder.
Click to expand...


So Steam looks for (install folder)\7 Days To Die. That will be the one it updates. So, you can take that folder and add something like \7 Days To Dieb27 to it or copy and paste and rename. If you left the original, then it'll just keep updating that one. If you want to swap, just swap the file names, or move the install folder path.

For example, a portion of some installs on my backup HDD

image.png

If I wanted to load any of these on Steam to update, I just rename them to 7 Days To Die and point Steam to it. If you DON'T want to update that folder, make sure you tell it to stop updating. For example, if I loaded the 16.4Bak up while still on Public, it would start updating it to the current version, so make sure you don't let it before you swap your beta version in Steam

 
I have always said to myself that I would try the way SylenThunder mentioned but never get around to it. I always end up doing it like I have always done it.

I make a folder on my drive that is called 7DTD and then I just make multiple copies of my steam folder game and just rename them to what they are going to be.

For example I may have one called Darkness Falls and another called 7DTD 1.2 Modded and one called 7DTD A21, etc.

Then the only one that will update is my steam version. The others are left alone.

I think I may have had like 8 or 10 different versions there at one time or another.

 
If copying the folder is all that is needed, that is easy.  I'm just used to games installing in one location but still having other required files elsewhere that get messed up with a new path.  I'll give that a shot.  Thanks.

 
Yeah I just copy the 7 days to die folder from steam and place it in my new 7DTD folder and then rename it to what I want.
But as I said I wanted to try it a different way as my way you end up with multiple folders taking up multiple gigs of space.

I wanted to try the way where you had the shortcuts on desktop that just linked to different mod folders(??)

Anyway it was suppose to basically do same thing but save all the space full game folders would take up

 
I think it may be better for me copy as my video project will involve some XML changes that the main game should not have.  Good to know that I could have a third or more version using the same base game and folder to save space.

 
Gamida said:
I have always said to myself that I would try the way SylenThunder mentioned but never get around to it. I always end up doing it like I have always done it.

I make a folder on my drive that is called 7DTD and then I just make multiple copies of my steam folder game and just rename them to what they are going to be.

For example I may have one called Darkness Falls and another called 7DTD 1.2 Modded and one called 7DTD A21, etc.

Then the only one that will update is my steam version. The others are left alone.

I think I may have had like 8 or 10 different versions there at one time or another.
Click to expand...


Same. I keep saying every so often I'll organize and such like Sylen said, but I just make a new folder and call it a day... much like how i keep saying I'll organize the cables under my desk, but pushing them back a bit works for now, just like how New Folder (8) is fine lol  :)

 
Jugginator said:
Same. I keep saying every so often I'll organize and such like Sylen said, but I just make a new folder and call it a day... much like how i keep saying I'll organize the cables under my desk, but pushing them back a bit works for now, just like how New Folder (8) is fine lol  :)
Click to expand...


Oh yeah I knew I would never get around to the cables under the desk. Phone, external drive, speakers, 3 printers, ethernet, tv cable, and yes I still use a wired mouse and keyboard.

I do manage not to have New Folders...at least not up to 8 lol

 
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