 |
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE . . . Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a single folder with a bunch of different pod.ini files in it — each with a unique name instead of a bunch of different folders with a one file, each named “pod.ini”? What about a nice clean, neat MTM2 directory with different groups of pod files in their own folder? How ‘bout if you had to reinstall MTM2 (as we all do from time to time) and you didn’t have to worry about all those big track lists and other addon pods — just delete the old program files, reinstall the game and go on! And wouldn’t it be wonderful if switching pod.ini files was as easy as click click? Ah yes — maybe, just maybe someday . . . Well guess what . . . the future is now! ENTER PHIN’S COWpod utility Have as many pod.ini files as you want, wherever you want, named whatever you want. ALT.ini to VINT.ini — makes no difference. Do I sound enthusiastic? You bet your sweet cow pie I do. And I’m not getting paid for this either. By the way, the reason for this page is that I was talking to a couple SLO racers one evening and mentioned how I had reorganized my MTM2 directory and how COWpod had helped. I must have been a little excited ‘cause I was told I ought to put this information somewhere that racing folks could read about it. So here it is. Now I’m not going to rehash what is so eloquently and thoroughly presented in the COWpod help documentation which you can find on a webpage here or as a printable version pdf file here. I’m just going to tell you what I have done — as requested. This isn’t necessarily the best way to do the job or the way that may be comfortable for you. If you’re interested in cleaning up your MTM2 directory and/or having a super easy way to maintain and switch between pod.ini files, this may give you some ideas. The assumption here is that you are going to use COWpod. Click icon to download.
Stick it in a file somewhere for the time being. I will tell you how I did it later. II did a new clean install of MTM2 — hold on — don’t do anything yet. That’s just to see if you’re interested in reading more. You don’t have to do this in order to use COWpod but I did and I’m real happy I took the time to do it, Before I started, I made sure I had copies of all the SLO track list pod, the SLO lists pod.ini files, the MTM2 patch, the latest (5/29/05 version) of FIXMORE4, and any other pod files and other tweaks I wanted to reinstall. Fortunately I keep the SLO track lists zip files on hand. I hope you do too. If not, well . . . here’s the link. This is a great time to purge those unused pod files. It might also be a good time to make make backup zipped files of those that you want to keep. Double check then uninstall the program. If there are any files left behind in your MTM2 directory, delete them before reinstalling the progam. If you think you may need a “leftover” file, for the time being just rename the director “OLD Monster Truck Madness 2” or something like that. Then delete it after your new clean install is working properly. The Procedure (for the way I’m set up) Starts Here Obviously you can just try out the program and set it up however you like. This is for informational purposes but since I had all the files, folders etc. set up, I offer them here as an option if anyone would care to use them. The SLO Tracks Lists pod.ini files are, to the best of my knowledge, current as of June 17, 2005. If any changes have been made since then, you will need to update them yourself. I will try to keep up with them and will keep the date I make future changes current. However, you get no guarantees from me. Please read this all the way through before you start. 1. Install the program. 2. Open the MTM2 directory and create a new folder which you will name “Addons” 3. Extract all your SLO lists add on tracks into the folder you just created. NOTE: most zip programs will let you drag and drop files from the zip archive into the folder of your choice. If you don’t have a good zip program, may I suggest a great free one named ZipGenius. You probably want to get the update/patch and also look at the add-ons and modules too. (I use it now instead of my licensed copy of WinZip. I think it’s better.) 4. Create folders for other pod files as needed, for example if you have other projects you’re working on or tracks you’re evaluating. See the COW pod help file for more information. 5. Create three more folders for pod.ini files - you’ll see why in a minute. I named mine “podini subfolders” and “podini named” -yellow highlight below. Also create another folder named something like “COW pods” - green highlight, you will use this later. Since your add ons are now in a sub-folder, the pod.ini files from the SLO site won’t work unless you laboriously rename all the addons in each pod.ini file; as in “Addons\@shoepoolhall.pod” vs “@shoepoolhall.pod. I know, I know. It’s a real pain.
You’re welcome :-). (Sorry, I’m all out of wishes now - that’s it.) Maybe this should be # 6. But since you don’t really have to do it . . . Actually you probably don’t need these in this configuration, but you may want them sometime for some reason. Wouldn’t hurt to have them. Drag and drop each FOLDER from the archive into the “podini subfolders” folder you created or for the time being just drop the archive (zip file) intact into the folder. (ZipGenius has an option to extract by folder, others may too.) This is what your MTM2 program folder will look like now. (without the highlights of course)
Now, if you’ve read the help files, you will know that you are now supposed to open the folder
go to each of those gazillion sub-folders that you just downloaded open it, right click the pod.ini file and choose COWPOD - send to desktop
That will result in this Then you rename the file 6. — you don’t have to do that. Just download Ol’ PaPa’s named.ini files, unzip them bad boys, slap ‘em in the “podini named” folder and save yourself some time. It will look like this when you’re done. BTW - Notice that there is an ini named “RnR_CnR.ini” . . . it works, don’t be afraid to use it. I didn’t leave the If you open a pod.ini file, you will notice that all the addon track pod names look like this.
7. Unfortunately, you will have to do the right click, send to desktop thing yourself — unless you wanna fly me to your house for a few minutes. And you’ll have to feed me too. So when you’re done, (I assume most will choose to do it themselves) you will see something like this on your desktop.
From the manual: “This will created a "special" desktop shortcut. When you send a file to the desktop by right clicking, that shortcut will now work exactly the same as if you right clicked the file and chose 'install as pod.ini'. That is, clicking on the shortcut will install the file it's linked to. If you send all your lists to the desktop, you can switch to any list you want without ever opening windows explorer or cowpod. Furthermore, if you drag the icons to the taskbar you can switch with one click. No batch files, no programs to open. Just click and go.” 8. Now what did I do with these special icons? Why stick ‘em all in a folder of course. I named mine “COW Pods” of all things. You do whatever makes your boat float. Just know that these are the fruits of your labor, the little “click click rdy” buggers that we’ve been working for. 9. I too prefer to keep mine down on the task bar it looks like this. (Yeah it was 5:15 AM when I took this shot — so what.) If you don’t know how to do this, it’s right click on the taskbar \ Toolbar \ New Toolbar …, then browse to the folder you put them in. For more information about this procedure go to my web page where I discuss it in depth. It’s more information than most of you need so you can skim through it quickly. Well that’s about it. I know it sounds like a lot of work but it really isn’t. And the rewards are worth it. Now you can throw all your work in process and junk pods in their own folders without stinking up your nice clean MTM2 directory. And if you have to reinstall MTM2 (and who doesn’t from time to time?) just delete a few program files, and have at it. Your pod folders stay intact. Cool! BTW, if you were to put all the pod folders somewhere other than the MTM2 directory, which I think I will eventually do, you could simply uninstall the program and reinstall it. And think how easy it would be to set it back up even if you have to format your HD — provided of course you made backups — which I know you do. That’s it! You’re ready to go. Unless of course . . . You want to go for the gusto!
A. Simply add the two folders highligted in blue - they must be named exactly as you see them for this particular setup — that is, if you are going to use these pod.ini files (in step D. below). See the help manual for more on this. B. Throw all your stock pods into the “stock” folder. C. FIXMORE4.pod goes in the “fixes” folder. D. Now download this file and put it in “podini smart”. Now the pod.ini file shows “Addons”, “fixes” and “stock” prefixes. E. You will have to do the right click, send to desktop thing then put the resultant “special icons” in your “podini smart” file - steps 7, 8 & 9 above. NOTICE: I have done all the procedures described here and have no problems. I have used all three sets of pod.ini files - sub-folders, named and smart (so named because of the reference to “Smart Restore” in the help manual) with no problems. Well . . . that’s not exactly true. After I switched over to the “stock” and “fixer” concept I tried to launch the hbc.ini with no success. Then I realized that I was trying to launch with the old one. Got that fixed and everything is smooooooth sailing now. There are no guarantees of course with anything like this. However, I will say that I feel quite comfortable recommending this to my MTM2 friends. When all’s said and done, I think the effort is time well spent and I can see both immediate and future benefits. Hope this helps some of you. Oh yeah, did you notice that folder named CPODPlay? That’s one of those off-the-wall deals well suited to its own folder. Amongst other things, I made copies of all our CnR pods, converted them to circuits with CH_2005’s handy dandy MTM2 tools — C-POD. I think I’m going to learn to enjoy that amazing piece of work too. CH was kind enough to give me permission to use the online documentation (that I found out Phin wrote - lol) to make a pdf file for the C-POD manual. I have a problem reading a lot on the monitor and I find it much easier to have something printed. You ought to see my collection of three-ringed binders. LOL! Anyhow, that sure makes it easier on me - maybe some of you too. Get your copy from here or here. One last thing. If any of you see something here that’s not correct, isn’t clear, or causes any kind of problem, or if you have any kind of suggestion as to how this could be better or more completely presented, please let me know. It won’t hurt my feelings. My goal is to have good, accurate, intelligible information here. Phin has already visited and offered some suggestions. Thanks, I appreciate it. Much appreciation for all everyone does for this MTM Community. THANKS!
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Fortunately for you, your SLO_PaPa has granted your wish and did the work for you. Get ‘em 
being placed on your desktop
‘s out either, even though I can’t imagine it’s too hard to mount one pod. Oh right, Cope — I forgot . . . sorry. 
Now all that’s left to do is find someplace handy to put a shortcut to the folder so you can get to them quickly. You know those SLO folks don’t like to wait on ya’ whilst you’re switchin’ lists.
In that case . . . your whole MTM2 directory can look like this little thing to the right. 
