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76 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
76 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
# Spreading Files over multiple drivers
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<img src="../../wiki_icons/pixelitos/folder-blue-games.png" width="50">
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Spreading files over other:
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- Internal drives
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- External drives
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- NAS
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- Other
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Can be done with `Symbolic Links`.
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For more technical details - read more about [Symbolic Links on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolic_link)
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If you are used to a Windows environment `Symbolic Links` are NOT the same as `Windows Shortcuts`-
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A `Symbolic Link` act as the file was in the place you are linking to and the software will interpret it as such.
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We later plan to add tools for this in the `RetroDECK Configurator` to make it even easier.
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### 🛑 Warning 🛑
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- You can not have RetroDECK open while doing creating the `Symbolic Links` as the games are loaded on boot.
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- You should after adding a `Symbolic Links` and got it working never unplug the external drive from RetroDECK while it is running.
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- If you are making changes to the always `Symbolic Links` close down RetroDECK, make the changes and then relaunch it.
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### Other recommendations
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- If you are on a Steam Deck, this needs to be done in `Desktop Mode`.
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- On the drive you want to add it is recommended to create a folder for in this example the Wii games so you don't need to create a symbolic link for each game and just do one link to the folder to be interpret as a subfolder within RetroDECK's ES-DE interface.
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## Creating Symbolic Links: Example Wii Games
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This example will be written from the standpoint of the KDE Desktop environment used by SteamOS and many others systems. If you are on Gnome/XFCE or any other desktop environment the procedure should be similar else consult your desktop environment website.
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**Example problem:**
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You have several backups of Wii games you want to add to `~/retrodeck/roms/wii/`.
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Let's say that those backups are on an external called `2nddrive` drive in in a folder called `wii games`.
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So the path when you go into the folder from the Desktop GUI could be (in this example):
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`/var/mnt/2nddrive/wii games`
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### Creating from the GUI
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1. Go into your `~/retrodeck/roms/wii/` folder.
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2. `Right Click` on an empty space and press `Create New` - `Link to file or folder`.
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3. Press the open file browser button.
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4. Press `Folder`.
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5. Navigate to the `/var/mnt/2nddrive/wii games` folder (or where ever you store the games).
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6. Highlight the `wii games` folder and press OK.
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Now the Symbolic Link has been created and will show up in the ES-DE interface for RetroDECK.
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When you navigate to wii game section the `wii games` folder should be accessible from the ES-DE menu as a subfolder with all the games.
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### Other files
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You can also link other files this way such as individual games instead of folders or save files etc...
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## Advanced Usage: Replacing entire systems or functions with Symbolic Links (Not Recommended!!)
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This is not something we recommend doing as it cause link breakage with with upcoming updates to RetroDECK.
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Do not do this unless you really really know what you are doing and this might be a hit or miss depending on your system.
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You could in theory delete a system folder lets say `~/retrodeck/roms/wii/` or even a `~/retrodeck/roms/saves/wii/` or `~/retrodeck/roms/states/wii/` or what ever folder or subfolder under `~/retrodeck/` and put is as a symbolic link to another place.
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**Example Wii:**
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Create a symbolic link from `~/retrodeck/roms/` to a folder on an external drive called `wii` and only have those games stored on an external drive permanently.
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