AddonSync2009 (downloader, launcher)

[Yoma]

Hi all,

I think the time has come to finally make a dedicated post in this forum that points to AddonSync2009.
You can download it here.
You can view what's been done/what's up for next version here.
You can view the bugtracker here.

Some basic demonstration movies (yes they are crappy,maximise your browser and be a bit patient)

• Adding a server and launching Arma
• Some launching tricks
• An example for downloading addons
• Arma 2 beta warnings

The tool requires .NET 2.0 or higher.

Features:

• Download/upload sets of addons (great for squads/servers that use addons). The basic goal here is to keep people in sync with the addons the server uses. It can also be used to deploy an ever changing mod, as Kju has proven quite well with CAA1. It uses MD5 checksums for files and can verify individual files.
• Launch Arma(2), various launch options, including "modsets" (which are simply groups of addonfolders), these groups can be given a relevant name and are also linked to the server, so you don't have to go look for the correct addons to use each time you connect to a server.
• Check who's playing/what mission/server parameters realtime. Can also monitor a server and autolaunch Arma(2) with different conditions (stuff like autolaunch when game restarts, autolaunch when a player slot becomes available)
• Look for servers via Gamespy Query. You can create and save your own custom filters, the tool also pings servers, launches game straight from gamespy query list or offers the opportunity to add a server to your defaults list.
• Has a "favorites" server list and can query the favorites list, so you can quickly see what's going on, only on the servers you want to see.
• Easily launch beta versions without the need to select beta executable (just select the beta folder in a modset).
• Upon downloading addons, create hardlinks to files that would otherwise be duplicated on your disk.
• Active check for Arma2 beta versions (it actually compares the build version you have in your beta folder to the latest published online build and will only warn you if you have a different beta version)
• Can launch a dedicated server (great for testing addons) using the same modset as the one you use for launching the game.
• Can autolaunch any program you want before launching the game. (Great for joystick profilers, voip stuff etc), built-in support for launching TeamSpeak.
• Basic multilanguage support, will need some people for translations soon.
• Get basic context sensitive help (English only) by pressing F1 on the form you're seeing.
• Scripted builds (and uploads) of online mod repositories, automated signing process for addons. (server admins can even autogenerate private keys) The signing process requires the BIS sign tools to be installed.

Feel free to post your comments, suggestions, requests here or even better yet post them in the bugtracker on devheaven (or via the "report bug" button inside the tool).
If you need help (setting it up as a server admin) feel free to contact me via PM. I'll be sure to contact you as I get time.
Special thanks goes out to all the people that have commited time to reporting bugs, requesting features and generally being in support of my effords.
Very special thanks to Kju, you are a great guy!

[Sneaker-78-]

Tnks Yoma ,

I always liked it to use, its a verry handy tool for my server with addons

[Cross]

Great stuff Yoma..as always. Good that you decided to post-up a dedicated thread.
I use it a lot, especially for external server/ongoing game and player listing, My in-game list does not populate all the MP servers due to Win7x64.

[.kju [PvPscene]]

Great tool! Makes addon downloading so much easier.

Yoma uses the actual list element in your post.
It makes the post more readable.

[andersson]

A powerful tool no doubt!

I have however heard from quote a few of my online friends that they dont understand it. I agree that this new version is more intimidating.
If you could make it more "out of the box" userfriendly and make all fancy features available for the ones that needs them maybe?
I also used your old arma version as a gamelauncher, not to connect to servers. i can do it with this too, but it wasnt so intuitive in the beginning.

My thought is if its setup more like a launcher more people would use it and get used to it. Rigt now I hear too much "naah, it seems so complicated". And thats a waste of something this powerful and good.

[NoRailgunner]

Nice tool and with F1 helpfile included. Maybe this helpfile should have an extra Step-by-Step guide and additional on buttons some mouseover tip/help? Btw is it possible to save the size of Yoma Launcher window - everytime its opening as full screen? Thanks!

[andersson]

Go to settings and unhook the maximise at start Had the same "problem" (maybe it should be an optioin, not as default?).

[Alpha-Kilo]

I agree with andersson and NoRailGunner. Anything which makes this powerful tool more userfriendly is welcome and a step-by-step guide seems a good idea to me.

I don't know if this is even possible, but in my opinion a product combining the features of apinestar's launcher and Yoma's downloading tool would be a great thing to have. And then sites like armaholic, sw-depot, etc. should be using it, so that anyone can easily keep their addon-folders up-to-date and choose the right combination of mods for any given type of game or mission. I daresay that more servers would tolerate addons if it was simpler for the players to have the correct versions running on their computers. This in turn might motivate more people to create content, which would be good for the whole community.

As it is now, I only download addons which are required by the mission I want to play and when in doubt I choose a mission which doesn't require too many addons.

[Yoma]

I don't know if this is even possible, but in my opinion a product combining the features of apinestar's launcher and Yoma's downloading tool would be a great thing to have.

What exactly can Alpinestar's launcher do that AddonSync2009 can not?

[NoRailgunner]

hehe sorry and thanks - found the maximize option and unchecked it
Yoma I think most players are bit lazy to create modsets they simply like the fast paced point&click thingy.