- Sep 29, 2021
- 32
- 58
@SonsOfLiberty - thanks for the detail, i am sure it will help others. You may be interested in the below info and exactly 'why' I could not open a project in the first place - bug/broken function handling linux filesystems on the renpy sdk software!
Notes for linux user/developers (aka people using the renpy authoring tool/sdk):
To find the correct sdk version, the info is placed in the 'About' page after game is launched, so if you can open, then I suppose someone can ask someone here.
The preferences > (set) 'Project Directory' while even retaining a set path to project will run into basic path/permissions issues. I even tested again now after-the-fact of verfiying this by attempting from the now local, portable zip 'install' of the sdk to simple set project directory to another local user permissive location and still no project would display. Very poor and obviously the source of confusion or a big problem many linux will run into (solely the failure and fault of renpy software developers who obviously don't use or thoroughly test their software on linux for actual sdk use). 99% of other software for example whether graphic, video editors, toos, other sdk, file managers of course can and usually are installed into system at root level and you may note of course you there are no path/permissions issues. Renpy another story, busted in this context.
So in other words, to keep it simple and "working," it is advised for many reasons I won't get into, to simply download the sdk direct from renpy site, in its purely portable form via zip and then copy/move project directly inside it - then no problems. PS. the authoring tool 'renpy' and 'renpy-sdk' packages on repos or out there are one in the same actually. These builds are not renpy software developers fault or responsibility but I would just avoid installing them again for a variety of reasons.
The whole question, issue, process was indeed very simple IF Renpy SDK worked as stated with ability to simple 'import/access a project via preferences > 'Project Directory' which it will not in many typical cases. Setting the 'project directory' to other partition/drives for example will not work; have the software installed at the secured root level and then trying to set the project/vn will likely fail due to permissions and frankly bad coding aka 'bug' (i would call it when something is designed and labelled for a function that does not work 90% of cases on linux).
What is funny is that I personally very much am a fan of how Renpy bundles their software! With all libs, exe and sh, but the failure to test this crucial import/access function, and as actually stated with zero error checking is one of the worst failures on a GUI application, I've seen in a while. What is worse is too see a v8+ and no one else has caught this issue.
Hopefully this information and discovery will help others
So..
#1 download a portable sdk zip copy on linux direct from Renpy.
[As stated you will probably need the matching sdk version. You can locate this info, on "About" screen after launching the renpy game. If you can't open it (obviously) well I suppose you can ask on forum, which version]
Put this anywhere you want, in local, non-root user permissive directory or location.
#2 Copy/move the renpy game into the parent sdk folder, extracted from the zip of course. Now the game will definitely be listed. You can then select/highlight with mouse.
#3 You can then either launch/test or chose the Build option to export it.
Do not rely or bother to set preferences > 'Project Directory.' Bad issues and it won't work in many instances as of version 8.2.1 UPDATE: yes the preferences > "Project directory" did not even matter. I tested setting to zero setting as well as a different folder than actual project and it in every case just exported to the parent sdk folder. So at least on linux, the preference is useless and will confuse/misguide. You have to 'import' a project by placing it directly in folder to access/open/build.
Notes for linux user/developers (aka people using the renpy authoring tool/sdk):
To find the correct sdk version, the info is placed in the 'About' page after game is launched, so if you can open, then I suppose someone can ask someone here.
The preferences > (set) 'Project Directory' while even retaining a set path to project will run into basic path/permissions issues. I even tested again now after-the-fact of verfiying this by attempting from the now local, portable zip 'install' of the sdk to simple set project directory to another local user permissive location and still no project would display. Very poor and obviously the source of confusion or a big problem many linux will run into (solely the failure and fault of renpy software developers who obviously don't use or thoroughly test their software on linux for actual sdk use). 99% of other software for example whether graphic, video editors, toos, other sdk, file managers of course can and usually are installed into system at root level and you may note of course you there are no path/permissions issues. Renpy another story, busted in this context.
So in other words, to keep it simple and "working," it is advised for many reasons I won't get into, to simply download the sdk direct from renpy site, in its purely portable form via zip and then copy/move project directly inside it - then no problems. PS. the authoring tool 'renpy' and 'renpy-sdk' packages on repos or out there are one in the same actually. These builds are not renpy software developers fault or responsibility but I would just avoid installing them again for a variety of reasons.
The whole question, issue, process was indeed very simple IF Renpy SDK worked as stated with ability to simple 'import/access a project via preferences > 'Project Directory' which it will not in many typical cases. Setting the 'project directory' to other partition/drives for example will not work; have the software installed at the secured root level and then trying to set the project/vn will likely fail due to permissions and frankly bad coding aka 'bug' (i would call it when something is designed and labelled for a function that does not work 90% of cases on linux).
What is funny is that I personally very much am a fan of how Renpy bundles their software! With all libs, exe and sh, but the failure to test this crucial import/access function, and as actually stated with zero error checking is one of the worst failures on a GUI application, I've seen in a while. What is worse is too see a v8+ and no one else has caught this issue.
Hopefully this information and discovery will help others
So..
#1 download a portable sdk zip copy on linux direct from Renpy.
[As stated you will probably need the matching sdk version. You can locate this info, on "About" screen after launching the renpy game. If you can't open it (obviously) well I suppose you can ask on forum, which version]
Put this anywhere you want, in local, non-root user permissive directory or location.
#2 Copy/move the renpy game into the parent sdk folder, extracted from the zip of course. Now the game will definitely be listed. You can then select/highlight with mouse.
#3 You can then either launch/test or chose the Build option to export it.
Do not rely or bother to set preferences > 'Project Directory.' Bad issues and it won't work in many instances as of version 8.2.1 UPDATE: yes the preferences > "Project directory" did not even matter. I tested setting to zero setting as well as a different folder than actual project and it in every case just exported to the parent sdk folder. So at least on linux, the preference is useless and will confuse/misguide. You have to 'import' a project by placing it directly in folder to access/open/build.
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