It will be interesting to see how these P3Dv3 linkage and prioritization features work as they are more fully explored and tested.
FYI: Developers who wish install their 3rd party add-on (
not replacement) content
outside the [P3Dv3 install path] local root and nested sub-folder chain, may wish to consider using
directory (aka "
folder") symbolic links via
Junction v1.06 By Mark Russinovich, available from Windows Sysinternals at:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896768.aspx
This freeware utility by one of Microsoft's top programmers can be used via a installer or configurator utility, a script, 'DOS' batch file, etc. to make and break a junction link with a remote folder (and all files within it), such that they 'appear' to be located inside the local folder (...but actually are
NOT inside the local folder.).
CAVEAT: The risk with such types of Reparse points (which are the mechanism on which NTFS junctions are based) is that 'delete' operations on the local folder may also impact files in the remote folder.
Although not infallible, setting the "READ-ONLY" attribute flag on 3rd party source files in remote folders might help protect them from mishaps.
A somewhat better option, IMHO, is use of
symbolic link (aka "
SymLink")
clones placed as 0-byte '
hard links' in [P3Dv3 install path] local root and nested sub-folders as links to individual
files physically located in a remote folder; the advantage is that delete operations on the local folder may impact
only the symbolic link (aka "SymLink") clones in the local folder ...and do
not impact the actual "source" files in the remote folder.
IMHO, the best implementation of this system is
Link Shell Extension by Hermann Schinagl:
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html
The disadvantage of
Link Shell Extension (in its current form), is that it is
not accessible by a command mode method, and instead
requires manual procedures performed via the right click context menu in Windows Explorer Shell Extensions.
I would like to find another such utility
accessible by a command mode method, which can create and delete such symbolic link (aka "SymLink") clones (
...anybody know of one which which is free to use for both personal and commercial pourposes, and is accessible by a command mode method ?)
Obviously both the "P3Dv3 3PD" and end-user communities would benefit from a 'rich' feature set in P3Dv3 for linkage and prioritization of add-on content, which would eliminate the complexities (and risks) associated with exercising ones legal right to use obscure features that already exist in the Windows NTFS file system (and which should, IMHO,
not be interpreted as "
EULA work-arounds").
Some related references:
How to create and manipulate NTFS junction points
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/205524
Overview to Understanding Hard Links, Junction Points and Symbolic Links in Windows
http://comptb.cects.com/overview-to...unction-points-and-symbolic-links-in-windows/
Complete Guide to Symbolic Links (symlinks) on Windows
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16226/complete-guide-to-symbolic-links-symlinks-on-windows-or-linux/
NTFS symbolic link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_symbolic_link
Hope this helps !
GaryGB