How to manage your map collection

[lea0342]

Hi! i was thinking how the people to downloaded thousands of megawads, etc, manage their collections, mostly regardling to how you keep the record of what did you already played and your progress on that particular megawad.

Right now what i did from the beginning, (without thinking a lot about how to manage this collection i have until now) its to have a directory structure for heretic, other for hexen, other for doom and another for doom2 for vanilla/boom/zdoom source port compatible for every game, something like this:

/Games/doom/wads$ tree -d -L 2
├── base <- Here i have all iwads
├── chex <- Here i have all pwads for chex
├── custom <- Here i have all pwads for levels i made
│   └── oblige <- Here i have all pwads i made with oblige
├── doom
│   ├── boom <- Here i have all pwads for doom boom format
│   ├── vanilla <- Here i have all pwads for doom vanillaformat
│   └── zdoom <- Here i have all pwads for doom (g)zdoom format
├── doom2
│   ├── boom <- Here i have all pwads for doom boom format
│   ├── deathmatch <- Here i have all pwads for doom deathmatch
│   ├── vanilla <- Here i have all pwads for doom vanilla format
│   └── zdoom <- Here i have all pwads for doom (g)zdoom format
├── heretic
│   ├── vanilla <- Here i have all pwads for heretic vanila format
│   └── zdoom <- Here i have all pwads for heretic boom format
├── hexen
│   ├── vanilla <- Here i have all pwads for hexen vanilla format
│   └── zdoom <- Here i have all pwads for hexen (g)zdoom format
├── plutonia
│   └── boom <- Here i have all pwads for plutonia boom format
└── tnt
└── vanilla <- Here i have all pwads for tnt vanilla format

And in a plain text file i have a history of to what level i did already play (and win), like this:
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/back_to_basics
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/base_ganymede
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/castevil
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/ch_retro_episode,started,e1:5
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/cleim10
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/concerned,started,e1:3
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/crusades,started,e4:7
~/Games/doom/wads/doom/vanilla/death_tormention,started,e4:6
... (you got the idea i think)

But as i also play Quake a lot, and did the same for it, i was thinking maybe you guys have some other method of keeping your levels history for those games you play, im eager to read your replyes! thank you!

[Rachael]

Code: Select all

C:\>dir d:\AutoMounts\GZDoom.vhd
 Volume in drive D is External
 Volume Serial Number is 48B7-E5D7

 Directory of d:\AutoMounts

07/22/2018  11:26 PM    28,360,585,216 GZDoom.vhd
               1 File(s) 28,360,585,216 bytes
               0 Dir(s)  549,036,969,984 bytes free

C:\>

They're all in there.

No one knows what's inside there.

It's where everything goes.

>_>

[drfrag]

The stuff i'm playing/testing in c:\temp\gzdoom, most of the stuff on the hard drive in c:\temp BTW.
Archived important wads go to c:\backup\doom and c:\backup\doom2. (but on other computer i must say )
And development stuff in c:\dev and c:\devtools.

[Caligari87]

Running on Linux, here's what my directory structure looks like

Code: Select all

~/Programs/Doom/
  Mods/
    Enhancers/
    Gameplay/
      Hideous Destructor/
    Maps/
      Oblige/
    Standalone/
      Blade of Agony/
      Total Chaos/
  Projects/
    darkdoomz/
    hd-scavenger/
    oblige/
    Resources/

Obviously the sub-sub folders aren't everything I have, but that should give an idea roughly how it's arranged. Most of the stuff in Projects is github repositories of my own, or others I do work on from time to time. Mods/maps get their own subfolder if they have extraneous files needed to run. For example, under Hideous Destructor I have repository clones pointing to both the current unstable master and the latest stable release commit, plus a detailed launcher script with my favorite mutators pre-defined.

---

This is an older version, but still representative. I take my Hideous Destructor seriously.

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash

build=" hd-stable/ "
modlist=
enhancedmods=

while :
do
    case "$1" in
        -e | --enhanced)
            echo "ENABLING ENHANCERS"
            enhancedmods=" ../../Enhancers/SpriteShadow\ v1.5.pk3 "
            enhancedmods+=" ../../Enhancers/TiltPlusPlus\ v1.5.pk3 "
            enhancedmods+=" ../../Enhancers/subdued_lights_attenuated.pk3 "
            enhancedmods+=" ../../Enhancers/SBrightmaps.pk3 "
            enhancedmods+=" ../../../Projects/darkdoomz/ "
            enhancedmods+="    ../../Enhancers/ambiencepack.wad "
            shift
            ;;
        -f | --file)
            modlist+=" $2 "
            shift 2
            ;;
        -u | --unstable)
            echo "RUNNING LATEST UNSTABLE TEST BUILD"
            cd hd-unstable
            git pull
            cd ..
            build=" hd-unstable/ "
            shift
            ;;
        --)
            shift
            break
            ;;
        -*)
            echo "Unknown Option"
            exit 1
            ;;
        *)
            break
            ;;
    esac
done

gzdoom -config gzdoom-hideous.ini -file $modlist$build$enhancedmods

[Nash]

I just dump stuff I'm playing on the desktop and when I'm done with them I just delete them.

[Graf Zahl]

One directory with everything in it, PWAD search path set to the folder, a batch alongside gzdoom.exe, so when I want to play I just type 'l wadname.

[Kinsie]

I actually cleaned up my mods folder today.


"Doomsought" is stuff downloaded by Doomseeker the one or two times a year I play Zandronum. Everything else should be more or less self-explanatory.


The ".waz" files are just the original ZIP files, but with different settings so there's a right-click option to load them directly into GZDoom. (PK3s and such have the same option, of course, but it's nice to keep things distinct.)

No subdirectories except for mods like QC:DE or DRLA that have multiple files.

[Rachael]

.waz

I like that.

[Caligari87]

I realized recently I very much need to start saving the textfiles for the wads I download from idgames. I generally just extract the .wad and dump the rest.

[lea0342]

Thank you for all the replies! so interesting for me that no one yet seems to have a personal record of the already played maps, i didnt expect that really jaja what happens to me is that i start some megawads and i did not complete them, so with that record of the megawads played and the map number where i left them, i can continue in any given source port depending on my mood (and compativility of the map) if i want a more chocolate-or-gzdoom(modded) experience.

[JadedLexi]

I have something similar to what Kinsie has, but only two folders for levels and gameplay mods, and the levels are all broken up into separate folders based on what category they are.

[Zen3001]

That's a lot better organized than my wad directory, I don't even know half of the wads here

Code: Select all

Z:.
│   20mp.pk3
│   aircontrol.wad
│   aircontrol.wad.bak
│   ali-baba.wad
│   AshesWadDemo.wad
│   BlackGreenTechTexturesPack.wad
│   Blitzbleat.pk3
│   blood.wad
│   BloodDemon.wad
│   Butcher.wad
│   CerDeath.wad
│   Class_Ep.wad
│   DarkClaw.wad
│   dca2techtest.pk3
│   deag2.wad
│   deagle.wad
│   deagtest.wad
│   DeathMachine.wad
│   dinspmp.wad
│   DOOM2.WAD
│   Doom3_E1Demo.pk3
│   drkenctr.wad
│   droplets_unlimited_v12.pk3
│   droplets_v15.pk3
│   droplets_v15_red.pk3
│   DTWID.wad
│   e1m8b.wad
│   EgyptSOCHeretic.wad
│   fluids.pk3
│   gloom.pk3
│   gz-models.pk3
│   GZAshes055Demo.pk3
│   GZ_Canion.pk3
│   HD_Textures.wad
│   healthmod.WAD
│   HellUponEarthAlpha1.wad
│   hump.wad
│   ic2005.wad
│   Item_3DModels.pk3
│   JUPCARN3.wad
│   lmtemple.WAD
│   lmtmple2.pk3
│   MATRIX.WAD
│   MerryChristmas.dbs
│   MerryChristmas.wad.backup1
│   MerryChristmas.wad.backup2
│   MerryChristmas.wad.backup3
│   MerryChristmas.wad.bak
│   MM.WAD
│   moving_floor.dbs
│   moving_floor.wad
│   moving_floor.wad.backup1
│   moving_floor.zip
│   mpmp02.wad
│   MyProject.pk3
│   mytest.wad
│   mytest2.wad
│   NASHBLOOD_FIXED.PK3
│   nashblud.pk3
│   nashmove.pk3
│   nashmove.pk3.bak
│   nazigold.wad
│   njwlgzd.pk3
│   obcdemo.pk3
│   obcfull.pk3
│   obcfull.pk3.bak
│   obcguns.wad
│   obcguns.wad.bak
│   OverUnderShotgun.pk3.zip
│   PetTheCacodemon.pk3
│   pwslvtex.wad
│   q1tex.wad
│   Randy'sDeath.wad
│   RAS_0.1.pk3
│   ReadMe.txt
│   reikallhereticvoxels.pk3
│   REKKR.wad
│   RetroEps.wad
│   Retro_dm.wad
│   rott_tc_full.pk3
│   rv.wad
│   samsara-v0.3666-beta.pk3
│   selfmadestuff.wad
│   Serious Sidhe.wad
│   SkulldashExpandedEdition.pk3
│   SS_RETRO_ENCOUNTER_2018.pk3
│   story.txt
│   sv_timescale.pk3
│   Table.wad
│   Tilt%2B%2B.pk3
│   title.txt
│   treemodel.pk3
│   treemodel.pk3.bak
│   TVR!.WAD
│   ultd2.wad
│   unmaker.wad
│   V01d.wad
│   voxghst.wad
│   WadPicker.bat
│   Winter's Fury.wad
│   winterwonderlandslushball.pk3
│   Wolfenstein - Machines of Death.pk3
│   wt1(completed).wad
│   WTH.wad
│   ZGuiExample.pk3
│   ZMC-SODREV.PK3
│   ZREDNECK.pk3
│
├───enh
│   │   bulletz.pk3
│   │   D1SPFX19.WAD
│   │   D2SPFX19.WAD
│   │   GZSHud.pk3
│   │   nashmove.pk3
│   │   ZScript.txt
│   │
│   ├───gore
│   │       bitz-bloodysimpleblood-v0.1.pk3
│   │       BloodFixer.wad
│   │       droplets-dD_Blood.pk3
│   │       droplets_v15_fixed.PK3
│   │       droplets_vanilla.pk3
│   │       RDND16.pk3
│   │       RDNDTEST.wad
│   │       UniversalGibs-master.zip
│   │
│   ├───hud
│   │       chex_wide.wad
│   │       doom_wide.wad
│   │       freedm_wide.wad
│   │       hacx_wide.wad
│   │       harm1_wide.wad
│   │       square1_wide.wad
│   │
│   └───movementcontrol
│           aircontrol.wad
│           aircontrol.wad.bak
│           jumpcontrol.wad
│
├───gp_mod
│   │   bdmonsters20bqfix.pk3
│   │   BDoom631.pk3
│   │   BDoom632.pk3
│   │   Bratwurst-Monsters_V3b.wad
│   │   brutalv20b_R.pk3
│   │   CK_SpaceHunter_V1.1.pk3
│   │   DeadMarinev0.9.2.pk3
│   │   Doom4ever.WAD
│   │   satanicredux-v108.pk3
│   │   Trailblazer_v1.4.pk3
│   │   Trailblazer_v1.4b.pk3
│   │   ww-nazis-dev-20170504_203605.pk3
│   │   ww-terror-realnames.pk3
│   │   ww-terror.pk3
│   │   wwhc-diaz.wad
│   │   xxls-AOD.pk3.zip
│   │   ZION_HD.pk3
│   │
│   └───weapon
│           1-Battlefield3Doom.pk3
│           DukeDoomed.pk3.zip
│           flak_m-master.zip
│           Guncaster.pk3
│           LePhantomV0.15.pk3
│           weapons_of_saturn.pk3
│           [L]Dishonored - Lite v1.0.2.wad
│
└───maps
    │   Baneful.wad
    │   concern.wad
    │   CRAP115.WAD
    │   D2TWID.wad
    │   DESCENT.wad
    │   DUpart1.wad
    │   FAVA.WAD
    │   fth666.wad
    │   ge1-sso.wad
    │   gl_lighthouse.wad
    │   ioutpost.wad
    │   PAFINAL.WAD
    │   STRG_M28.wad
    │   STRG_RC1.txt
    │   STRG_RC1.wad
    │   Valiant.wad
    │   WolfmapV9.wad
    │   WolfmapV92.wad
    │
    ├───doom64
    │       D64RTR[v1.4a].WAD
    │       D64RTR_BRIGHTMAPS.PK3
    │
    ├───edgetest
    │       glbsp.exe
    │       MAP01.dbs
    │       map01.gwa
    │       MAP01.wad
    │       map011.dbs
    │       map011.wad
    │       map011.wad.bak
    │       map012.wad
    │
    ├───Eric's
    │       KILLER.TXT
    │       KILLER.WAD
    │       UACLABS.TXT
    │       UACLABS.WAD
    │
    ├───mymaps
    │   │   1hlimit.wad
    │   │   castleinhell.dbs
    │   │   castleinhell.wad
    │   │   castleinhell.wad.backup1
    │   │   castleinhell2.wad
    │   │   d1sm01.wad
    │   │   jkev2.wad
    │   │   JTS.wad
    │   │   MAP01.wad
    │   │   MerryChristmas.wad
    │   │   MerryChristmas.wad.bak
    │   │   metalmaker.dbs
    │   │   metalmaker.wad
    │   │   metalmaker.wad.backup1
    │   │   metalmaker.wad.backup2
    │   │   metalmaker.wad.backup3
    │   │   metalmaker_old.wad
    │   │   schulprojekt.pk3
    │   │   schulprojekt.pk3.bak
    │   │   sewer666.wad
    │   │   test.zip
    │   │
    │   ├───3dge
    │   │       MAP01.dbs
    │   │       MAP01.wad
    │   │       test01.dbs
    │   │       test01.wad
    │   │
    │   ├───white_deathmatch
    │   │       textures.wad
    │   │       ZENDM2.wad
    │   │
    │   └───zmapack
    │       │   BLDSA0.png
    │       │   demo.wad
    │       │   D_RUNNIN.midi
    │       │   MAP05.dbs
    │       │   MAP05.wad
    │       │   Z5MDEMO.txt
    │       │   Z5MDEMO.zip
    │       │   Zen5MDemo.dbs
    │       │   Zen5MDemo.wad.backup1
    │       │   ZenMPack-ReadMe.txt
    │       │   ZenMPack.dbs
    │       │   ZenMPack.wad
    │       │   ZenMPack.wad.backup1
    │       │   ZenMPack.wad.backup2
    │       │   ZenMPack.wad.backup3
    │       │   ZenMPack.wad.bak
    │       │   ZMP01.dbs
    │       │   ZMP01.wad
    │       │   ZMP01.wad.backup1
    │       │   ZMP01.wad.backup2
    │       │   ZMP01.wad.backup3
    │       │   ZMP01vtest.dbs
    │       │   ZMP02.wad
    │       │   ZMP03.wad
    │       │   ZMP04.dbs
    │       │   ZMP04.wad
    │       │   ZMP05.dbs
    │       │   ZMP05.wad
    │       │   ZMP05.wad.backup1
    │       │   ZMP05.wad.backup2
    │       │   ZMP05.wad.backup3
    │       │   ZMP05.wad.bak
    │       │   ZMP06.dbs
    │       │   ZMP06.wad
    │       │   ZMP06.wad.backup1
    │       │   ZMP06.wad.backup2
    │       │   ZMP06.wad.backup3
    │       │   ZMP07.dbs
    │       │   ZMP07.WAD
    │       │   ZMP07.WAD.backup1
    │       │   ZMP07.WAD.backup2
    │       │   ZMP07.WAD.backup3
    │       │
    │       └───demoscrns
    │               1.png
    │               2.png
    │               200102.jpg
    │               3.png
    │               4.png
    │               5.png
    │               6.png
    │               7.png
    │               8.png
    │               9.png
    │               bb-codes.bat
    │               imgur.bat
    │
    ├───PhobosTheDoomedMoon
    │       PhobDoomMus.wad
    │       PhobosDoomed.wad
    │
    └───xmas
            MAP03X99.wad
            XMAS99.WAD

[Apeirogon]

zdl/pack for gameplay mods and related stuff
zdl/wads for iwads
zdl/wads/maps for maps and related stuff

so interesting for me that no one yet seems to have a personal record of the already played maps

After I complete any map/s I open folder with it and rename it, adding some !!!!!! to the end of a name, like doom2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.wad, so I know that I walkthrough it.
If some map/s "touched the thin strings of my soul" I add !!!!!! at the beginning of the name too, so I get !!!!!!!!!!doom2!!!!!!!!!!!!!.wad

[Caligari87]

That's horrifying.

I mean, you do you man, but wouldn't it be easier and more organized (and less eye-searingly exclamatory) to move completed stuff to a "finished" folder and have an "favorites" folder inside that?

[Apeirogon]

That's horrifying.

I mean, you do you man, but wouldn't it be easier and more organized (and less eye-searingly exclamatory) to move completed stuff to a "finished" folder and have an "favorites" folder inside that?

In my case, all wads with similar names would be placed next to each other, so I can easily see that I have several copies of alien vendetta or caco invasion.
This is because I blindly download maps from idgames according to principle "download all what got under the mouse cursor".