Please stop placing StreamFab/DVDFab files in "My Documents"

KidJoe

my My Documents folder is being backed up (synchronized) with Microsoft OneDrive. Because of that I do not like the default folders going to My Documents.

Even though I have changed the default folders to be:

Log Directory: C:/- C/StreamFab/Log
Temp Directory: C:/- C/StreamFab/Temp
Download Directory (Custom): F:/BluRay-Working/- DVDFab10/DVDFab Downloader

For a while that wasn't a problem. NOW I'm seeing a products.json file being created in MyDocuments\DVDFab\StreamFab. This file stays open and OneDrive errors because its open.

Why is StreamFab writing to my My Documents!?!?!

october262

my My Documents folder is being backed up (synchronized) with Microsoft OneDrive. Because of that I do not like the default folders going to My Documents.

Even though I have changed the default folders to be:

Log Directory: C:/- C/StreamFab/Log
Temp Directory: C:/- C/StreamFab/Temp
Download Directory (Custom): F:/BluRay-Working/- DVDFab10/DVDFab Downloader

For a while that wasn't a problem. NOW I'm seeing a products.json file being created in MyDocuments\DVDFab\StreamFab. This file stays open and OneDrive errors because its open.

Why is StreamFab writing to my My Documents!?!?!

KidJoe

you can choose what folders to sync to your computer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/choose-which-onedrive-folders-to-sync-to-your-computer-98b8b011-8b94-419b-aa95-a14ff2415e85

radiah

You can change this yourself under Settings > General in StreamFab. I mean seriously, this has always been an option. Change the respective folders to where you want them!
--Radiah

Sebastian001

@KidJoe is right, the problem has been around for a few versions with this products.json garbage. Even if you change the general temporary locations, this folder is exempt!

I have pointed this out in a ticket before, but it fell on deaf ears.

AnttDvdFab

you can choose what folders to sync to your computer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/choose-which-onedrive-folders-to-sync-to-your-computer-98b8b011-8b94-419b-aa95-a14ff2415e85
october262

Per your own link, you can't uncheck Documents because it - and everything in it is considered "important" to the PC.

You cannot uncheck certain folders which are important to the PC, including Documents, Desktop, Pictures and your Personal Vault folder.
[HR][/HR]

You can change this yourself under Settings > General in StreamFab. I mean seriously, this has always been an option. Change the respective folders to where you want them!
--Radiah
radiah

Even with all setting changed to different locations, files are still written to the Documents folder during installation. I don't have the same issue as KidJoe where the file stays open causing Sync errors, but I agree that the My Documents folder should be for MY documents, not for application assets. Those belong under AppData or in the install folder!

@Wilson.Wang If you are listening...

walker189

You can change this yourself under Settings > General in StreamFab. I mean seriously, this has always been an option. Change the respective folders to where you want them!
--Radiah
radiah

This does NOT prevent the core installation from putting files into the shared Documents folder. What is needed is the ability to choose an installation location for the software on initial install, not just a relocation option for post installation files

radiah

This does NOT prevent the core installation from putting files into the shared Documents folder. What is needed is the ability to choose an installation location for the software on initial install, not just a relocation option for post installation files
walker189

Then, as October262 pointed out, you can simply uncheck those subfolders within Documents, so they do not sync. While I agree that these files do not belong within My Documents, this is something that is easily resolvable by the methods discussed until such time as the devs move it to a proper location.
--Radiah

KidJoe

you can choose what folders to sync to your computer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/choose-which-onedrive-folders-to-sync-to-your-computer-98b8b011-8b94-419b-aa95-a14ff2415e85
october262

Except you can't, or at least I CAN'T. The boxes are grayed out, and unclickable.

I tried with Make All files available checked and unchecked.

KidJoe

You can change this yourself under Settings > General in StreamFab. I mean seriously, this has always been an option. Change the respective folders to where you want them!
--Radiah
radiah

Thank you, but I mean "seriously" re-read my post. I already said:
[quote]Even though I have changed the default folders to be:

Log Directory: C:/- C/StreamFab/Log
Temp Directory: C:/- C/StreamFab/Temp
Download Directory (Custom): F:/BluRay-Working/- DVDFab10/DVDFab Downloader[/quote]
Where do you think I changed that?? Yup, under StreamFab's Settings -> General, and scroll down a little. and I did that LONG AGO, when it was first made an option.

This has no impact on stuff being put in My Documents\DVDFab\StreamFab which is my complaint.

radiah

Thank you, but I mean "seriously" re-read my post. I already said:

Where do you think I changed that?? Yup, under StreamFab's Settings -> General, and scroll down a little. and I did that LONG AGO, when it was first made an option.

This has no impact on stuff being put in My Documents\DVDFab\StreamFab which is my complaint.
KidJoe

Have you tried turning sync off, and then deselcting the folders? It may not allow you to do so if sync is currently on. Just trying to help you, brother.

Cats4U

I had no problem deleting products.json or any other file in MyDocuments\DVDFab\StreamFab. I used an unlocker program. It unlocked it and I simply told it to delete it. This time I used a program named Lockhunter found at https://lockhunter.com. There are plenty of other free unlocker programs available. Even Ashampoo Uninstall (a program I like to promote for doing clean installs) has an unlocker as part of its toolkit (at least the pay version does, not sure about the free version).

KidJoe

I had no problem deleting products.json or any other file in MyDocuments\DVDFab\StreamFab. I used an unlocker program. It unlocked it and I simply told it to delete it. This time I used a program named Lockhunter found at https://lockhunter.com. There are plenty of other free unlocker programs available. Even Ashampoo Uninstall (a program I like to promote for doing clean installs) has an unlocker as part of its toolkit (at least the pay version does, not sure about the free version).
Cats4U

With FAB exited, I've deleted it. it came back :(

KidJoe

Have you tried turning sync off, and then deselcting the folders? It may not allow you to do so if sync is currently on. Just trying to help you, brother.
radiah

Thanks, but no. I have several OneDrives linked together, so when I turn off sync, and turn it back on, it takes forever, and has had some difficulty completing. So with everything sync'ing execpt this one file giving me an error (but not stopping everything else from sync'ing), I'm not going to even attempt that.

Even if that is a temporary fix, it shouldn't be needed. FAB should not write anything to My Documents.

AnttDvdFab

Have you tried turning sync off, and then deselcting the folders? It may not allow you to do so if sync is currently on. Just trying to help you, brother.
radiah

Microsoft disallows unchecking that folder. It's right in the support article linked above.

radiah

Microsoft disallows unchecking that folder. It's right in the support article linked above.
AnttDvdFab

It disallows unchecking the Documents folder. You should be able to de/select the subfolders of that main folder. Perhaps if you disable inheritance on the offending subfolder, you will be able to delete it. At any rate I'm out of ideas/suggestions.
tl;dr
--Radiah

AGuyWithAComputer

When Microsoft added the Files On-Demand option, the disable sync certain folders option disappeared on the latest versions. Your only option is to turn off backup of the Documents folder as a whole in the Manage Backup settings of OneDrive

jpp72

I love how everyone has workarounds for StreamFab issues...

"Use a renamer", "Disable OneDrive Sync", "Use yt-dlp", "Download subs with a userscript" (that one is me actually lol)...

How about the DEVs just code properly?

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Cats4U

With FAB exited, I've deleted it. it came back :(
KidJoe

You're right. Unlocking and deleting got rid of it, but after I ran SF again, it came back. Both the Images folder and products.json. I agree totally with jpp72 as to what he writes later in this thread. The developers should fix it. Until then, whenever, an automated script that moves the files should do the trick temporarily.

BearBo

I've been moving my Profile folders for years - I get customers all the time with corrupted Windows. I really don't suggest keeping Docs, Pics, Vids, Music, Downloads, Desktop and Favorites on the Windows default locations. I always put the Profile folders on another drive and just tell Windows to expect it there.

Create a folder like "My Profile" on another drive. Create sub-folders for docs, pics, vids, etc.

Open "This PC", right click on "Documents", click on "Properties', click on "Location" tab, choose the "Move" box and point to the matching new sub-directory.

Windows will move all the files and from then on use the new locations.

Repeat for all the other Profile folders

If Win craps out, just restore your recent C: image (you do have one?) or reinstall and point to the custom locations on the unaffected drive

AGuyWithAComputer

I love how everyone has workarounds for StreamFab issues...

"Use a renamer", "Disable OneDrive Sync", "Use yt-dlp", "Download subs with a userscript" (that one is me actually lol)...

How about the DEVs just code properly?

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
jpp72

right... lul