LPub3D 2.0 Released

[Trevor Sandy]

Greetings,

Today I released LPub3D 2.0.1 

I'm installing LPub 2.0 on Vista. I have User Access Control enabled for my user code, so when I run the installation, it prompts me for my administrator password. As a result, it then seems to be creating the "libraries" folder within the AppData folder hierarchy of the admin user [admin\AppData\Local\LPub3D Software\LPub3D\libraries]. Once the installation completes, I run LPub 2.0 with my normal (i.e.non-elevated) user id. It searches for the "libraries" folder within the AppData folder hierarchy applicable to my user id [%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\LPub3D Software\LPub3D\libraries]. This folder does not exist.

Is there a requirement to run LPub3D as the admin user? If not, how does one configure the installation to create the libraries subfolder and content within the user profile folder hierarchy for my user id rather than that for the admin user?

Regards,

David

David - There is no requirement to run LPub3D as the admin user. However, Admin-level access is needed to install a program on modern versions of Windows. 

This access is usually resolved by the logged in user accepting the famous 'Do you want to allow the following program...to make changes to this computer?' message:

  UAC-02.jpg (Size: 31.05 KB / Downloads: 1,511)

This message is generated when your UAC settings are set like this:
   

Of course the logged in user must be enabled with the rights to install programs. For me, I set my logged in user as an administrator:
1. Under Control Panel=>User Accounts 
2. Select Change your account type
3. Select Administrator on the dialog presented which should look something like this (this is a Win10 version):
   

[Solution Option 1]
With these settings in place you can install programs under your logged in user credentials and, in the case of LPub3D, will be able to deposit the LDraw archive libraries and other updatable content to the local AppData directory of the logged in user.

[Solution Option 2]
Alternatively, if you can accept to hack the system. You can do the following:

1. Logged in as Administrator - so you can access the local AppData directory - move [admin\AppData\Local\LPub3D Software\LPub3D\libraries] to the same location for the usual logged in user so as to have [<logged in user>\AppData\Local\LPub3D Software\LPub3D\libraries]
2. Log out as Administrtor and log in as logged in user
3. Start LPub3D and you will receive a prompt that the archive library directory cannot be found with a dialog to select the new location. 
4. Select the location created in step 1. 
Note: The behavior here is that LPub3D will write a registry entry 'PartsLibrary' capturing the location of the archive library 'complete.zip'. When you move the library as you did in step 1. LPub3D will inform you that it cannot find the library and prompt you to select a new location. If the location is valid (i.e. it contains complete.zip), LPub3D will update the registry entry 'PartsLibrary' with this new location. Keep in mind that sufficient access rights will be necessary to update the registry but this should not be a problem (assuming your access control settings have not been altered) as the application owner (system) will be making this update.
If you select cancel at the library prompt, you will receive a further prompt to create the library folder (under the logged in user) and download the libraries automatically. However, as your logged in user may not have sufficient rights to do these actions, it is not advised that you select this option.

[Solution Option 3]
A third alternative is to create the library archive folder wherever you want and update the registry entry [Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\LPub3D Software\LPub3D\Settings\PartsLibrary]:
1. Launch regedit (you'll need to be logged in with the appropriate access control to do this)
2. Navigate to the location above and update the Value data by changing only the location path to the new path so and example would be from [C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\LPub3D Software\LPub3D\libraries\complete.zip] to [C:\LPub3D\libraries\complete.zip].

Let me know if you are able to progress successfully.

Cheers,