[How To]: Sync Local Mods, Blueprints, and Saves Across Machines

Note: This tutorial only applies to Windows users. If you are using another OS, please research on how to create hardlinks or symbolic links on your OS.

Hey guys, most of you probably don't need help with this, but I figured I'd post this anyway to help any wayward players that do. So what am I about to tell you about? Simply put, it's a workaround for the Steam Cloud not working for the game yet. This procedure will allow you to keep all of your content synced across all of your computers. Additionally, it will double as a cloud-based backup, so it can be useful even if you don't play across multiple machines. It can also be used for any game that saves its files locally.
So what it this method? Well, its using hardlinks to make your system look elsewhere for your files, namely in a local Cloud directory. In other words, when SpaceEngineers looks for your saves, blueprints, or whatever you link up, Windows will steer it towards your cloud directory, and SE won't know the difference! It's nothing new, and plenty of people already do this. If you don't, and want to, keep reading.

Your Cloud Directory
Okay, so first you'll need a cloud-based service like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive. Use whatever you prefer, as long as it has a directory in your computer that automatically syncs its contents to the cloud.



Next, you'll need to make a directory for the cloud backup. Mine is

Code:

C:\Users\(My_Name)\Google Drive\GameLink\SpaceEngineers

Move Your Files
Once you have your new directory set up, you need to transfer the local files over to them. By default, these are in

Code:

C:\Users\(Your_Name)\AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineers

*Note* I do not recommend that you move workshop files. These are updated by Steam anyway, and leaving them alone reduces the chance of complications.

Simply cut the folders out and paste them in the new cloud directory. If you're transferring local mods or blueprints, make a "Mods" or "Blueprints" folder in the cloud, and cut and paste the "Local" folder into them. This way you leave the "Workshop" folders alone. Please note that you need to cut, and not copy. The reason for this is because the original folders absolutely must be removed for this to work.

Creating Hardlinks
Once your files and folders are in the new directory, it's time to set up the hardlinks.

Open a new instance of Command Prompt as an Admin. To do this, you can press [Win] + [X], and select "Command Prompt (Admin)", or search it in the Start Menu, right-click on it, and select "Run as Administrator." If you run a non-elevated instance, you may run into access issues.

We're now going to create a hardlink between your old directory and the new one. We're going to enter the following into the Command Prompt:

Code:

mklink /d {target} {source}

Allow me to explain the different parts of this command.

Code:

mklink

is the command that will make the links, and

Code:

/d

tells it to create a hardlink-type of link.

Code:

{target}

is where the fake folder will go (the old directory), and

Code:

{source}

is the new cloud directory. You can copy and paste the directory address in, but you need to keep two things in mind:

• Be sure you have the right folder level in the address. If you're doing "Saves," the address should end with "Saves."
• Before pasting, add a quotation mark, paste, then end with a quotation mark. So is you used the original "Saves" directory, it should look like
  Code:

  "C:\Users\(Your_Name)\AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineers\Saves"

  The same goes for "{Source}"

Before pressing [Enter], your Command Prompt should look something like this:



Now, simply press [Enter]. If you did everything right, you should see this:



It's as simple as that! Your files will automatically backup to the cloud.

Set Up the Second Machine
To set this up on the second machine, simply delete the folders in the SE directory, and run the same Command Prompt command. The cloud directory should already exist, so you don't need to remake it. If there are files in your SE directory folders that you're replacing, delete them or transfer them to the cloud directory.
*Note:* Make sure that your paths on the second machine are typed correctly! Machine one may have used

Code:

C:\Users\CoolDude64\AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineers

but maybe machine two uses

Code:

C:\Users\SuperDude\AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineers

Once both machines are set up, your files will be synced between both machines in real-time.


If you have questions or issues, just reply. If there is an issue with something I said somewhere, please let me know so that I can fix it!



Edit: There was an issue with the site, and so formatting correction are being made.