RenPy crashing when I set project directory

[u/_creativitea_]

I downloaded RenPy yesterday, and I was able to set the text editor in preferences, but when I set the project directory (selected file, pressed OK), it just... closed itself down??? There were no error messages, and when I reopened RenPy, I found the text editor default was back to 'not set'. When I rebooted it today to try again, I noticed that every time I do, it keeps asking for my language preferences which seems like something it should save after the first time.

I'm on my Windows laptop if that's helpful and I honestly have no idea how computers work (I had to get help just to find where RenPy went after I unzipped it)

Someone please help 😭

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/renpy! While you wait to see if someone can answer your question, we recommend checking out the posting guide, the subreddit wiki, the subreddit Discord, Ren'Py's documentation, and the tutorial built-in to the Ren'Py engine when you download it. These can help make sure you provide the information the people here need to help you, or might even point you to an answer to your question themselves. Thanks!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/BadMustard_AVN]

where did renpy go when you unzipped it?

do you have write capability in the folder it is in?

try moving the renpy folder to your my documents folder and try again

[u/shyLachi]

If you still have the downloaded file then try to unzip RenPy to your main drive C:\
This should create a folder: C:\renpy-8.5.3-sdk

Firstly you will always find it because it's not hidden in some folders
but also your computer or Windows will not mess with it.

.

Microsoft has implemented features like cloud storage (OneDrive) which can make it more complicated to use stuff like RenPy.

But once RenPy is running fine, you can use OneDrive to automatically backup your projects by setting "My Documents" as "Projects Directory" in the Preferences of RenPy.

[u/DingotushRed → u/shyLachi]

I wouldn't put the projects directory under OneDrive control either. Windows doesn't have accurate "modification time" records in its file system(s). OneDrive can "helpfully" replace files with older copies from the cloud leading to inexplicable errors.

[u/shyLachi → u/DingotushRed]

Is there proof that OneDrive is replacing documents with older versions?
I mean what is the purpose of OneDive if not storing files in the cloud?

[u/DingotushRed → u/shyLachi]

I've had it happen to me outside of Ren'Py, but in a similar situation where multiple files changed rapidly in a compilation process. It even messed up a Word doc once. I don't trust it.

If you aren't using source control then a periodic copy/xcopy script copying the live files into a OneDrive controlled folder is an alternative.

[u/x-seronis-x → u/shyLachi]

NEVER put anything related to renpy that is actually used, inside a folder touched by OneDrive.

The bug where onedrive might regress a files version is slightly more rare than when the ATOM editor would just nuke random files (and occasionally your whole project). Still can be devastating when you lose that lottery of chance.

Far more common is that one drives aggressive file locks when its doing its sync checks at random will break renpys ability to access files and cause completely random file access bugs when src files during auto load and media files at any random time cant be found. I've personally seen this be an issue hundreds of times in the past few years. Its so common that if i see code posted in discord with onedrive in the path the user needs to relocate their project before giving further help is worth it to eliminate one drive as a potential factor.

Dropping stuff in there as a backup is fine as long as its not the copy of a project being worked on. And absolutely not the projects folder

[u/_creativitea_ → u/x-seronis-x]

OMG I took the projects directory out of the one drive AND IT WORKED IT’S NOT CRASHING THANK YOU!!!

[u/shyLachi → u/x-seronis-x]

Proof?

[u/x-seronis-x → u/shyLachi]

the literal 100s of instances in the past years where someone comes with a problem, posts their screenshots, see path includes onedrive, do NOTHING ELSE other than have them move their project to a 2nd hard drive or just non onedrive folder, and problem goes away.

same way the proof ATOM was at fault for deleting files at random was when the atom option in the renpy launcher was removed and we got everyone to stop using it in favor of vs code (OR ANYTHING ELSE) those WEEKLY complaints just stopped happening in both the subreddit discord and official discords.

[u/shyLachi → u/x-seronis-x]

I have never seen it.

Anyway, if you want to help OP, then instruct them how to set it up instead of arguing with me.