Set Steam Library Folders

[vanished]

Does anyone know a way to set libraries in Steam to just use a folder?

 

Currently, I have an SSD and a HDD on which I keep games, depending on how often I play them/how much they will actually benefit form having a SSD.

By itself, this wouldn't be a problem, but I also like to be very organized.  To that effect, I have a C:\Games for my SSD and an E:\Games for my HDD.

But Steam doesn't let me just use those folders.  I have to go through the elaborate trickery described here:

 

I create a folder in the Steam folder called LIBRARY to keep things organized.

Under that, I create 2 subfolders, one named HDD Games and one SSD Games.

I set those as libraries.

I then create symlinks from "common" to the appropriate location (C:\Games for example) inside each of those folders

 

What's more, you can't pick any existing folder as a library if the folder already has something in it.

And if those links ever break, or Steam updates and refuses to accept this system anymore it can be a real pain to setup everything again.

 

For what is basically the game distribution platform on PC, this is a really pathetic system.  Or maybe I'm just not using it right...

[JebKerman]

Steam -> Settings -> Downloads -> Steam Library Folders -> Add Library Folder = Profit

[vanished]

Steam -> Settings -> Downloads -> Steam Library Folders -> Add Library Folder = Profit

That's how I add the "HDD Games" and "SSD Games" folders as libraries, but can't I just add "C:\Games" and have them go straight in there without Steam adding extra ugly layers to the folder?  Also if there is anything in that folder already it refuses

[JebKerman]

That's how I add the "HDD Games" and "SSD Games" folders as libraries, but can't I just add "C:\Games" and have them go straight in there without Steam adding extra ugly layers to the folder?  Also if there is anything in that folder already it refuses

I doubt you can, unless you went into steam's code and changed it's folder structure, which would prompt it to update and "fix" your changes most likely. The fact is, the system works, and it's not cumbersome, you can access the game files directly from the steam client. and the fact it is the games distribution platform means that a very small minority actually accesses the game files on a regular-enough basis to warrant fixing something that ain't broke.

[EChondo]

For what is basically the game distribution platform on PC, this is a really pathetic system.  Or maybe I'm just not using it right...

It sounds to me that the system is working as intended, you're just being picky.

 

I personally don't know a "fix" for this as this isn't an issue. You seem to be making it an issue for yourself for whatever weird reason you have.

 

Mine looks like this;

 

I fail to see how that doesn't look clean and functional.

[vanished]

*snip*

 

The issue I have with it is that Steam is telling me how it's going to arrange things instead of the other way around, and since I'm the human in this situation, I find that more than a little irritating.  As a result, it's impossible to have my games setup in a way that I have (for example) C:\Games, and then in it one folder for each game, unless I want to go through all that nonsense I described earlier.  It makes me pick some folder (but not one that already has anything in it, heaven forbid!) and then within that creates an ugly substructure to bury the games in, so it ends up being like "C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\some game name" which is not only ugly on its own but doesn't match the setup I already have.

 

Maybe I am just being picky, but as someone with programming experience I know full well there is absolutely no reason they couldn't design it in a far more "user rules" fashion, and that's another one of the reasons it bugs me.  

 

This post was just to see if there was a chance that I simply missed something and actually there is an easy way to make it do what you want, but it looks like there isn't unfortunately.

 

Thanks everyone for responding, even though I didn't get the news I was hoping for, your info has still been valuable since at least I know for sure the way it really is.

[SnakeDrone]

99,9% of the users don't care about folder structure, as long as they can set the top folder and stuff goes inside it. Adding customisation would just add confusion for most users. Most people aren't as techsavvy as us.

[vanished]

99,9% of the users don't care about folder structure, as long as they can set the top folder and stuff goes inside it. Adding customisation would just add confusion for most users. Most people aren't as techsavvy as us.

It's just sad they can't refuse to do it better since it would be so easy.  For one, let people add a folder that already has content as a library.  Maybe you are trying to hook up an existing folder of steam games to a new steam install that doesn't know of them yet, eh?

 

Second, why go for that ridiculous structure?  

• Let people pick a folder (C:\Games for example)
• the games go in that folder, not 3 levels down
• additional things like a download or preload folder, settings, databases, etc. can all go in an additional folder called "Steam backend" or something like that

That would look a lot cleaner...

 

C:\Games

C:\Games\Steam backend

C:\Games\Cool Game

C:\Games\Cool Game 2

C:\Games\Cool Game 3

C:\Games\Non-steam game"

etc.

vs.

C:\Games

C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\Cool Game"

C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\Cool Game 2"

C:\Games\Non-steam game"

C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\Cool Game 3"

[SnakeDrone]

It's just sad they can't refuse to do it better since it would be so easy.

Restructuring the folder structure of an software sized like Steam isn't that simple, nor cheap.

For one, let people add a folder that already has content as a library.  Maybe you are trying to hook up an existing folder of steam games to a new steam install that doesn't know of them yet, eh?

Works just fine for me. I have done exactly this, many times.

Second, why go for that ridiculous structure?

• Let people pick a folder (C:\Games for example)
• the games go in that folder, not 3 levels down
• additional things like a download or preload folder, settings, databases, etc. can all go in an additional folder called "Steam backend" or something like that

That would look a lot cleaner...

 

C:\Games

C:\Games\Steam backend

C:\Games\Cool Game

C:\Games\Cool Game 2

C:\Games\Cool Game 3

C:\Games\Non-steam game"

etc.

vs.

C:\Games

C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\Cool Game"

C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\Cool Game 2"

C:\Games\Non-steam game"

C:\Games\Steam Library\steamapps\common\Cool Game 3"

Sure it could be cleaner, but again... 99% of the users don't care.

[vanished]

Restructuring the folder structure of an software sized like Steam isn't that simple, nor cheap.

I haven't seen the code myself for obvious reasons, but if it has been written properly, it actually would be. There would be somewhere a path defined for every folder like common, downloading, etc. All they would have to do is change those couple lines and everything else would fall in place. But I guess like you said most people probably don't care.

Works just fine for me.

That's interesting, I have tried and tried again and it will not let me pick any folder that already has content.

[SnakeDrone]

I haven't seen the code myself for obvious reasons, but if it has been written properly, it actually would be. There would be somewhere a path defined for every folder like common, downloading, etc. All they would have to do is change those couple lines and everything else would fall in place.

Sure... if they force every user to do a clean install.

It's one thing to structure a new apps folder structure, but it's another kind of deal to restructure it in a complex software used by millions.

[vanished]

Sure... if they force every user to do a clean install.

It's one thing to structure a new apps folder structure, but it's another kind of deal to restructure it in a complex software used by millions.

Yeah, I suppose I didn't consider the impact of changing it on everyone that's used to the way it is.  Still, it bothers me that it was designed this way from the start.