Durty Cloth Projects
Learn about Durty Cloth Projects
Last updated
Learn about Durty Cloth Projects
Last updated
The Durty Cloth Projects system in Durty Cloth Tool is designed to manage your cloth modding work efficiently by organizing your files and data into a structured project folder. At the core of this system is the .dctproj file format and the project’s folder structure, which includes a critical "data" subfolder. This setup provides numerous benefits, especially when dealing with large or complex clothing packs, ensuring data consistency and smooth workflow.
Most cloth projects in Durty Cloth Tool will have about the following structure:
.dctproj File
This is the main project file, with a .dctproj extension. It contains references to all the assets, settings, and metadata for your project. It works similarly to a project file in any IDE, managing all the links between assets and keeping track of modifications and settings.
ClothProject Folder The root folder that houses your entire clothing project. This folder contains all the files related to your project, and is where your projects associated data and files are stored.
Data Subfolder The "data" subfolder contains important metadata and configuration files related to the clothing models, textures, and other resources. This folder is integral to your project’s integrity and ensures that all relevant data is organized properly.
datacache.dat The datacache file contains various runtime information of models powering the clothes validations and quality checks inside of Durty Cloth Tool.
lastautobackup.dctproj When enabled this file is generated every minute, whenever the project is in an unsaved state. It will be automatically prompted to be restored on application startup and helps in cases where a rollback is required.
statuslog.txt This file saves all logged information in your project.
The Durty Cloth Projects structure is designed to give cloth maintainers and content creators an organized workspace where assets are linked rather than scattered, allowing for efficient management of clothing resources. When working with multiple clothing models and textures, the structured project format helps:
Project Data Integrity By storing all project related data in the "data" subfolder, all required project files and references are kept in sync. This guarantees that when the project is loaded, all related data is restored properly, avoiding missing references or broken models and textures.
Flexibility for Large Projects For larger projects, such as those involving multiple cloth models, textures, or configurations, this structured approach reduces the risk of errors and improves performance by keeping everything organized in one place.
It’s important to note that the project folder itself cannot be moved manually. If you need to relocate your project folder to another location on your machine, it should always be done via the "Project Settings > Project Output Folder" within the Durty Cloth Tool.
Why Relocation Needs to be Managed by the Tool The .dctproj file contains file paths and references that are dependent on the current location of the project folder. Manually moving the folder would break these references, causing errors or missing files. By using the relocation feature within the tool, all internal links and references are updated automatically, ensuring the project continues to function properly.
Durty Cloth Tool provides Project Actions to help maintain clean and efficient projects. These actions allow users to analyze and optimize their projects with ease.
Optimize Stored Data: Scans the project for unused files, calculates their total size, and prompts whether to delete them. Deleting unused files is irreversible and reduces project size but may limit rollback options if backups are not available.
Remove Duplicates: Identifies and removes duplicate clothing items or files while ensuring shared assets like reused textures are handled correctly. Users are prompted before duplicates are removed.
These actions ensure your project stays organized and optimized, making it easier to manage and reducing unnecessary clutter.
To safeguard your progress, Durty Cloth Tool includes an automatic up-to-date backup save system that monitors changes in your project. This system ensures that even if you forget to save, your work is never lost.
How it Works Whenever there is an unsaved change in the project, a backup copy of the project is automatically created every minute. This backup system can be enabled via the project settings and works in the background to continuously protect your work.
Backup Save Flow:
Enable Backup System: Activate the automatic backup system in the Project Settings.
Backup Creation: The tool creates a backup every minute whenever there are unsaved changes.
Auto-Restore: Upon reopening a project, if a more recent backup exists than the last saved version, the tool will ask if you want to restore the backup.
Consistency Across Projects The project system ensures that all related assets are neatly organized, making it easier to manage multiple projects without confusion or missing files.
Optimized Workflow
By keeping metadata in the "data" folder and linking assets through the .dctproj file, modders can quickly switch between projects, knowing that everything is consistently organized.
Scalability For larger projects involving dozens or even hundreds of clothing models and textures, the project system scales easily, keeping everything manageable without losing performance.
The Durty Cloth Projects system is a powerful core component of DCT to manage your clothing modding workflow. With a structured folder format and the ability to keep metadata organized, it optimizes the process of working with clothing resources. By ensuring consistency, performance, and ease of management, Durty Cloth Tool’s project system is designed for both small and large modding projects alike.
Restoring from Backup If there is an existing backup that is newer than the last manually saved state, the tool will prompt you to restore the backup when you load the project. This ensures you have the option to retrieve the most recent version of your work, even if you didn’t manually save the project before closing it.
