Sharing KSP via Dropbox -- Request for Details

[T.C.]

This weekend, I plan to visit my sister's house and install Kerbal Space Program on my niece's computer. If possible, I would like to set things up so my niece and I can share a game of KSP. From my research on the forum, I've learned that this can be accomplished with Dropbox. I'm uncertain of the details, however, so I'd like to get clarification on a few things.

1) I'm using Windows 7; my niece is using a Mac. Is that a problem?

2) Which folders should I share? I assume "saves" and "Ships", but what else? Can I share "GameData" to make sure we have the same mods?

3) To share a folder, yet keep it active in KSP, my understanding is that I need to move the folder to Dropbox and replace it with a symbolic link. Is that correct? If so, how do I create a symbolic link on the Mac? (I know how to do it on the PC.)

-TC

Edited June 11, 2014 by T.C.

[Taki117]

This weekend, I plan to visit my sister's house and install Kerbal Space Program on my niece's computer. If possible, I would like to set things up so my niece and I can share a game of KSP. From my research on the forum, I've learned that this can be accomplished with Dropbox. I'm uncertain of the details, however, so I'd like to get clarification on a few things.

1) I'm using Windows 7; my niece is using a Mac. Is that a problem?

2) Which folders should I share? I assume "saves" and "Ships", but what else? Can I share "GameData" to make sure we have the same mods?

3) To share a folder, yet keep it active in KSP, my understanding is that I need to move the folder to Dropbox and replace it with a symbolic link. Is that correct? If so, how do I create a symbolic link on the Mac? (I know how to do it on the PC.)

-TC

1) This isn't an issue as long as you have the version specific to your operating system.

2) Saves, Ships and GameData are all share-able and will ensure full compatibility between games. You don't need to share the Ships folder though. (All game specific ships are stored in the Saves folder)

3)I have no idea.

[T.C.]

Thanks for setting me straight on the folders, Taki.

I was able to find what I needed to know about symbolic links here: http://gigaom.com/2011/04/27/how-to-create-and-use-symlinks-on-a-mac/

-TC

[0Kev]

I do this exact thing, and I've set up dropbox and the Mac and Windows file systems to sync them in realtime, no need to manually copy files to and from the dropbox folder.

So I have the same instance of the game, all my saves, mods, etc, synced between home and work, no effort after the initial setup.

This page explains how to set up realtime syncing with folders outside the dropbox folder: http://www.dropboxwiki.com/tips-and-tricks/sync-other-folders - It has instructions for Windows, Mac, Linux.

--- So you set up the GameData and Saves folders (at minimum) as described for each OS in those instructions, linked from the dropbox folder. You copy them from the KSP folder into the dropbox folder first, then do the linking. If you need help with the NTFS junctions, let me know or do some googling - the instructions for using the command are often written backwards from what you actually need to type.

Edited June 11, 2014 by 0Kev

[T.C.]

Thanks 0Kev. I've already set up the PC end. Now I need to set up the Mac end, and the page you referenced will help with that.

-TC