So I hit F1 in the new beta .42 and I see the message vxl/lastsave.vxl pop up. But when I go and look in the vxl folder in Ace of Spades I find nothing. If I set up a server and tell it to load the above save it freaks out because there is nothing there.

I did install .42 over a previous version so maybe a conflict? or am I just doing it wrong?

It may be a permissions issue. Try right-clicking the vxl folder and unchecking read only? I'm still on Windows XP but I hear the newer Windows is a lot more restrictive on editing/creating anything in Program Files.

Nope that didn't do it. I'm win7 by the way. Umm I'll try a total uninstall and reinstall tommorrow.

Installing it somewhere else than the "Program Files" folder makes your life so much easier.

@Ben:
Consider using the "App Data"-folder ("Application Data" on Windows XP) for the map files and config (or maybe the "ProgramData"-folder). This should handle such problems better.

Some links:
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I'd prefer to keep everything in one folder... would a folder under the main directory (C:/Ace of Spades) be restricted in new versions of Windows? It sucks trying to develop for an OS I don't even own.

It's usually best practice to store files under %APPDATA% as it doesn't require admin. privileges. True, it seems like a simple concept to just keep everything in one central location, but sadly with the UAC added in Windows, it kind of makes it a bitch to do so.

I think another workaround with UAC would be to create an empty "lastsav.vxl" file in the vxl folder and change the permissions on that?

You mean problematically change the permissions or rely on the user to do so? I'm not an expert on UAC, I just know what I've had to deal with in the past with permissions. Also, I'm not sure if AoS uses a manifest that should "grant" full access to the files you need from there. I'd tell you to try it, but you said you're using an XP machine and I'm guessing you don't have access to a Windows Vista\Windows 7 machine nor a virtual machine. Maybe release a test copy for a few users to try? I could try it under XP/Vista/7 for you and others could help as well. Just an idea.

Here's an article that might give some insight:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vista-security/UAC__The_Definitive_Guide.aspx

It mainly focuses on the manifest idea I mentioned and pretty much shows how much of a clusterfuck UAC can cause for developers.

I think the easiest approach would be this:

The standard answer is to have your installer create an application folder under the new ProgramData folder (also known as CommonAppDataFolder, which exists as far back as Win95 with the Desktop Update) and set full access to the Everyone group on this folder, then place your files there.
Your program can then look in this application data folder and all users will have full access to files created there.

(Source)
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would a folder under the main directory (C:/Ace of Spades) be restricted in new versions of Windows?

No, afaik only the following parent directories are restricted:
- Program Files (x86)
- Program Files <-- for x64 software
- Windows
- Users <-- only this folder, you can write in the folders below without problems

I was going to suggest the ProgramData folder, but I wasn't sure how backwards compatible it was, so it seems like a viable solution. But I can only imagine, with it naturally being a "hidden" directory, how many users will end up asking "How do I find the directory?".

And while we're at it: Pls add a consecutive number or a timestamp to every saved map. At the moment it always overwrites the last saved version which sucks especially when you've played on a server for some time and built some nice things you want to preserve.

Okay I did a reinstall, nothing
Looked at the specific folder permissions and changed them to full for everyone, noting
Turned the UAC off completly, fixed.

So your guess is right it is the UAC blocking the F1 in game save from working.

Not really a big deal but definitly something you will want to find a away around at somepoint since most people by default will have and leave the UAC on.

Is it really such a big deal to put things in the right place? this will cause all sorts of problems all over if you don't. maybe just use SetCurrentDirectory() after start up?

It's unfortunate that the security model needs this but it does, unless you want to install into programdata by default (or some other hack) this is just "the way it's done" now.

if you need to test this, try one of these Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Images

virtualpc 2007 is free from microsoft. pretty sure it will run aos