Can I just cut the Arduino folder from Program Files & paste to a new folder?

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

So, I installed Arduino IDE into C:\Program Files (Windows 7). EVERY time I want to add a library, I can't add it directly as the Program Files folder is pretty well protected and I can't just read/write directly. I have to unzip to my downloads folder, then cut/paste and hit "Accept" twice when Windows asks if I'm sure I want to do that, and do so with Admin permission ..blah blah blah.

I know I could change the permissions Windows wide, but I'd prefer not to do that. I've also tried and right clicked and unchecked "Read Only" but it seems to reset immediately.

Anyways, I was wondering if I can just literally cut the main Arduino folder and paste into (for example) My Documents, and then continue using the Arduino.exe and all libraries/examples/etc. as usual - or will that mess up and the IDE will keep looking into the Program Files folder for the libraries?

Does that make sense? Thanks for any tips/ideas!

2

Under File|Preferences in the IDE, the first option is the location of your Arduino sketchbook folder. I think the default is to put it in the My Documents directory. If yours is set to the Program Files directory, copy the current Arduino sketchbook directory from Program Files to My Documents. Then edit the preferences entry so that it has the path to My Documents\Arduino. Now close the IDE completely and then restart it again. Now check that Files|Preferences is still pointing at My Documents (just to be sure).
Keep the old copy of sketches that's in Program Files around for a few days until you're sure everything is working properly. Then you can delete it.

Pete

3

Ah, good idea! I'll try that out, thanks!! :grin:

4

I usually put my Arduino folder on the desktop.

5

el_supremo:
Under File|Preferences in the IDE, the first option is the location of your Arduino sketchbook folder. I think the default is to put it in the My Documents directory. If yours is set to the Program Files directory, copy the current Arduino sketchbook directory from Program Files to My Documents. Then edit the preferences entry so that it has the path to My Documents\Arduino. Now close the IDE completely and then restart it again. Now check that Files|Preferences is still pointing at My Documents (just to be sure).
Keep the old copy of sketches that's in Program Files around for a few days until you're sure everything is working properly. Then you can delete it.

Pete

Hm, tried that. I copied the entire contents of the Arduino folder, and most libraries are there. However, there's 4 libraries(?) missing - they appear in the middle of the default ones and the ones I created - where are these stored/why didn't they get copied over?

Here's the IDE from C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino:

486×544 36.9 KB

and then the one from my newely copied folder in My Documents:

Where are those middle 4 libraries stored??

6

Piethon:
So, I installed Arduino IDE into C:\Program Files (Windows 7). EVERY time I want to add a library, I can't add it directly as the Program Files folder is pretty well protected and I can't just read/write directly.

You should NOT be installing third-party libraries in:
C:\Program Files\Arduino\libraries
That is where the built-in libraries go and I think it gets reset if you install a new version of Arduino.
You should put them in a 'libraries' folder inside your sketch folder:
C:\Users\YourName\My Documents\Arduino\libraries
I would copy the third-party libraries to the proper place and re-install the Arduino IDE to restore the built-in libraries.

7

Oooohh okay, thanks!