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Global Folder Editing for Image and Media Paths

šŸ“‹ Summary

Introduce a global media folder management system that allows users to set or update image paths across all platforms at once. This is especially useful for users who move their installation or store media in custom directory structures. Also include options to remove or hide unused image subfolders (e.g., Storefront, Arcade) per platform.


ā— Problem

Currently, when LaunchBox is reinstalled or moved, users must manually reassign image folders for each platform and media type (e.g., Box Front, Disc, Clear Logo). For libraries with dozens of platforms, this is extremely time-consuming and error-prone.

There is also no way to clean up unused or unnecessary image subfolders from platform views—adding clutter for platforms where certain types of media (e.g., Storefront images) are irrelevant.


šŸ’” Proposal

  1. Global Media Folder Reassignment Tool

    • A tool to bulk-edit or reassign media folders across all platforms.

    • Example: Select a root directory (e.g., F:\LaunchBox\Images), and LaunchBox auto-links all expected subfolders for each platform (e.g., F:\LaunchBox\Images\Amiga CD32\Box - Front, Disc, etc.).

  2. Auto-Detect Media Subfolders During Import

    • When importing a platform or game, allow users to specify the root media folder.

    • LaunchBox detects and assigns the appropriate image type folders automatically.

  3. Platform Folder Cleanup Options

    • Let users disable or hide image subfolders they don’t use per platform (e.g., hide ā€œArcade - Marqueeā€ or ā€œStorefrontā€ folders for Nintendo 64).

    • Could be handled via checkboxes in the ā€œManage Platformā€ view.


āœ… Benefits

  • Saves time for users restoring or migrating LaunchBox installs

  • Prevents broken media links due to moved directories

  • Reduces clutter in the file structure and UI for platforms that don’t use certain image types

  • Streamlines onboarding for users with customized setups or large libraris

Status: Open To Community4 comments

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Comments4

  • AstroBob changed status to Open To Community
    Team•

    May 19, 2025

    Pinned

    Hi there!

    Thanks so much for submitting this request and for taking the time to explain your use case — that context is always super helpful.

    I’ve gone ahead and fleshed out the main idea using the info you provided, and I’m opening it up to the community for further discussion and feedback. Please let me know if this fleshed-out version doesn’t match your original intended request.

    Feel free to let me know if you have any extra thoughts, examples, or edge cases you think might be relevant!

    Cheers,
    The LaunchBox team

    • Indysgill

      •

      May 19, 2025

      That all sounds great, better than my explanation/suggestion.

      Hope this is picked up.

      Thank you.

  • dukdukgoos

    •

    Mar 15

    I would like to add to this to stop recreating empty folders for these media items if they’ve been deleted. The folders should be created as needed if a file is saved to them. Right now they constantly recreate themselves and clutter up the media directories with distractions that will never be used.

  • Indysgill

    •

    May 19, 2025

    Global Folder editing.

    As stated, allow for folders to be edited globally.
    I had to reinstall Launchbox to my C drive, after issues that can found here, I did try reinstalling at the original location to see if that would fix things, it didn’t.


    I made sure to move my Emulator, Game and Image folders to another folder before deleting, so adding Games and Emulators back is easy.
    Not so with Images, for each platform I have to go into the options and manually link to each folder of images, this is very time-consuming.

    Would nice to have an option that just lets you point to the folder where the platforms images are, say like F:\Launchbox\Images\Amiga CD32, and it autofills each type like box front, CD Image, etc. Or maybe have an option to set the location of the image folders as you are importing your games.

    Also, another suggestion would be to have the option to remove certain folders from platforms, like I am adding the N64 I don’t need Storefront or Arcade image folders showing.