[GUIDE & FAQ] Addon Sync tools (PWS/A3Sync/Swifty)

[rundll.exe]

Since we currently offer you the choice to use three different addon synchronization tools, finding the right configuration on these forums can be confusing. Therefore, this post should help you by centralizing the tutorials for all tools in one place.

FAQ

Q: What sync tool is the best?
A: This is really a matter of taste. In terms of complexity Swifty is the easiest, but also the least flexible. On the other hand PlayWithSix offers a lot of options and flexibility, but is also the most confusing. Arma3Sync falls somewhere in between.

Q: Do I need to use such a tool to play with CiA?
A: No, but it is highly recommended. You could download each update yourself, and create a shortcut for joining. However, we update our addons on a regular (weekly sometimes) basis, which means that it's easy to miss an update, and errors are likely to occur.

Configration and usage guides


Arma3 Sync

Configuration

1. Runtime environment Java (JRE) Oracle 7 or 8 must be installed, download
   
2. Download Arma3Sync from http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=22199
   
3. In the tab "Launcher options" , set your Arma3 path if it didn't detect it, and set any startup parameters
   
4. In the tab "Addon Option", add the folder that (going to) contain the CiA mods. This folder should not contain your other mods!
   
5. In the "repositories" tab, click +, and put http://82.117.194.226/A3/.a3s/autoconfig in the "public auto-config url", and click "import". This will correctly put the settings. Click OK.
   

Optional, add a mirror of this repo, by repeating the last step, and put http://thuis.folkersma.org/A3/CiA/.a3s/autoconfig for the auto-config url. 

Usage

• In the "repositories" tab, select the CiA repo, and hit the "connect" button with the blue arrow.
  
• Make sure the destination folder (set in the "Addon options" tab), is selected
  
• Click the green check to check for changes
  
• Select "exact match" and "select all". This deletes any mods in this folder that are not in the repo!
  
• Press the black "play" icon to start the synchronization
  
• Go to the "Addons" tab, and check if the CiA addon group is checked (if not, select in in "Modsets"), and hit "Start game".
  

Additional mods
Add the folder that contain your additional mods in the "Addon options" tab.
Any additional mods that you want to launch can be selected by creating an addon group in the "addons" tab (right click), and dragging them from the left to the right.

More info
Updates Thread
A3Sync Wiki

Play with Six
Configuration:

1. download and install PwS http://withsix.com/download
   
2. Once you've installed and launched PwS, to adjust the settings for each game (ArmA2CO and ArmA3) click on the arrow on the Game tab (on the far left, the one that shows ArmA II Combined Operations in the picture linked below), to show the list of games. Then click on the game and Settings.
   
   Above Startup Parameters, you'll see Mod and Synq Directories. The first is where the mods will be installed to and generally it's best to leave this set to the folder where ArmA is installed, whilst the second is where PwS stores the backups of the mods so that it can repair them if necessary and generally it's a good idea, certainly if you're using a SSD, to change this path to a different drive as shown in the picture.
   
   In the Switches section, you'll probably want to tick the first three as shown, unless you don't want to run the beta for some reason.
   
   
   
   
3. Now you can import the CiA profiles by opening the following links, which will automatically load PwS note that they get mangled if I try and post them as links, so just copy and paste them into a new tab). They might only work in IE, so if you're using another browser and they're not working, try them in that (or you can click on the Windows Start Button, click on Run (type run to search for it if necessary) and paste them into the box and press Enter).
   
   Thursday and Sunday Arma 3 profile:
   
   pws://?c=-bD0tJUlCEC1mbaRczH00Q
   
   or
   
   http://withsix.com/p/arma-3/collections/.../CiA-ArmA3
   
   
4. Enable or Add any Recommended/Optional mods that you want to use, like ST_Hud, JSRS.
   
   Some mods are included in the profile as Recommended, so you just need to tick each of the ones you want to use. For other mods you want to add, click on the Collections tab on the far left (second down) and double-click to activate the CiA profile.  Then, in the "Search Library" box at the top, type in the name, or part name, of the mod (Scope in the picture) and when you've found it,  click on the green +/to CiA ... area on the right.
   
   
   
   Double-click on the Collection name from the list to return to it and you'll see the mod has been added to it, with a tickbox indicating that you can disable it, unlike the Required mods which are locked.
   
   
   
   Once you've finished adding mods, if the Update button is showing, click that to let it update/install the mods.
   
   
5. Once it's finished installing/updating mods click on Join and PwS should launch Teamspeak (if not already running) and auto-connect and launch ArmA 3 and auto-connect to the CiA server.
   
   

Note: If you want to prevent PwS automatically launching Teamspeak, if you launch it manually yourself for instance, then click on Options - Settings and in the "Server Browser" section, untick "Auto Process Server Apps". It will still prompt you to launch it but you can click No.



More info
Main thread
PlayWithSix

Swifty


The Swifty repository is currently not actively maintained, because there are no members using it. 



Configuration:

1. download Swifty from https://getswifty.net and install.
   
2. Click the wrench to open the common settings. Set your Arma3 folder, and a temp folder (typically not on your SSD). The additional folders are where you store non-mandatory mods, like soundmods.
   
3. Add a new repo by clicking the + in the main screen. Choose import, and put this URL: http://thuis.folkersma.org/A3/SwiftyRepo/
   
4. All configration should be automatic, but you can change the destination folder. Note that Swifty creates a sub-folder in there, so you could use the same folder for all your swifty repos
   
5. Save the repo and you're set.
   

Usage
When opening Swifty, it automatically checks for updates, and you have to click the download button when there are updates. When done, press the play button to launch the game with the mods.

Additional mods
Extra mods can be added to the launcher by clicking the gear on a repo, and click MODS. Here you can select additional mods in folders you defined before.


More info
Updates Thread
Swifty website

[Horus]

Good job Rund 

[Variable]

Setting sticky!!!

[Horus]

I will set new repo only with @ACE and throw out @ACE from regular night repo.

[rundll.exe]

Updated links in first post, and removed ACE specific references.

[Horus]

If you already have some of addons e.g. @RHSUSFA or @CUP Terrains just rename it to @RHS_USF / @CUP_Terrains and you don't need to redownload addon which you already have.