Authors CurseForge

What's the difference between the two?
When you download an addon straight from the files page or another site, you get the libraries Embeddded - ie, they are located in the addon's folder so that it has all the necessary components to work straight out of the box. The game only keeps the most recent version of each addon in memory. So, while you may have 12 copies of the Ace2 library, only one is in use at any time. The structure generally looks like this:

Interface\AddOns\mod1\libs\library1
             \library2
             \library3

When you "disembed" your libraries and use them as "standalone", they are installed just like any other addon, in the root of your AddOns folder. Every addon shares one copy of each library. NO memory is saved in game by doing this, as only one copy of each lib is in use at any time anyhow. Your structure would be like this:

Interface\AddOns\mod1
        \library1
        \library2

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Note that these addons are designed to be used with their libs embedded inside the addon's folder. Using the libraries standalone works, too, but...

Only use standalone libs if you...

• are a developer who wishes to control the versions of your libraries
• wish to have more control over your libraries for debugging
• need to minimize the file size of your Interface folder
• want to minimize initial loading times (NOTE: any decrease in loading times will be minimal, if noticeable at all, and only effects loading when first entering the game or reloading your ui)
• want to see an accurate representation of the memory usage of each individual addon and library (NOTE: when libs are embedded, the library's memory usage is counted as part of the addon that houses it. ie, ArkInventory may say that it uses 8MB of memory, when, actually, 7MB of that belongs to the libs inside and any work they are doing for both AI and any other addons that use those libs)

Stick with embedded libs if you...

• are not a developer
• only use a handful of addons
• don't feel comfortable dealing with libraries
• don't like having tons of extra folders in your AddOns directory

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Embedded libs -> Standalone libs

• Back up your Interface folder
• Open up your WAU preferences (Edit -> Preferences)
• UNCHECK "default mode WITH externals"
• CHECK "automatic dependency download"
• CHECK skip version check
• CHECK delete before extracting
• Go to Edit -> Mark Installed Addons (F4)
• Go to File -> Install/Update Marked Addons WITHOUT Externals (shift-F12)
• When finished, go back to preferences
• UNCHECK skip version check
• UNCHECK delete before extracting (NOTE: you may leave this checked if you wish to always do clean installs of your addons)

_________________________________________

Standalone libs -> Embedded libs

• BEFORE opening up WAU - Go into your Addons folder and delete anything that's not an addon (ie, all of the libs)
• Open up WAU and go to your preferences (Edit -> Preferences)
• CHECK default mode WITH externals
• CHECK skip version check
• UNCHECK automatic dependency download
• Go to Edit -> Mark Installed Addons (F4)
• Go to File -> Install/Update Marked Addons WITH Externals (ctrl-F12)
• When finished, go back to preferences
• UNCHECK skip version check

And now for the kitty that Funky asked for... :)

I suggest including the information in this thread in the sticky
http://www.wowace.com/forums/index.php?topic=8541.0
which explains the difference between embedding and disembedding libraries.

Yay! :D

Added section about the difference between embedded v. standalone.

Great job, Seerah. I also wanted to note that even if you are running 20+ add-ons, the increase is load times is barely noticeable. I used to swear by Stand-Alone, but once I reinstalled everything and left them embedded, it makes for doing my own tweaks so much easier because I don't have to sift through oodles of directories.

added the last point in why to use standalones about memory, as requested by Xinhuan.

Thanks Seerah! <3

Just to mention - in wau 1.9 you dont need to use the "Skip version check" or the "Delete before extract". However your procedure does support the widest number of versions.

But try it out yourself pick any mod and update it with the opposite externals type, and then back the libs wont get left behind.

Also, you can mix and match types, and the settings will be preseved during updates where external mode is "AUTO".

Someone on the forums here had said that they tried just reinstalling all addons but it left them with embedded libs or something... Not sure. Just thought I'd post the safest way for someone to get what they wanted. :)

Quote from Seerah »

Someone on the forums here had said that they tried just reinstalling all addons but it left them with embedded libs or something... Not sure. Just thought I'd post the safest way for someone to get what they wanted. :)

Yep great post and thanks again!

!!!SAL still works. Though, its no longer needed really.

Uninstall it. Then update, and see.

Yeah, if you set the category filter to library, then look at the installed addons tab, select all of them, and click the check-box next to one, then uninstall marked addons.

Here's some pics of the process. This way only works if you installed everything with the current wau version, however it does not require changing any preferences. Everything I did is shown. (All i did was check the box next to the addon, and then updated using the menu option in the pic)


_________________________________________________Starting without externals




_________________________________________________Do this




_________________________________________________Now you have externals




_________________________________________________Do this




_________________________________________________Now they are gone again