Guide: Settings and other files

Files / Directory structure | Uninstall | Backup

Learn what directories and files Chatty creates/uses.

Files / Directory structure

Settings Directory

The settings directory by default is in your user home directory in a subdirectory called .chatty. You can enter the command /dir to display and /openDir to open the settings directory that Chatty currently uses.

If you want to replace, copy or delete setting files in any way, make sure to close Chatty before doing so (the files may be overwritten at any time while Chatty is running).

You can change the settings directory via different ways:

• The -cd launch option changes the settings directory to the current working directory.
• The -d <dir> launch option changes the settings directory to the specified directory (which must already exist). Example: -d D:\program settings\Chatty (no quotes)
• The -portable launch option changes the settings directory to a directory called portable_settings created next to the Chatty.jar.

You can use launch options by adding them to a shortcut or (if you're using the standalone version) by adding it to the Chatty.cfg.

Note: favoritesAndHistory and statusPresets have been merged into settings as of v0.9.1. The addressbook has been merged into settings as of v0.12 (but may still be written to under some circumstances).

Working Directory

This directory is associated with Chatty when you start it. This is usually the directory the program is started from. When using the standalone (Chatty.exe) this is always set to the "app" directory of the standalone bundle. In some cases, depending on how Chatty is started, this may point to a different directory.

You can change the Working Directory by specifying it when you start Chatty, usually by creating a shortcut and changing what is defined under Run in in the shortcut settings. Make sure this points to the same folder the Chatty.jar is in (or something else if you want to customize it, just make sure the files you need are there).

Use the command /wdir to display and /openWdir to open the Working Directory.

JAR Location

This is where the Chatty.jar is located and is used for loading libraries that Chatty uses.

Customize

Some folders can be changed:

• Settings directory: See Settings Directory (this one also affects the default location of some other folders)
• Debuglogs: Using the -debugdir launch option
• Logs: In the Settings under "Log to file"
• Cache: In the Settings under "Other"
• Exported files: In the Settings under "Other"
• Images: In the Settings under "Other"
• Sounds: In the Settings under "Notifications"

Changing folders usually requires a restart of Chatty to be properly applied.

Uninstall

To remove Chatty from your computer:

• Locate your settings directory by entering /openDir in Chatty. If you customized your Chatlog or Sounds directory you may want to find those in the Settings.
• Close Chatty.
• Delete the directory where Chatty is installed (where the Chatty.exe or Chatty.jar are located) and the settings directory.

Backup

Setting backups can provide a way to recover your settings if the setting weren't written or loaded properly or to reset your settings to a previous state.

Chatty can perform these types of backups:

• Session backup (session_*): A copy of the currenty written settings, which is mostly intended as a fallback if the main settings file cannot be written. This changes often, so loading it only makes sense immediately after starting Chatty, before settings are saved again.
• Backup on start (auto_*): A copy of the settings file, made when Chatty is started. By default a backup is made no more often than one day apart and only a limited number of backups are kept.
• Manual backup (manual_*): You can create a manual backup via "Main - Save..". Manual backups are never automatically deleted.

Note: The login settings file is not backed up. For a safer backup, make your own backups on a different device.

To load an automatic backup go to "Main - Settings - Main - View Backups" and follow the instructions. If you want to restore a manual backup you made of the settings file, simply overwrite the current settings file while Chatty is not running.

You can view the backup directory directly by entering /openBackupDir or /showBackupDir into the Chatty inputbox. Note that files in the backup directory starting with auto_ may be automatically deleted.