[TC8.0ß3 x86_x64]: Imagine 1.0.8 x86 vs x64 trouble

[karlchen]

Hello, folks.

As had been anticipated before, the approach of putting 32-bit and 64-bit plugins in the same folder seems to start causing side effects.
(Of course, in the long run there may be little reason of running both T.C. 8 32-bit and 64-bit on a Windows 64-bit system, just running T.C. 8 64-bit should be sufficient, in particular once most of the plugins are offered as 64-bit plugins as well.)

Imagine 1.0.8 comes in two packages, Imagine 1.0.8 32-bit and Imagine 1.0.8 64-bit.

On my system, T.C. 8.0ß3 32-bit and 64-bit have both been installed in the same programme folder.
Equally, I am trying to install the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of each plugin in one folder as well.

When doing so with Imagine 1.0.8 the following problem exhibited:
The WCX and WLX files come as .WCX and .WLX plus .WCX64 and .WLX64. No problem.
Internally they both seem to load the file imagine.dll.
And this is where the trouble starts: you either have got the 32-bit imagine.dll or the 64-bit imagine.dll. but not both of them.
The same conflict exists with respect to the standalone file imagine.exe. It is either 32-bit or 64-bit.

In short words:
If you try to install both Imagine versions, 32-bit and 64-bit, into the same folder, you end up with either a functional 32-bit version or a functional 64-bit version, but never with both.

Or can anybody out there explain me how to achieve my goal?

No need to tell me to have two separate T.C. programme folders and hence two separate plugin base folders. I know this is feasible.
But is there a way by following the given approach of installing 32-bit and 64-bit T.C. in the same folder and hence having just one plugin base folder?

Kind regards,
Karl

[MVV]

I've asked Imagine author to rename Imagine.dll for 64-bit version...

Currently I've solved problem in such way: I installed Imagine x64 into folder Imagine64 near Imagine folder, and installed both plugins into TC, so each TC loads plugin that it can load.

[karlchen]

Hi, MVV.

Good idea.
For the moment being, this might be the solution which is as close to having Imagine 32-bit and Imagine 64-bit in the same folder as we can get.
I'll give it a try.

Cheers,
Karl

[MVV]

If you wish to use same language files and config, you may create a junction Imagine64\Language for Imagine\Language folder and a hardlink Imagine64\Imagine.ini for Imagine64\Imagine.ini file. This way both Imagines will share same configuration (unfortunately not a portable solution because requires NTFS).


Wow, just now I did another thing. Fortunately 64-bit Imagine.exe, Imagine.wlx64 and Imagine.wcx64 are not packed like Imagine.dll (I thought they are packed too), so it is possible to patch them! You need to replace Unicode string Imagine.dll with e.g. Imagi64.dll (don't change length) in theese files and they will expect Imagi64.dll library! So it is possible to place all of them into single folder and use default TCx64 behaviour.
But don't know how to do with plugins (un-UPX 32-bit Imagine.dll and patch plugin folder name in it? )...

[karlchen]

Hi, MVV.

In case I planned to use T.C. 8 32-bit and T.C. 8.0 64-bit simultaneously on 64-bit Windows machines for alonger period of time I would definitely follow your advice, hardlink the two imagine.ini files and create a junction for one of the two language folders.

I.e. at the moment there are two separate folders "Imagine" and "Imagine64" holding the 32-bit / 64-bit versions.

Yet, I do hope that soon (within a few weeks / months) all of the plugins which I use will be available as 32-bit/64-bit versions. As soon as this happens, T.C. 8.0 32-bit will live on 32-bit Windows versions only and 64-bit Windows versions will have 64-bit T.C. 8.0 only.
(So far for the optimistic plans for the future ...)

Cheers,
Karl

[MVV]

Good news! Author has renamed 64-bit Imagine.exe and Imagine.dll to Imagine64.exe and Imagine64.dll, so it is possible to install both versions to same folder.