What is the difference between Saving/Exporting/Publishing?

Link to video: Fire Studio 7 Save-Export-Publish

Saving a simulation stores all the necessary data to run the simulation on the original computer where it was created. Exporting a simulation, on the other hand, lets you transfer the completed simulation to another computer with Fire Studio installed, while still allowing future edits. Publishing (FS7 Only) a simulation enables you to move it to another computer but restricts any further modifications.

The Save, Export, and Publish buttons can be found on the Slide Panel under the Simulation Display screen, which appears when Fire Studio launches.

The video above from Digital Combustion is a tutorial on the three methods for saving and sharing simulations in Fire Studio 7: Saving, Exporting, and the new Publishing feature.

Here is a summary of the differences and when to use each:

1. Saving (Standard)

When to use: Use this when your simulation uses only default layers (standard backgrounds, smoke, and fire included with the software).
File Created: A single .dcs file (Digital Combustion Simulation).
Portability: This file can be shared with other Fire Studio 7 users because they already have the default assets installed on their system [01:44].

2. Exporting (For Custom Content)

When to use: You must use this if you have added any custom layers (your own photos, sounds, or art) to the simulation.
Files Created: This creates two files:
- .dcs: The simulation file.
- .lbr: A library file containing your custom assets.
Portability: You must send both the .dcs and the .lbr files to another user for the simulation to work correctly [03:39]. If you update the sim, you need to export it again to update the library file.

3. Publishing (New in Version 7)

When to use: Use this when you want to share a simulation in a single file that cannot be edited by the recipient.
File Created: A single .dcx file.
Key Features:
- It combines the simulation and custom library into one file, making it easier to share [05:52].
- Locked for Editing: Once a file is published, it functions like a "player edition" file. It can be viewed but not changed. Author mode is disabled for .dcx files [06:45].

Compatibility Notes

Fire Studio 7 can open simulations created in Version 6.
Fire Studio 6 cannot open simulations created in Version 7 due to updates in how smoke and fire are handled [08:28].

How do I move my simulation to another computer when upgrading to a new version of Fire Studio?

After moving my simulations to another computer, the background images are missing.

How can I install and use Sim Packs in Fire Studio?

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