Reload WoW
 

Hey guys,

I'm getting started with addon development and I have a very simple and noob question:

When developing I usually like to do some changes and check the result just right after saving the file. I guess that a lot of you guys do the same. The question is: Do I have to reload the game every single time I want to see the changes? That is very annoying because I need to alt+f4, open, log-in again and etc... that takes a little time.

Also, is there a way to debug on the fly?

Thanks

No, you can type /console reloadui. You might find an addon or twelve that build this functionality into a clickable button or shorter command.

/console reloadui works fine for most changes. The only time that you should need to quit and restart WoW will be if you add new files to the TOC.

they added /reload as well.

You can add/remove files from the .toc and see the results with just a /reload. If you change the ## options, or add/remove entire addons, then you have to restart the client.

Really? Good to know! *gets back to editing*

Really? Since when did I miss that?

Yep I do it all the time. :) I want to say it's been that way since they removed the ability to add addons w/o restarting the client, but I could be wrong.

Note that if you add textures that weren't here when you logged in, you'll get a beautiful green box instead (like if the path was wrong).

I didn't know for the ability to add addons and files after having launched WoW, I thought that the *.toc file was read only once, at the launching, and then wasn't read at all.

Yeah it used to be that it reread everything. I don't remember when they changed that but I remember downloading addons while alt-tabbed and reloading to turn them on.

you can add/remove the files form the toc and it will update with /reloadui but the files have to be inplace before you start wow so you cannot add new files during runtime only files that are already present but not referenced in the toc or an xml file

That's what I thought. *confusled* I guess I'll try it out and find out for myself. I'm in the habit of restarting WoW entirely if I add a new file, but if Akryn's correct, then that will save some time. If not, then I'll keep plugging away with my current way of doing things. I'll report back soon with the results, as I'm about to start a new addon anyway (if someone doesn't beat me to it).

What I have done in the past is to make a macro for "/console reloadui" and put the macro on my bar. Then I just click that whenever I need to.

If you use any Ace addons you should have the command

/rl

which does a /console reloadui

Don't remember if it's Ace2 , Ace3 or something other library most ace addons use that provides it

Torhal will probably correct me on this >_>

It's Ace2 or Ace3 installed standalone.

LibRock also enables a /rl shortcut, some other non AceX/Rock based mods as well. Myself I have this bit of code inserted in my custom settings mod to create the /rl shortcut:
I forget which AddOn I swiped that bit from however it was something pretty simple if I recall correctly. You could create your own settings mod and then drop that bit of code into it if you want that shortcut and don't have a mod that enables it for you.