The SFM workshop is a great source of models, maps, sounds and other assets for Source Filmmaker, however it does have it's flaws.
We as users, are encouraged to add content to the workshop, however, the one thing that Valve doesn't seem to mention (unless you dig into the 'fine print') is that the workshop has a limit to how much you can add to it.
Each user apparently has a set limit of how much that they can upload and once that limit is reached, you cannot upload any more until you remove something to make room for the new stuff.
This is one of the reasons why some items stay on the workshop for what seems like years, while others seem to disappear overnight. There are other reasons for this as well, such as DMCA notices, copyright infringement claims, etc.

Bottom line is that if you do not make a backup of your workshop folder, you can lose those assets, sometimes permanently.

There is also another reason to do this:

The dreaded CutIRBtree error!!

There are a number of things that have been determined to cause this error, but one of them that I personally have found, is having over 1200 consecutive workshop subscriptions at any given time.
If you have 1200 or more subs and you haven't seen this error yet, you probably will soon.

The only way that I've found to fix this particular cause is to clear out my workshop subscriptions, but like most people, I usually only sub what I really want to keep, so getting rid of stuff is pretty hard to do. That's where this backup method comes in. I can now 'have my cake and eat it too", so to speak.

I simply backup my workshop folder, unsub a bunch of stuff and the error goes away.
Oh, did I happen to mention that this also allows me to sub more stuff, because now I have more room in my workshop folder... ;)

Ok, so let's get on with it, shall we?

In order for you to effectively make a backup of only the assets that you really want to keep, you need to know how to locate them within the files of SFM. Most saavy computer users know how to move and manipulate their files, but not everyone knows how to do this, so if you are one of those folks that doesn't know how, then read on...


By default, your SFM install is located at
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SourceFilmmaker\.
If yours is installed in a different location, then you do not have a default install and will have to adjust the steps in this guide to fit your specific situation.


Your workshop folder can be found here:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SourceFilmmaker\game\workshop\
As you can see in the image, there are a number of folders inside the workshop folder.
These folders contain all of the items that you are subscribed to on the workshop.
Any models that you've subbed will be in the 'models' folder.
The materials that go with those models are stored in the 'materials' folder.
The other folders are pretty self-explanatory, the 'sounds' folder contains any sounds or sound packs that you may have subbed to on the workshop. Basically, everything that you've subscribed to is in the workshop folder.
The only folder that you really do not have to be concerned about is the 'metadata' folder.
That is a system folder for the workshop to compare versions of what you have installed to what you are subscribed to, and if they do not match, download the updated versions from the workshop.
If you keep proper backups then you don't need to worry about this as most of your backup items will be up-to-date as well, through the process of backing them up regularly.

I mentioned earlier that I would show you how to make a "useable" backup folder.
What this means is that, when finished, you will have a folder that SFM can read from and therefore use, just like your workshop folder, so here we go...


Before you can move anything, a.k.a., back it up, you have to create a place to put it.
So here we go...

1. Create your backup folder.
   Navigate to your SFM install and make sure to select the 'game' directory as shown in the image below. At the top menu bar, click 'New Folder' and give your folder a name that you will recognize as your workshop backup folder. As you can see in the image, I named mine 'wrkshp', workshop without the 'o's.
   NOTE: When you make your folder, try to keep it simple. Do not use special characters. Not only does SFM not like special characters, but Windows doesn't seem to like them much either, particularly when it comes to file names.
   
   
2. Prep your backup folder directory structure.
   As you can see in this image, I've recreated the directory structure of the workshop folder (minus the 'metadata' folder as we don't need it) inside my 'wrkshp' folder.
   
   
3. Move the files.
   If you want to backup your entire workshop folder, as most of us probably would, then all you have to do is navigate back to your workshop folder and select all the folders in it, except the metadata folder, and copy them and paste them in your backup folder.
   Easy, peasy... lol
   
   If you already have folders in your backup folder, you may be prompted to 'Merge Folders', click 'Yes' and let it do it's thing.
   
   
4. Now to make the folder 'visible' to SFM...
   Open your Steam Library and select 'Software'.
   SFM is NOT a game and will not show up in your Games Library.
   
   Right-click Source Filmmaker and select 'Launch SDK'.
   
   You will see this:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Select 'Edit Search Paths For Selected Mod':
   
   This will pop up.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You should find your backup folder in this list, usually at or near the bottom of the list.
   Place a checkmark in the box beside it.
   You can drag and drop it to change it's priority in the list. The higher something is on the list, the higher it's priority, meaning that it will override (NOT overwrite) the folders below it.
   
   Click 'OK' and close all of that out.
   You now have a backup of your workshop folder that SFM can read and access.

The best way that I know of to do this is from an idea by Zengo™.

To keep track of your subs and see if, and when, they are updated, do the following:

Before you unsub everything, make a collection and place all of your subbed items in that collection.
From the collection, you should now be able to unsub everything in one shot.
Don't worry, everything that you placed in your collection will still be there, you will just have to resub anything that may get updated, then copy the updated model to your backup folder.
You can then unsub the item again until it's updated again.

If you don't know how to make a collection, this video by Zengo™ will show you how:

But there IS a way to get around that problem...

Use an external hard drive!













This process can be done exactly the same on an external hard drive, however, SFM will not be able to directly use the assets on the external hard drive.
When you finally get the room, or a bigger hard drive for your pc, all you have to do is copy the backup folder from your external drive to your SFM install, enable it as shown above, and you are good to go...

Either way that you do it, you will now have a backup of your workshop folder and you won't ever lose a model, map or other assets ever again.., unless of course, you screw something up, which in that case, that's on you.

If you have any questions or comments, you know what to do...
I'll get back to you just as quickly as I can.