Uses Windows junctions to synchronize all character UIs.

xiv-ui.bat

@echo off

SET s=FFXIV_CHR004000174ACEA8B9

for /D %%i in (FFXIV_CHR*) do (
    IF NOT "%s%" == "%%i"    (
        echo "Linking %s% -> %%i"
        for %%x in (ACQ ADDON COMMON CONTROL0 CONTROL1 HOTBAR KEYBIND LOGFLTR MACRO) do (
            del "%%i\%%x.DAT"
            mklink /H "%%i\%%x.DAT" "%s%\%%x.DAT"
        )
    )
)

xiv-ui.bat

This batch file automatically synchronizes UI settings across multiple FFXIV characters via Windows junctions. Great for managing lots of alts without the constant copy/paste and "oh, these are my old hotbars".

Synchronized settings includes window and hotbar placement, skill placement on hotbars, keybinds, character settings, macros, etc.

Usage

Save this at %userprofile%\Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\xiv-ui.bat

Set s on line 3 to the name of the character folder you want to copy FROM (probably your main character). To figure out which one that is, log in and out of the target character, then check the Last Modified timestamps of files INSIDE each character folder for the most recent change.

Run xiv-ui.bat from an elevated command prompt to link all existing character folders forevermore. It only needs to be run once, unless you add new characters.

1. Press Start > type cmd > Ctrl + Shift + Enter
2. Type cd %userprofile%\Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn and hit enter.
3. Type xiv-ui.bat and hit enter.

Caveats

Mount Hotkeys

Mounts may cause trouble since hotbars are shared, especially when using different mounts per character or when not every character has the same mounts. This can be partially "solved" with a macro that puts desired mounts in a priority order:

/micon "Company Chocobo" mount
/aerror off
/mount "Amber Draught Chocobo"
/mount "Twintania"
/mount "Draught Chocobo"

Unfortunately, this adds an unavoidable error centerprint and beep every time you mount. It may also be impossible to order the mounts such that every character gets the mount it should when multiple characters have lots of mounts because this macro relies on "upper" mounts failing (e.g., you want Twintania but don't have Amber Draught, so it works out).

Multiboxing

Due to junctioning the settings files, all file IO propagates to all characters. This is usually what we want, but may cause trouble when running multiple characters simultaneously.

Some settings files are written in real time, and others when logging out. Therefore, whichever character logs out last gets the final say on what was written to disk. When making sweeping changes to the UI, make sure that client logs out last to avoid losing your work.