Dependencies and overlaying

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Maybe I misuderstand this, but I believe that dependencies are just table members of some specific table.  If you have a duplicate of a dependency, does it or does it not overlay the one that was in first?  If this is true, then there is probably no reason why a lot publisher should not include all the dependencies for his lot in a single .dat with his lot.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Maybe I misuderstand this, but I believe that dependencies are just table members of some specific table.  If you have a duplicate of a dependency, does it or does it not overlay the one that was in first?  If this is true, then there is probably no reason why a lot publisher should not include all the dependencies for his lot in a single .dat with his lot.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Well, it would enlarge download pacxkages considerably - a simple lot file of under 100 kB apiece could end up packaged in a ZIP file that weighs in at 20 MB or more.

The concequence would be that upload portals such as ST would require much more server space. Bandwidth usage would increase dramatically, too, which would also lead to higher server costs.

Last but not least, the effect on the total size of the downloader's plugins folder can be imagined quite easily.

After all, all these disadvantages are the very reason why dependencies exist: to bundle stuff that's used repititvely in files that you download once and keep, so that many future downloads can rely on them.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Well, it would enlarge download pacxkages considerably - a simple lot file of under 100 kB apiece could end up packaged in a ZIP file that weighs in at 20 MB or more.

The concequence would be that upload portals such as ST would require much more server space. Bandwidth usage would increase dramatically, too, which would also lead to higher server costs.

Last but not least, the effect on the total size of the downloader's plugins folder can be imagined quite easily.

After all, all these disadvantages are the very reason why dependencies exist: to bundle stuff that's used repititvely in files that you download once and keep, so that many future downloads can rely on them.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, Oh great lizard, I buy all your arguments.  However, what is the effect of having a duplicate, by inadvertence, in your list?  I believe it would do nothing but slightly increase your load time.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, Oh great lizard, I buy all your arguments.  However, what is the effect of having a duplicate, by inadvertence, in your list?  I believe it would do nothing but slightly increase your load time.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I'll be glad to answer this one, majestic moose.

As you correctly stated, a small increase in load time (and in plugins folder size) should be the only disadvantage. SimCity will recognize the duplicate file as a game file, so it will open the file and load its contents, and any duplicate items (props, textures, exemplar files) will override their identical counterparts from the file(s) the game has already read.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I'll be glad to answer this one, majestic moose.

As you correctly stated, a small increase in load time (and in plugins folder size) should be the only disadvantage. SimCity will recognize the duplicate file as a game file, so it will open the file and load its contents, and any duplicate items (props, textures, exemplar files) will override their identical counterparts from the file(s) the game has already read.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Thanks.  That was my original conclusion, but I wanted confirmation from someone who really knows what happens during the load.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Thanks.  That was my original conclusion, but I wanted confirmation from someone who really knows what happens during the load.