Subway mode is loading way too long

[Katya 0]

When I click on Build Ninja Boulevard Station button or  Build Subway track, subway mode is loading way too long (up to 20 seconds, and PC is good, i7-2600). Question, how to make the game not turning subway mode on when I click on "Build subway station" button? Is there any ability to do it? Wanna keep looking on town while building subway stations, also to avoid this lag.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Seems to be endemic.  You can cut the time down by putting the game in pause before selecting an underground feature.  The problem is that the game has to redraw the entire city to switch modes.  I find it annoying, and usually go get a coffee or something while waiting.

[Katya 0]

Ah so it doesnt get fixed. Sad, sad. I was avoiding building subway years ago because of this, was sure it's getting fixed with buying better hardware but no. Seems like the game code is not letting it to be.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

I read somewhere that using the "Dat Packer" would reduce the long wait. I just get mentally lazy when trying to understand how to use these kinds of tools so didn't try it yet. But if someone can confirm this, I would find the patience to learn.

[AIX 270]

I use DAT Packer with 3.4 GiB of plugins and have no problems - about 2-5 seconds at worst. If you have a huge plugins folder, DAT Packing is the way to go as it will seriously speed up this issue (as well as switching between other views).

 

Note, some things - such as the NAM or other crucial mods should not be DAT Packed.

[z1 566]

I read somewhere that using the "Dat Packer" would reduce the long wait. I just get mentally lazy when trying to understand how to use these kinds of tools so didn't try it yet. But if someone can confirm this, I would find the patience to learn.

 

Yes, this is exactly true.  DatPacker essentially eliminates the entire delay from shifting modes, even with huge plugin folders (4+ GB).

 

The only two things you shouldn't DatPack are the NAM and RTMT.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

I can confirm that the DATPacker works! I finally did a lot of reading throughout the forums, cleaned up and organized my plugins and gave it a shot. My subway view is now super fast like the vanilla version. Before whenever I went into subway mode, I had to hope I didn't see my desktop. Now not an issue.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

A good recommendation for DATpacker.  Wonder if I should try to get it to run on Linux again?

 

Definitely keep a copy of your old plugins somewhere in case you have to maintain something.  You can always run DATpacker again, but there is no way to back it out.