Plugins folder question.

[infamousjbe 592]

Is it not good to keep any 'read me' or 'link' files in with the plugins? should I clean out the plugins folder of all these types of files?

[Bdub01 201]

Go look at the "Quick plugin question" thread, it's like on page 4-5 and that should answer any questions you have bout plugins

[Wiecher 192]

The readmes and links and pictures have no negative influence on your gameplay, however, they make your game and cities load slower, because on start-up, the game reads every single file that's in the plugin folder and the game doesn't know what to do with them.

If you have a lot of them (say, 1GB of useless files) it may reduce your loading times by half.

[z1 566]

The readmes and links and pictures have no negative influence on your gameplay, however, they make your game and cities load slower, because on start-up, the game reads every single file that's in the plugin folder and the game doesn't know what to do with them.

 

It knows exactly what to do with them - it ignores them.  And the game just reads the header of the file, not the whole thing; if it's not a DBPF file, it moves on.

 

If you have a lot of them (say, 1GB of useless files) it may reduce your loading times by half.

 

Well, I don't know anyone who has 1 GB of useless files.  As for the amount that loading time is reduced, on what is your statement based?

[Wiecher 192]

If you have a lot of them (say, 1GB of useless files) it may reduce your loading times by half.

 

Well, I don't know anyone who has 1 GB of useless files.  As for the amount that loading time is reduced, on what is your statement based?

 

 

Personal experience.

 

[Cyclone Boom 16,830]

Essentially, the more files (of any type) there are in your plugins folder, the longer the game will take to load. It takes time for all files to be read, even though the unnecessary ones are skipped.

 

Anyway, ignoring loading times, keeping files in one place does help with organisation (i.e. inside a separate "Documentation" folder). If you ever need to refer to a plugin's documentation, this can be a much simpler task. If you like, inside the "Documentation" folder, individual subfolders can be created for each plugin or category. For example, categories for different types of mods, BATs, lots and dependencies.

 

The BSC Cleanitol is a useful tool that can quickly find and transfer these unnecessary files, as well as checking for missing dependencies. There's a useful user guide available here, explaining the basics of how to use it. Note: to download it, you'll first need to register at the LEX.

 

Otherwise, if you're using Windows, you could use the built-in search to find the files.

To do this, first open your plugins folder. Then in the search box, type an asterix (*), followed by the file format. For example, all JPEG images could be found by inputting (*jpg).

 

As well as .jpg , other common unnecessary files include:

 

Images

*png

*bmp

*gif

 

Documents

*txt

*html

*htm

*mhtml

*mht

*doc

*docx

*rtf

*pdf

[infamousjbe 592]

Thanks for the replies fellow Mayors. 

 

I've actually took the time to restructure my plugins folder, and in doing so, cleaned out all the .jpg's & readmes. Realized that when I started dl'ing content, was getting a bit over zealous and wasn't paying attention to all the readmes and making sure I had all the dependencies. Should be straightened out now and ready to move forward.

 

Want to get everything situated before starting a new city, want to recreate Rhode Island USA. There is just SO much content to go through, so now I'm going to dl/install as needed depending on which stage my city is at. This time I'm thinking of starting off a bit slower with the SPAM modd before working over into a more I-M / CO city eventually.

 

While I have you'll attention, had a question about the SPAM modd. If I have it installed and start a city in my region to be I-A based using SPAM, but another city in the same region to be more R & C & I-D/M/HT, will my "Downtown" city be hindered by the modd being in the plugins folder? 

 

One more question too, will the I-A from one city supply across two city tiles? ie: a blank city tile between the I-A city and the "Dowhtown" city. So I wouldn't have to have so much A-I in the "downtown" city?

[SimMavGER 8]

While I have you'll attention, had a question about the SPAM modd. If I have it installed and start a city in my region to be I-A based using SPAM, but another city in the same region to be more R & C & I-D/M/HT, will my "Downtown" city be hindered by the modd being in the plugins folder? 

 

One more question too, will the I-A from one city supply across two city tiles? ie: a blank city tile between the I-A city and the "Dowhtown" city. So I wouldn't have to have so much A-I in the "downtown" city?

 

"Hindered" only in that way, that connected cities will most likely have there I-A demand being satisfied by your SPAMtation city.

Which basically answers your second question, but with the limitation that only "founded" city tiles are continued connections of cities.

I have several older cities in my region and although one tile is only named for it to be named and the rail/road connections from two old cities and my newly founded town are not connected in this otherwise empty tile between these there, my new town already sees an influx of I-HT and R$$$.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Large or small plugins are only data files.  They generally have no effect between cities except as they affect demand.

[infamousjbe 592]

bit of an oldie but goody resurrection. lol.

 

As of the last time I've posted in this thread, I've scratched the recreation of Rhode Island, for more of a small region game. Never really tried doing much of the region (multi-tile) building. Starting off a bit slower this time with SPAM and utilizing a rural/farm design to my region before eventually progressing into the more modern times. Though it's not the recreating of Rhode Island, it'll definitely progress through a strong I-M phase just as RI did at it's beginnings. Love me some brick factory/warehouses.

 

Since I've started the region with 4 connected tiles and a bit of tax tweaking, my "DT" tile I-A has tanked due to all the I-A in the other 3 cities, so even with SPAM installed, the region still plays fairly normal. 

 

@Nonny:   since I assume you'll probably notice this reply, I believe I read somewhere you mentioning a button command to allow you to see the topography of your city? Or something along those lines? Meant to ask but lost track of the thread. If you can't gather what I'm requesting from this post, don't worry to much about it, sure I'll come across it again some time.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

1 month isn't that old at all.  Sometimes people seem to dig to the back of the forums to find threads to post in... 

 

The keyboard shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + C will allow you to toggle contour lines in your city.

[infamousjbe 592]

Since I'm fairly new and this was one of my threads (think it was my first or second post) created a month ago, for me it's an oldie..  not necessarily for you guys. 

 

Thanks for the heads up. Never heard of this command prior to Nonny mentioning to another mayor not to long ago and been curious ever since about what he meant. This might help me know exactly where the foot of the hills start.