NAM and Datpacker

[Rikujo 3]

Hai there,
So, i intended to re-install the NAMv32 when i read the instruction in the nam installer window about datpacking the file to decrease the loading time and bla..bla...
I just wanna make sure that this sentence actually mean datpacking the NAM file or what? 'cause i remember reading somewhere in the forum that you should NOT datpacked the nam? Or am i wrong?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Do not datpack the NAM.  It is dynamic and you may change it frequently.  It is also subject to update.  Its files are already in .dat form, so there isn't much, if any gain by datpacking it and if you change something, you have a real problem.

[Sabretooth78 808]

I have DATpacked the NAM, and I haven't realized any problems because of it.  Not yet, at least.  I still keep an unpacked copy just in case.  Be advised that there are certain files which must load after others, so best you may want to pack all the "zzz"s into their own file appropriately named to load afterwards.

[Rikujo 3]

How confusing. Two members here have different answers. Maybe someone from the NAM team would know the best answer?

[Sabretooth78 808]

The "textbook" answer is going to be no.  As with anything involving custom content, you do so at your own risk.

 

As I said, I've been able to do it without ill effect.  Knock on wood.  That's why I keep an uncompressed backup available - in the event I do realize a problem.  I'm not recommending you do so nor am I trying to dissuade you from it - your mileage may vary.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

The reason we don't advise Datpacking the NAM is it will prevent you from upgrading to the next release properly.  The installer looks at your existing installation and uses it to automatically select the correct settings (which driving side, which NAM parts you install, traffic simulator settings, etc.)

 

Datpacking will not cause any in-game problems.  But when you want to install the next NAM release, you'll have to delete all traces of the NAM and re-select all the settings manually.

 

Hope that clarifies things.

[Alejandro24 575]

I have the NAM datpacked and it never caused any problem. When there is an upgrade I reinstall everything, I never update the current NAM and always works.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

To each his own.  I don't dat pack anything using DATpacker.  But I do use Files2DAT to pack each BAT that comes to me in "naked" form.  At one point, one of the BATs I called in had so many files It overflowed something and crashed my system while loading the game.  After that, I reduce each new BAT to a single (or very few) *.dat files.  The limit on file handles in my system is very large, but this one BAT managed to exceed it somehow.

 

Where there are options in a BAT release, I prune first and pack afterwards.

 

As far as DATpacking the NAM, I've stated my reasons for not doing so, and the NAM team has expressed similar reservations.  As has been said, this is all at one's own risk.  I don't see much real advantage to packing NAM because it is all *.dat files anyway.  Might save a little disk space is about all.

[Rikujo 3]

Nonny: Even if the nam files are already in Dat form, to me, Datpacking does not only mean to convert files into DAT., but also to save space and turn files into a one single file that will help reduce the game loading time. I think that is the main goal of this Datpacker tools. Is it not?

 

Anyway, thank you for all the clarification guys, it was a big help.

So literary you can still datpacked the nam. Well, i don't think the next release would be in the near future so, guess i'm gonna go and datpacked it while keeping the original un-datpacked nam file. Even if i'm not, i still keep the earlier nam installer, just in case.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You are right, of course, but I change my NAM configuration frequently, so there is no point in my doing this.  One thing I never do with a huge package like the NAM is try to make a final pick of all that I expect to use.  Predicting the future is a mugs game.

[APSMS 1,892]

Certainly the ability to change on the fly is a powerful ability.

Something you might want to consider is the fact that the NAM .dat files have been stripped of all unnecessary files (images and such) and thus not only are space savings negligible, but so are loading time advantages. Not to mention the fact that a datpacked NAM with an unpacked backup will occupy twice the space of the NAM files unmodified.

 

But, if you seem to have a performance improvement, then as long as you're aware of the risks...