Slow game due to large props file

[carolinakimmie]

Hi there,
I have gone somewhat crazy downloading all the wonderful creations here at SC4 Devotion.  Now I have a 1.1 gb props file and my game is freezing.  I read here in the forum somewhere about some type of packer type program that might help but cannot remember the name of the program.  Would that program help me?

Also, what are the best graphics settings to use for good graphics but a faster game play?

I appreciate any help you all can give me.  Thanks!

[dragonshardz]

DatPacker. Thats what you want. As to settings, no one computer is the same so you may have to play with the settings until you find one that works.

[carolinakimmie]

   Thank you sooo much for pointing me to the DatPacker.  While I cannot tell an appreciable difference in load time, my plop menu, especially parks and landmarks (the biggies) open much, much quicker, and I played for hours last night without a single freeze up.  Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Now...just to clarify one little thing.  If I download more stuff, I move everything from my Props Disabled folder back to the Props folder, install the new stuff, and then run the DatPacker again, right?  Do I delete the original file that the DatPacker made?  I'm assuming so, but want to make sure I do this correctly.

Again, thanks for all your help.  This forum is awesome!

[dragonshardz]

I would recommend only deleting the.dat file in the Plugins_Compressed folder when you remove something, or when a great deal of custom content is added.

I, personally, section my plugins into chucnks so I only need to move parts of the total plugins folder.

And its not the Props folder, it's the Plugins folder. 

Have fun and don't DL splurge too much.

[Pat]

One thing shardz's is right is to break down your plugins folder into section then pack from there...  I would how ever not dat pack NAM at all, if you have it that is.... here is how I set my folder up,

• BSC files
• Terrain files
• Utlities
• BLaM
• Parks and Rec
• LBT
• NDEX
• misc files

that is a general idea of how i have my folder setup....