about plugins folder

[VeTram]

Hi to all friends...a general question pls..

Since my plugins folder , becomes day by day , more and more larger with all custom contents,  i am wondering if there is any guide or any rules , for the minimum of files that i must keep into my plugins folder , in order to run the game properly ?

Are there any files that it is NOT necessary to keep into my plugins folder?

[Diggis]

No, there is no rules, as it depends on your computer specs and how much lag you can put up with.  Once you find your game running quite slow then you need to stop and think about what you have downloaded. 

As for what you don't need... jpg, png, readmes, txt files aren't needed in there, however the game will just ignore them anyway so it's not a big problem.

[VeTram]

ok Diggis thanks ,  If i move all other files like txt files etc , should i help my pc's memory this way?

oh! and something else...i can see that there are some desktop files also in my plugins folder...can i move them also?..

..and something last pls....is there any way to copy the original cd of the game (Rush Hour) , and use the copied one to play the game ,as i am afraid the case to destroy the original is any way , whenever i change the cd-rom from my laptop to my desktop and the opposite..

[jmelvin]

I notice that Diggis commented:

As for what you don't need... jpg, png, readmes, txt files aren't needed in there, however the game will just ignore them anyway so it's not a big problem.

I'm not sure that is true for all the png files. I thought that the png file showing the four small images was needed for ploppable buildings. I have read somewhere that this png has the images that show up in the associated menu. I'm not sure if the item will show up in the menu without that png.I think I have seen some posts either here at SC4Devotion or maybe it was at Simtropolis that provided modders info on how to properly size the four images for that png.

Please understand that my comments above are not based on experience. This is just a guess on my part after reading a post somewhere that mentioned the png with the four images. Diggis may be correct in what he said.

[BarbyW]

The pngs embedded in the lot files are needed but diggis was referring to any separate pngs that occasionally creators leave in their folders.

[Diggis]

Yes, PNG's that are needed by the game will be embedded in the DAT or SC4Lot files.  The game won't read them otherwise as they won't have the TGI associated with them

[jmelvin]

My bad. I got to thinking about this after I left home this morning and realized that Diggis was probably referring to stand alone files. I should be more careful about the context of a question and someone's answer before butting in with my two cents. I'm very happy to see the clarification and apologize for any confusion I may have added to the issue.

[SgtJoeDes]

Hello. If I recall, isn't there a tread somewhere that also explains how to better manage our files because there are priorities in which files are read in the game?

[r10b]

...is there any way to copy the original cd of the game (Rush Hour) , and use the copied one to play the game ,as i am afraid the case to destroy the original is any way , whenever i change the cd-rom from my laptop to my desktop and the opposite..

Yes, a backup CD (of Disk 1) will launch the game. I do this myself, keeping my original in the case on a shelf.

[VeTram]

r10b what version of the game you have?  i have SC4 and RU separately , and i use R.U cd in order to run the game. So , i am having three cd's of the game , and i use the third one ( RU cd's ) to run the game.  Is it possible to copy R.U cd?  I have tried to copy it , and i didnt managed because it is copyright.. 

I want to keep the original on a shelf also , but how can i copy it? any idea ?    i am leaving soon for vacations and i do not want to take the original with me..

[r10b]

I'm running Rush Hour (Mac) and I launch the game with a copy of RH Disk 1. This works for the PC version as well. My originals are in the box and I never touch them. BTW & FWIW: The disk can be ejected once the region has appeared on screen.

[TheTeaCat]

Personally

I use a "virtual drive" using software called Alcohol120. linkie to site
It allows you to create an ISO of any disk (perfect for games and the original has only been out of the box once  ) and run it in a virtual drive that you create. no extra wear and tear on real components. nothing to get scratched 
and the game will always go with you if installed on a laptop.

hope that helps a bit


TTC

[VeTram]

how did you copied the cd r10b?

thanks for the informations TheTeaCat , but is that needed a lot of space on disk?

[r10b]

First you need to make a disk image of the CD, then burn the disk image to a blank CD -- or find a machine with 2 drives, one of which is a burner. On a Mac you use the Disk Utility app to make the disk image. I'm not sure exactly don't know what procedure you follow to burn a CD in Windows, but I'm sure there's online help that explains it. Ask the talking Paperclip!  Good luck.