Just a warning For Next Tuesday

[gptech]

You could have bother logging in to Steam at any time----none of us use an ISP with 100% up-time, nor use equipment immune to failure so it could be seen as prudent to have a strategy in place to enable offline access to the game as and when it's necessary.
Having a copy of Steam permanently set to offline mode works for me, though I'm sure there are numerous solutions.

[ttjph]

You could have bother logging in to Steam at any time----none of us use an ISP with 100% up-time, nor use equipment immune to failure so it could be seen as prudent to have a strategy in place to enable offline access to the game as and when it's necessary.
Having a copy of Steam permanently set to offline mode works for me, though I'm sure there are numerous solutions.

How many files within the Steam install need copying to force offline mode?

A change-mode-and-search-by-date suggests steam\userdata\[number]\config\localconfig.vdf, but just saving a copy of that in offline mode and then overwriting doesn't seem to be sufficient...

Presumably an 'update' to the offline copy will be required when acquiring new DLC - or would it only be necessary when acquiring a complete new game from Steam?

[gptech]

How many files within the Steam install need copying to force offline mode?

No idea, I've just copied the lot---or rather let Steam install a fresh copy initially and then set it to offline mode. A firewall rule for both this instance of Steam.exe and RailWorks.exe, denying internet access suffices as the belt for the braces to keep it *clean* and prevent unwanted connections.

Presumably an 'update' to the offline copy will be required when acquiring new DLC - or would it only be necessary when acquiring a complete new game from Steam?

Whenever you acquire a new item you'd need to update the off-line installation. I just use a variation on the above strategy and copy all the files in the RailWorks folder, the folders for whatever the new toy is, and lastly the contents of the SteamApps folder, less the common folder.

I only follow this last bit because I've edited (butchered?) the folder structure for lots of stuff but just allowing the offline copy to connect to check the install after copying over the new goodies should work for most folk. A verify shouldn't be needed, as Steam should check that what's on your drive is what should be there and as long as it finds it it'll be happy. The whole idea really isn't to keep a totally quarantined copy, but one that's in a known working state, and not dependant on being on-line for those occasions when it can't.

Comes in handy though when there's an update; gives you chance to evaluate what's been changed on the on-line copy and see if there are any untoward effects that should be fixed by a further update before you let the other copy be updated.

[Trev123]

It is out 12-00 UTC.

[Trev123]

New Nvidia driver available for Grand Theft Auto V.

[pjt1974]

Thanks for wasting 2 minutes of my life on a pointless and totally speculative post.

You're a slow reader.

Thanks for the mind numbing reply
If you haven't got anything good to say, don't say it at all