Compressed or Uncompressed Shape Files?

[dforrest]

The following is s ten-year-old thread.

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 38&t=21041

I am wondering what the current opinion is on this.

[wacampbell]

Compressed files load faster. And more so today. As our models increase in complexity, the file size grows, and the benefits of compression becomes more significant.

I have one route that loaded ten times faster after I compressed all the files in its Shape folder.

Its OK to have a few uncompressed files around while you work on them. But when you are finished, compress them.

[NiallGray]

The following is s ten-year-old thread.

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 38&t=21041

I am wondering what the current opinion is on this.

David, can I ask why did you decide to revive a 10-year-old topic? Just seems a totally random thing to do.

For the record, in my route everything is compressed. It helps makes the overall route size much smaller. I've never had any problems because of it, but if someone wants to decompress the files after they've installed the route, there's nothing to stop them. All my stock has compressed files too. Again, never been a problem.

[dforrest]

David, can I ask why did you decide to revive a 10-year-old topic? Just seems a totally random thing to do.

Because I am interested in knowing what the current opinion is, both as it effects speed and obviously disk space.

[ianmacmillan]

I always use savetex on a new route.
It compresses ace files and save quite a bit of space.

http://www31.brinkster.com/decapod/downloadsv.htm
Don't download any other files from this site - they are out of date.

Most of my wagon shape files will not load unless they are compressed.
I believe it's to do with Polymaster which I use to add LODs

Compressing reduces files by up to a tenth. I can't think of any reason not to do it.
There are plenty utilities to uncompress them if you need to.