The routes and scenarios with .ap files

[cnbalasub]

I have a question about the routes also the scenarios that have .ap files. On August 1, 2018 I have to reinstall the program of Train Simulator 2018 and extract all the .ap files of routes and scenarios that I have. Just found out few minutes ago and I have to extract all the routes and scenarios with .ap files again. I wonder what caused them to delete all the files inside the routes or scenarios. The other folders with routes or scenarios don't have .ap files are okay and all files are there but not the others. I suspect that would be the program of CCleaner or some other software program that clean them up in my desktop. I need to stop them from using the software program.

Let me know about this.

John

[buzz456]

If you re-installed it from Steam that's what you get is it back in the .ap format. They should still run OK as long as you don't have mods. If you do they need to be re-installed outside of the .ap. Not sure if that answers your question or not.

[cnbalasub]

Buzz, you are correct about this but right after the reinstall of Train Simulator and right away to extract the ap files through 7-Zip. That was done late last week and now all the files in the folders where the ap files are disappeared. That is my question to see if one of the software program might clean them up like CCleaner or something else. I don't know what other software program might affect the files to disappear. I have that several times in the past with this same routine. Maybe I should contact DoveTail Games support to see about this. But I bet they don't know more than we are.

Thank you,

John

[buzz456]

Why would they? Maybe someone else on here has CCleaner. It had too many false positives for my taste.

[Chacal]

I would be very surprised if it was CCleaner.
This kind of utility doesn't erase data files without being told.

The Steam client can and does do this, it would be my prime suspect.
As for the reason, I have no idea. Could be just a glitch with your client.

[cnbalasub]

Keep my fingers crossed that this time all the routes and scenarios with ap files are working not disappearing in the subfolders. Look at my other message under Geek Speak and the link is below:

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=20361

The only routes are not working is one payware and some from Railworks America. Guess that I have to uninstall them through RW_Tools then reinstall them again. Funny is that all workshop routes are working with no problem.

Thanks again,

John

[latimers]

John,

Why are you concerned that you have to unpack all of the .ap files? You don't need to. The behavior you are describing where the extracted files "disappear" is how the .ap file system works. It doesn't matter what you do, the files are going to keep disappearing.

Bob.

[dphorton]

The reason to unpack the .ap Files is that some Third Party Routes need the file unpacked to function. Every time there is an update to Railworks or I install a Route I have to unpack.

[latimers]

As far as I know, the only reason to unpack an .ap file is if you need one of the files inside it, e.g. for a reskin where you have to copy the shape file from the original folder to the reskin's folder.

Otherwise TSXXXX is quite capable of reading any and all the files it needs to read from inside the .ap file.

Dave, it sound like there's something wrong with your installation. You shouldn't have to do that.

Bob.

[buzz456]

As far as I know, the only reason to unpack an .ap file is if you need one of the files inside it, e.g. for a reskin where you have to copy the shape file from the original folder to the reskin's folder.

Otherwise TSXXXX is quite capable of reading any and all the files it needs to read from inside the .ap file.

Dave, it sound like there's something wrong with your installation. You shouldn't have to do that.

Bob.

Bob is correct. FYI TS will first read unpacked files then if there are none the game will read the files in the .ap. If the unpacked one is different from the one in the .ap the game will read the unpacked one. RWTools cannot read stuff in the .ap but the game does. There is no reason to unpack files unless you plan on making changes from the stock file.

[dphorton]

There is nothing wrong with my installation.

[buzz456]

Dave, what third party route or routes are you referring to that needs assets unpacked?

[latimers]

Dave,

Why do you think that you have to unpack the .ap files? What happens to make you think you need to?

Bob.

[dphorton]

Let's see D&Rrrv3, Apple Valley Railroad, Tehachapi Pass are just a few that I recall. Then when Railworks updates. So if all you use is what comes with Railworks you don't have to worry. If you use RW Tools like I do then you need to unpack the .ap files. It is no big thing so let's move on.

[latimers]

Before we move on Dave, can you confirm that you don't need to unpack the .ap files to get the routes to run in TSXXXX? It sounds like you need to unpack them so that RW_Tools can "see" the files and not show them as "missing".

Is that correct? If so, that's very different from having to unpack the .ap files so that the routes will run in TSXXXX, which is the impression you gave in your earlier posts and might mislead some people.

Bob.