Compiling a meg file - possible ?

[jedi_consulor]

I was considering that some mods get quite big and the textures and models folder can be quite large. No one seems to do this so I do not know if its possible ? - but do you think its possible to compile your mod files into meg files when a mod is complete and ready for general use.

 

Advantages

 

1) maybe lesser file size - does putting them into meg files compress them down more ?

 

2) more tidier folders. People will always use a meg extractor if they want some thing from the mod.

 

can it be done - and how what would need to be done ?

[Mike.nl]

  jedi_consulor said:

I was considering that some mods get quite big and the textures and models folder can be quite large. No one seems to do this so I do not know if its possible ? - but do you think its possible to compile your mod files into meg files when a mod is complete and ready for general use.

Not really.

The only way that would work is by adding the meg file to MegaFiles.xml, meaning it'll be part of the regular game instead of being a seperate mod. So the entire MODPATH game parameter becomes useless. This is the main reason not to do it.

 

  jedi_consulor said:

1) maybe lesser file size - does putting them into meg files compress them down more ?

Nope. In fact, the size is increased slightly (because of metadata). Then again, storing seperate files on disk also requires metadata. Anyway, the difference is negliable.

 

  jedi_consulor said:

2) more tidier folders. People will always use a meg extractor if they want some thing from the mod.

Does that matter? Just dump an entire mod in some folder in Mods\. Tidy enough.

 

So, conclusion: it's bad practice and not worth the trouble

[jedi_consulor]

ok Thanks for answering my questions Mike I guess I will carry on with it as it is then 

[Shadin]

What if you put the .meg and MegaFiles.xml in the Mods folder? It would also help make sure that no files are left out.

[Mike.nl]

  Shadin said:

What if you put the .meg and MegaFiles.xml in the Mods folder?

Hey, you're right. Heh, I didn't know that could work. Makes sense though, now that I think about it

So yes, you could put a copy of MegaFiles.xml in your "Mods\My Mod" directory and then add your meg files to it.

 

However, that still leaves the issue of why you'd want to do it. My arguments for not doing this are:

• The difference in disk space is negliable.
  
• It takes effort to pack everything up.
  
• Patching your mod would be more troublesome. Without meg files you can just zip up the altered files. With meg files you'd have to zip up all meg files that were altered (significantly increasing the download size). Unless you have some advanced patching utility that can efficiently extract differences within files.

 

So while it's possible, I'd still recommend against it. But do as you please, of course

 

  Shadin said:

It would also help make sure that no files are left out.

What do you mean by this? You either forget to put everything in a zip file, or you forget to put everything in a meg file. Same thing.

[jedi_consulor]

Thats TRUE Mike, makes it pointless after all using Meg Files to compile a mod.

[Droid803]

Unless you don't want people poking around the files unless they extract it, still, its pointless. Sincet hey can just extract it.