Railworks America

Anyone know of something less frustrating than 7Zip to modify addons for Pacific Surfliner and the Empire Builder P42 addon? Or a tutorial so I can figure out how to work 7zip? I have been trying to install the Amtrak California pack and the Amtrak Veterans unit, both on the file library here, and I can't anything from either addon to show up in the editor. The game recognizes that the engine exists, but I can't get the game to see the shape files.

I personally use Bandizip. It's free, and even better, it works!

http://www.bandisoft.com/bandizip/

Hi Sparky. This is Spanky.
I don't think your issue is with 7zip. It sounds more like you haven't copied in the geo files to your add-ons.
Have you done this?

7zip can be a little confusing but it works fine. With it installed, you right click a .zip or a .ap file, (or .rar or other) then from the drop down menu choose "Extract Here" and you will get the uncompressed version of the original compressed folder. Don't use "Extract All" because ALL of the compressed files will litter your desktop. Once the file is modified, you do not need to turn it back into a .ap. It will work just fine.

Once the .ap is unpacked, you can double click it to open and edit just like a regular file. Have fun!

HankySpanky wrote:I don't think your issue is with 7zip. It sounds more like you haven't copied in the geo files to your add-ons.

This, and also:
1- 7zip is really easy to use with .ap files. In Windows Explorer, right-click on a .ap file, choose "7-zip", "Open archive" and there you are, looking at the files inside. To extract a file or folder, just drag it where you want.

2- You can also make 7-zip the default program for opening .ap files, so that a simple double-click will open them.

3- Use RW-Tools for extracting .ap files.

I suggest you all have a go at the 2 panel mode in 7Zip - click on View / 2 Panels in the menus. You can then open an archive in one panel, open the destination folder in the other, and drag files and folders from the archive to the destination. Also works well when you need to copy geo files - a right button drag gives you the choice of Copy or Move (you want to Copy, of course). If you are copying from a .ap file, remember to unlock the copied file by right clicking on it, choosing Properties and clearing the Read Only check box.

I often work with three or four instances of 7Zip running at the same time when I'm installing new rolling stock - I much prefer it to Windows Explorer.

Thank you all very much, this should help.

Will 7zip open linked zip files such as Z01, Z01, etc.?