Train Simulator 2021 Core Update - 2nd March 2021 | Dovetail Games Forums I saw no difference when I loaded NZ Midland Line.
It's possible that - because it's a 3rd Party built route (non-DTG) - that it doesn't use .AP files, most 3rd Party content doesn't. If it doesn't use AP files, then you won't see an improvement, as this patch is purely to improve the loading times for routes that have assets packed into AP files.
The Midland Line is sold through Steam/DTG https://store.steampowered.com/app/...idland_Line_Aickens__Springfield_Route_AddOn/
However, I just checked the contents files, and they are NOT packed into a AP file, which is most likely why they are not loading faster. Also the route file itself is also not in an AP file.
It's a real shame TS doesn't have a utility available like MSFS 2000 where you can choose the craft and scenery you're going to use rather than load the entire file for use. It's made a huge difference to MSFS load times.
However, you could pack them into an .ap yourself if you wanted to in order to take advantage of the new core improvements.
I believe they are some sort of checksum file. They certainly aren't needed to make an .ap file work with custom content, I created one on my own route yesterday and the reduction in loading times was dramatic. Instructions on how to create them were in post #19 of the announcement thread yesterday.
RRE sbn files: https://fileinfo.com/extension/sbn It is to do with storing shapes in a binary format! Very technical I didn't understand a word!
I noticed that, when I bought the route. I happen to know how to create .ap files, They are not really a secret. There just needs to be an easy to use tool to painlessly create them from your third party assets/scenarios/routes, and make all our third party stuff load faster. (and keep our Train Simulator folders tidy too) HINT HINT DTG: that "Utilities" program is long overdue for an overhaul and 64 bit, maybe add that facility, the creation of .ap files to it?.
Totally correct. They are just checksums for DTG to use for the verification, And I was going to post a bit of an instruction on how to create the .ap files, And what they really are, but thanks to someone above, its already explained, so I don't have to. I must make a tool for doing that or something, I can program too.
I think that lots of people now use 7Zip to extract RWP files now. The only downside is that you cannot uninstall an RWP file easily by using 7Zip like you can with Utilities.