PodZip
(Larry Boy)

This utility will reduce the size of your pod file and its zip file.  It will save space on your hard drive and it will speed up download time.  The way it works is simple.  Once you have finished making your track or truck, use PodZip to easily and automatically remove unnecessary stock textures and bins from the completed pod file.  The reduction in size can be as high as ninety-seven percent.
 

Download
Download PodZip here (56k)Or you can visit the PodZip homepage and get it there.

Copy PodZip to the folder that contains the *.pod file(s) you want to reduce.  The mtm2 folder is fine but it can go anywhere.

PodZip is a DOS based program which means that you must run it from the DOS command line.  To do that, go to Start on the taskbar > programs > ms-dos prompt.  You will see a dos screen.  Change to the folder where PodZip and your pod files are, then type
 

C:\>PODZIP YourOldTrackName.pod YourNewTrackName.pod

and PodZip will do the rest.  You will see a list of file names scroll past.  Some will say file kept; some will say file gone.  You will see the statistics about how many files were removed, and how many bytes this reduced your pod file size by.  Then you will see a little advertisement for the NFS converter utility and a couple url's.  If you make it this far, everything is all set..
 

Trouble with DOS?
Try PodZipTurbo (397k)A graphic interface by ch_2005

 

Notes.

1. If a person dis-mounts the stock track upon which your new addon is based, then your track may not function properly in their game.  The mtm2 game accesses the models and art from the tracks that are in the pod.ini list.  PodZip relies on the stock pods always being mounted.  But this is a small concern since most people leave all stock tracks podded.  Tip: if you do not use stock tracks, you might consider merging them all together using PodMate by Oliver Pieper in order to allow for more tracks in the pod.ini file.

2. PodZip was created so that track and truck makers could reduce new pod file and especially their zip file sizes.  It is not really intended to be applied to all tracks you use.  Doing so will result in the "different version" message in a multiplayer game situation.
 

Track and truck makers might want to consider re-releasing a SE (special edition) or an RE (Reduced edition) of their older tracks

3. If your track is made primarily from custom models and art, you will not see a great reduction in pod and zip file sizes.  This is because PodZip will only remove the stock models and art.  All custom work will remain intact and will not be affected.  This includes custom *.wav music files, which will not be removed.

Here are a few samples of the kind of file size reductions you can expect to see (all sizes in kbs).
 

Track
Number of
files removed 
Pod file size
Zip file size
 
Before
After
Before
After
reduction
% Comment
Black Fork
513
6384
3567
1593
195
-1298
12 good reduction
Extremely Farm Road
590
6030
3386
1434
163
-1271
11 good reduction
Train Yard
475
5651
3780
1491
636
-855
42 large wav file 
moderate reduction
Big Oval
252
4064
3017
549
23
-526
04 traxx school 
excellent reduction
Frottage Dome
15
4416
4330
605
581
-24
96 all custom 
small reducton
Godzilla v BigFoot
58
12,835
12,335
3330
3070
-260
92 all custom 
large wav file 
small reduction
Four Corners
1025
7557
3215
2399
88
-2311
03 all stock 
excellent reduction

 



 

The fine print.

Do NOT use this utility on Stock Track pods.
 
 
 
 
 

Trouble with DOS ?
Please visit the site of the PodZip Menu where you will find a small batch file to help you use PodZip as well as other important DOS help information.  Get there from here.