Q. What's a locator file
A. A locator file, is basicly a URL shortcut link. It is a text file which contains a web link to a file

Q. Why would I use a locator
A. locator files are used for 2 main reasons. Mainly used by map makers to allow custom signs, mods but also used to help load skins and avatars.

A locator file is literally just a normal text file, same as any notepad file. They are very easy to create and are quite helpful to get custom stuff working in TMN.

When you are using any custom images in TMN your system needs to upload the images to everyone on the server, regardless of if this is for skins, signs, avatars etc... this mean that you firewall, NAT etc... all have to be perfect also means that if you are using signs for maps that your computer has to be online 24/7. Also means that you internet connection has to upload tons of data e.g. 1mb car skin file, everyplayer on the server your playing on will have to download the file, so if you racing againist 12 people you will have to upload the skin 12 times, so 12mb of upload, therefore you ping drops etc... takes a while to load and everytime a new player join, wham another 1mb upload.

Locator files make this much faster and also stop you have to upload tons of data. A locator file will allow your computer to tell TMN not to get the file from your PC but from webserver instead, so instead of you having to upload the file dozens of time on your slow 256kb upload you can use a web servers 10mb link, makes it a lot faster. In so saying though to use a locator file you need some web space first, that could be a webserver like this one or for most of you who don't have a private webserver, your isp normally will provide you with some webspace.

First thing you need to do is upload the file or files you want to make locator files for to the server, this will vary depending on your server but most likely you will use an ftp program to upload it, for those of you who don't know or use ftp much try www.ftplive.com which is an online ftp program save having to install and configure a program. Once you have uploaded the files, make note of where on the server you uploaded them. e.g. http://www.xxxteamracing.com/files/skin1.zip (note make sure u include the http:// )

Once you have this goto the folder on your harddrive you have saved the file, e.g. /program file/track mania/game data/skins/stadiumcar/
make a new text file with the same name as your file but add .loc instead of .txt
e.g. skin1.zip = skin1.zip.loc
once you have create this text file add the link for you webserver in the file e.g. www.xxxteamracing.com/files/skin1.zip

so in the end you should have a file called skin1.zip.loc with the text http://www.xxxteamracing.com/files/skin1.zip, located in the same folder as the actual file skin1.zip

Created by smurftech

Copyright © by xXx Team Racing All Right Reserved.

Published on: 2008-02-05 (507 reads)