Backups of My Data

[cassidyj68]

Good Morning! Like a good computer nerd, I make backups of all of my data. I've done a lot of work using Surveyor to create a new route,
and I was wondering if it is possible to make a backup copy of my work, in case of computer failure? Thanks!

 

[capdiamont]

Trainz Wiki on backups

 

[MichelLmbrt]

Good Morning! Like a good computer nerd, I make backups of all of my data. I've done a lot of work using Surveyor to create a new route,
and I was wondering if it is possible to make a backup copy of my work, in case of computer failure? Thanks!

All my TrainZ data are on my game computer.

On a regular basis, using a tool like SyncBack, I manually mirror the "Local data folder" on a NAS. The NAS, which also contains my business and other private data, makes a differential backup to the outside world every night. If one of my PCs has a problem, I can easily recover everything, even as it was x or y days ago.


In addition, I regularly export a cdp of routes and sessions to the NAS. So I can go back if I make a mistake.


I once tried to recover a route from TrainZ's native backup ... without success !

Best regards.

 

[schweitzerdude]

I backup route and session files as *.cdp files to an external hard drive. Now to Trainz's built-in process:

I once tried to recover a route from TrainZ's native backup ... without success !

There were a series of posts on this very topic since the process changed somewhat for TRS22. Thanks to JCitron for figuring it out. I have not checked to see if the wiki was updated or not for TRS22 backup restores, if not, try this, which I wrote for my own use as a result of advice from JCitron.

How to restore Trainz 22 automatic route backups
1. Using Content Manager, determine the kuid number of the route you want to restore.
2. Using File Explorer, find the Trainz data folder. If you don't know where it is, Launcher/Train Settings/Install tab will show the local data folder. Open the folder and click on backups.
3. Click on the date you want to restore from.
4. Find a file that looks like this: kuid nnnnnn nnnnnn.tzarc_xxxxxxxxxx where nnnnnn nnnnnn is the kuid number of the route and xxxxxxxxxx is some random number.
5. Copy that file to the editing folder.
6. Rename the file to eliminate everything after "tzarc".
7. In Trainz Launcher, click on Manage Content. Filter to Today. You should see an item with a date and time.
8. Perform a Developer/Rebuild Database.
9. When the rebuild database completes, you should see your restored route. It will have a status of Open for Edit. Right click on the route and perform a Submit Edits. You can delete the miscellaneous item with a date and time (see #7 above).
10. Close Content Management, start up Trainz, and you should see your restored route.

So my advice is backup to an external hard drive AND learn how to use Trainz's process as well.

 

[cassidyj68]

File Locations

If I were going to manually mirror this "Local data folder", which subdirectory would I find it in? Also, where might I find my routes and sessions to export the cdp?

All my TrainZ data are on my game computer.

On a regular basis, using a tool like SyncBack, I manually mirror the "Local data folder" on a NAS. The NAS, which also contains my business and other private data, makes a differential backup to the outside world every night. If one of my PCs has a problem, I can easily recover everything, even as it was x or y days ago.


In addition, I regularly export a cdp of routes and sessions to the NAS. So I can go back if I make a mistake.


I once tried to recover a route from TrainZ's native backup ... without success !

Best regards.

 

[MichelLmbrt]

If I were going to manually mirror this "Local data folder", which subdirectory would I find it in? Also, where might I find my routes and sessions to export the cdp?

Open the TrainZ launcher, go to Trainz Settings and then Install and your local data folder is displayed.

To save route as CDP, open a content windows, In the top left-hand corner, select "My content" and you'll see your creations. Select the route, then right-click and "save as cdp".

 

[MichelLmbrt]

There were a series of posts on this very topic since the process changed somewhat for TRS22. Thanks to JCitron for figuring it out. I have not checked to see if the wiki was updated or not for TRS22 backup restores, if not, try this, which I wrote for my own use as a result of advice from JCitron.

Yes, but I find it faster to save in CDP, especially as it allows me to control when I save. So I can have as many versions as I like.

 

[JCitron]

If I were going to manually mirror this "Local data folder", which subdirectory would I find it in? Also, where might I find my routes and sessions to export the cdp?

Copy the complete user data folder. In the default setup, the folder is located under C:\Users\<YOUR USERNAME>\AppData\Local\N3V Games\trs22, and the folder will begin with Build followed by a sequence of alphanumeric characters.

The reason for copying the complete folder is to ensure that you catch all the data including content you downloaded or installed from third party sites such as Jointed Rail.

Backing up a route and session to a CDP is fine but there's a caveat. This only saves those files and none of the content associated with the route and session. The routes and sessions reference the content separately in a configuration file and in other files. When you place an object, the object isn't located in the route physically and is referenced in these files. Adding content, including textures, will increase the size of the route data but that's due to the larger tables in the route-data files.

CDP files do have their place as backups such as when working on a route and making substantial changes. Prior to merging another route in or making other drastic changes to a route or session, I'll will save (export) those to a CDP file or to a single CDP file first and then clone the route and or session prior to editing. Should there be an issue with the route or session, or if I don't like what I did I will delete the clone and restore my route or session from the CDP file I created earlier.