For Large Files: Quick Note about Compression (RAR vs LZMA)

[Leftos]

Just a quick note to all modders, especially those who make big update packs, regarding the comparison of compression algorithms.

Single Jersey
Uncompressed: 3.97MB
RAR (best profile): 1.06MB
LZMA (maximum profile): 0.93MB (12% better)

5 Jerseys
Uncompressed: 19.6MB
RAR (best profile, solid): 4.64MB
LZMA (maximum profile, solid): 3.25MB (30% better)

30 Teams, 75 Jerseys
Uncompressed: 294MB
RAR (best profile, solid): 68.5MB
LZMA (maximum profile, solid): 35.8MB (48% better)

So, obvious result, LZMA offers much better compression on those uncompressed IFF files, offering almost half the filesize on a big 30-team jersey update pack. You'll save both your and your end user's bandwidth, by switching to 7-zip, and thus, LZMA.

[Andrew]

Good to know, thanks for the comparison.

[Andrew]

I'm going to go ahead and sticky this here in the releases section as it's an important note to remember now that more and more big compilations are being released. For larger releases, we strongly encourage you to use 7-zip. You can download it here:
http://www.7-zip.org/

[JaoSming]

same here. The next versions of the Street/APB/HiU and other mods are all going to start having more uniforms and stadiums.

[se7six]

I use 7-Zip with the Ultra compression settings for all of my archiving. Single files, multiple files, everything. I want all archives to be as small as possible.

[weskerdoomz]

how to use this?

[Andrew]

7-Zip works pretty much the same as WinZIP, WinRAR and the like. Select the files you want to add to an archive, create a .7z file, upload.

[The Great White]

Strange. I am compressing a 395mb files with an Ultra Compression level, LZMA Compression method, 64mb Dictionery size, 273 Word size, and a Solid block size but it still ends up with a compress size of 391mb.

[Leftos]

It all depends on what you are compressing. Objects that are already compressed can't be compressed further no matter how you try.

[JaoSming]

ok...I'm a believer now.

Just compressed 2 gigs of video into 300mb, you win...

[Leftos]

Video? Seriously? AFAIK, there's nothing more efficient in compressing video than a good video codec (like x264 as we discussed). What kind of video did you compress? I'm genuinely curious here.

[JaoSming]

Here's the GSpot info, there is a 2nd part to this first avi (lost power during a thunderstorm @ 99% rendering) but in total they are 23 minutes

[Leftos]

There must be something wrong with that file. Way too much redundant information that can be compressed, because otherwise, an x264 file doesn't get any more compressed by lzma. Same way that MP3 can't be further compressed.

For one, GSpot (in your case) says there's half a GB of unneeded bytes at the end of the file. Those get compressed to none. I don't know where the other 700MB went to, but again, AFAIK, lossless compression applied on efficient lossy compression should do nothing.

I tried all X264/H264/AVC1 files I had on my hard-drive. None of them could be compressed with LZMA. Either there's something wrong with your container (the half a gig is an indication) or your encoding settings.

[JaoSming]

here it all is

[JaoSming]

something was off and wrong, I archived the wrong two videos