How to Move Your User Data Folder

Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 This Wiki Page takes you through the process of moving your User Data Folder to a new location. This document applies to T:ANE, TRS19, TRS22 and Trainz Plus.

	The User Data Folder contains all the assets that came installed with your version of Trainz plus those that you have downloaded or have created yourself. This includes all routes and sessions
	This folder is created when Trainz is installed and is located (in Windows) on the C:\ drive in the Users\AppData folder. The AppData folder is normally a hidden folder
	The folder can be moved to another location such as a different drive BUT Trainz must know where to find the new User Data Folder so the move must be performed correctly using a specific method

Why Move the User Data Folder?

When you install Trainz it will default to installing the program code and the user data on the C: drive. During the install you be given the option of installing on another drive but most users will use the default. As you add more data, such as DLC and DLS downloads plus create new assets (e.g. routes and sessions) of your own, the size of the User Data will grow significantly. Several GB (gigabytes) of data is not unusual for even a modest installation. Some users have data sets measured in TB (terabytes). Eventually, the C: drive may not be large enough to store all the Trainz data plus all the other Windows software and data. In this situation moving the user data to another attached drive to free up storage space may be the best option.

Notes: The Trainz Wiki Page at  Moving Content has a text only description of the process that is described graphically here

Moving the User Data

The User Data Folder (also called the Local Data Folder) does not contain the Trainz.exe (e.g. trs19.exe, trs22.exe) executables. These are stored in a different folder

WARNING: This will copy the entire User Data Folder, with all its sub folders and their contents, which may contain Gigabytes (or more) of data, to a new location. You must have enough space in the destination device and allow sufficient time (possibly many hours) for the task.

Steps:
1	Start Trainz
2	Open Trainz Settings From the Trainz Launcher select  Trainz Settings
3	Open Install  Left Click  on the Install tab This will display the drive, folder and filename of the current User Data Folder which will be shown under the label Local data folder
4	Copy the Folder Address  Left Click  inside the box containing the address details then highlight and copy (press the  Ctrl  +  A  keys then the  Ctrl  +  C  keys). The address will be copied to your systems clipboard. Notes: Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Do not close the Trainz Launcher Settings window as you will need it again (Step  11  below) Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 The copied address will be used to COPY the entire folder and all its content to a new location. This could involve Gigabytes of data and take some time and, of course, you must have the space available on your destnation device
	A useful tip is to paste a copy of the folder address into a text editor (e.g. Notepad) and save it in a text file for future reference. When it comes to deleting the original user data folder after the move has been completed you may find that you have several user data folders from past Trainz installs. The reference copy will identify the one to be deleted.
5	Open Windows File Explorer In Windows 10 and 11 you will find the File Explorer on the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen.  Left Click  on the folder icon to launch File Explorer
6	Paste the Folder Address into File Explorer  Left Click  in the File Explorer Address Bar This will highlight the current address Then paste (press the  Ctrl  +  V  keys) the address of the User Data Folder stored in your clipboard into the File Explorer Address Bar The contents of the folder will be shown. These are the folders and files that will be moved to another location
7	Copy the Folders and Files  Left Click  on one of the items (a file or a folder) shown in the list then highlight and copy (press the  Ctrl  +  A  keys then the  Ctrl  +  C  keys) all the folders and files shown This will copy all the folder and file locations into your system clipboard.
8	Navigate to the New Folder Location In File Explorer navigate to the drive and/or folder where the User Data Folder will be placed. Notes: You can use File Explorer to create the destination folder with a name of your choosing (e.g. F:\Trainz Plus\UserData)
9	Paste the Copied Files and Folders into the Destination  Left Click  in the empty Name Display Area and paste (press the  Ctrl  +  V  keys) the copied files and folders into their new location - this may take some time depending on how much data you have. As the files and folders are copied across they will appear in the File Explorer display window. Wait until the copy task is completed.
10	Copy the New Folder Address  Left Click  in the File Explorer Address Bar then highlight and copy (press the  Ctrl  +  A  keys then the  Ctrl  +  C  keys) into your system clipboard the new folder address you created for the user data
11	Paste the Address into Trainz Settings Return to the Trainz Launcher Install Settings Window.  Left Click  in the User Data Folder address box highlight (press the  Ctrl  +  A  keys) the address currently shown and press the  Delete  key paste (press the  Ctrl  +  V  keys) the new folder address you stored in your system clipboard into the User Data Folder box
12	Close the Trainz Settings Window You will be shown a message asking for a restart.  Left Click  on the button to acknowledge it.
13	Close the Trainz Launcher Dropping you back to the Windows desktop.
14	Restart Trainz Launcher You may get a dialogue asking you to set your display options (Ultra, etc). If so select one to suit. It is recommended that you perform a DBR (Database Repair) before starting Trainz in Step  15  below. The Trainz Wiki Page  How to Perform Database Repairs describes the process of performing a DBR
15	Start Trainz Select the  Start Trainz  option from the Launcher

Notes: Once you are happy that the new setup is working you can delete the original User Data Folder on C: to reclaim its space BUT (and this is VITAL) do not delete the folder that contained the original user data folder (ie. its parent folder) as this contains files that Trainz will need to locate your new User Data Folder. In the example screen shots shown in Steps  4  and  11  and as shown again below. The User Data Folder in this example is named build sd6ccvr61. The letters and numbers after the build are random so yours will have its own unique name. This allows you to have multiple User Data Folders for the same install of Trainz - for example: one with all the assets installed and another with just the "built-in" and "base" assets. Once you are satisfied that everything is working correctly, you can delete the original folder (build sd6ccvr61 in this example but yours will have a different name) from your system. The parent folder of build sd6ccvr61 is named trs22 in this example.  DO NOT delete this folder or any of the files it contains  - one of those files is used to redirect Trainz to the location of your new User Data Folder.

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Trainz Wiki

More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz How to Guides Driver Commands List Session Rules List (Alphabetical) with Parameters Session Rules List (Categories) With Parameters

Related Links How to Create a Clean Install and Additional User Data Folders

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This page was created by Trainz user pware in November 2023 and was last updated as shown below.

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