How difficult is it to load an OAR file into SoaS?

The OpenSimulator Archive (OAR) function has existed since OpenSimulator 0.5.9. The facility does a similar job to load-xml2/save-xml2 in that it saves prims so that they can be later reloaded. However, OpenSimulator archives (OAR) go a step further in that they can save all the necessary asset data so that you may fully restore the terrain, region parcel data, the textures of objects and their inventories when loaded onto a completely different system using a different asset database.
OAR is one of the most amazing and useful functions of OpenSim that we can use with SoaS. However, after learning about OAR files for the first time during a presentation, educators often become worried about its complexity. Granted: at first glance, working with OAR files can look like something too complicated to even try in class. Actually, loading an OAR file using just the basic command is extremely easy - and fast, too, depending on the size of the file you're loading into SoaS.

The basic console command for loading an OAR file is:

load oar filename.oar

Please note that the filename must include its path.

Here's an example:

load oar c:/myoarfiles/filename.oar


This video tutorial created by SoaS founder, Ener Hax, helps to better to understand what happens when we load an OAR file into Sim-on-a-Stick:


Of course, the best way to get over 'OAR-fear' is to try it with SoaS. There are dozens of OAR files to pick from on the Web. So here's a suggestion: go to Zadaroo.com, select one OAR file, download it, and load it into SoaS. It's so easy you'll probably start exploring more and more OAR files.


To find out more about OAR files, please visit http://opensimulator.org/wiki/OpenSim_Archives

Advanced users can learn more about the 'load oar' console command (including the use of parameters that enable replacing the region's current contents or merging the OAR file's contents with the objects and terrain already in the region) on the following page: http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Load_Oar


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