Ren'Py Archive Explorer
Browse, preview, and export Ren'Py archive content directly inside Visual Studio Code.
Ren'Py Archive Explorer is a VS Code extension for working with .rpa archives and .rpyc scripts without switching to external tools. It is designed for quick inspection, asset extraction, and script preview while staying inside your editor.
Features
Browse Archives
Browse Ren'Py .rpa archives directly inside VS Code.
- Add local
.rpa files to the dedicated archive view
- Browse folders and files inside the archive without extracting everything first
- Open supported files directly from the archive tree
- Refresh or remove archive roots from the view when needed
Preview Content
Preview Ren'Py archive content directly inside VS Code.
- View images inside the editor
- Play supported audio and video files in the preview panel
- Open
.rpyc files as decompiled text for quick inspection
- Apply your preferred script language mode for
.rpy and .rpyc content
Export Files
Export Ren'Py archive content directly from VS Code.
- Export an entire
.rpa archive
- Export a single file from the archive tree
- Export a directory from the archive tree
- Export
.rpyc files as .rpy
FAQ
Why is opening .rpy or .rpyc sometimes slow?
The extension's decompilation step is usually almost unnoticeable. In most cases, the delay comes from VS Code language rendering and syntax highlighting, not from the extension itself.
If you want faster opening in typical use, set rpaexplorer.scriptLanguageMode to Plain Text.
Plain Text is usually the fastestPython is typically moderateRen'Py is usually the slowest
Why can't some videos be previewed directly?
Video preview depends on the codecs supported by the VS Code webview runtime. Some files may still fail to play even when the container format looks correct.
When in-editor playback is not available, you can still use the fallback actions from the preview page to:
- open the file in a local player
- open the file in your browser
- export the file for external use
