Can I keep merrily rolling along?

[rickf77]

Good day guys;

I'm wondering if I HAVE TO update TS12 with this SP1 or whatever it's called? I have not really driven any trains that much, just the odd ride now and then, checking things out. I have not really had any problems with anything. 99.9% of the time I'm working on my route. Will I have any problems if I just keep the build I have now? Will I have problems with downloading items.....things like that.

I have TS12 on this pc and on my off line Trainz pc. Maybe, if I have to I can just update TS12 on this pc? I just use it for downloading and going to the forum.


I'm thinking if somethin' ain't broke don't fix it...Cheers....Rick

Thanks :wave:

 

[Vern]

Strictly speaking no but your problem will come when content and route creators are using the latest version, such routes are unlikely to run in the unpatched edition.

 

[Jerker]

G'day rickf77,

...Vern is quite correct, Rick but that is something more for the future (albeit a not too dustant one). A more immediate problem, especially for those not savvy or properly 'equipped' to deal with it, is that SP1 now flags config.txt files with 'missing' "thumbnail tags" as having "Errors" (where previously, it flagged them with "Warnings" - which, incidentally, it promptly ignored). This means that some 60% or so assets (at a guess) in any given installation will be 'unusable' unless 'fixed' (either by the original' creator or 'locally' by the end user, who knows how to accomplish this), which, I might add applies to every one of the built-in Auran assets not so provided...

Jerker {}

 

[rickf77]

Thanks Vern;

Not that I don't think some of the routes are fantastic, I just don't use them. I got Trainz so I could build my own route. So, I should be okay there. I'm happy with the content I'm using now (track, buildings, etc.)

I'm hoping to get a Canadian fella to do all my rolling stock for me, maybe some CNR stations too, ... not locos (unless he feels up to it!). I guess l will have to make sure he knows that I'm not using the update. If I ever finish this route, it's taking forever, I will need to find someone to build or repaint some CNR steam locos for me. So, as long as I make them aware of the build I'm using, these items should work for me?
Maybe when I get the route finished, I'll save that install of TS12 on one of my external HDs. Then I will think about patching one of my other installs of TS12, and transfer the files from my "route install" into it. I've got 3, well 4, counting the one on this pc installs of TS12. 2 installs are mirror copies of my route. All installs are on different HDs. I really don't want to loose all the work I've done!

Just to be sure, as long as the guys doing any rolling stock or locos for me know what build I'm using, I should be okay?

Thanks again Vern

Cheers.....Rick

 

[rickf77]

Well hello there Jerker!

Thanks for letting me know about TransDem. Once I realized that it didn't take a genius to figure it out, I was on my way! I've been working on the route night and day.

Like I mentioned above, one day I'll update an install of TS12 and copy my route install files into it and see how it goes.

I'm always a little fearful when it comes to messing about with updates and such. I've put in an average of 7 or 8 hours a day for about 8 months now, working on this dang route. I just don't want to muck it up!

Cheers....Rick

 

[pdkoester]

Update: Here's what I have done to get SP1 working without problems: This may be drastic measures, but I have everything backed up off the computer to restore later. I am slowly adding my content back in, just in case, to see if anything new should to arise.
Complete uninstall of all TS12...
reboot...
install only TS12, no add-ons...
reboot...
installed SP1, then reboot...
Quick Database Repair, reboot...
finally Extended Database Repair...
then final reboot. And now, here's results.
Seems to be working. I thought I had problems with Mojave again.
Instead, it seems that it is just more restricted or locked down, as I don't remember there being a unlock feature required for the default built-in routes.
So, I selected edit route for Mojave, resaved as a new name (Mojave SP1 test)
Created a session, SP1 session test, and found that it carried over same properties as built in.
That's where I saw this unlock required to proceed with changes.
So, the original Jointed Rail issue seems to be alleviated. And just so every one is aware, there will be new WARNINGS, which can be safely ignored, that Content Manager 3.7 does extra checking to create these: Warning: Required container 'thumbnails' is missing. (this was there before, the others that follow are new to me)
Warning: The *.texture.txt file is missing for texture resource 'mesh_art/mesh_art_512.texture'.
Warning: The *.texture.txt file is missing for texture resource 'mesh_art/mesh_icon.texture'.
Warning: The *.texture.txt file is missing for texture resource 'mesh_shadow/black.texture'.
Warning: An asset must be specified for tag 'texture-kuid'.
Warning: An asset must be specified for tag 'texture-kuid'. Also, there is this, on a few items: Warning: The texture 'gp40_body/window.tga' is a uniform color.
Warning: The texture 'gp40_shadow/shadowblacktexture.tga' is a uniform color. Again, I would just ignore them, as they are just WARNINGS. There will be something that explains all this coming down the road, I am sure. Hope this helps alleviate some myths a questions.

 

[rwk]

Finally there's a fix for the merge bug, but now there's a bunch of other problems with this patch. I want to be able to merge routes with lots of scenery together in 12, but I don't want those other problems. What's the solution, wait for a bug fix, or don't merge routes until a fix comes along, or update and gamble and hope my content doesn't become broken?

 

[nfitzsimmons]

Personally I'm going to avoid it like the plague for as long as possible. With as many non-dlc assets I have that are missing thumbnails I won't live long enough to fix them all, not to mention the other issues described so far.

 

[shaneturner12]

Have you tried using AssetX? The TARDIS scripts include a script for dealing with missing thumbnails.

Shane

 

[Fabartus]

Backing up to off the computer is way too safe!

Finally there's a fix for the merge bug, but now there's a bunch of other problems with this patch. I want to be able to merge routes with lots of scenery together in 12, but I don't want those other problems. What's the solution, wait for a bug fix, or don't merge routes until a fix comes along, or update and gamble and hope my content doesn't become broken?

I had similar concerns with a route much worked on in TRS2006, so here's a general fix for cloning before risking a merge for a route with multiple sessions on a railroad. As a bonus the clarifications which follow it give quick backup methods so you all don't waste time when reinstalling or rebuilding the database is necessary:

1. Make a list of your sessions on the route you need to expand safely from the Drivers Menu (I just took a screenshot of Driver expanded list, pasted into Paint, saved it, while keeping it open and handy.)
2. Fiddle with the route in surveyor (Add a tree, etc.), then forcibly Save As and so create a new 'auto-clone' of the latest worked on route and/or session. (I'm up to suffixing v18 on my my biggest road, which is a low side fib, but I had a off the computer backup when I didn't change names. Updating matching sessions is a pain, but straight forwards, as follows.)
3. Quit Surveyor, and Return to CMP or quit out and load CMP...
   1. one by one referencing Paint and the list, Clone each old session, open for edit (should already be so, iirc)
   2. edit the map field to index/be on the new map kuid, Annotate the description to a version number if you like.
   3. Save and especially also close the folder too if you edited in Explorer vice CMP's editor! It's there anyway if you look, but CMP will close it for you.)
4. Commit the new patched session, but only after recommitting the old map first, provided you opened that. I usually do so I can tweak the text, change the displayed names for rolling stock and like fiddles. The sessions will generate an dependency error otherwise. (My 'new'TC3 with pre-installed SP1 seems to not update a new name, and was confused by my update of the user kuid edit, which in TRS2006 did update as soon as I committed such edited clones. Don't know why it didn't. (The T'06 doesn't have SP1, so I suspect that's 'the' difference. Free Roaming opening and closing the map while in driver also acts quite differently.) The clones are all fine after restarting CMP which updated the database though, so at this stage I safed the original and can now fiddle and customize things on the cloned route (My TC3 route) so the 'on the wrong side driving' Brits won't recognize it! <g>
5. If you archive the old route/asset, a Trainz reload is likely to keep it safe. As I understand the manual, archived files will be automatically found when the database is rebuilt.
6. At this point you should have a working clone of everything and can proceed safely with your merge attempt.

Personally having begun software coding before IBM even considered the 1st PC, I manage data carefully. But that archiving facility sounds trustworthy. I just wish it'd remove things from CMP too, or at least, or allow me to hide them unless I want such later.

• To aid and clarify the short process above... some declarations of what's going on, what I mean or do...
• I'm running Windows XP and XP pro (in Old school mode) set up so all folders open in their own window, so following a path opens a succession of folders when following a path down to a specific folder. Hence, I can drag and drop between any open folders, close the one's I've no interest in, and so forth. Moving things is thus trivial and dragging from one folder to the other keeps the date stamp preserved, directory/folder renaming is easy from the parent folder, and so forth.
• For those of you who are paranoid and feel a need to reinstall a fresh copy, just renaming the folder will safe the data. The path is different and the uninstall is unnecessary for the new install to the same original directory name preserves all the registry keys to the same old name, so why bother with the extra step, the installer will overwrite all them anyway.
• By renaming the asset, I mean I just tweak the revised suffix#, and later manage multiple copies clutter with CMP. Then they all alphabetically sort and group.
• Opening anything for edit puts the recognizable name in the ...\editing folder... not the hash names in \local\hashname\hashfilenames which are off-putting to remember! There are pros and cons to how and when you move things without CMP knowledge, but far more pros than cons to unclutter my space!
• Once I'm sure the new version is working, I sometimes I WANT TO MANUALLY ARCHIVE AND SAFE BY porting open for edit versions (and when I next rebuild the database, that will override CMP's knowledge of them, effectively deleting them). Later they can be put back if wanted, in the meantime, opening them for edit with or without renaming or moving them effectively deletes them in Surveyor/Driver so I need only look at recent versions. They can hang a few months at need opened for edit.
  [*=1]I use this extensively for excerpting terrains in various configurations and clumps of baseboards to merge in geographical already colorized and like content. Such excerpts I prefix with zz-descriptive name, and sometimes take the time to insert a preview picture of the baseboard configuration.
  [*=1]Hey you developers... sure would be nice to be able to rotate, adjust base heights and so forth when merging boards! Would be even nicer to be able to change the mean height of a group when editing the layout in surveyor... (Open window, highlight ten or so by clicking on their grid outline on a map rendering the locally centered layout, then adjust mean height to normalize... simple math guys!)
• Similarly, sometimes I move or copy the folder or folder content matching the item opened for edit, stuff in ...\local or ...\libraries folders too. THAT is a backup measure more often than not, or port things between machines when not using CDP. Using that export/import mode requires rebuilding the assets.tdx file on the ported-to machine. Not a problem with T'04, T'06 and TC3 with mainly stock content. [Don't know about newer versions... yet. They're all coming.)

ASIDE/Recommendation: I use the free v4.0.00c of azzCardfile to index those unfriendly names to the route or session so I know what is what and where... (http://www.azzcardfile.com/) This is a great little utility, and you can insert all sorts of data, such as thumbs or other screenshots etc. Kuids, and just about anything you can manipulate, load and copy. I also use it to better organize a long run session by adding miles, triggers info, etc. so I have a better guide than a schedule on a unknown road! (Since scenario creators rarely give a suggested speed one should average!) <grumble>

• TO BUILD A CARDFILE cross-indexing (identifying therefore) HASHCODE named folders to ENGLISH NAMES initially you can ... Just search from the \local folder for all config.txt files and sorting by date will identify the last ones written using Windows in advanced search inside the folder mode. This is how I identify something I may want to copy to a safe location. (You can save a search to a shortcut and keep it locally on the desktop, and/or move it then to the Trainz folder. Click and you tweak the date range, and launch a new search.)
  • You can also successively identify each, by reading the config.txt files w/o opening them with a text viewer utility without editing (List by googled: https://www.google.com/search?q=tex...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a ) and build an initial hash code named folder to user friendly names list.
  • So far as I have experienced, those hashcoded names are keyed to the kuid and fixed. (Can anyone confirm that?)
  • Ditto for installed extras which swell the ...\libraries and perhaps the ...\world folder contents. I believe most installed assets you install from a .cdp file end up in those two theres, or just in libraries. (Can anyone clarify/confirm that? I'm experience limited to '4,'6, and TC3 at the moment have no experience with downloading.)
  • Ditto to track .cdp files and what they are for. (No, don't confirm that! I can read a file name!)
• Can anyone tell me how to put a pretty name on links like that search above in these web boards? I'm playing catch up here and the eyes really have troubles with the bright background and zoom behaviors!

• I'm setting one cardfile up now (just as I begin my acquisition and download career) for kuid items I use but forget names for, since a name I relate to and what is on the simulator's picks list frequently differ! (Wish I had a nickle for all the minutes I've wasted trying to find something I'd seen or used before! I'd be a rich fella, I say!) Using CMP in another window or computer to winnow such and so forth is also helpful.
• It helps I have a networked laptop setup to work off the side whilst Trainzing on the tower. Using a multi-head video set up would be equivalent, processor and memory permitting, w/o having to access across the network.
• You can also group cards, so classify by grouping (tree names, building names, etc. so 'improve' the building experience w/o peering trying to remember the syntax of the highway element you need NOW, etc. Good Memory is a Great Thing to have and alas, one I have forever missed! <g>)

Hope this is helpful to some!