Don't Expect Freeware Creators to Fix Your Errors

torino72

Active member
I hesitated to post this but decided it needs to be said. If you download freeware and attempt to use it in a Trainz version other than that in which the creator tested it and you get errors, do not expect that the creator should fix this for you. Fix it yourself.

As long as you know what version the creator is testing in then that is the only version in which it may work without errors, regardless of the trainz-build number. It is reasonable to assume the creator tested it and it was without red flag errors before he/she released it.

We have too few freeware creators left in Trainz as it is without driving them away with all this "I'm getting this (you fill in the blank) error in Trainz." Were I to release freeware, I'd tell you what version of Trainz I used to test it and it was error free in that version, so don't even expect me to fix it for you.

In the past week, we (those of us who use versions other than TANE) lost access to future content being created by MSGSapper because those in TS12 were getting errors that he was not getting in TANE (the version he tests in). To accommodate everyone, he fixed 90 plus assets and re-uploaded the to the DLS. He further stated that he would no longer release assets in other than trainz-build 4.3 (TANE). So now, TS12 and lower users, you will have to purchase/register/install TANE to get his newer content.

The sad part of this is that every one of these errors were user fixable and MSGSapper should not have felt compelled to fix them for everyone. I have not downloaded his 90 plus fixed versions because I had already fixed every one of these errors myself.

DAVESNOW faces a similar situation, although somewhat reversed. He tests and releases builds for TS12 and has TANE users complaining about errors.

What he should say, in my opinion, is "Hey, this is freeware. Fix it yourself."

Fixing most of this content only requires some basic KSAs. A little Knowledge, Skill, and Ability. I have yet to learn to create content, but I can make it work to my satisfaction. If you are going to work with Trainz you need to develop some basic KSAs and leave the content creators alone so they can create.

Everyone should obtain a copy of the freeware program, Search & Replace Master and learn to use it. I use this as well as PEV's Textures to TGA and PM2IM programs very frequently. Get them and play with them. They are easy to use.

Back to MSGSapper's 90 plus assets, some of which displayed more than 1 or more errors. They were all fixed within minutes using Search & Replace Master. The most common error seemed to be the "asset-filename is obsolete" message. I opened all of the red flagged error files for edit. I pointed Search & Replace Master to the location of the open for edit config.txt file. For example, C:\Auran\TS2010\UserData\Editing\ and checked Include Sub-Folders. On the next tab, I told Search & Replace Master to look for "asset-filename" and replace it with the word "author" and fix it only 1 time in each file. The replace word can be any non-critical tag that does not require a specific entry following it. Let's say that 50 of the 90 files contained this error. When I clicked "Execute" all 50 files with this error were instantly repaired. I committed the files and the error was gone.
 
Last edited:
Also be advised that some individuals have taken it upon themselves to update some of my earlier routes.

The routes were clearly marked:

"This route is for TRS2004 / 09 / 10 (as appropriate) ... ."

But the update that is now on the Download Station has a trainz-build number that means that they absolutely cannot be run in TRS2004 /09 /10. And in T:ANE there are masses of faulty dependencies so that they cannot be used in T:ANE either.

Phil
 
I've always found it good fun to get a small or big route and update it with modern assets and make it my own for my own pleasure.
 
Also be advised that some individuals have taken it upon themselves to update some of my earlier routes.

The routes were clearly marked:

"This route is for TRS2004 / 09 / 10 (as appropriate) ... ."

But the update that is now on the Download Station has a trainz-build number that means that they absolutely cannot be run in TRS2004 /09 /10. And in T:ANE there are masses of faulty dependencies so that they cannot be used in T:ANE either.

Phil
So you are saying that someone "broke" your assets/routes by updating them, without your permission ?

I was "told off" that it is totally IMPOSSIBLE to destroy an original asset by updating it, in the great DLS cleanup ... that the original assets/routes remain on the DLS untouched, in the original trainz-build, for those who need them
 
So you are saying that someone "broke" your assets/routes by updating them, without your permission ?

I was "told off" that it is totally IMPOSSIBLE to destroy an original asset by updating it, in the great DLS cleanup ... that the original assets/routes remain on the DLS untouched, in the original trainz-build, for those who need them
Again, you will be "told off."
I'm not sure which routes Phil was referring to but of the 70 layouts on the DLS for username "philskene" that have similar names, both a T:ANE and a previous version are available for download.
 
Go to the White pages, here:

https://www.auran.com/DLS/index.php

Seach:
Trainz Versions = T:ANE and TS12
Text Search = philskene
Catagory = Layouts

The second to appear in the list is "IndustRail TS2010". Uploaded 9th January 2016 - NOT BY ME!
Further down is "HarborMaster 1a" -- "The route is for TRS2004 and 06, and for TRS2009 in Compatibility Mode." Uploaded 25th July 2015 - again NOT BY ME!
And on, and on, and ... .
 
Last edited:
Did you get any emails to the effect that you had some routes that were faulty? You would have been given four weeks to fix them or you could have asked for an extension. If you took no action, the affected routes would be made available for others to repair and they would have been reloaded under your user id of 69871, which could explain what you are seeing.

Peter
 
Last edited:
Hi Peter --

"Did you get any emails to the effect that you had some routes that were faulty?"

Possibly. I honestly can't remember.

"You would have been given four weeks to fix them or you could have asked for an extension."

In this context "fix" is possibly not the correct descriptor. They were perfectly good for the Trainz version they were intended for. In fact, I did progressively update most routes as new versions of Trainz were introduced. It was always my intention that the earlier versions remain for those who did not migrate to the latest Trainz release.

"If you took no action, the affected routes would be made available for others to repair ... ."

"Repair"? So they don't work in the Trainz version they say they do? And don't work in later Trainz versions either? I suspect that might be stretching the meaning of the word "repair" just a little too far.

"... and they would have been reloaded under your user id of 69871, which could explain what you are seeing."

Yes, quite so. But you have to ask who the dumbos were who decided to do "fix" and "repair" when it was obviously not needed and resulted in routes that just plainly will not work as intended.

You are 87; I'm 68. You signed up in November 2006 (at the same time that I did - but that can't be right - I joined up when TRS2004 was released in 2004), we have a similar number of posts in these Forums, and you live about 15 minutes drive away from me. Do you get to the stage that I sometimes reach where either you give up in despair at the stupidity; or just can't be bothered?

Phil
 
Last edited:
I was only pointing out a way that your routes could have been changed without your knowledge. A thought occurred to me, does N3V have your current email address? Another thought, what version number is on your copy on your hard disk. A 'fixed 'or 'repaired' version must have a higher version number, otherwise it could not be upoloaded.

That Nov9-2006 date is spurious, I signed on as soon as my disks came in the post, join date 21 Nov 2001. Despite everything since, those were the good days.

The great crash of 2006 stuffed it up and no-one bothered to fix it even when they updated the forum software. Seniority and experience does not count here.


Do you get to the stage that I sometimes reach where either you give up in despair at the stupidity; or just can't be bothered?

If you are taking about T:ane, yes I do, almost permanently. If you are talking about real life then my answer is very seldom, if ever.

Peter
 
Phil.

Those Join Dates of 2006 came about after the crash of their ( Auran's) Data base Remember ?
BTW I'm also (87.
Norm.
 
Last edited:
You make some good points, torino72. When I uploaded my first content, I only had TS12 (build 3.6). CCP had the first asset defaulted to build 2.9 (TS09, I think?), which I had decided to change it to 3.6. I wasn't thinking about it at the time (though I'm glad I changed the build number anyways), but if I had left it at 2.9, that would mean that users from previous versions could use the assets with little to no assurance that they could use them error free. (They were only 3-part hornsounds, which I doubt much could go wrong with them, but still.) And if someone had errors, I would have had no way of fixing them, for two reasons: 1), I don't have any Trainz versions previous to 3.6; and 2), I was a newbie content creator who had just learned the basics of 3-part hornsounds (I wouldn't have known how to fix the errors, even if I had the previous builds). (To be honest, I still probably wouldn't know how to fix any errors for those assets, even if it were in TS12.)

Something to add: If you do have any errors for an asset that was tested in a different version than the one you have, and you have no idea how to fix it/them, the best thing to do is ask the community as a whole (politely!), not just the creator. Because there are people in the community who had the same situation you did and knew how to fix the asset, who can help by giving you advice and telling you how to fix the asset. Plus, that's pretty much exactly the purpose of the forums: to ask for help from the community and to give help to the community.
 
...
Catagory = Layouts

The second to appear in the list is "IndustRail TS2010". Uploaded 9th January 2016 - NOT BY ME!
Further down is "HarborMaster 1a" -- "The route is for TRS2004 and 06, and for TRS2009 in Compatibility Mode." Uploaded 25th July 2015 - again NOT BY ME!
And on, and on, and ... .

I saw all those but also saw all the originals. Not discussing the policy that got them there but if someone only has a later version of Trainz, can they see and download objects for previous versions too? I can't test that theory myself. If so, the point I was making was that the previous versions are not lost and can still be downloaded and enjoyed. One thing that you could still do, it will take some time and effort, is to re-upload your originals with a higher version. That would obsolete the ones you don't approve of.
 
I don't 'expect' freeware creators to do anything.

However, I do hope that creators update assets as it is far more efficient than hundreds or thousands doing so individually.
 
One thing that you could still do, it will take some time and effort, is to re-upload your originals, with a higher version. That would obsolete the ones you don't approve of.
Would that destroy the original version, that was in a lower trainz-build, if he did so, making the originals not available ?
 
Would that destroy the original version, that was in a lower trainz-build, if he did so, making the originals not available ?

No you search on the original kuid on the DLS white pages where you can download it or using TS12SP1 or TANE show versions, download this version, where you can again download old versions.
Pre TS12 SP1 have to use the white pages.
 
Back
Top