IM /PM Attachment Point Tool?

[Orloldman]

I am using TS2010 and, as I install assets from a number of sources, there sees to be a number of them out there that have problems with their attachment points.

I get a number of different errors - these are just a couple examples:

Error: Attachment point 49 (a.pass9) in 'queues\passengers_on_2\attachment-points' was not found.

Error: Attachment point 'a.corona2' in '2' must be found in mesh 'c&ts_k-36_487_body\c&ts_k-36_487_body.lm'.
Error: The attachment point 'a.corona2' must belong to the parent mesh of the effect (mesh=c&ts_k-36_487_body\c&ts_k-36_487_body.lm).

I've gotten these types of errors for assets with passengers, track, sound, smoke,etc. and I can eliminate the error by deleting the offending part of the config.txt file that helps generate the error but I am afraid of losing the creators intended detail or functionality of the asset.

How can I tell with attachment points if the problem is with errors in the config.txt file or that the attachment point actually is missing?
Is there a tool that can look at .IM or .PM file and show the attachment points that do exist?

Any guidance is appreciated.
Duane

 

[paulzmay]

In the vast majority of these cases, it's better to delete the reference in the config file than to try to add an attachment point. Bear in mind that earlier versions of Trainz will have tried to find the missing point, and then given up, not rendering the item that was supposed to be attached there. Deleting the reference will give the same eventual outcome.

Paul

 

[PEV]

How can I tell with attachment points if the problem is with errors in the config.txt file or that the attachment point actually is missing?
Is there a tool that can look at .IM or .PM file and show the attachment points that do exist?

I have a bunch of tools that may help. Have a look here.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~villaump/pevsoft.htm

You can view attachment points using my Mesh Text Viewer. The attachments are at the end of the mesh listing.

 

[Orloldman]

I have a bunch of tools that may help. Have a look here.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~villaump/pevsoft.htm

You can view attachment points using my Mesh Text Viewer. The attachments are at the end of the mesh listing.

This is exactly what I was looking for in a tool. I have and use all your other tools almost daily but I didn't catch the difference between this one and the 'Trainz Mesh Viewer", thinking this was an older version of that.

Thanks for pointing this one out and for sharing all your other utilities.
Duane

 

[Orloldman]

In the vast majority of these cases, it's better to delete the reference in the config file than to try to add an attachment point. Bear in mind that earlier versions of Trainz will have tried to find the missing point, and then given up, not rendering the item that was supposed to be attached there. Deleting the reference will give the same eventual outcome.

Paul

I wasn't looking to add attachment points as I have tried it before and it was a pain and I gave up! I thought that if I had a way to know that the attachment point was really in the mesh, then I could fix the config.txt file and all would be well. If it wasn't really there, then I could delete that part of the config.txt file and move on.

It looks like the tool PEV recommended will do the trick and I can make more informed decisions.

Duane

 

[rweber95]

Another use for PEV's Mesh Text Viewer

I used the program to add additional passenger seating for a subway car as follows:
NYCTA R32 Subway Car (kuid2:58843:307:3) shows Error: Attachment point 20 (a.psit38) in 'queues\passengers\attachment-points' was not found.
Using PEV's Mesh Text Viewer I see that the mesh has 40 attachment points and that attachment point 38 is actually named a.pass38. I could have made just that correction but since the existing queues section only lists 30 attachment points, I edited the Config.txt file to include all 40 attachment points that are available in the mesh. Saved and commited ok. Now I can cram 40 commuters in it.

Bob

 

[RRSignal]

I just used AttachmentMaker on gfisher's Rockport Freight Depot The smoke (a.smoke0) was missing. All that was required was loading the original mesh, then opening the attachment mesh (same file.) I had to click Add and specify an attachment name (a.smoke0) and experiment with positioning the coordinates at the chimney, but, all in all, very, very painless.