Need help with 3rd party routes

[jpiper]

Hello All, I am new to Trainz and found Trainz09/10 combo in the sale bin and am giving it a try. My questions have to do with downloading routes not in DLS.

I downloaded a Trainz10 route and dependencies files into CM. There were a number of missing dependencies which aren’t in DLS and I can’t seem to find with an internet search. I have no way of knowing if they are critical.

In any case, how do I load the downloaded route into the launcher, assuming there are no dependency issues? Or where is the route stored so that I can launch it. At least I can try to launch it to see if it will run.

Thanks, Jim

 

[SailorDan]

In any case, how do I load the downloaded route into the launcher

What did you download? .Zip, .RAR, .CDP, or something else?

Use this for your searching: http://www.trainzkuidindex.com/

 

[jpiper]

They were .CDP files. They were from Trainz Premium Routes.

Thanks for the link: when I entered the kuid on that site, it sent me back to the Premium site from which I downloaded the original dependencies file. Does that mean I should reinstall that file?

Thanks.

 

[JCitron]

I wouldn't think so...

If you look at the screen on the Trainz Kuid Index website, you'll see an option there to go directly to the page that contains the downloadable asset you are looking for, and even a link directly to the archive (zip, RAR, CPD) that contains the actual asset.

Keep in mind that the asset or assets you want are probably a larger pack of other assets as well so you'll get a bonus out of this. I'm not saying this is the case, since I am not familiar with your specific instance it's just what I've seen in the past.

 

[jpiper]

Ok, thanks.

Assuming I get this sorted out, how does the route then get into the Launcher. Does that happen automatically when all problems are cleared up, or do I have to execute some command to have it show up in Launcher.

(Sorry about these basic questions, but I am new at this!)

 

[SailorDan]

They were .CDP files.

Open Content Manager. Select File \ Import CDPs.... A standard Windows file open dialog will appear. Navigate to the folder that you downloaded to, and double click the CDP file that you downloaded. Then start the game. The new routes will be in the launcher.

If this isn't working for you then check that the route is not faulty. Right-click on the route in CM and look up the faults and errors. Note that the route may be listed as missing dependencies, but might also be faulty. For TS10 the most likely reason is that the route is built for a later version of Trainz. The highest version that TS10 will support (depending on the service packs you have installed) is 3.4. However there are other faults that can prevent a route from appearing.

Thanks for the link: when I entered the kuid on that site, it sent me back to the Premium site from which I downloaded the original dependencies file. Does that mean I should reinstall that file?

That site is for searching for additional files and missing dependencies. If you have already located and downloaded your files there is no need to search for them again. You would only download the files again if the CDP Import process indicated a message. For Zip and RAR you would download again if the unpacking procedure reported an error.

 

[jpiper]

Thanks for the clear explanation...really helpful.

The route was stated as working in TS10 Build 49933, which is what I have; but there are many missing and faulty dependencies. I guess that's why it won't load into the launcher.

What I will try next, to get a more positive experience (!), is find a route that works on an earlier build. Suggestions?

When you say "3.4" what is that referring to? I have CM ver3.3. Is that a problem?

 

[SailorDan]

The route was stated as working in TS10 Build 49933, which is what I have; but there are many missing and faulty dependencies. I guess that's why it won't load into the launcher.

For a route, missing dependencies will not stop it from appearing in the route list. There must be some other problem. Note that this is not the case for other assets - for anything other than a route, missing dependencies will prevent the item from appearing in the asset listing.

What I will try next, to get a more positive experience (!), is find a route that works on an earlier build. Suggestions?

Content quality varies enormously. It's usually just a matter of suck it and see. Be prepared to chuck stuff away. An earlier build is not necessarily better - the standards required of an asset increased with each version, and often older assets do not meet the required standards of a later version of Trainz, and assets not on the DLS disappear over time. So older routes might actually give you more problems.

When you say "3.4" what is that referring to? I have CM ver3.3. Is that a problem?

3.4 is a build number. It defines the set of standards that the asset complies with. TS2010 supports any asset up to that build number. You can see the build number of an asset in Content Manager - click a clear space in the heading bar above the list area, and tick Build Version (note that the terminology is a bit sloppy - version is something different).

 

[jpiper]

I re-imported the route CDP and the route shows up in the launcher now. Not sure what happened, of course. Now I'll try the route for a while and see if the missing/faulty dependencies cause problems.

Thanks to both of your for the tips; I'll see what other things I run into as I go along!