Needed: Map Program for 2010

[stouthm]

Started a thread in Content Creation Support and so far not a single response so I thought I'd try here. Been here a long time and asked for maybe three items to be made for me and some wonderful people stepped up and helped. Now I'm asking if someone could create a program that would make maps for 2010. Trainzmap Viewer does not work for large routes. I am not a programmer and have no idea if this is a lot of work but it is something that is sorely needed for 2010. Thanks for reading this thread.

 

[ct_krogen]

that would be nice....

 

[RPearson]

The program itself might not be a huge project but that also depends on how envolved you make it. Something with the same capability as Trainzmap would be a big project. I've got a very simple plot routine that works with the the utility program I made to convert cad data to trk files. It reads the trk spline data and generates a simple plot but nowhere near the sophistication that TrainzMap has or had. And I don't work with the mapfile formats past TRS2006.

I suspect there are a number of people in the community that have the programming skills to do it. However that's only half the problem. What you'll need to find is someone who can program and knows the current map file formats for Trainz. The formats for TC thru TS10 are not available to the public at large. Outside of Auran I suspect maybe 2 or 3 people might qualify. Without the mapfile formats you're left with trying to generate and piece together a bunch of screen plots. Which you can do for yourself right now.

My 2 cents anyhow.

Bob Pearson

 

[bolivar]

I would pay for such a program. Trainzmap is useful on a number of levels. As a route builder, it allows a holistic view of what one creates and shows the options for route extensions to appear clearly on paper. (print option availability is a must)

 

[geophil]

Started a thread in Content Creation Support and so far not a single response so I thought I'd try here. Been here a long time and asked for maybe three items to be made for me and some wonderful people stepped up and helped. Now I'm asking if someone could create a program that would make maps for 2010. Trainzmap Viewer does not work for large routes. I am not a programmer and have no idea if this is a lot of work but it is something that is sorely needed for 2010. Thanks for reading this thread.

What do you understand by "make maps for 2010"? The reference to Trainzmap Viewer confuses me. If I remember correctly Trainzmap was a map (route) structure browser/analyser with additional functionality to replace assets. But it could not "make" maps/routes.

 

[stouthm]

Thanks everyone for replying. Geophil - I probably used the wrong wording. I should have used draw in place of make. What we/I need is a program that is capable of drawing me a map of a large route such as 'Ozark Valley Railroad'. That route and I'm sure other large routes do not work in Trainzmap Viewer. After reading RPearson's response it appears to be a much harder project than I thought. I tried Phil's work around from another thread but didn't have any luck. I will keep looking. Thanks again.

 

[HiBaller]

I have been trying for some time now to decipher the TS2010 (and probably TS2012) file formats and am not having much luck. They appear to be significantly altered from those of the lower versions and in the process have added two more files to hold the newer features of '10 and '12. I have the programming skills, just don't have the formats down enough to even make a stab at it.

EDIT: I do know that there are a lot of nested structures in every file.

Bill

 

[philskene]

There is a work around that I experimented with.

Take a screen shot when in Map View.

Use an editing program (I used PaintShop Pro) to tweak the bit depth and colours to what you want.

It's fiddly but it will work.

I found, however, that TrainzMap + the add on program that allows it to interpret later versions of Trainz did work with Port Ogden & Northern - which is a fair sized route.

Phil

 

[mtldrm38]

TPR has a updated version for TRAINZMAP for 2010 but wont open earlier version maps which all ya do is open the route up in CCP 2010 and it will convert it to 2010 standards.............