Printing Sessions

[campchristie]

I'm totally new to Trainz and am using the Branch Freight Active to learn.

I'd like to print the Session Information. I can't use my mouse to copy/paste it into Word. There was an icon in the lower right part of the screen I could click on that would bring the overall session instructions up, but that disappeared at some point and I don't know how to get it back.

Any suggestions on how to get that icon to reappear or print the session instructions would be appreciated.

Also, just for future reference: when you create a session of your own can you create a similar "Session Information" page for the user?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[crohakon]

That is a wonderful feature idea.

 

[crohakon]

I don't know much about trainz building yet, but might that text be hidden in one of the route files? Perhaps digging in the folder a bit you might find something and print it that way? Not sure if this works or not.

 

[tompallen]

Method for saving session instructions

I posted this elsewhere in these forums, but don't feel like searching for the reference, so I'll just repeat myself.

After a session has been saved, stopped, and restarted the information icon (looks like a page of paper with an I on it) in the lower-right corner stops working. This is certainly something that Auran should fix! Until that happens (and I'm certainly not holding my breath), here's what I'm doing to retrieve session information.

When I first open a session, I copy the session information to the clipboard using PrtScn or, preferably, use a screen capture program such as Fraps to create an image. I prefer the latter because it allows multiple captures and the instructions for some scenarios must be scrolled or in some cases appear in various boxes during the scenario. Please keep in mind that each use of PrtScn replaces the previous image on the Windows clipboard, so each image must be copied into some other program before taking another capture.

Once all the instructions have been captured, I crop the images as needed to show only the instruction panels and then save the overall file to the desktop. Before returning to the session again, I open the file containing its instructions for viewing, so that I can Alt-Tab between Trainz and the instructions.

This a rather awkward, but it is a fairly simple work-around for Auran's inconsiderate programming in this case.

Tom Pallen

 

[nawlins]

Hi Scott, welcome to Trainz. Say goodbye to your previous life!

As a desperation move, you could do a "print screen" and copy into a graphics editor like the excellent free Paint.net or whatever. (or go to the screenshots folder in the Trainz folder. (Auran/Trainz/screenshots) and locate that shot and copy it into a graphics editor).

From there clip out the text (in Vista or Win7) and paste into Word. In previous windows versions a crop and copy would work.

Also, check in CMP in the session folder for a read me.txt file. Many session creators stick one in there.

Cheers

 

[Dap]

In Content Manager, do a search for the Session, highlight it, right click and select the last item - view config file. Highlight the description and right click, select copy.

Now move to your word Processor and paste. Then print. Now you have a hard copy.

 

[rweber95]

That methor won't get you all the instruction sheets that appear at various points in the session.

Bob

 

[campchristie]

Print Session Rules

Thanks everyone. I tried the config file but didn't see all the text there. I'm going to try the print-screen method. That should work.

Thanks again.
Scott

 

[campchristie]

Printing Session Rules

Neither of those methods worked. When I print screen, it just comes up a large black window, and the config file did not have the instructions.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Scott

 

[itareus]

Don't think there is an easy option, one thing that would work for many routes is:

Go into Content Manager
Open the Session for "Edit in Explorer"
Look for any graphics files (TGA, JPEG etc.) which might contain the instruction images.
Open these in a graphics program.......

 

[nawlins]

Scott, when you print screen, you have to then go to the Auran/Trainz/screen shots folder to locate and copy your shot into an editor.

Also, the config.txt file does not contain the information you want. The readme.txt file will be in the session folder (if the creator was kind enough to add one). right click and open the session for edit in explorer. (edit/edit in explorer).
You are now looking at the folder contents. If the read me file is there you are fortunate. I know that Phil Skene adds one in there for his fabulous scenarios. Others may or may not. Good Luck.

Cheers

 

[crohakon]

I had an issue with 2009 and taking screen shots via the OS (prt sc button.) I solved it by downloading a program called Fraps. Screen shots in 2010 taken with just the OS (prt sc button) work fine for me though.

 

[rweber95]

If you want to find the instructions displayed in a session you can try this:
Start trainz and open the route/session in Surveyor. Open the Session Editor and scroll down until you see the red HTML icon for Display HTML. The first line should have works like ...of html asset "filename". Note the filename. Then exit Surveyor and go back to CMP and set the Search Action Panel to Category - HTML Asset and click the + box to add a second search filter Location - Local. Find the html file you found in Surveyor, click it and select Edit - Edit in Explorer. The text used in the session may be in the config.txt file as html coded statements or it may be in a series of graphics files in an Image folder.

Bob

 

[HiBaller]

There is a little program called "ScreenHunter" (Google it) that's free. It is the screen print weapon of choice for me. I can capture all or part of a screen at will every time I press the PrintScreen key. All you do is supply a beginning file name and ScreenHunter will tack on a serialized number following it in any folder you designate.

It can be saved in JPG, BMP, or GIF formats.

Later, after you have captured all you want, use an OCR program to lift the text off the image.

Bill

 

[philskene]

Hi Scott --

This be TS2010?

If so, tell me if this helps:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=23892&page=6&highlight=print

See post #84

And my response in post #91 on the next page.

Phil