Problem with HOG Program

[bryinmich]

First off I don't see anything in Search about the HOG program in the forums, so not sure whether this is the place to post this. I also have it posted in another thread under requesting help for HOG data at:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=37042

About my software:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1 + updates
Trainz 2009 WBE
Photoshop CS4 64-bit
MicroDEM
HOG v118 (all previous updates properly installed)

Ok my problem:

I got my DEM from GIS Data Depot for Cadillac, MI (North). Downloaded properly.

Got that all set per this link:

http://www.virtualrailroader.com/DEM-Trainz.pdf

I opened up MicroDEM and followed the instructions to get my map.

Then copied and pasted that into PhotoShop including flattening it to one layer per the above instructions in the .pdf file.

When I open up HOG 118. I followed again the above pdf instructions and picked my .tga; set the height per the pdf instructions, and finally when I go to convert it to a .gnd file I get the following error:

Error: tile template file tile_blank.dat not found or failed to open.

Could anyone help me figure this out? After searching the forums and such not finding anything on this.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

 

[Jerker]

G'day bryinmich,

Firstly, I have to admit that yours is a most unusual 'nickname' that I am unable to 'decipher' . As to your problem, you will be pleased to learn that the solution is extremely simple. Your error is being caused by the fact that you are attempting to create the *.gnd file in a location where the "tile_blank.dat" file does not exist. This is a MUST in order for HOG to do it's thing properly. To overcome this (and to save myself the extra work of creating a new version of the file for each and every *.gnd file I create), I always tell HOG to create the *.gnd file in the HOG root directory (where you should find there is a copy of the file - if it isn't there, then you have a corrupt install). I then transfer the created *.gnd file to the appropriate place in the Trainz folder on my HDD (remembering to ensure that the file is named according to the name provided when the 'route' was originally created in Trainz). Of course, you are most welcome to make a copy of the "tile_blank.dat" file in the appropriate Trainz folder for each and every 'route' that you create but I am sure you will find this more tedious than the way I do it (especially when such activities are 'commonplace' - as is the case for me)..

Jerker {}

 

[bryinmich]

Thanks Jerker for the reply. That did work!

Now another question. I cannot find where it is saving my Great Lakes Central in Surveyor? Which directory does it save to? I've checked them all and even did a .gnd search in .../Auran/Trainz2009/ and came up empty.

Thanks for the reply!



PS: bry...short for Brian...in...mich (Michigan)

UPDATE 8:54 PM: Ok I found it...did a search for date and found it saves as mapfile.gnd I changed the name of my hog file to mapfile.gnd and pasted over that one I made in Surveyor. It's now showing...however there's no height to the map whatsoever...flat as a pancake. I know it's some flat ground around here....but we do have hills! They can even be a couple hundred feet in height. Does DEM terrain not make hills that size? I d/l the 10m files even.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[brickbuilder711]

Bryinmich,

I had the same problem at one point.

You can save it in a certain folder, maybe the route shall have already been started and ready to edit. You would want to overwrite the mapfile.gnd.

Don't know if I am accurate, but here goes;

To save a mapfile, you need to create a new route and leave the game. Open for edit on CMP and switch the gnd from the one you saved on Explorer. Then, commit.

Therefore the route should be visible in the game on the route you started.

 

[bryinmich]

Bryinmich,

I had the same problem at one point.

You can save it in a certain folder, maybe the route shall have already been started and ready to edit. You would want to overwrite the mapfile.gnd.

Don't know if I am accurate, but here goes;

To save a mapfile, you need to create a new route and leave the game. Open for edit on CMP and switch the gnd from the one you saved on Explorer. Then, commit.

Therefore the route should be visible in the game on the route you started.

Thanks! I missed that step in the Tutorial .pdf! Sorry long day here. Ok checking it out now in Surveyor!

UPDATE 9:01 PM EST: *sigh* The map is flat as a pancake still. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong here.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Thanks! I missed that step in the Tutorial .pdf! Sorry long day here. Ok checking it out now in Surveyor!

UPDATE 9:01 PM EST: *sigh* The map is flat as a pancake still. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong here.

I do not know. How uneven is your terrain? It might be the image...

 

[bryinmich]

I do not know. How uneven is your terrain? It might be the image...

The image is monochrome fuscia (pinkish purplish color). Doesn't seem to be any terrain to it.

Also we do have hills around the city...it's the most hilly terrain in the lower peninsula of Michigan

If you 3D Cadillac, MI in Google Earth or Microsoft Virtual Earth you can see hills.

 

[Jerker]

G'day bryinmich,

Would you believe...

..that after giving your nickname some thought, I came to precisely the correct conclusion before seeing you post response...

...anyway to your issue. Now that I know and have looked through the tutorial you are using, I suspect that the problem lies in the fact that you are using the "Chroma depth colours", where, I believe you should have set MicroDEM up to display in the Monochrome (Grey Scale) setting. the other alternative is to provide yourself with the DEM data from SRTM (a much better option) rather than any grey scale substitute. Just make sure that when determining the area for the DEM you need (rememebring that they come in 1 degree x 1 degree (lat & long) 'chunks') that you need to know the South West corner of the area required (this is because the SRTM files are named using this convention). Also, keep in mind that if you need, for example, N42E145 to cover the area of your route, then you need to procure SRTM data for N43E145 (add 1 to the value of each latitude value), and so forth for any adjoining data...

Jerker {}

 

[bryinmich]

G'day bryinmich,

Would you believe...

..that after giving your nickname some thought, I came to precisely the correct conclusion before seeing you post response...

...anyway to your issue. Now that I know and have looked through the tutorial you are using, I suspect that the problem lies in the fact that you are using the "Chroma depth colours", where, I believe you should have set MicroDEM up to display in the Monochrome (Grey Scale) setting. the other alternative is to provide yourself with the DEM data from SRTM (a much better option) rather than any grey scale substitute. Just make sure that when determining the area for the DEM you need (rememebring that they come in 1 degree x 1 degree (lat & long) 'chunks') that you need to know the South West corner of the area required (this is because the SRTM files are named using this convention). Also, keep in mind that if you need, for example, N42E145 to cover the area of your route, then you need to procure SRTM data for N43E145 (add 1 to the value of each latitude value), and so forth for any adjoining data...

Jerker {}

I figured it out! I had d/l the wrong file originally and was not getting the correct terrain features! I redid everything and finally I have terrain in Surveyor! Yay!

THANKS to you ALL for the assistance and guidance!

lol Jerker. Glad you figured my name out.