THE MATURITY OF THE TRAINZ NETWORK

[Measure_Twice]

Hello all !

I'm relatively new here and quite impressed with the whole TRAINZ community thing. Despite the usual sniping that might go on between factions of any community, we've got a pretty good bunch of folks here trying to help, trying to grow this community and trying to better the newer folks with their tips and suggestions.

I'll relate back to the sniping part. I also belong to another HUGE group for flying real life (virtually ). It has over close to (maybe over) 150,000 members and has gone through many iterations of calm, then sniping at each other, then control by the governing board, then calm ... only to repeat the cycle. This happens in any community that has a thrust of new members mixing in with the not so new and the old. This is human nature, and that is what governance is all about. Rock ON, TRAINZ community - you're doing great.

OK, now on to my subject.

I have noticed an inordinate amount of time spent on finding assets that vary by name, author and type of asset. You might find bridges in TRACK and also in OBJECTS. You might find a house named "BUZUKO" and a house named "HOUSE 5", of which the latter I prefer.

My idea would be to take a panel of volunteers (I'll help, if needed) and create a STANDARDS committee. This committee would be charged with the responsibility of standardizing locations and names of assets.

I have NO IDEA yet how the KUID and DLS works, I can't seem to get my password and registration info right, but I'll figure it out when I have time. Maybe this already exists, though I doubt it.

Anyway, the committee would review any new or incoming assets, and agree where they would be located and the name they would use. Using a 'common name' system, I would suggest anything that would be considered a 'house' or 'dwelling' (private, not commercial) always start out with 'House xxx' where 'xxx' is the sequential (or whatever) entry that was entered into the classification. Right now, If I want to find a standard house, I might have to look under THA045 or UR563 or CASA or whatever naming convention the originator/designer used. The committe would advise the creator that the CASA BALONNA MAGNIFIQUE would now be classified as HOUSE xxx_(original name). Now, when I'm looking for a house, all I have to do is search for HOU (or however many characters it takes to recognize) and all my HOUSES would be in one single category list. The same for any type of classification including commercial buildings, tracks, stations, etc.

Of course being the global commmunity TRAINZ is, there would surely be some sniping about this Romanian or that Indonesian (or that damned yankee) wanting it in their language. It is generally agreed that English is the universal language. Maybe not the best or worst, but generally agreed universal.

I have greatly improved a lot of inefficiencies at the air traffic group and am only offering a suggestion to manage the overwhelming task of asset location and identification.

Of course TRAINZ or whoever governs this community would have to approve, but I for one, as a relative newbie, would like to see asset location a bit of an easier chore.

Measure_Twice (unless the dog ate your rule), and I do apologize for my KARMA running over your DOGMA.

 

[leeferr]

First of all, Welcome Aboard.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but the committee idea or similar ideas have come up in the past. There are a few threads about standards and adherence to them. There is a standard in the Content Creation Guide (CCG), but it's not always been followed. The problem now is that there are well over 100,000 items on the DLS and many of them are mis-categorized. It would take a monumental effort to correct all of these as all of the incorrect items would require config.txt file changes. They would need to be repaired by the original creator and then reuploaded to the DLS with an updated kuid.
Don't let this dampen your spirits. We're always open to new ideas and you'll find no shortage of discussion here.
Again, welcome to Trainz.

Mike

 

[Measure_Twice]

First of all, Welcome Aboard.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but the committee idea or similar ideas have come up in the past. ...... It would take a monumental effort to correct all of these as all of the incorrect items would require config.txt file changes. They would need to be repaired by the original creator and then reuploaded to the DLS with an updated kuid.

Thanks Mike. All my parades come with quick-release umbrellas, so that's no concern . Agreed on the second part, monumental effort. So, my question is - heap the next batch of over 100,000 assets on to the current? I guess if it's that monumental, then in a few years it will be mega-monumental. Heck, I
wouldn't even know where to start, but if anything ever comes up to straighten out this monumental issue, then I'm there to help. My standard internet fee will apply, though. I charge $65.00 per hour. The usual internet-hobby discount of $65.00 per hour will also apply.

Measure_Twice (then hit your thumb with the hammer)

 

[johnwhelan]

There are a wide range of content creators working in many languages. Not all content ends up on the DLS. In fact it took a major effort to get the DLS used as much as it is.

There are for example a number of Russian creators who live in their own world, have their own set of users, web sites etc.

What seems to happen is certain content creators get a reputation for creating efficient and good looking certain types of content of a particular period. So if you are looking for 1890 GWR Broad Gauge you might look up RickySykes for example.

The other thing to bear in mind is there aren't that many good content creators, adding red tape onto a project isn't going to improve matters. It's a sort of balancing act.

Cheerio John

 

[sparky15]

Shame there isn't a convenient data base of sorts. Something on the order of a one line entry with just the KUID and location. If you find a missing asset just add the number and where you found it. Also would be good for creators when they upgrade an asset. A quick entry that says KUID xxxxx:xxxxx has been changed to xxxxx:xxxxx:1 for example. Would save a lot of head aches.

Dave.....

Measure once, cut twice, always nice to have scraps around.

 

[Johnk]

H Measure_twice and welcome aboard. May I suggest that you look at the following thread and post your comments there?
Do we need an independent Asset Registry - Debate
It's a very recent thread (possibly four days old), but nobody has made a post in days. In fact the thread stayed alive for less than six hours! Like most threads on these forums it is now lost, unless some fool ploughs through pages of recent posts and finds it by accident. By commenting in that thread, you will bump it (bring it to the top of the pile) where others will hopefully see it and also comment.

I've been involved with computer databases since the early 1980's and I agree with all the issues you have raised. I've only been to the DLS once. Despite all my efforts, I couldn't download a single asset with all it's dependencies, and I wonder how anyone else does. The shambles suits Auran, because it helps them sell more First Class Tickets, which is a good income earner for them.

I'm not suggesting that an independent Assets Register takes over from the DLS, but it would simply make it easier for people to find stuff. By linking each Asset with the DLS download page, an independent register could name, index and display assets any way that suited them. I started such a register many moons ago, but pulled the plug when I realised that it would end up costing me my sanity. I modified the concept, but even that took up too much of my time. You may view my refined efforts at the Trainz Resources Directory. The Assets link is on the top left. The Assets section is on display for a short time only and despite all the work that went into creating the thing, it will be removed from the directory shortly, never to return. As it stands only half a dozen content creators are listed, but it probably took 100 hours to reach that point.

I'm not going to discuss anything further on this thread, because it actually duplicates the thread mentioned above. That thread was meant to generate a debate, but I hardly think four or five posts can be classified as that. Please go there, have your ten cents worth and maybe, just maybe, others will join in and something may happen.

Regards,

John