Trainz Content Creator Program, now online!

[n8phu]

Certainly will be interesting, you seem to assume that everybody who thinks this is a good idea will use it but in my case I'm defending it without the intention of using it.

Paul

But I didn't accuse you of anything did I? I said you seem to be implying that you already know what the result of such a poll would be. I may have lived in Germany for 25 years but I still have an excellent grasp on the English language.

Paul

Your assumption was implicit in the statement you made. English can be tricky can't It? Probably why we spent hours and hours in school learning comprehension which seems to be a dying art these days.

Paul

I made no assumption, you did sir. I at the time had no idea who would use the program and who would not. I half expect people not to use. You assumed that I thought they would.

Also, You still have not presented proof where I had assumed.

But please, do go on, I am enjoying the tap dancing demonstration that you are putting on.

 

[amigacooke]

In regards to other workers (healthcare workers etc) then that is included in the UK amendment of the above regulations which categorise the healthcare workers which could not opt out of the directive.

Bill,

You'll have to excuse my stupidity, but does the above phrase mean that healthcare workers in the UK can opt-out of the 48 requirement if they want to? I'm confused as the list of those who can't opt-out doesn't seem to mention healthcare at all.

I'm also wondering why you've decided this is a pressing issue now when people have been making payware for Trainz for years?

I hope Vern never sold anything to N3V or we'll have to shop him to HMRC

 

[bendorsey]

In post #55 I asked Tony if the selection of an item on the DLS for use in a DLC route changes the status of the item on the DLS in any way with particular respect to the "lockout" comments in earlier posts. This is post 102 and nary a soul from N3V has responded in any way. Kinda makes ya wonder doesn't it.

Here is a bit of a puzzler to me: An item is used in a DLC route and is locked (or whatever they may do). A purchaser of the DLC route finds a problem with the item. For example something like a flipped normal that can only be repaired by the original author since only they have the original mesh. How can it be fixed if its locked?

Ben

 

[wholbr]

Hi again amigacooke and every body.

Bill, You'll have to excuse my stupidity, but does the above phrase mean that healthcare workers in the UK can opt-out of the 48 requirement if they want to? I'm confused as the list of those who can't opt-out doesn't seem to mention healthcare at all.

I'm also wondering why you've decided this is a pressing issue now when people have been making payware for Trainz for years?

I hope Vern never sold anything to N3V or we'll have to shop him to HMRC

Amigacooke, I am not well versed in the UK opt-out requirements for the healthcare industry as there are many specialised advisory companies acting in that field therefore, we tend as a company to stay away from that area, so I have never been engaged with any employer with regard to maximum hours worked etc.

However, as far as I am aware frontline staff such as nurses, doctors, dispensary staff and other front-line staff such as hospital porters cannot opt out of the working time directive even if they wish to do so.

I should be in the office all day tomorrow, so I will see if I can put aside some time to look at the regulations and see just who specifically can opt-out of the working time directive in regards to health care. one of our legal secretaries may know the requirements of the "top of her head" with any luck anyway.

As you are now on member of the respectful trio amigacooke, what else could I do.

Bill

 

[clam1952]

@Ben,

In post #55 I asked Tony if the selection of an item on the DLS for use in a DLC route changes the status of the item on the DLS in any way with particular respect to the "lockout" comments in earlier posts. This is post 102 and nary a soul from N3V has responded in any way. Kinda makes ya wonder doesn't it.

Here is a bit of a puzzler to me: An item is used in a DLC route and is locked (or whatever they may do). A purchaser of the DLC route finds a problem with the item. For example something like a flipped normal that can only be repaired by the original author since only they have the original mesh. How can it be fixed if its locked?

Ben

You fix the original, up version it and shove on the DLS, a higher version number obsoletes the payware stuff.

Just tested on my own payware locked items locally. So long as you have original meshes or an older version to hand it's doable.

Proof in screenshots.

 

[amigacooke]

As you are now on member of the respectful trio amigacooke, what else could I do.

Bill

You, sir, are a gent

 

[bendorsey]

Hi Malc:

OK - I can see that but what (if any) effect does the one with the incremented version number have on the previous version which is (possibly) locked and in the DLC route? Does it mess up the DLC route in any way? Can it be downloaded into the DLC route? Does it also get locked (if something along those line occurs)?

Methinks this can all be cleared up by a reply from N3V as to any status change on a DLS item used in a DLC route:
1. Is it absolutely unchanged and can be modified (corrected if necessary) and downloaded into any DLC or non-DLC route.
2. If it is changed exactly how is its status changed and what can or can not be done with it by the original author.

Ben

 

[pware]

In post #55 I asked Tony if the selection of an item on the DLS for use in a DLC route changes the status of the item on the DLS in any way with particular respect to the "lockout" comments in earlier posts. This is post 102 and nary a soul from N3V has responded in any way. Kinda makes ya wonder doesn't it.

Not really when you consider the time and date zone differences. N3V is based in Brisbane, Australia (local AEST = UTC +10)

Post #55 was made at 11:17AM Monday 10th (AEST)
Post #102 7:10AM Tuesday 11th (AEST)

Most of the intervening period (about 14 hrs) would have been outside normal business hours here.

 

[clam1952]

Hi Malc:

OK - I can see that but what (if any) effect does the one with the incremented version number have on the previous version which is (possibly) locked and in the DLC route? Does it mess up the DLC route in any way? Can it be downloaded into the DLC route? Does it also get locked (if something along those line occurs)?

Methinks this can all be cleared up by a reply from N3V as to any status change on a DLS item used in a DLC route:
1. Is it absolutely unchanged and can be modified (corrected if necessary) and downloaded into any DLC or non-DLC route.
2. If it is changed exactly how is its status changed and what can or can not be done with it by the original author.

Ben

1 Yes

2. Has no detrimental effect at all so long as it obviously is the same item, you can also improve it if required.

 

[bendorsey]

pware:

Oops - that time difference will be the death of me yet. Apologies N3V gents.

Malc:

Then what's all this talk about items used in DLC routes being locked? (kangaroo krap perhaps.:hehe:

Ben

 

[normhart]

What Malc seems to be missing is that no other user besides the original author can modify a particular asset once it becomes "Built-in" and the original author better have a copy of the pre-built-in asset. Furthermore if another DLC route uses that asset that clam1952 just "fixed" it will become "Built-in" again. How many times are you going to reload that asset? If we take this to extremes I can foresee a time when a significant percentage of the assets on the DLS could become "Built-in".

 

[ZecMurphy]

Good Morning All
A few notes here.

First, in relation to the DLS upload agreement. Keep in mind that we have sold payware packs (created by 3rd party groups, and with a somewhat less standardized royalty system) for approximately 6 years now, with freeware content being used as per the DLS agreement. All that the Trainz Content Creator Program system has done is implement a better method for us to communicate with the creators, and an easier way for them to submit the content. Apart from this, the same rules (and a similar agreement) have been in use for about 5 years now (at least, that's when I submitted my first payware pack through N3V).

As has been covered multiple times (both in this thread, and previously in other threads), the DLS EULA does allow us to distribute DLS content with DLC packs (in various forms - the TS2009 add-on packs were still DLC; just in a more manual package/system), as well as part of the built-in content set. This requirement has been there for the life of the Download Station, and the DLS upload agreement is relatively unchanged for this time from what I was able to tell.

In regards to locked assets. If it is marked as 'built-in' (this is what should be shown for DLS content that is packaged with built-in content, or with DLC packs), then it can be edited. However, as we have made changes to the .texture format, existing unofficial tools may not be able to read them. Since we don't officially support opening/editing of the '.texture' format (not has this ever been supported), we don't provide tools to do this. Like in previous cases, a 3rd party may be able to produce a tool to read/view these files.

If it's marked as 'payware', then it is not able to be edited. Unfortunately, some assets have been incorrectly marked as 'payware' in TANE, and we may look into this in future (it is relatively low on the to do list, compared to other tasks). Mostly this seems to have been caused by us needing to produce updates to the assets, and the updates not making it to the DLS before that build of Trainz was created. You can still view the config.txt file (and any scripts that aren't encrypted). The .texture files in these assets become encrypted, and as such cannot be opened/viewed with any tools.

If a creator needs to update one of their assets that is marked as 'payware', and needs a 'source' version to be able to include the fixes/repairs, then they should contact us to obtain the source version. As above, if the changes are only related to config.txt or script, then these will still be accessible.


Note, I did pass on this thread to our team for them to look at in relation to other points bought up, and will leave that to the rest of the team to respond to when they are able to.

 

[pware]

If this results in the dls being discontinued im QUITTING and ABANDONING TRAINZ FOREVER! i fear the next time the dls goes down it might mean it is discontinued so EVERYTHING, CAN BECOME PAYWARE! UNBELIVEABLE!

Well, that has got to take the prize for the most blatant piece of paranoid scaremongering (and a few other labels I could add but etiquette restrains me) I have ever seen in these forums - and that's going back to when the forums first started.

 

[normhart]

Thanks for clarifying that Zec. I had difficulty with some built-in assets but I just tested several with no problems. So that leaves the 3800+ non-Auran Payware assets.

I gather that future DLC will not have Payware assets in them unless the assets are the product of the author who created the DLC?

 

[bendorsey]

Hi Zec:

Thanks for checking in.

So a DLS item that has been used in a DLC route has had its textures changed and can no longer be used in any version except T:ANE?

Ben

 

[WindWalkr]

So a DLS item that has been used in a DLC route has had its textures changed and can no longer be used in any version except T:ANE?

No; the fact that an asset is used in a DLC package or as built-in content does not change what is on the DLS.


As with all previous versions of Trainz, if you are using built-in content then you will receive only the pre-built binary textures required for the build you are using.

DLC content works in a pretty much identical fashion; if you install a DLC item then you will receive only the pre-built binary textures required for your build.

If you download from the DLS, you get the source textures, which your build will then convert into binary textures at installation time.


To be clear: whether a given user receives a pre-built texture or whether they receive the source texture depends completely on how that user installs the content. It has nothing to do with how somebody else may be installing the content.

hth,

chris

 

[ZecMurphy]

Hi Zec:

Thanks for checking in.

So a DLS item that has been used in a DLC route has had its textures changed and can no longer be used in any version except T:ANE?

Ben

Hi Ben
Not quite, but also sort of...

1) The asset remains on the DLS, and is unchanged. If it required changes, it will receive these and be placed back onto the DLS (the majority would remain at their original trainz-build number; just errors would be fixed)

2) The built-in asset has had the '.tga' (and bmp, jpg, etc)) and '.texture.txt' files removed; and as such only includes the '.texture' files. Note, these are the same format as the '.texture' files created by Trainz when you commit an asset. This is done purely to save space; since Trainz itself doesn't use the '.texture.txt' and '.tga' file; it uses the '.texture' file created from them. A tool could be created to read these files, however it's recommended to use the source version from the download station since the '.texture' file does use a lossy compression. The versions on the DLS are unchanged, and can be installed into any version of Trainz.

3) If it gets marked as payware (for what ever reason), then the same as above however the '.texture' file is encrypted. The versions on the DLS are unchanged, and can be installed into any version of Trainz.

As noted previously, DLS content shouldn't be marked as payware however there are some situations where our packaging system may have incorrectly marked it as such.

Regards

 

[normhart]

I just checked your Loco lifts Ben, in TANE they are marked as Built-in and contain the new format .texture file which I can't read or modify although I can mess with the config.txt and save it locally. I also just downloaded both in TS12 49922 and they had your original bmp and tga and .texture.txt files.

Edit: I just did some more checking, your Lumber Yard Storage Shed is marked as payware in TANE and I can't do anything with it. However I downloaded it in TS12 49922 and it was fully editable/cloneable. Oddly when I checked in TS12SP1HF4 it was also fully editable/cloneable and not marked either built-in or payware.

 

[bendorsey]

Thanks a heap gents. This has finally sunk through my thick head. This is (another) non-panic situation and should pretty much be ignored.

If need arises I am usually willing to provide the original Gmax mesh if that will help (for a good cause). I have about 99% of them archived on 3 external hard drives (haven't a clue as to where the missing 1% went). Trainz Gremlinz ate them I guess).

Ben

 

[pware]

Thanks a heap gents. This has finally sunk through my thick head. This is (another) non-panic situation and should pretty much be ignored.

Its amazing how many of these threads are stared with rumours, mis-information, mis-readings of facts, etc, etc and how a few individuals running around crying "foul" or that "the sky is falling" can generate a wave of near hysteria. I suppose that its all human nature, and can sometimes be good popcorn entertainment, but it must be maddening for the people (like N3V) who often get all the unnecessary flak.