TARDIS - A Trainz Asset Repair Management Tool - Part 4

ianwoodmore

Active member
TARDIS Scripts

Edit: Under Revision


TARDIS scripts are accessed from AssetX Scripts Menu and are organised in three levels; TARDIS super-scripts, TARDIS sub-scripts and TARDIS scriptlets. These are often linked to provide a repair or update focussed on an object,kind or category. Where-ever possible these are the same as the Content Manager divisions.

TARDIS Menus

Re-arrange to reflect the latest structure

Top Level

The top level of TARDIS scripts provide access to a number of functions in sub-menus. These have been revised since the initial TARDIS release. First time users should limit their initial usage to TRAINZBUILD Superscripts. These are the most automated

TARDIS

TRAINZBUILD is the link to the TARDIS superscripts that provides extensive automation of Asset REPAIR and UPDATE. TARDIS is kind oriented rather than trainz-build but works within the framework of Asset X and its linkage to Trainz.

TARDIS Validation is the entry level repair tool. It will fix probably 80% or more of common errors and warnings reported in Content Manager (CM). It will also delete legacy obsoletes and incorporates a thumbnail batch mode. An important feature is the ability to provide keywords for identifying mesh variants, and major fault modes.

It is accessed via several scripts that determine the particular Trainz-build (TB). These also automatically limit some assets such as aliased, paintshed, locked, chunky track and tag divider from being upversioned beyond TB 2.8.

The sub-menus:

1. TARDIS - LEGACY.axm. Uses the original asset TB.

2. TARDIS - LIFECYCLE.axm. Uses the current supported trainz version.

3. TARDIS - TS2009.axm

4. TARDIS - TS2010.axm

5. TARDIS - TS12 TB 3.5.axm

6. TARDIS - TS12 TB 3.7.axm

7. TARDIS - TANE.axm

8. TARDIS - NEXT.axm. Can be set to whatever TB validation level you require.

TARDIS is a text file that can be viewed in a text editor. I use Notepad++. Menu may be extended at a later date to provide for versions beyond TB 4.3. Generally TARDIS superscripts provide the common and general core repair and update functions, with further targetted extensions available in TARDIS TARGET.

CLASSIFICATION

Validation - Class

Validation - Container

Validation - Inheritance

Validation - Interior-controls-type

Validation - Effects

Validation - Kind

Validation - Nightmode

Validation - Region

Validation - Smoke

Validation - Track-type



DEVELOPMENT

INTERACTIVE

KIND

LOCALISATION

MASTERS

MESHTABLE BUILDER

SCRIPTLETS

TARGET



Take out the Garbage

Take out the Garbage has been significantly extended and now automatically clears the majority of garbage:

1. obsoletes.axm lists those obsolete tags not yet incorporated in Asset X core engine.

2. Batch capabilities based on the 'Repair Delete' functions using script methods -Clear.

3. For those who do not need the non-English localisations a removal facility is available for description, string-table and username strings other than the English version. You may wish to modify these sub-scripts to retain your own language. Currently there appears to be some problem that causes non-English languages with accented characters or using the Cyrillic alphabet to not display correctly.

4. Personal Details Removal except License. Optional.

5. Smoke particle garbage removal.

Trainzbuild

Trainzbuild provides the capability to UP-VERSION assets to various trainz-builds and the reverse limited regression to lower trainz-builds not less than TB 2.7.

UP-VERSIONS available are:

a. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 2.7.axm
b. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 2.8.axm
c. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 2.9.axm This is the minimum N3V supported trainz-build. This is likely to change in 2014. See N3V Life Cycle Policy.
d. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.1.axm
e. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.2.axm
f. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.3.axm
g. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.4.axm
h. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.5.axm
i. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.6.axm
j. Legacy Trainz-build to TB 3.7.axm This is the minimum N3V supported trainz-build for TANE.

REGRESSIONS available are:

a. Regress Trainz-build to TB 3.7

Regressions to versions less than TB 3.7 are possible. CM will automatically re-generate tag 'asset-filename'. Note that because TS2009 and TS2010 use different compression techniques to that of legacy assets regression may not always be successful. If in doubt use CM RMB Edit Revert to Original which will revert the asset to an original copy installed in the Trainz Asset Database (TAD).

Classification

Classification is a mixture of international or national regulation, and personal preference or subjective assessment. This section attempts to improve the reliability of the creator declared categories, or the lack of.

Covers Category-Class, Category-era, Category-keyword, Category-region, Kind, AssetX and TRAINZLAW.

Category-Class

There are many assets that are incorrectly classified. FT for instance has been a major culprit. Even worse, many legacy assets have no tag and will now be faulty or warning. This section tries to redress those shortfalls often by using specific words found in tag “username”. This is only partially successful due to differences between cultures eg truck/bogey, Misspellings such as bogie, American versus English spellings, and non-English equivalents. However, it reduces the manual labour considerably and in conjunction with the keywords generated will assist in Content Manager searches. I have also used Class XSU as a default class for Unclassified assets where I was not able to automate the classification. This enables you to then manually process them.
WIP with ongoing development.

Category-keyword

Category-keyword enables keywording of repairs and functions in order to further automation. This overcomes some limitations that constrain Content Manager filters.
Keyword Master will provide keywords for about 50% of your TAD to assist in fault finding and creation.

AssetX and TARDIS modified

AssetX is compulsory in order to denote a locally modified asset that is not useable in Multiplayer mode. It is applied automatically.

TRAINZLAW

TRAINZLAW is optional but currently selected in REPAIR. It provides a means of reminding Trainzers concerning Copyright and its implications. Currently a placekeeper but the development intent is to attempt to pick keywords or phrases from tag License that signify the creators intent, whatever language is used, and use these to update the default.
 
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