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"Route Editor Theory"

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KingJPW (260 posts)
Jun-09-01, 11:11 PM (EST) "Route Editor Theory" Ok, here's my latest theory about the route editor:

Microsoft must have used some other tools to develop the routes because there is no way anyone in there right mind would or could use the 3D editor provided to develop complex routes that shipped with MSTS. I have to laugh when I hear people say "I want model Chicago to Detroit, etc..." This editor is SUPER tedious, and could be made so much better by fixing so many simple things, like having a 'multi-select', or copy functionality, for starters. Yea, that's right, you can't even 'cut-n-paste' an object! And just wait until you try selecting from a list over 100 different track sections... I mean, couldn't they have organized them a little bit better?

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Table of Contents

Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Route Editor Theory JWRay Jun-09-01 1 RE: Route Editor Theory drewhosick Jun-09-01 2 RE: Route Editor Theory chuckzeiler Jun-20-01 7 RE: Route Editor Theory Fletch Jun-10-01 3 RE: Route Editor Theory KingJPW Jun-10-01 4 RE: Route Editor Theory Vern Jun-10-01 5 RE: Route Editor Theory MrE Jun-19-01 6 My Route Editor Theory wildh0rse Jun-28-01 8

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JWRay (14 posts)
Jun-09-01, 11:32 PM (EST) 1. "RE: Route Editor Theory" Hello there, I have to agree with you 100%. I think using the provided editor in its current state to produce accurate real life routes is a JOKE. Very time consuming indeed if not impossible with the tools we currently have.I worked with the editor for a long long time today. Till it gave me a HUGE migrane and didn't get very far at all. And all I did was lay track! It boggles the mind to think of how in the world I can reproduce accurate terrain by hand from looking at a topo map. Very time consuming and I dooooo have to work a job 50+ hours a week LOL.Best Regards Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
drewhosick (48 posts)
Jun-09-01, 11:59 PM (EST) 2. "RE: Route Editor Theory" You know what. I don't think it's an easy task but I don't think it's an impossible one. As soon as someone tells me how to use Dem data to import terrain hehe.Actually the biggest complaint I have is trying to rotate objects. I can't seem to rotate them around without making them slant with the current tool for rotating. One thing I wish they would have is a box in the properties for rotation in degrees. That's my biggest problem. Also a Height property box would be nice.Anyways, what can you do. ABSOLUTELY nothing about it I guess.Hopefully Microsoft can add at least these things to help. I hope you're listening Microsoft because a few of these things would be helpful.Although we can't complain too much for a first try. Not too many games come packaged with editors for new levels or routes or scenery. It's usually more complacated than that. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
chuckzeiler (161 posts)
Jun-20-01, 08:18 AM (EST) 7. "RE: Route Editor Theory" Use the number keypad to rotate objects. Also, hold the h key while placing objects. They will be at ground level. Press the HOME key to enter coordinates to the site you wish to work on. Now my question: Does anyone know which files to back up before editing a route? Based on my modifications of the Marias Pass route, there appears to be a total of eight that have a current date. They are in the Train Simulator/Routes/USA2/ folder. They are:Marias.rdb
Marias.rit
Marias.tdb
Marias.titThe following might be backup files:Marias~rdb.bk
Marias~rit.bk
Marias~tdb.bk
Marias~tit.bkUnfortunately, when I went to the Train Simulator/Routes/USA2/World folder, ther are several dozen files with the current date. Would like to back up Marias Pass route before I make a modification the corrupts the files.
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Fletch (4 posts)
Jun-10-01, 00:05 AM (EST) 3. "RE: Route Editor Theory" LAST EDITED ON Jun-10-01 AT 00:08 AM (EST)Don't you mean Kuju? they are the ones who developed the game. Also if you look in the readme file, it say that the tools aren't supported by Microsoft. There is also tech docs on the first disk. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
KingJPW (260 posts)
Jun-10-01, 00:17 AM (EST) 4. "RE: Route Editor Theory" Isn't it funny that their disclaimer says it's "for advanced computer users and not supported..." I interpret that to mean that 'it is so confusing & poorly designed that we don't want to hear about it' Anyway, I'll still carry on and try to make some simple routes. I still can't make a complete loop, though!KingJPW Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Vern (107 posts)
Jun-10-01, 04:26 AM (EST) 5. "RE: Route Editor Theory" I very much suspect the routes were coded and the 3D view used to check everything is in the right place.After checking the tech docs I figured out how to place markers (you have to create the mkr file in DOS or the editor won't recognise it's there). However on setting up some latitude and longitude markers in the file, on entering the route editor and loading up the route...no markers. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
MrE (15 posts)
Jun-19-01, 05:17 PM (EST) 6. "RE: Route Editor Theory" You are right on target. Microsoft obviously used some tool that they didn't want included with the game, which totally bites for us creators! Somebody needs to do something!MrE Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
wildh0rse (184 posts)
Jun-28-01, 07:34 AM (EST) 8. "My Route Editor Theory" I personally think that the RGE was used in a different incarnation than is on the CD.If you look in the 'tiles'folder for a route, you see a ".t" file
followed by a few ".raw" files. These raw files, when opened in Photoshop (paint shop pro doesn't like them - does only expensive software work for route design!?) look like height maps of some sort. There's an excellent post here about that.I conjecture that either there is a tool buried on these two disks that's undocumented (that would suck) or the RGE was released as a disabled (as far as DEM data) program - which also sucks. Just like conv3ds, I'm sure they used a tool to directly make these files from .dem files. It's just a matter of getting it.Look at all the references to DEM data in the documentation. Tehn theres that little line in the readme files that corrects the *ahem* "error" in the manuals about using DEM data. It's not coincidental, and they didn't release the manuals with typos in them - the fact that the very same refewrences appear in the Sybex book is proof.MS and Kuju knew we all wanted to make custom routes as much as we wanted to drive the flying scotsman (if not more!). Some of us wouldnt have bought the program if we knew all this stuff - shame, shame, shame!!!!!Wh
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