A message from Paul, with comments inserted by KingJPW:Jim,
I wanted to tell you that I like and enjoy the program, and would like to contribute in line with my abilities to see it become more widespread and successful. I think for that to happen, the program needs to have a look and feel of professionalism. Two areas that detract from that professionalism, in my opinion, are typos, and prototypical inaccuracies. I see 2 of my strong areas being proofreading and prototype operations. With that in mind, and with the understanding that anything I say is meant to better the program, here are some things that I have noticed:
A: I'll fix the typos you mentioned and any others that can be found!
bugs
-while working in Los Nietos, a mainline train came in backwards (i.e. engines last). very weird looking!
A: I think this happened to me once. I'll keep an eye out for this...-it used to tell you which coupler was selected, but not anymore.
It's a little confusing knowing which coupler is selected to uncouple.
A: The coupler message was a debug message and was not very useful because you never know which end is 1 or 2. The selected coupler is drawn as a white dot. This is the only way to know which coupler is selected.-I've had a little problem with 1 engine "running over" another engine graphically if they weren't coupled before I accelerated.
A: I need to make it so that after you uncouple, the train can only pull away from the cut. This is one of those things I need to improve but haven't got around to it...
-when I download a new map, all of the switches are in reverse position. why is that?
A: Because the .yrd file doesn't store the switch aspects and this is just the defult value. I think this is minor.-is it possible to include the AAR car type codes in the view window. the color codes are not always discernable.
A: I'd rather not because space is limited and the better and easier way to determine the car type is to use the car-type color filter and hover the mouse over the car. -is it possible to match up the reporting marks with the types of cars that they are found on. for instance, TTX ( and it's many variations) would only be found on a well or spline car, not a box or gondola. likewise, UTLX is only found on tank cars. (this is probably an idea for down the road, but I thought I would say it anyway.)
A: These are the reporting marks that Yard Duty currenlty uses:ABOX,ACFX,ACL,ADMX,ADN,AEPX,AESX,AMCX,AMOX,ATSF,BAR,BCIT,BCOL,BKTY,BM,BN,BNFE,BO,CAGY,CBQ,CC,CCBX
CCLX,CCLX,CGTX,CHVX,CN,CNIS,CNW,CO,CP,CRR,CTTX,DMIR,DH,DODX,DOWX,DRGW,DTI,DUPX,ECUX,EL,ETTX
FEC,FGER,FLIX,FTTX,GACX,GATX,GN,GMO,GONX,GTW,HELX,IC,ICG,IMCX,ITC,JTTX,KCS,KTTX,KYLE,LN,LSI,LTTX
MEC,MILW,MKT,MOBX,MP,MTTX,NAHX,NATX,NDM,NOKL,NP,NW,PC,PLE,PLWX,PLMX,PPGX,PROX,PTEX,RAIX,RBOX,RDG
RTMX,RUSX,SOO,SAL,SBD,SCL,SCMX,SFIX,SLSF,SOU,SP,SSW,TCAX,TILX,TLCX,TLDX,TOE,TTAX,TTGX,TTWX,TTX
UFIX,UELX,UNPX,UP,UPFE,USLX,UTLX,UTCX,WCTR,WISX,WM,WP,WSMX,WTTX,XTRXIf you personally know what type of cars each of these company owns, I may be able to do something... However, you have to admit that 'improper' markings are better than a million 'Anonymous' cars!
-another long-term idea: the national map is really awkward to navigate. maybe you could look into a different third-party map.
A: I know, but you'll get used to it.
-I have a concern with you adding trackage that doesn't exist to someone else's map. Please do not do that to any of my forthcoming maps. Thanks.
A: I can't imagine that I would do knowingly do this. However, I will never hesitate to 'improve' a submitted map. I you feel that something I have done distracts from 'prototypicality', I will happily change it.
Look forward to all of the new things to come.
Paul MetzgerRESPONSE:
Paul,Thanks for the lengthy message. I enjoyed your feedback. Based on the above message, the only 'prototypical inaccuracies' you mentioned seemed to be the ones related to random reporting marks, which you yourself said was 'an idea for down the road'. Is there anything else? If that's all, I think YD is on pretty solid ground...Jim
Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty
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