LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-03 AT 03:45 PM (EDT)
I'll post my original BVE article here for any newbies***How To Get, Run & Use BVE***
(Version 2.22, June 2003, written by John Womersley) BVE, (Boso View Express) is a Japanese freeware train simulator, originally designed to run on Japanese Windows. Now it will also run on Western Windows with no problems. There are many routes and trains for the sim, for example...From Great Britain........................... Most of the London Underground lines and some main line routes in great detailFrom the US....................... Some New York Subway lines, plus some main line ones tooThere's also lines and trains from Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Germany, plus of course a great many from JapanOne of the big advantages of BVE is that you don't need a top spec PC to run it, In Fact these are the minimum specsOPERATING SYSTEM..... Windows 95 / 98 / ME / 2000 / XP
PROCESSOR....... Pentium II 233MHz
DISPLAY..... 640 x 480 High Color 32bit
GRAPHICS CARD.....16MB 3D with DirectX 8
Also unlike MSTS, all the routes and trains are FREEWARE, and are quite small to download, (Usually around 2 to 8 MB for a complete route and train), so it's OK if you are still on 56K dial up
For independent reviews of BVE in English, visit the following webpages
Japanese Railway Society..... http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~mt5h-nitu/jrs/members/adrian/cbrdhm/cbrdhm.htm
Trainsim UK .........................http://www.trainsim.org.uk/bve.htm
Crotrainz................................http://www.crotrainz.com/BVE_main.htmlNow, How to get it,1) Go to ..... http;//makoy.cool.jp/ this is the only web site that holds BVE, don't bother downloading any Japanese script, you won't need it. The top of the web page should say BVE OFFICIAL WEBSITE.2) Click on "GET"3) On the GET BVE page click on, "DOWNLOAD"4) On the DOWNLOAD page, click on the SECOND BOX and download,BVE (ENGLISH) {bve2_5_3en.exe 3.04Mb, 27 Mar 2003} 5) On the same page, click on the BOTTOM BOX and download, "UCHIBO 8.EXE" (5.12MB, 8 Apr 01).
THAT'S THE LOT, YOU'VE GOT IT !!!, NOW TO INSTALL IT. ***HOW TO INSTALL BVE***There should be two items....1)...................BVE2_5_3EN.EXE 2)...................uchibo8
You need these two items to run the simulation, ..... Now,1) Create an "BVE TEMP" folder on your HDD.2) Double click "bve2_5_3en.exe", this is a self extracting zip file, click on it and you'll get a dialog box up, then unzip the files to your, "BVE TEMP" folder you created.3)Now go to your BVE TEMP folder and click on the SET UP icon,4)Accept the default option, "C:\program files\BVE\", and click on the desktop computer iconThats it, the main BVE program is now installed !!!!!! We are almost finished, we have just got to put a route and a train file in.
Double click on UCHIBO8, a dialog box will come up, extract the files to your BVE TEMP folder, and click "OK". Now find the files and look for the three microwave oven icons, there should be, COMMON.EXE, ENGLISH.EXE and JAPANESE.EXE. Double click on Common.exe and it will extract to the default BVE folder. It will then ask to overwrite a few files, say YES TO ALL. Now finally run English.exe, again click OK to extract to the default file, Now delete the three temp files and you're done !!!.*********EXTRA NOTE FOR WINDOWS XP USERS********Right Click on the BVE.EXE icon in C:\Program Files\BVE and choose "Properties" from the drop down menu. From the new window, now choose, "COMPATIBILITY"
1) Click the top box so that there is a tick in, "Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 98/ME"
2) Click the bottom box so that there is a tick in the, "Disable visual themes" box3) Click ApplyTHAT'S IT, YOU'VE DONE !!!
A few tips............ 1) Run BVE in it's default mode, I find that it runs far better. 2) When you have finished playing BVE, ALWAYS RESTART YOUR PC. It can sometimes make your PC act a bit odd. 3) If the sim is a bit jerky this is sometimes caused by bad writing of a route or it's too much work for your graphics card, It usually helps to alter the drawing distance by pressing the oblong button at the bottom left of the sim, press graphics and move the, "graphics resolution" bar to the left,
TROUBLESHOOTING
Taken from the BVE HELPER WEBSITE..(Hope you don't mind Brett)
http;//members.aol.com/bvehelperUnable to use Direct3D
You need to Update your DirectX Drivers, BVE2 requires at least DirectX 8
Unable to change to HAL
BVE was unable to access the Direct3D hardware. You may be able to fix this problem by Updating your Graphics Card Drivers from the Manufacturer.
Also: Your card may not have any Hardware 3D acceleration
BVE should still run in software mode, just a lot slower
ERROR 5: Invalid Call or Argument
This error is caused by missing files. On most occasions you can just continue without any problems and you may not even notice that the object(s) are missing.
Some Route Authors assume you have other Routes installed from which they have used objects. You can open a Route file to deduce from which Route the objects are from.
Also: If you are writing a route, this error can be caused by an mistake in your Statement, either bad syntax or a missing value.
ERROR 380: Invalid Property Value
The most likely cause is that you don't have the Japanese Fonts
To fix this you need the English String Table
Copy the new STRING.INI into your BVE folder, and Overwrite the existing copy
ERROR 445: Object does not support this Action
The culprit for this error seems to be 16 Million Colour bitmaps.
Some Graphics Cards only support 256 Colour bitmaps for texturing.
The most common file to cause this problem is BLACK.BMP
Changing this bitmap from 24-bit to 8-bit colour is first step in tackling this error.
This can be done with Windows PAINT, or to get a 8-bit copy of BLACK.BMP
Go to the BVE HELPER WEBSITE for this
Before you try other "messy" solutions,
you might want to Disable Direct3D to have a look at the Route From the Start Bar Menu, choose RUN... and type in DXDIAG
The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window will appear,
Go to the Display Tab and click Disable Direct3D If you're determined to Drive the Route in Direct 3D then...
Other 16 Million Colour bitmaps may cause the same problem. You will need to fix these by Opening the images with PAINT and then using SAVE AS, change to image to 256 Colours and overwrite the existing file.
An image viewer, such as ACDSee is a handy tool for locating these bitmaps.
Another cause can be bitmaps larger than 256 x 256 pixels, once again some Graphics Cards do not support larger images for Textures. Using PAINT, open the image and from the IMAGE menu select ATTRIBUTES.
From here you can change the size (in pixels) of the image, then Save.
Still no luck ! Another step to try is changing the dimensions to multiples of 16
Eg: If an image is 244 x 98, change it to 256 x 96
USING BVENow you are now ready to run BVE, The route you have downloaded must ALWAYS be left installed, as many other routes use the objects as default onesNow we will look at the file structure of BVE, Go to C:\program files\BVE, you should find this.......BVE............This is the main folder, there are also some other common objects in here (Signals etc), but also you will find two other folders, these are, RAILWAY... See belowandTRAIN....All loco’s and multiple units are stored in this folder, (You'll find "113_4", which is a 3 lever Japanese Railways class 113 EMU, and "E217", a 2 lever Japanese Railways class 217 EMU), ANY extra trains you download ALWAYS go in this folder.Now we will open the train folder and see what's inside... WAV files... These are for such things as doors opening and closing, brake and run sounds.
BMP files... These are ordinary bitmap files and contain things like the the main panel,speedometer etc. If you double click on the, PANEL.BMP file you will be able to see the panel in full detail, (note, most train panels are now photo realistic,so they will be an improvement on this)
DAT files... There will be only one file, this controls the parameters of the train and should be left unaltered
TXT files... Usually only one, (train.TXT),this contains details of the train shown in the Train Information screen on start up, If you open the one in the 113_4 folder you will see a lot of garbage symbols, to correct this delete the garbage and paste and save the following script belowJR 113 EMU
Built 1963Q = Emergency BrakePower = 4 Levels
A = Increase
Z = DecreaseBrake = 8 Levels
< = Decrease
> = IncreaseNow do the same with the E217 Train.TXT file and paste this in ...JR E217 EMU
Built 1994ATS & ATC CONTROLQ = Emergency BrakeZ = Increase Power
(5 Levels)A = Increase Brake
(8 Levels)BK Space = Speed Hold
RAILWAY.......This folder has three Sub folders, which are...OBJECT.. This stores the objects for each individual route, as well as some default ones for common routes (a mixture of .wav .bmp .cfg .b3d .csv and .dat), Most new routes will simply contain everything in one folder, and will use very little of the default onesROUTE......Stores all the route files for each route (*BVE v1 are .rw BVE v2 are .csv)*NOTE.. BVE 1 was the original version of the sim, this was replaced by BVE 2 in about 2001, BVE 2 offers far more scope for detail, and is now the standard format, though most BVE 1 routes will run with no problems anywaySOUND.....Stores all the sounds for each route (station announcements etc), and some default ones too. (all .wav)CONTROLS The best way is to use your keyboard, the other options are not worth using or won't workKey commands,
TWO LEVER TRAIN
Z Increase Power
A Decrease Power
< Increase Brake
> Release Brake
? Activate Emergency Brake
ONE LEVER TRAIN
Z More Power / Less Brake
A Less Power / More Brake
Q Activate Emergency Brake
COMMON TRAIN CONTROLS
UP Arrow Forward
DOWN Arrow Reverse
(N Neutral)
SPACE BAR ATS Accept
INSERT Continuation Chime Reset
DELETE Emergency Brake Reset
END Open Emergency Brake
PAGE UP Change to ATS Control
PAGE DOWN Change to ATC Control
BACKSPACE Speed Hold
SHIFT + F2 Safety System Power On
CTRL + F2 Safety System Reset
F3 "Passenger Meter" On/Off
SHIFT + F3 Time & Door (Press Again) Frame Rate Display
F4 Open/Close Time-table
SHIFT + F4 Scroll Time-table UP
CTRL + F4 Scroll Time-table DOWN
To find out how to use BVE, you must visit the BVE HELPER website at.....http://members.aol.com/bvehelper/
(NOTE, DO NOT use the, "GET BVE" option on this page, as it is for an ancient version of the sim)
ADD ONS,
Fortunately BVE has quite a few addons, details below.......
BVE TRACK VIEWER....... Operates in the same style as MSTS Route Viewer, to get it....
.
1) Go to ..... http;//makoy.cool.jp/ (don't bother downloading any Japanese script). 2) Click on, the CRANE ICON,3) A page of garbage symbols will come up, Don't worry about this, simply click on the THIRD FROM BOTTOM LINK ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, Your taskbar should say...
http://mackoy.cool.ne.jp/make/tools.html4) You should get a page up saying, "Track Viewer", now click on ver.1.2.5, 712KB, 05-Apr-2003, at the top of the page and download.when installed these are instructions for use.... This tool provides you with a view of a route from all angles and heights, and is useful for spotting any coding errors. The controls areLEFT Mouse Button: Height Up and Down
RIGHT Mouse Button:Left and Right movement
PageUp: 25m Forward
PageDown:25m Back
Up Arrow:1m Forward
Down Arrow:1m Back
Ctrl + Up Arrow: 10 CM Forward
Ctrl + Down Arrow: 10 CM Back
Right arrow: Enlargement X1 to X16
Left arrow: Reduction X16 to X1
F5: Reloads the file Remember, if you do make changes to the route file you must press “F5” which will re render the route with the changes you have made.
BVE SIGNAL INSTALLER....... This will provide you with the correct countries signals for each different country, although the program is German, full instructions are in English when downloaded... To get this
1)... Go to......... http://www.bve-train.de/
2)... Click on ......"Download Sonstiges" (at top, in centre)
3)... Go to bottom of page and click on, "Der Signalinstaller" (It's a .ZIP file) and download and installBVE ROUTE RANDOMISER , BVE ROUTE,SIGNAL AND TRAIN SELECTOR (v 9) This program...
Provides an easy way to choose a different train than the default one for the route you are driving.
Allows you also to access the route developer mode of BVE easily for each route.
Can change the signal behaviour for most routes to make driving more interesting.
Changes the default Japanese signals for the correct countries ones
To get it go to..... http://koti.mbnet.fi/lopomo/trainsoft/BRR.html
and Download
BRR9.ZIP (200Kb)ROUTES & TRAINS,
RAIL SIM ROUTES UK.......... http://www.railsimroutes.co.uk/ Lots of UK routes and trains, good links section
TRAIN SIM CENTRAL............ http://www.trainsimcentral.co.uk/ Lots of London Underground routes and trains, good Links section
(My advice on downloading Japanese routes is to leave alone for now, as some of them are tricky to get running, although there are quite simple ways of overcoming this which I will explain in another article)HELP & ADVICE,
If you do get stuck, visit the BVE FORUM, everyone is friendly and helpful on there if you do run into problems, and news of new routes etc are always posted on here. Furthermore the message board has NO ads, popups or spyware, (which is more than can be said for many other boards !)
Go to........http://www.train-sim.com/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgiAny other questions ? Then just post away on this message boardJohn
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