Just FYI the idea I had on a the client program that would allow you to see signals is on hold until I can figure out from someone with more advanced experience on how I can build a client/server application so I can link over the interent with each other.With that said I was thinking about my little idea and had some time on my hands and began to explore the what if scenerios for what is and isn't possible for MSTS. A HEX editor is a tool used to see what your memory actually looks like. It can actually be used to reverse engineer a program's code (aka hack in to) to find out how things take place. I have a hex editor, and my sole purpose of getting this editor was to look into the MSTS world and see if I can manipulate things and make a little magic happen.Unfortunately very little information is available or has been released on how we, the people who bought the MSTS product can expand the ability of the so called open ended program and make it do things, not as part of the package. With no v2 the only thing we can do now is switch to another simulator, wait for another simulator, or do whatever we can to make this MSTS worth it's money. Having MSTS combined with teamspeak was a great step in the right direction. I think my contribution of adding a TD3 session in the mix with ghost trains made things more interesting as well. Even a handful of people could be part of a network of 20 trains running at a given time.So now what's next. A point was brought up to me that it would be better instead of buttons to push in a client program (difficult to use if your in full screen MSTS) it would be easier for the client program to report back to the server program where your tail end is. I think this is possible, and with a little exploration through a hex editor it probably isn't too hard to find. Mark that as a possibility.Then we have those signals out there. Wonderful advancements have been made recently with the free add on available from Maple Leaf Tracks you can now see the signals way in the distance like you should in real life. Reminds me of the old RailSim program that I enjoyed to run prior to MSTS. What if you could actually some how tap into memory the signal aspect that should be displayed bypassing, or enhancing what is currently displayed in explore mode. I think this would be tricky, and maybee changing a switch would make this difficult to maintain, but perhaps it's possible.Then we have those switches. The last session I had a paricular train got lost somewhere. Wouldn't it be nice to have the dispatcher remotely control the switches. Of course we konw MSTS uses paths, but maybee somehow through explore mode, this little program might be able to switch certain switches for you so you are on the right route. Even better it might be able to lock you out of switching switches you shouldn't be touching in the first place. A little tougher to imagine, but again who knows right?Last but certainly not least consists. We know that a consist file basically is a table that orders cars you have on your hard drive so that MSTS knows what file to load up and display. We also know that if you have activities that have missing consists or consisists that have missing cars all hell breaks loose. Well there are plenty of programs out there that do a good job of cleaning up that mess for us, but for multi-tasking point to ponder. Let's say a session called well in advance has 20 trains that will run across the territroy in a period of say 3 hours (Sort of like I posted back for the Funnel). With all of these trains however, comes 20 new consists and a readme file explaining where they can all be downloaded. So you go to the download section and search out all the wonderful rolling stock and engines (YES YOU ALL DO THIS Why I'll get to in a sec. So now you have all your cars, and even if you are missing a few that you can't find let's say this said program is smart enough to allow you to replace the car it wants with a suitable replacement already in your roster. You probably already know that your FPS slows a bit, and your disk drive loads something up when your about to see an AI train correct. I'm pretty sure this is simply refering to a consist file you have in your activity that loads up all the car's images so they look nice when your train goes by. You see despite the fact there is a path in an activity what I'm pretty sure there is in memory is a location that continues to update where each AI train is in your MSTS program. As you get within a certain distance of this location that resides in memory it then perhaps pulls up the consist file of the train beside it. From there it loads up the train. What if this was something the said program could actually know where to plug this in to memory, and perhaps MSTS finds the train of a train in a current MP session and loads it. The location of the train is updated via the server program (whoever is the dispatcher) and said train part of a multi-player session appears hutling down the mainline, while you sit in the siding. Pipe dream? Perhaps not.Then your sitting in your siding no hitting a key, the signal didn't turn green right away the instant the last car passed by. You see TD3 sends a request (even if stacked) just like reality. So once TD3 determines all is safe, and provided the dispatch has sent the command, then the signal displays green. In some cases you might see a yellow flicker first as only the first block is cleared. This all happens without anyone on the other train saying a word to dispatch, not hitting any "I've cleared the block key". You simply release the breaks, and go on your way perhaps calling the signal as it drops to red. Your engines pass and the dispatcher's screen indicates you've entered the mainline. The other train takes a rear view look and notices the other train is now moving perhaps. This is as real as it gets!If anyone thinks this is imposible please feel free to reply. If anyone thinks it's possible they can do the same. But I think if it is, we owe it ourselves to seek out whatever we can, and make this happen. I could care less if someone steals my idea, and wants to charge a few bucks for the program. If they can make it happen, so be it. I promise I'll do what I can to make this happen regardless.Sean
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