Ref files unuseable

I did a silly thing by opening a “ref “ file in notepad. This resulted in all the “ref “files converting to notepad. While they might be readable, I cannot get them to revert to “Wordpad”, despite trying to reset the path in Folder options, because Trainsim cannot find the path. Has anyone got the key to this please?
Ken Hancock

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RE: ref files unuseable, beluga, Feb-02-03, 09:59 AM, (1) RE: ref files unuseable, baldwin, Feb-02-03, 11:56 AM, (2) RE: ref files unuseable, Fireman, Feb-05-03, 04:38 AM, (3) RE: ref files unuseable, OTTODAD, Feb-05-03, 06:48 AM, (4) RE: ref files unuseable, oldrailfan, Feb-05-03, 08:17 AM, (5) RE: ref files unuseable, Darrel55, Feb-06-03, 04:55 PM, (6) RE: ref files unuseable, OTTODAD, Feb-06-03, 05:29 PM, (7) RE: ref files unuseable, Fireman, Feb-07-03, 01:02 AM, (8) RE: ref files unuseable, heffed, Feb-07-03, 03:04 AM, (9) RE: ref files unuseable, Fireman, Feb-08-03, 07:14 PM, (11) RE: ref files unuseable, OTTODAD, Feb-07-03, 08:06 AM, (10)

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Open the file in Notepad. Then open Wordpad. Copy and paste the text in Notepad. Paste into Wordpad. Click File > Save as...For File name type routename.ref. For File Type choose Unicode Text Document. Save in route root directory.I think this is what you mean.

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You need to find your folder options window, the location varies according to which OS you have. Once you find and open it you should see a tab marked File Types. Click on it to open, and scroll down until you locate the line with REF on it, highlight it and then hit the delete button which becomes active. Close down back to the desktop. Open explorer and go find a ref file, click to open and a dialogue box will open inviting you to pick a program, find wordpad and click it, all should now be fixed.mervyn@madasafish.com

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Thanks guys. Perhaps a little more history will help.
I have Trainsim in a 13GB partition (E) of a fairly new 40GB drive. 11GB of the partition is empty. When I first created the problem I dumped "Myroute" into the recycle bin, uninstalled & reinstalled TrainSim, and started to recreate "Myroute". but still can only open ref files from wordpad. In explorer the message appears:
<E\program cannot find file. ensure path & file name are correct>
One needs to open them in explorer if additions are to be made.
I tried your advice Beluga, but no effect. I do have TS on my old computer and can open a copy of a ref file on the new one in A drive, but not in C or E. I have tried folder options Baldwin, but am seeking a second opinion before deleting REF because of the warning notice. The current path looks to be correct. I have also given the computer a thorough going over with Norton Utilities.
Now I am trying out a different game, Zoo Tycoon!, but prefer trains
Any more advice please?
Ken

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Ken,First of all, before you do anything drastic like uninstalling any Software, it is a good idea to back it up to somewhere else on your hard Drive.After having re-installed it, simply copy the Route you want to use with MSTS back to the \ROUTES\ Folder and with it any Trains and Consists belonging to it to their appropriate folders. Not forgetting Tsection.dat if XTracks are being used by a Route.EDITING FILES - WIN 98
Click on View
Click on Folder Options
Click on File Types
Find Ref Files
Double-Click on Ref
Click on Edit
"Change Application used to perform Action"
Browse for and select Wordpad
CloseEDITING FILES - WIN XP
Click on Tools
Click on Folder Options
Find Ref Files and Click on
Click on "Opens with" Change
Browse for and select Wordpad
CloseFiles open in Wordpad automatically "SAVE" Files back to the same Format they were opened in unless you say "SAVE US" and select another.O t t o

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SAVE AS??

JOhn
Oldrailfan
Railfan means anything on rails! Trains Trolleys Rollercoasters - you name it.

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Otto,You said wordpad automatically "Saves" files back to the same format they were opened. Im using Win98. So that means that after editing an .eng file all one needs to do is click the X and say yes to save and it will be saved in unicode since it was opened in unicode? Guess I always thought one had to click on "save as" then click a file and then click unicode.

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Darrel,The easiest way to SAVE a file in any Microsoft and most other Software is to simply Ctrl-S to Save it as aften as possible when making changes.Test an *.eng file by adding something to the Wagon ( line and Save it. Open it again and remove what you added and Save it again.Select the Engine in MSTS and it will run as before.O t t o

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Thanks Otto, I have already edited thru folder options as tyou describe, and just to make sure, have just done it again. I think the problem is that "E" drive cannot find the path, & I wish i knew why. Worpdad is in C\Programs\accessories, but I cannot read any of the ref files from Explorer. My System is Windows 98. Everything else seems to be OK.
Ken

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There's really no harm in deleting the file association for .ref.It wasn't associated with anything previously anyway was it? (just had the generic windows icon for an unassociated file)If you delete the association, then the next time you double click on a .ref file it will ask what you want it to open with. If you select "always use this program to open..." it will create a new association using whatever you selected.Sometimes this is the only method if the "jiggle the handle" method of editing the association doesn't work.If you are paranoid about deleting the whole association, you can try creating a "dummy" action for the association. It doesn't really matter what. Just create something, set the dummy as the default action, then delete the dummy. This will cause the original action to be reset as the default action. Sometimes this can clear up problems if the editing function seems to be locked up. -Jeff

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Thanks Jeff, I will try that in a day or so. However, I find that I can successfully edit the <ref> files by opening them directly in wordpad. Why did'nt I think of that before?
Also thanks again Otto, but as I said, the E drive cannot find a path, but perhaps after I have followed Jeff's suggestion it will.
Next week I hope to post a curious problem in the Routes forum
Ken

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Ken,I got MSTS on both my WIN-98SE and WIN-XP Home machines. The WIN-98SE is for "Messing with MSTS" or anything else ! This is from the WIN-98SE:With "My Computer" or the "Explorer" (right-click on the "START" button in the Task Bar) and go to your MSTS Folder. Mine is in G:Select View / Folder Options. Click on open in the "Edit File Type" window to Highlight it and click on Edit to Browse for the Editor you want to use to OPEN it with. I use ULTRAEDIT-32.And here is the .eng file in WORDPAD. Having changed something, just Save or Ctrl-S it.

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