Conbuilder 2.0

Well, I downloaded Conbuilder 2.0 and I must say that it is awesome. I think I just eliminated the need for using the Consist Builder that came in the AE all together.Not only can you add a large number of cars with a max of 5 clicks , you can now also preview the cars you are putting in as well as make random consist by just clicking on what cars you want and how many cars you want in total and it does the rest.
Really awesome job and a Big thanks to the creators
Shane
Waiting for the 363.8 one more time

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RE: Conbuilder 2.0, Night_Train, Aug-04-04, 04:37 AM, (1) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-04-04, 06:44 AM, (2) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, scottb613, Aug-04-04, 07:23 AM, (3) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, choo2466, Aug-04-04, 08:27 AM, (4) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, Cell0518, Aug-04-04, 09:11 AM, (5) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-04-04, 11:05 AM, (8) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-04-04, 09:45 AM, (6) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-04-04, 09:59 AM, (7) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, CNBALA, Aug-04-04, 12:29 PM, (9) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, black5, Aug-04-04, 02:43 PM, (10) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-04-04, 02:47 PM, (11) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, CNBALA, Aug-04-04, 03:14 PM, (12) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-04-04, 03:16 PM, (13) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-04-04, 03:38 PM, (14) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-04-04, 04:02 PM, (15) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-04-04, 04:42 PM, (16) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, UP Wings, Aug-04-04, 05:39 PM, (17) Got it to work!!!, TedB, Aug-04-04, 08:07 PM, (20) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, whleighton, Aug-04-04, 05:47 PM, (18) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-04-04, 07:58 PM, (19) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, TedB, Aug-04-04, 08:21 PM, (21) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 07:49 AM, (24) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, whleighton, Aug-05-04, 10:48 PM, (57) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-06-04, 08:16 AM, (60) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, JerryS, Aug-05-04, 09:09 AM, (25) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-05-04, 09:22 AM, (26) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, JerryS, Aug-05-04, 09:56 AM, (29) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 12:33 PM, (35) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-05-04, 10:42 AM, (32) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-04-04, 09:20 PM, (22) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-04-04, 09:21 PM, (23) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, wiscentral, Aug-05-04, 09:39 AM, (27) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 09:42 AM, (28) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, wiscentral, Aug-05-04, 10:27 AM, (30) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 10:37 AM, (31) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, wiscentral, Aug-05-04, 11:01 AM, (33) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 11:14 AM, (34) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-05-04, 04:54 PM, (43) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 12:45 PM, (36) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, hughrr, Aug-06-04, 03:14 AM, (58) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, NW_611, Aug-05-04, 02:14 PM, (37) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 03:13 PM, (38) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-05-04, 03:25 PM, (40) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 03:22 PM, (39) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 04:12 PM, (41) RE: ConBuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 04:46 PM, (42) RE: ConBuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 05:09 PM, (44) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 05:13 PM, (45) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, longislandmike, Aug-05-04, 06:05 PM, (46) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 07:03 PM, (47) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-05-04, 07:35 PM, (48) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 08:00 PM, (49) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 08:23 PM, (51) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 08:30 PM, (54) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, OTTODAD, Aug-05-04, 08:36 PM, (56) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, GMOF3A, Aug-06-04, 08:26 AM, (61) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, robertreedy, Aug-05-04, 08:26 PM, (53) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, MasterChief, Aug-05-04, 08:15 PM, (50) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, crstagg, Aug-05-04, 08:25 PM, (52) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-05-04, 08:31 PM, (55) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, MasterChief, Aug-06-04, 08:06 AM, (59) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, MasterChief, Aug-06-04, 11:35 AM, (65) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, MikeSimpson, Aug-06-04, 05:28 PM, (66) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, jtsdadinaz, Aug-06-04, 11:55 PM, (67) RE: Conbuilder 2.0, MikeSimpson, Aug-07-04, 01:36 AM, (68) Consist Problem, TedB, Aug-06-04, 08:35 AM, (62) RE: Consist Problem, jtsdadinaz, Aug-06-04, 10:41 AM, (63) RE: Consist Problem, TedB, Aug-06-04, 10:59 AM, (64)

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>Well, I downloaded Conbuilder 2.0 and I must say that it is
>awesome. jpg
got it, and after Hangover, will give my report, lol,
thats life ,
regards
mark

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The ConBuilder team and it's Beta testers have been working hard on this versions for some time and it shows ! Where would we be without it and Route Riter, Engmod, Kosmos, Shape File Viewer and others ? Still in the dark MSTS ages ! Take Care, O t t o

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MAaaaan.... It is so easy to get pictures loaded into Con Builder now - click click and your done !!! Great stuff... Keep up the fine work !
Scott

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HI:
Thanks for the great program. One question when you have Con Builder check the consist it show you all the problems, when you run the same thing consit in Route righter it shows every thing is fine. Whats going on, which one is correct. Also con builder shows many problems with the wag fies but they are working when you run the activity.
Gerry

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-04 AT 09:12 AM (EST)

Some are under OTHER errors, which includes when capitalization of a letter in one engine line is not like the others, is then singled (errored) out, etc. It may not be a "send/don't send" kind of error, but It feels it is an error none-the-less. I agree that the pictures in the preview thing is a WHOLE LOT easier . Thanks for you work guys , and thanks for letting us beta it for ya. EDIT: Grammer Chris

Visit-> -

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>HI:
>Thanks for the great program. One question when you have Con
>Builder check the consist it show you all the problems, when
>you run the same thing consit in Route righter it shows
>every thing is fine. Whats going on, which one is correct.
>Also con builder shows many problems with the wag fies but
>they are working when you run the activity.
>Gerry
Can you e-mail an example of what you are refering to?The e-mail address to use is mailto:conb180@cox.net

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>Well, I downloaded Conbuilder 2.0 and I must say that it is
>awesome. I think I just eliminated the need for using the
>Consist Builder that came in the AE all together.Not only
>can you add a large number of cars with a max of 5 clicks ,
>you can now also preview the cars you are putting in as well
>as make random consist by just clicking on what cars you
>want and how many cars you want in total and it does the
>rest.
>
>
>Really awesome job and a Big thanks to the creators Yes, Carlos and Joe have really made an AWESOME improvement to an already great program. I have really enjoyed beta testing ConBuilder 2.0.0. It has been fun working in realtime using on-line chat with Joe. I would find something wrong, send a comment and a few minutes later Joe would be sending me an updated EXE. If Joe had to refer the problem to Carlos, by the next day we would be testing Carlos's update.If you have not noticed yet the Unit and Consist Preview windows can be moved and lock in place at last position. I have my screen seetup as below. Of course it depends on what sccreen resolution you use as to how much you can see at one time.

Charles

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Something else to point out:
When Editing Loose Consists, be sure and position the Loose Consist window so you can see the Unit preview Window as it will display the unit you select in the Loose Consist Edit window.

Charles

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One question I am not sure where to setup the 3D viewer path. No problem to install the program of Conbuilder 2.0 in my computer but it's in C (hard) drive but my program of Train Simulator is in E (hard) drive. So which drive should I setup this in what drive?? C (hard) drive or E (hard) drive???? Also I have the program of Route Riter in C drive as well too. Sorry for the inconvience but hope to have a reply soon about this.ThankyouJohn

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Thanks to all involved..starting with Carlos. It has now everything it needed to go from a very useful utility to a 'must have' one.
Great job guys!!!!....
Georges

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>One question I am not sure where to setup the 3D viewer
>path. No problem to install the program of Conbuilder 2.0
>in my computer but it's in C (hard) drive but my program of
>Train Simulator is in E (hard) drive. So which drive should
>I setup this in what drive?? C (hard) drive or E (hard)
>drive???? Also I have the program of Route Riter in C drive
>as well too. Sorry for the inconvience but hope to have a
>reply soon about this.
>
>Thankyou
>
>John John,
Does not matter which drive they are in. The only thing that matters is that the Folder you tell ConBuilder the Shape Viewer screenshots are saved in is EXACTLY the same folder you tell Shape Viewer to save the screenshots in. ConBuilder defaults to the "Pics" subfolder of the folder ConBuilder was installed into.

Charles

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CharlesDo I have to get a file of Shape Viewer before install the program of Conbuilder ver. 2.0?? Because of asking this computer is telling me where is Shape Viwer file?? I don't have any clue with this. Sorry for asking again. Bear with me for this problem.ThankyouJohn

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Hi Charles !I seems that the SHAPE FILE VIEWER's own "Set Screenshots Folder" according to one's choice overrides the ConBuilder's default ConBuilder\Pic Screenshots folder and they do not have to be the same ! Having been one of the Beta testing team I pointed this out to Joe.Like to try it ?O t t o

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If you want shape viewer to exit after the screenshot, then they must be the same. No they don't have to be the same,but conbuilder will be looking to whereever you told it to look.If it does not find any bmp or jpg files it will leave shape viewer open.

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-04 AT 04:04 PM (EST)

Joe

I just tried it again.I am in the ConBuilder, it's Screenshots Folder set to "ConBuilder/Pics".I highlighted an engine and called up the Shape File Viewer with the 3D button and there was the image.Then I took a Screenshot and the Shape File Viewer saved it to the folder I to told it to, which is different to the ConBuilder one. Exit the overlaid Shape File Viewer window and I am back in the Conbuilder window. There are no images, jpg or bmp, in the Conbuilder/Pics folder.Are you doing the same ?O t t o

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If both are NOT set to the same path, Shape Viewer will not exit after screen-shot, CB will not find it to copy it over ergo - no picture.

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-04 AT 05:41 PM (EST)

I can't get the screen shot thing working either. I open Conbuilder, highlight the unit I want, and click the 3D botton. It opens in the viewer and I click the screen shot botton and the viewer closes but when I right click on the unit, I still get a blank screen. I know I have the folders right. The only thing I don't get is when I set the folder for Shape Viewer. (Look at the screen shot) What is the refix you require? Am I missing something? Thanks.

-Brian-
As Long As There Are Test, There Will Always Be Prayer In School

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-04 AT 08:13 PM (EST)

Finaly got it to work.Do the steps again as you said them.- Have both programs set to the CB Pic folder- In CB, find and select the item you want to take the picture of.- Hit the 3D on the toolbar to bring up the shapeview.- Align the picture as you want it in the SV.- In the SV, hit snapshot. (it will be taken, and SV will close)- In CB, hit the 3D button again on the toolbar. CB will jump and do the renaming and moving to the correct folder.- In CB, now select the item again that you wanted the pic of. There it is.FANTASTIC!!Great jobs, guys.TedCORRECTION: You don't need to do the last two steps. After SV pops closed, click CB to open from the task bar. The picture of the piece should be in the picture frame now. Seems mine didn't work for some reason until now. NOW, its all the time.

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-04 AT 05:55 PM (EST)

Otto,I've found that the screenshots are not stored in the ConBuilder/pics folder, but in their respective Train Set folders, neatly tagged with the respective id's...too cool.BillLike this:

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-04 AT 08:04 PM (EST)

Hi Bill !I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding or confusion about what the available options are and what they are supposed to be doing.I got my ConBuilder set to store Screenshots in it's ConBuilder\Pics folder as was suggested during the INSTALL. Why there I do not know as the ConBuilder takes no Screenshots.My SHAPE FILE VIEWER is set to store all it's Screenshots in another Folder of my choice where the IRFANVIEWER expects to find them and that's where they are saved to and nowhere else. Doing that makes no difference to the ConBuilder, letting me view images, Screenshoot some and go back to it without any problems.I don't want JPEGS lying around everywhere. I want them all in the same place where I can find them quickly and easily and remove the ones no longer required without having to search all over my hard drive for them ! There is no need for the ConBuilder to concern itself with the Screenshots I take, because if I want to have another look at what a Loco or Wagon looks like while assembling a Consist then all I have to do is to select it and click on the 3D button. No messing and no wasting disk space storing pictures !

If you are in the TRAINSET Folders or anywhere else where there are SHAPE.s files stored and you want to have a look-see then all you have to do is to left-double-click on one and the SHAPE FILE VIEWER will show you it's image.O t t o

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Just noted something great. If you already have a picture of the item, and you don't like it, redo it via the same procedure. The OLD one is deleted, and replaced with the new.With that, you can delete any you might want to turn around and face left (the other way), as displayed in CB preview.Ted

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Forgot to mention this yesterday, Ted.I case you did not know Ctrl-A will flip a SFV image back to front so that you can take a Screenshot of it the way it should point and save for the Conbuilder to show.I don't bother doing that knowing that it will face the right way when assembling a Consist.To me the main idea of including the Shape File Viewer into ConBuilder was to get instant pictures of Rolling Stock which can be zoomed, some animated and all viewed from all angles, which the ConBuilder can not do using it's into Trainset Folders saved images !Doing it the SFV way you become aware of imperfect rolling stock with octagonal wheels, others not riding the rails properly or generally not being good enough you may not want to use ! O t t o

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Otto,As I have previously stated, I've found that if I take a screenshot through ConBuilder, that screenshot is saved in that respective train's folder in the Transet folder. The screenshot name is the same as the ID in the .eng or .wag file. On the other hand, if I open SView (or drag an .s file into the icon) and take a screenshot, that image is then saved in the ConBuilder\Pics folder with the typical SFCANXXX name.As far back as I remember, the screenshots had to be in the repective train folder. Before ConBuilder 2.0, if an author included a screenie in the train folder, it did show up in preview screen...and still does.Bill

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Yes Bill,since posting this I have been converted by Charles to do it his way ! Mainly because of the advantages of being able to see images displayed in existing Consists which of course need to be available in the TRAINSET Folders.But doing it this way now I also learned from Charles that it would be better to size the images on their neutral background so that they join without gaps between them, something the original JPEGS provided by Rolling Stock providers could not do.Yes, ConBuilder with the added Shape File Viewer are some of the outstanding MSTS Utilities or I would not have helped BETA testing it ! O t t o

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Otto,I am having identical problem. I can get the shape viewer to open, display the selected engine or wagon. Clicking on the screenshot button makes the shape viewer window close. However, no file is saved in program/conbuilder/pic or anywhere else.Am I missing something here? I have read all the forum messages and have tried everything mentioned here. Any help would be appreciated.

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Do you get a picture when you right click on the item in question?

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No, that is the problem. I highlight an engine and then click on the 3D button. The shape viewer window opens and I get the image of the selected engine. Clicking on the screenshot button closes the shape viewer window. The CB window remains open, but right clicking on the same highlighted engine opens a viewer window with the message: no picture available.A search of the folders shows the Program Files/Con Builder/Pics folder to be empty. It appears that when I click the screenshot button nothing is being saved. I have read and tried all the suggestions here in the forum, but so far no solution.

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Hi Jerry !If both your ConBuilder/Options and Shape File Viewer/Tools are set to SAVE images to the same folder as shown below and the SFV auto-closes after the Screenshot then the image should be stored in the respective TRAINSET folder that item lives in.Having said that, is the Image the Shape File Viewer displays not sufficient to show you what it looks like ? O t t o

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>Otto,
>
>I am having identical problem. I can get the shape viewer
>to open, display the selected engine or wagon. Clicking on
>the screenshot button makes the shape viewer window close.
>However, no file is saved in program/conbuilder/pic or
>anywhere else.
>
>Am I missing something here? I have read all the forum
>messages and have tried everything mentioned here. Any help
>would be appreciated. zip up your settings.bin file and send it to me at conb200@cox.net

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There seems to be some confusion about the PICS folder. A bit of history. The versions of ConBuilder (CB for short hand and quicker typing) had a unit Display/Description window which opened when one right clicked on an ENG or WAG in the CB ENG or WAG list and if one had a BMP or GIF or JPG file in the folder with the ENG/WAG file that had a filename that matched the ENG/WAG file, a picture of the item would be displayed in the CB unit Display/Description window. CB200 or ConBuilder version 2.0.0 now uses these files to provide even more graphic display in the Consist Preview, in the loose Consist Editor and in the Random Consist generation window.With the advent of MSTS Shape Viewer (SFV in my shorthand) it was decided to use an interface between SFV and CB to automate the creation of the Graphic files for CB to display. The end result of the CB-SFV interface is a JPG file in the ENG/WAG folder so that the JPG has the same filename as the ENG/WAG file. This provides the JPG of the ENG/WAG for CB to display in the Unit Pic/description window, the consist preview, in the loose Consist Editor and in the Random Consist generation window. For this to be accomplished both CB and SFV must have their options set to the save the screenshot in the same folder. A secondary use of the interface is the quick ability to view an ENG or a WAG in SFV but not necessarily create a JPG.

For sake of discussion let us consider an ENG named UP-GP-9 in the UPGP9 folder. To create a graphic file of this ENG for CB to display this is the sequence of what happens:
1. CB user clicks on the UP-GP-9 in the CB ENG list.
2. User clicks on the 3D button
3. CB reads the UP-GP-9.ENG file and determines the filename of the Shape file that defines this ENG. In this case the file is UP-GP-9.S
4. CB makes a call to SFV to open UP-GP-9.S in the UPGP9 folder.
5. SFV opens and displays the Shape
6. When the users clicks on the Screenshot button, SFV saves the file in either JPG or BMP format in the folder which was set by the SFV "Tools>Set Screenshot Folder" menu function as SCAN###.JPG (BMP)
7. When CB senses that a New file has been saved to the Folder that was set for in the CB "Path for screenshots", CB closes SFV.
8. CB then takes the New file in the CB Path for Screenshots and converts it to JPG format if it was saved in BMP format or if it was saved in JPG format it continues to the next step.
9. CB renames the saved screenshot to in this case UP-GP-9.JPG
10. CB moves the file to the folder UPGP9
11. If the Unit Pic/Description window is open, CB then updates the picture in the window with the new screenshot.

So as you can see if the CB Path for Screenshots and the SFV Saved Screenshot folder are not the EXACT SAME folder, then:
-CB will not close SFV
-SCAN###.BMP will not be converted to JPG
-SCAN###.JPG will not be renamed UP-GP-9.JPG
-UP-GP-9.JPG will not be moved to the UPGP9 folder
and
-CB will not have a graphic to display unless the user goes through some process to manually create UP-GP-9.JPG in the UPGP9 folder.If you have any questions about the above you may email me through the Train-Sim email function or email Joe Smith at cb200@cox.net

Charles

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As one of the programmers/authors of COnbuilder, let me clear this up. 1. The paths for screen-shots must be the same or it will NOT function correctly.
2. If they are not the same, Shape viewer when used to make a screen-shot will not close.
3. A screen-shot will be made,but COnbuilder will not know where it is.
You can use Shape Viewer/Conbuilder in any way you see fit. It is your system do what you like with it.So as you can see, what Charles has stated above is the absolute.

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ok, its clear that to get the screenshot working with conbuilder both paths need to be the same. Alright....conbuilder's path sets , no problem, but stated by others, when I go to to select my folder for screenshots in Shape viewer....I get this. SHAPE VIEWER WILL NOT SELECT ANOTHER FOLDER. No matter what folder I select, it always says SFCAN and I been back and forth through the help file and all the forum post. I fail to see what I am missing

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-04 AT 09:49 AM (EST)

>ok, its clear that to get the screenshot working with
>conbuilder both paths need to be the same.
>Alright....conbuilder's path sets , no problem, but stated
>by others, when I go to to select my folder for screenshots
>in Shape viewer....I get this. SHAPE VIEWER WILL NOT
>SELECT ANOTHER FOLDER. No matter what folder I select, it
>always says SFCAN and I been back and forth through the
>help file and all the forum post. I fail to see what I am
>missing The folder selection is at the top in the Pane labled; "Look in"
SFCAN is the filename used by Shape Viewer to save the file. Use the Pull Down arrow on the right side of the "Look in" pane to verify what folder Shape Viewer is saving the screenshot to.This is where you set the Screenshot save folder for MSTS Shape Viewer:

Charles

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ok...now that is cleared up...I basically have the same problem Jerry is having :
***************************** No, that is the problem. I highlight an engine and then click on the 3D button. The shape viewer window opens and I get the image of the selected engine. Clicking on the screenshot button closes the shape viewer window. The CB window remains open, but right clicking on the same highlighted engine opens a viewer window with the message: no picture available.
A search of the folders shows the Program Files/Con Builder/Pics folder to be empty. It appears that when I click the screenshot button nothing is being saved. I have read and tried all the suggestions here in the forum, but so far no solution.
***********************************The only differance, Shape viewer does not close out when I click on screenshot

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If Shape Viewer is not automatically closing when opened from CB, then the ScreenShot Save folders are not identical. Check both again.

Charles

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Conbuilder path and Shape viewer path
Something is SNAFU here !?!??! Could it a be that both ConB and ShapeV both reside in the same sub-folder in MSTS ?? I did this with all my support programs like route ritter, Kosmos, engmod and etc.

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-04 AT 11:14 AM (EST)

In the ConBuilder folder you will find a file named "Settings.bin" Zip it up and send to cb200@cox.net so Joe can look at it.

Charles

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>In the ConBuilder folder you will find a file named
>"Settings.bin" Zip it up and send to cb200@cox.net so Joe
>can look at it. e-mail correction:conb200@cox.net

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???
I installed ConBuilder and MSTS Shape Viewer on another PC into the same folders you use: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Backup Programs for MSTS\ConBuilder and C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Backup Programs for MSTS\MSTS Shape Viewer. Then I set the location for Shape Viewer in ConBuilder and set the Screen save folder for both programs to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Backup Programs for MSTS\ConBuilder\Pics. The ConBuilder - MSTS Shape Viewer intherface worked exactly as it was designed to: Clicking the 3dButton opened the object in Shape Viewer, Clicking on Screenshot closed Shape Viewer and updated the ConBuilder Item Picture/Description window indicating the the graphic was saved by Shape Viewer, converted by ConBuilder, renamed by ConBuilder, and moved to the folder containing the object.Do this: Open your C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\Backup Programs for MSTS\ConBuilder\Pics folder. Note the contents. Using ConBuilder select a WAG, Click the 3D button and take a Screenshot. Reopen the Pics folder and see if a new file has been added. Report findings.

Charles

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As you know, the image file prefix used by SFV can be set to anything you like although it apparently defaults to "SFCAN". I had changed the prefix some time ago to "Scrn" and forgot about it. After installing Conbuilder 2 correctly, I couldn't get the screen dump facility work at all other than put a JPG image into the PICS folder. CB did nothing. I was stumped until I changed the prefix in SFV back to "SFCAN" and now everything works perfectly just as you describe.Thought I would share this info in case anyone else has encountered the same problem. I don't recall seeing anywhere that the "SFCAN" prefix was required. In any event, it wouldn't work with the "Scrn" prefix.Great program by the way.. many thanks for your efforts.Hugh

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I'm having a fit with getting CB2.0 to let a few railcars into its memory. For about 15 or so railcars (out of 840+), it says the following:The wagon file Inside_View_vgn307.wag contains an error on the line "Wagon ("and so it couldn't be added to the wagons list.
Most probably this line is stating a name different from its file name.
Folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET\VGN307I haven't the foggiest what this means, because looking at Inside_View_vgn307.wag and its "Wagon" line shows no discernible (to me, anyways) error. I've included the report and the two VGN WAGs as attachments. Advice appreciated.

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Attachments
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/411286a01f8b8907.txt
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/411286ea20fb7e3f.zip

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>I'm having a fit with getting CB2.0 to let a few railcars
>into its memory. For about 15 or so railcars (out of 840+),
>it says the following:
>
>The wagon file Inside_View_vgn307.wag contains an error on
>the line "Wagon ("and so it couldn't be added to the wagons
>list.
>Most probably this line is stating a name different from its
>file name.
>Folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train
>Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET\VGN307
>
>I haven't the foggiest what this means, because looking at
>Inside_View_vgn307.wag and its "Wagon" line shows no
>discernible (to me, anyways) error. I've included the report
>and the two VGN WAGs as attachments. Advice appreciated. The WAGON line of a WAG file must EXACTLY equal the Filename of the WAG file. In the file you posted in the ZIP, Inside_View_vgn307.wag.
The WAGON LIne is:
Wagon ( vgn307
It Should be:
Wagon ( Inside_View_vgn307Open Inside_View_vgn307.wag in WordPad and edit the WAGON Line then Save. Then do the same for all the other files.

Charles

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>>I'm having a fit with getting CB2.0 to let a few railcars
>>into its memory. For about 15 or so railcars (out of 840+),
>>it says the following:
>>
>>The wagon file Inside_View_vgn307.wag contains an error on
>>the line "Wagon ("and so it couldn't be added to the wagons
>>list.
>>Most probably this line is stating a name different from its
>>file name.
>>Folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train
>>Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET\VGN307
>>
>>I haven't the foggiest what this means, because looking at
>>Inside_View_vgn307.wag and its "Wagon" line shows no
>>discernible (to me, anyways) error. I've included the report
>>and the two VGN WAGs as attachments. Advice appreciated.
>
>The WAGON line of a WAG file must EXACTLY equal the Filename
>of the WAG file. In the file you posted in the ZIP,
>Inside_View_vgn307.wag.
>The WAGON LIne is:
>Wagon ( vgn307
>It Should be:
>Wagon ( Inside_View_vgn307
>
>Open Inside_View_vgn307.wag in WordPad and edit the WAGON
>Line then Save. Then do the same for all the other files.
look at the attached zip file, I fixed it so both are in the folder and will both work.

Attachments
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/411297865c1985ee.zip

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For all those that are experiencing this problem:
-----------------------
I highlight an engine and then click on the 3D button. The shape viewer window opens and I get the image of the selected engine. Clicking on the screenshot button closes the shape viewer window. The CB window remains open, but right clicking on the same highlighted engine opens a viewer window with the message: no picture available.
A search of the folders shows the Program Files/Con Builder/Pics folder to be empty. It appears that when I click the screenshot button nothing is being saved.
-------------------------------Open Shape Viewer choose Help and "About Sview" from the menu. If it is not version 1.3.129 then you do not have the most current version. You probably have version 1.1. Go to this post of mine to see why you want the most current version besides to fix the problem mentioned above. http://www.train-sim.com/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=24322&forum=DCForumID3&omm=14&viewmode= The current version of MSTS Shape Viewer is available at:
http://www.3dtrains.com/downloads/utilities.shtml or
http://www.railpage.org.au/steam4me/trainsim/sviewr.html

Charles

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To those who seem to have all sorts of problems getting the Shape File Viewer to save Rolling Stock images via the ConBuilder into TRAINSET folders so that it can show them on a reduced scale, still image, when the Shape File Viewer already does it so much better and whats more, can be zoomed, flipped, rotated and many images animated and if required a Screenshot saved to a folder of your choice ! I leave you to judge which looks better ! If your version of the SHAPE FILE VIEWER can show you the Images O.K. then is that not good enough ?Those with multiple installs of MSTS and MINI ROUTES most certainly do not want to litter their multiple TRAINSET Folders with Jpegs unnecessarily !Not sure how the ConBuilder method works for users of TRAINSTORE. All TRAINSET Folders visible, or do they have to be "Unstored" first ?O t t o

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Otto,
Would you also demonstrate how MSTS Shape Viewer can show the six items in the ConBuilder consist editor. See below how ConBuilder does that. BTW no one ever said the JPG picture displayed by ConBuilder was superior to the capabilities of Shape Viewer. But it does give the person building a consist a quick idea of the type of ENG or WAG and the paint scheme.And also show us how MSTS Shape Viewer can give a preview of Loose Consists.
Without JPG files of each item in one's MSTS TrainSet these new features of ConBuilder cannot be utilized.

Charles

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Agreed, Charles, that is one benefit of having images in the TRAINSET folders for the ConBuilder to show. But I hardly ever edit any Consists with the ConBuilder and usually do it manually, replacing some units because I know that they look better, having seen them displayed by the SFV.But to get a full range if images one would have to go through hundreds and in the case of some, thousands of items, in order to achieve that. Rather them than me ! How about the Route Riter having a new option to wander through all the Trainset Folders and create JPEGS of all Rolling Stock items with the help of the Shape File Viewer's ability to access Shape files ? It can already do a "Slide show". Or the Shape File Viewer itself ? Here I go again, putting ideas into people's heads ! O t t o

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Here is another new feature. I am editing a Loose Consist in one of Cascades Crossing's activity "Chiloquin Local" I have selected one of the TTX boxcars to be replaced. I think I would like to use a Chessie B&O Box Car. When I select that car the Unit Picture/Description Window shows the car I selected. Could not do that without that JPG file being in the car's folder.

Charles

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I just love this program!! Thank you all that worked on it. My favorite part is the loose consist editor, but I have only got it to work once. It opens, shows the routes and when I click on the route, none of the activites show up. Like I said it did once, with the same routes and activities I have loaded now. Thanks.Mike

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-04 AT 07:05 PM (EST)

Looks like you are a bit of a perfectionist yourself, Charles ! Had a look at this I was not aware of despite scouring the HELP option but could not find a "WHAT's NEW" section and trying it out earlier realised that it must have been quite some effort to create images for the CB Viewer one by one ! You must have picked every unit you got installed, called up the SFV, set with no sky, grass nor base, Ctrl-A flicked it to left face each unit and Screenshot / Saved it. How long did it take you to do all of your Locos and Waggons ?Also realised that once the ConBuilder Picture viewer window is open, every unit just clicked on will show, much faster to browse through the Rolling Stock one by one without having to wake up the SFV to view every item, unless a closer look is required in addition to the CB view. I am beginning to warm up to this way of doing it. Must be very convenient now for developers to create Consists, Loose or for Activities, making sure they pick an interesting variety for their trains and not just dozens of the same.Got anything else like that hidden, or give us a few more tutorials like that here and in the next release of the ConBuilder's HELP section ? Still would like to see an automated way of doing that more easily though ! Take Care, O t t o.

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THe help file does need some more work, it was decided to go ahead and release as it was and then work out the help file things for a little later release. I guesss that makes us a little like that big company,but we don't get anything for it except satisfaction.

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Otto,
So now you see the advantage of all those JPG files. You may recall that that we began testing ConBuilder 1.8.0 beta. After going thru I dont remember how many beta versions, it was decided that so many changes were getting implemented that the new version would be 2.0.0. We tested beta versions 2.0.0.a through Z and aa thru ZZ and still a few more. With each new beta I tested the CB-SFV Screenshot interface. But always on a new ENG and WAG. So yes now all there are over 4000 JPG in my TrainSet folders and all my ENGs and WAGs have Pics when selected. You will also notice that I have my own Naming convention of RR, Type, #, and Description for ENG/WAGs. Yes, it took some time but not near as long as it would have without the automated interface. I saw early on that the "SFV, set with no sky, grass nor base, Ctrl-A flicked it to left face each unit" made the best looking Consist Previews.As for anything else? The Random Consist generator uses the JPGs to show a pic of eash WAG as you select which WAGs to use in the random generation.

Charles

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More satisfaction for you guys !You got me converted now ! The Help section can wait, can always ask a question here. Thanks for your patience, Charles !O t t o

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Otto,
If you move the camera forward (Right Mouse & Slide forward) till the ENG/WAG fills screen from left to right and then take the Screenshot, you will bet a better pic to display and the Units in the consist are joined.
Happy pic taking,Charles

Charles

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Yes Charles, I just realised that, asking myself how you got your Loose Consist cars joined up like that ! Thanks, O t t o.

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Otto, you have 5 e-mails.Paul Fowler

www.mstsgmo.com

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I have used Con-builder frequently in the past, but for the most part simply did most of any changes manually in Word Pad. However, happy to say none of that is needed at all any more. Also haven't seen anyone mention swapping out the loose consists, which by itself makes it more than worthwhile.You all have a winner for sure and many thanks for all the work.RobertR .. ADF-M&RM at http://www.adfrr.com

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I scrolled down thru this huge list of posts searching for this problem, didn't see it.When doing the screenshot thing, occasionally (mostly on SD40-2's) I get the following error when I click on the 3D button:Run Time Error '9'
Subscript out of rangeAnd no picture appears - when I click OK, the SV window closes.Can anyone help me get this cleared up? On all other stock tried so far, CB works great in creating the pictures.A great big Bravo Zulu to Joe and company for this outstanding utility!MC

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>I scrolled down thru this huge list of posts searching for
>this problem, didn't see it.
>
>When doing the screenshot thing, occasionally (mostly on
>SD40-2's) I get the following error when I click on the 3D
>button:
>
>Run Time Error '9'
>Subscript out of range
>
>And no picture appears - when I click OK, the SV window
>closes.
>
>Can anyone help me get this cleared up? On all other stock
>tried so far, CB works great in creating the pictures.
>
>A great big Bravo Zulu to Joe and company for this
>outstanding utility!
>
>MC Those are Shape files that were not compiled or not properly compiled. You need recmp119.zip from the file library to fix them.

Charles

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>I scrolled down thru this huge list of posts searching for
>this problem, didn't see it.
>
>When doing the screenshot thing, occasionally (mostly on
>SD40-2's) I get the following error when I click on the 3D
>button:
>
>Run Time Error '9'
>Subscript out of range
>
>And no picture appears - when I click OK, the SV window
>closes.
>
>Can anyone help me get this cleared up? On all other stock
>tried so far, CB works great in creating the pictures.
>
>A great big Bravo Zulu to Joe and company for this
>outstanding utility!
>
>MC
Shape viewer has a problem with some shapes when they are NOT compressed, That and did you download the corrected shape for the sd40-2?

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>That and did you download the corrected shape for the sd40-2?>I guess not; I didn't know there were corrected shape files. I'll have to figure out which ones I need and look for them.Thanks,MC

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OK; I downloaded the "corrected" shape file in the library for the v1.2 SD40-2. I still get the same error. I tried the RECMP119.ZIP utility, ran the .s file through it, still the same error. This happens with the v1.2 SD40-2, as well as a number of downloaded SD40-2a (probably reskins using the same .s file).It happened with sview 1.1, as well as sview 1.3.Anybody else having this issue?MC

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Just a couple of comments here for Joe and Carlos, you should note that Route-Riter which has been using Shape File viewer for the past few months might also change the Registry entry for where SFV pictures are stored. In particular it also saves screenshotlocation and lastscreenshot.This might be the cause of some conflicts with Conbuilder and SFV.Does Conbuilder make any registry changes? Mike

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>Just a couple of comments here for Joe and Carlos, you
>should note that Route-Riter which has been using Shape File
>viewer for the past few months might also change the
>Registry entry for where SFV pictures are stored. In
>particular it also saves screenshotlocation and
>lastscreenshot.
>
>This might be the cause of some conflicts with Conbuilder
>and SFV.
>
>Does Conbuilder make any registry changes?
>
>Mike Not anymore. It used to,but it was decided to get away from this as it can be a nasty thing to deal with.We are now using the binary file settings.bin to store things.

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Thanks Joe,Was just a bit worried this might be the cause of some users problems.Please note though that Paul's trainlib.ocx which is part of Shape File Viewer changes the 'lastscreenshot' value in the registry, so this will increment every time you call the .ocx either from SFV or Conbuilder.Mike

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Great update on an old favorite!! I'm WILD about this linking of the SV and CB. And the speed with which SV is activated each time. MUCH fast than doing it itself. I spent a whole day redoing all my pics.I still have a problem getting the consists to report correctly. Using the new CONSISTS button on the toolbar, it seems that in order for a consist to be considered a consist by CB for this function, a piece has to already used in an activity. If not, it's NOT printed here.- I have an engine in my trainset that I've added only as an addition for myself, not included or substituted into any activities. As consists, I've set up the engine alone, doubled up, and at the head of a mix of boxcars for me to run around ( 3 or more CON files set up for it.)When I press the CONSISTS button on the toolbar, I get a messge back that:
"There are no consists using this unit!!"
.....(If i were to remove this engine from my trainset, and then run the CB test to check all consists, I would get error conditions pointing to all the NOW-problem consists.)- If I substitute this particular engine in an activity consist (any activity) in addition to the 3-4 I already have, then select the engine, and touch the CONSIST button on the toolbar again, I get a report back listing ALL the consists that the engine is used in, including the 3-4 that CB didn't recognze in the first attempt.I think there's a problem in that engines aren't considered for the CONSIST button test unless it already is used in an activity, and then it reports then correctly.Great work, guys. delevopers and testers.Ted

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Would you mind zipping up that particular engine and sending it to me or tell me where and which one it is.I have yet to see this particular problem. My trainset folder is probably a lot bigger than most with over 2000 consists,engines and almost 7000 wagons. I use Train store to keep the numbers down.mail is: conb200@cox.net

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It doesn't happen to a particular engine. It hapens to EVERY engine that I have in my trainset that is NOT in an activity.But I can zip you up an engine with a cab attached, as I do aliasing using Common Cab of my own. I'll also include a few CON files for that engine that won't show up on my CB.Off to zip now. You'll have it shortly. Thanks.Ted

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