Naming Convention

People, I'm going to suggest a naming convention for future models. I suggest Road Name/Road Number/ and any description that you care to add after that.The reason is, I attempted to build a consist (in ConBuilder 1.7.0) and tried to add a new freight car that I had recently downloaded. I understood it to be a replica of a CB&Q hopper car, but it appeared in ConBuilder as Coal_CBQ_Fl. It took me a bit to figure that out, and I would imagine that it would confuse a newbie.

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RE: Naming Convention, VR6MAN, Sep-28-03, 09:23 PM, (1) RE: Naming Convention, Magick_maker, Sep-28-03, 10:50 PM, (2) RE: Naming Convention, kevarc, Sep-28-03, 11:12 PM, (4) RE: Naming Convention, MJLriak, Sep-28-03, 10:57 PM, (3) RE: Naming Convention, lnghairedwizard, Sep-28-03, 11:36 PM, (5) RE: Naming Convention, kevarc, Sep-28-03, 11:39 PM, (6) RE: Naming Convention, RMapplebeck, Sep-29-03, 01:28 PM, (7) RE: Naming Convention, muskokaandtahoe, Sep-30-03, 05:44 PM, (12) RE: Naming Convention, derekmorton, Sep-29-03, 06:46 PM, (8) RE: Naming Convention, cn_bayview, Sep-29-03, 07:51 PM, (9) RE: Naming Convention, CPR_9102, Sep-29-03, 08:29 PM, (10) RE: Naming Convention, McCloud_River_John, Sep-29-03, 08:47 PM, (11) RE: Naming Convention, kevarc, Sep-30-03, 05:55 PM, (13) RE: Naming Convention, obo, Sep-30-03, 06:10 PM, (14) RE: Naming Convention, westerngy, Sep-30-03, 06:47 PM, (15)

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I was thinking just about the same thing.......... CN Dash-9 2500 , I think the engine type should go before the number, its easier to find for people who don't know series numbers.

Ride On

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-28-03 AT 10:52 PM (EDT)

That's been suggested before, the problem is some of us builders only build one style of engine and then the repainters paint it, but don't change the basic name of the .s file which is what I think conbuilder works off of.(thinking of that, if it works off of something else, I'd suggest taking this to the skinning forum.)To better explain the problem, think of it like this: You're a builder, building a Shark nose diesel (such as I am). Now, there are about 30 roads that used sharks. The problem is, now, if by your naming convention, we have to rename everything to match what road we do, then that would make the work of the skinners harder than ever since some of them don't know HOW to rename the models files in the .eng. Especially the beginners. So that would mean that we builders would have to build several different engines just to make your naming convention work, or conversely, someone would have to sit down with every new skinner and have a step by step tutorial on just how to rename the .eng file. The problem is then compounded with every new skinner who comes in, since some of them don't announce themselves. So then you have numerous skins that show up oddly in your program.Now, to put it simpler? It's too difficult for some of us to go back and change the names. Sure, it's a good idea but if every F unit were named the same, how would you tell them apart? Even if you use the name such as CN-Dash9-2500, what about those of us who don't number the engines? I'm one of those, when I plan to release something like my shark, it will be named just that. Shark. The B unit will be named SharkB.
Now, don't get me wrong, it's a great idea, but don't hold your breath to see it happen. Most of us barely have the time to finish our projects, much less worry about what we name something.
EDIT:Just so you know, this may read funny. I was tired and upset at someone, so if it comes across as snippy, just ignore it. Please try to understand the heart of what I was saying and not the tone.

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No, CB works off the name line in the eng file. Wag files if they have them. Do the name line however you like, it is easy for a person to change it into the format he\she prefers. That makes it real easy to tell them apart.Renaming an eng file anf the way to do it is fairly simple. If you don't know what to do, get my tutorial on how to do it in my forum:
http://www.3dtrains.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=33&t=1325&s=3d37ed1c7f8d046ec5019a2ad4244b69
Name the shark like that will be a sure way of getting me not to use it. You should at the bare minimum put the RR/eng number in the folder and the file name. Type engine can be handled in the name line.Kevin Arceneaux
DEFAULT IS FOR DUMMIES
Cry havoc and Let slip the dogs of war.
Lone Wolf Activities Forum and Activity Packs are on www.3DTrains.com

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Then there is also the other camp that prefers the cartype_roadname_othermscfeatures_carnumberI prefer this nomenclature because I prefer to first know WHAT it is, then WHO's it is, and so on...also all engines of the same type are in one place in case of a cabview/sound/physics overhaul, all are located closely together for ease of file navigation.a major problem that will be encountered is that whatever naming conventions are suggested, people will always be encountered saying
"I prefer this nomenclature because I prefer......" best advice is to pick a standard, and stick with it....Matt

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Thats how i do it matt.....Longhairedwizard"The Keystone Works"

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As do I.Kevin Arceneaux
DEFAULT IS FOR DUMMIES
Cry havoc and Let slip the dogs of war.
Lone Wolf Activities Forum and Activity Packs are on www.3DTrains.com

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Just to add my Two Cents worth, I have gotten kind of frustrated over some of the naming conventions of others in that I know I downloaded a certain locomotive or rolling stock and then when i go to find it under what I think it should be found, its not there, but under some obscure name. Now what I think, again my Two Cents worth, what seems would be a pretty obvious way would be to work as in the real world.
e.g. EMD SD40-2 BN XXXX XXXXX GE U33 ICG XXXX XXXX
Manufactuer, Model/Type, Road Name, the "XXXX's" being the Locomotive/rolling stock car number, then if applicable a nicknameAnything that I have built for my own use, I have used that same standard. to me its much easier to find the type of Locomotive I want and go from there, I have also when I could, gone into the files and changed the naming of others work to better suit my needs.
We have been begaining to gain cetain standards among the train sim world e.g. the TSection works that have been done. As things are Standardized, Tutorials can be made, I know it didnt take a whole lot to look in the threads on how to change a loco's files to find a reskin file and Tutorials could be made for those not in the know. And I dont think it would to to hard to have a "Start Here" section. Going there one might find "If you only want to Download Models "Click Here"", "If you are a Builder, "Click here"", "If you are a reskinner "click here"" and to each area you would find the needed tutorials or to guide the person to the areas of thier interest and to tutorials and other articals or threads.Bottom line I guess is that I would be in favor of some sort of naming standard that would understandable and easy to use.Robert C. Mapplebeck
rmapplebeck@visi.com
Minneapolis / St Paul

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That's basically what I do w/ freight cars, but I've not done that yet with locomotives. I also copy and rename most every freight get so they're all in the same standard format. So if I've got a C&NW steam era boxcar set to a loaded weight the name will be "XM 40' CNWnnnnnn LD") where nnnnnn is the specific car number. I'll dup the files and change the mass to empty and that set will be "XM 40' CNWnnnnnn MT".Over on the locomotive side I'm not firm on any one approach but am leaning a bit towards Road/Model/Number/scheme. I'm reskining an S4 for the Western Pacific right now in it's early 50's all-black paint scheme and the name I'm using -- at least for now -- is WP_S4_563_Blk.I think using two name std's does make sense given the sorting of conbuilder and/or MSTS as one does tend to associate locomotives to a specific route whereas freight cars in many cases should be from many different places.Dave NelsonWP mainline, Oakland-Stockton: 95% complete;
SP mainline, Oakland-Stockton: 20% complete;
Aug 1950

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Hi Chuck,There are a number of camps here.
I like engine type (sd40), road name then road number.Derek

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I always use the Railroads name then the locomotive number.
EG: CN 5391I find it hard looking at the dekosoft units and having like 15 SD40-2's and trying to make a UP conist for instince having to search thru all the SD40-2's to find 2 UP's.just my 2 cents.

Rob
Great North Rails

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Me too,say 9102CPSD9043_9102So all my "CP" units are together... NOT SD9043_CP9102 then a CP loco is in the S's.Chris Wilson
MP 63 CP's Heron Bay Sub
Marathon, OntarioEMAIL: chris9102@shaw.ca

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I know Kevin and I have been on this bandwagon for some time. I prefer to build consists this way - Locomotives - RR - Type - Road NumberWagons - Car Type - RR - Car Number - unusual feature (MT/LD)Carriage - RR - Car Type - Number (sometimes scheme)So I guess I'm in that other camp.

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Just edit the name line. I doubt if any in my trainset have NOT been editied. Engines - RR goes first, Wags - type car goes first.Kevin Arceneaux
DEFAULT IS FOR DUMMIES
Cry havoc and Let slip the dogs of war.
Lone Wolf Activities Forum and Activity Packs are on www.3DTrains.com

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All I ask is that the Name field be included in all eng/wag files and that it contain enough information that I can figure out what I'm looking at. This makes it easy for me to convert it to my own naming convention.Thing is, eveyone has their own local needs based on how they use MSTS - in my case, for example, I have a lot of international equipment, so a country prefix is an absolute necessity. In contrast, since many people here concentrate on North American railroading, a country code is just a waste of space for them.I've found most eng files to be pretty good these days, but many wag files still don't include a Name field at all.Also, I agree with those suggesting that road number appear last. I've found sorting by type to be far more useful than sorting by number.Rob.

Obo's MSTS Locomotive Catalog: http://msts.banal.net

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Its simple RR MODEL UNIT# Its easier to go through by RR than unit or model number. Ok Kevin...Thanks and have been changing all over to that formula and its so much easier to find something. Just Rollin Down The Tracks Dale

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