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"Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem"

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wesdowns (156 posts)
Aug-07-01, 02:39 AM (EST) "Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" LAST EDITED ON Aug-07-01 AT 02:41 AM (EST)In need of a 5 degree right-hand manual turnout, I had to attempt to activate this undocumented track section. When I did so, I got a "A1tPnt5dRgtMnl.s failed to load" dialog box.Since I needed the track piece, I archived the existing A1tPnt5dRgtMnl.s file and copied the A1tPnt5dRgt.s file to the A1tPnt5dRgtMnl.s name. The section does appear to work in the route editor, and I believe that it'll work in the game, but it'll be missing the throw rod that the other manual switches have.Does anyone know of a place where we can find correct shape files, or of a way that we can correct the problem ourselves? If anyone else wanted to use the route that I'm creating, they would have to make these changes, as well.I know, I know...I'm asking for support for a Microsoft product. The laughter isn't helping any. Give me a break. And if you don't start breathing again, your face will turn an interesting shade of purple.On days like today, I'm glad that I'm bald... Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... JMSteven_W98 Aug-07-01 1 RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... donrecardo Aug-07-01 2 RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... Momocat Aug-08-01 4 RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... LawrenceKellie Aug-07-01 3 Wow, you are amazing... Omellette Aug-08-01 5 RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... wesdowns Aug-09-01 6 RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... Motley24Crue2 Aug-23-01 7 RE: Undocumented Track Section Shap... sammy1 Aug-29-01 8

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JMSteven_W98 (329 posts)
Aug-07-01, 05:51 PM (EST) 1. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" LAST EDITED ON Aug-07-01 AT 05:53 PM (EST)The full set of "missing track" can be inserted within the standard global track database file.The game finds track definitions in the global TSECTION.DAT file that defines shapes and vector paths for track and road objects.The top part of this file describes distinct vector paths. Entries in this area influence the path the animation can follow and how many permutations of alignment exist when you press the "T" key in the Route Editor.The file also links with logic used by Signals and Lights, so it's really important to not make any mistakes editing it.The bottom part of this file compiles lists of entities from the top part to create visual shapes on screen. For instance, we know that a left curve is different from a right curve. Looking in the file you see that a curve is a straight section with a curved piece. So one curve type is straight -> curve and the other is curve -> straight.The file has rules and regulations that cannot be changed though:
1) Don't change the section index or any ID's associated with existing track sections. Some people don't like the way the Route Editor displays track names in the editor and try reordering things in this file. If you change the indices, you will destroy every one of your routes and the only workaround is to manually rebuild them all.The binary track network tile files and some of the Unicode DAT files store hard-coded values from this file. 2) You can append to the file but must update the master index for TrackSections and TrackShapes if you want your pieces to appear.3) Never use a "file copy" or "file rename" to substitute one shape for another. That is THE perfect way to destroy the track database and the only resolution is reinstalling from the original CD.4) You can combine entities to create new track types. I created vehicle tunnel sections and many people create third-rail sections from scratch.5) Do not edit the global TSECTION.DAT file if the route editor is opened and you haven't saved the current route map. Doing so may corrupt the route track database.The complete "missing track items" list:a1tUKBuffer One track United Kingdom buffer section
a2t10PedesCrs Two track pedestrian crossing. Similar to level crossing but the crossing space is visibly narrower.
a1tPnt5dRgtMnl Point 5 degree right manual switch
a1t1500r10dRgtTun 1500 M 10 degree right bend tunnel
Source files are on CD #1 in \LocFiles\Global\Shapes
File A1t150_2.s --> a1t1500r10dRgtTun.S
File a1t150_2.sd --> a1t1500r10dRgtTun.SD
a1t2000r10dTun 2000M 10 degree bent tunnel
a1t2000r20dTun 2000M 20 degree bent tunnel
a1t250r5d
a1t250r10d
a1t250r20d
a1tDblSlip10dMnl
a1tDblSlip10d
a1tPnt2_5dRgtMnl
a1tSglSlip10d
a1tSglSlip10dMnl
a2t250r5dTun
a2tSkewLft
a2tXoverEndYou will also see the global file has some predefined numbers that aren't used. (like the other skew, the other 45 deg yard item)Those numbers DO belong to the missing pieces, but you'll need to remember the file ordering is always LEFT then RIGHT.If a track piece has multiple vector paths (as all switches do), specify them in ordering from left to right.
Jim Steven, MCSE
Sr Microsoft Windows Application Developer Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
donrecardo (13 posts)
Aug-07-01, 07:15 PM (EST) 2. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" Hi Jim
You keep tempting us by telling us about these missing track sections , and keep telling us its just a matter of making the entries in the tsection.dat file , but surely , I cant be the only one who is too thick to know what to enter . surely therte are others that just like me want to get these sections running but are to afraid to try incase we mess it all up by entering the wrong dataPlease please pretty Please cant you just tell us exactly what to put in to get them all ( especially the single and double slips)working
i can sit and re read your posts all night but I will still never work out what to put in the file , i need the expert to tell me what to type , and your da man JimCheers
Don ( make my double slip work )
central UK Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Momocat (12 posts)
Aug-08-01, 07:25 AM (EST) 4. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" hii agree, perhaps someone could create a complte tsection.dat and post it here? normally it's mircosofts duty to do this, but i guess they include it in the patch.momocat Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
LawrenceKellie (252 posts)
Aug-07-01, 08:35 PM (EST) 3. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" I'm responding to this in a somewhat backwards order.>You will also see the global
>file has some predefined numbers
>that aren't used. (like the
>other skew, the other 45
>deg yard item)
>
>Those numbers DO belong to the
>missing pieces, but you'll need
>to remember the file ordering
>is always LEFT then RIGHT. At the bottom of the top part, are entries... TrackSection ( 333 )to TrackSection ( 375 )There are "corresponding" values in the TrackShape area. Are these the numbers to which the above quote refers? You state that the "missing pieces" do have numbers already. How do you determine what they are? In other words, I decided to "add" the following tracks to the tsection.dat file:>a1t250r5d
>a1t250r10d
>a1t250r20d I decided to "append" them as you stated could be done. However, that was a mistake, though I did not receive an error, just didn't see the tracks in the track list. From further reading, you state that the above three tracks do already have TrackShape numbers. However, which of the TrackShapes 241-262 are they?I did try substituting TrackSection and TrackShape information in some of those numbered entires, and I received a track database read error when attempting to open a route.I would like to be able to add some of those tracks. Again, I would be indebted to you for a little more clue to what is going one.Thanks.Lawrence Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Omellette (35 posts)
Aug-08-01, 10:31 AM (EST) 5. "Wow, you are amazing..." ...and you always almost totally confuse me, whenever you post one of these absolute gems!I'm serious, by the way -- your knowledge and effort are fast becoming legend. Without you, a lot of us would still be sctratching our heads, trying to find that one object we know is there somewhere, but simply cannot find.But, I'm also serious in that I get confused -- and fairly often, at that. For example, I know that basically gave us the info we need to do this for ourselves, but I look at it, and reread it over and over again, and I just can't figure it out. I know the info is there, but it's beyond me.Perhaps if you could simply post a complete TSECTION.DAT, and maybe even that 3-rd rail track you created, it might make it easier for us all?Please? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
wesdowns (156 posts)
Aug-09-01, 06:39 PM (EST) 6. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" Is anyone else having trouble with the a1tpnt5drgtmnl.s shape file? Mine claims to be corrupt and fails to load when used. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Motley24Crue2 (22 posts)
Aug-23-01, 09:55 AM (EST) 7. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" Jim how do I Activate the a1tDblSlip10dMnl ? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
sammy1 (5 posts)
Aug-29-01, 04:53 PM (EST) 8. "RE: Undocumented Track Section Shape File Problem" Hi Jim, A quick "Thank you!" for all the help you've given out in this forum.I got the A1t250r5d, 10d, and 20d installed and showing up ok in the Editor from your previous threads, however after placing them I get a extended or reduced link length (between the blue posts) on the 5d and 20d pieces. The 10d works fine.I used the TSECTION.DAT 264, 268, and 272 TrackSection entries as input for the new TrackShape entries like this (templated from the #20 A1T500r5d entry): TrackShape ( 241
FileName ( A1t250r5d.s )
NumPaths ( 1 )
SectionIdx ( 1 0 0 0 0 272 )
)I then created the .SD files in the GLOBAL\SHAPES directory using the appropriate A1T500Rxxx files as templates (which don't have bounding box entries) as shown here:shape ( A1t250r5d.s
ESD_Detail_Level ( 0 )
ESD_Alternative_Texture ( 2 )
ESD_No_Visual_Obstruction ()
)Am I missing something here? Should I be using the 266, 270, 274 TrackSection entries (248.5 vs. 251.5 R - what's the difference?) Or do these shapes require bounding box entries, or are the as-installed .S files for these shapes flawed?I'm so close on this - any assistance you can supply is greatly appreciated...Sammy Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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