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CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck (73 posts)
Dec-16-01, 00:29 AM (EST) "Promblems with Linking Signals." I've been having some promblems, well actually sort of big problems, when I try to link signals. I get the famous 'Send this error' error when I try to link signals. Any insight or help?
Thanks a bilGreg Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. sniper297 Dec-16-01 1 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-16-01 2 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck Dec-16-01 3 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. sniper297 Dec-16-01 4 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. dvdhoven Dec-16-01 5 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 11 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-16-01 6 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. sniper297 Dec-16-01 7 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 8 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 9 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 10 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. sniper297 Dec-17-01 12 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 13 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck Dec-17-01 14 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck Dec-17-01 15 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 17 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-17-01 16 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. SilverFox Dec-17-01 18 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck Dec-18-01 19 RE: Promblems with Linking Signals. jkcooney Dec-18-01 20

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sniper297 (1090 posts)
Dec-16-01, 00:50 AM (EST) 1. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." System specs? Particularly how much ram you have, big factor. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-16-01, 09:16 AM (EST) 2. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Jim..... I have the same problem with over 500 megs of ram. The links just won't stay linked.... very unstable. Particularly with interlocking. They may work for one of two sessions but on the next session they show up as "failed"..... very frustrating.
Joe C. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck (73 posts)
Dec-16-01, 10:35 AM (EST) 3. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." My Specs;P 2, 400 MHz
128 RAM
12 gig
My main promblem is that when I try to link them, the Editor Locks Up. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
sniper297 (1090 posts)
Dec-16-01, 11:58 AM (EST) 4. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." LAST EDITED ON Dec-16-01 AT 12:02 PM (EST)Strange goings on, Watson. 128 megs should be enough, altho you'll get lockups and send/don't send instead of a message telling you what the actual problem is, but it should still be enough to link signals. And 500 megs is more than I currently have (I'm trying out this new DDR ram, only have one stick of 256mb in there right now), so it ain't that. Which signals you're using might make a difference, I haven't played with any but the Marias BNSF signals so far, and for some reason I get missing extended shape on the gantry mounts. The pole mounted ones work OK, but when I link them I had the same kind of problem until I learned to avoid the "close" button.
Using the "BNSF Interlocking (2 light second head)", I would first click on the top link button, then left click on the straight track, and WITHOUT CLOSING THE WINDOW I click on the bottom link button, and left click on the curved track. Without doing anything else, especially not closing the "Link Signal Head" window, I click on OK in the properties window.
It strikes me that clicking on the close button or the X button and closing the "Link Signal Head" window has the same effect as clicking on "cancel", so that could be why it isn't saving.
I also make sure I link them as I place them, so I don't forget one and get the "unlinked signal" error when I go to save the route and have to hunt the obnoxious little lost orphan stepchild down.So what kind of signals are you guys using? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
dvdhoven (271 posts)
Dec-16-01, 02:01 PM (EST) 5. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." >LAST EDITED ON Dec-16-01
>AT 12:02 PM (EST) >and for some reason I get missing extended shape on the gantry mounts.Hi, That missing extended shape is a .sd file, it must be US2BSignal1A.sd or US2BSignal1.sd Remember that Microsoft guy, oh I'm getting old (51 ), I start to forget names, the guy that gave us that combine.bat. He has also provided in the same archive a bunch of forgotten .sd files. These files are among them.Here are the forgotten .sd files:
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c1cef655f3a866e.zip Dick van den Hoven Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 08:13 AM (EST) 11. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Dick.... I just downloaded the missing SD files you mentioned but I now need to add them to my routes REF file. Where do I locate the correct identifier to add the correct info into the REF file?
Joe C. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-16-01, 06:30 PM (EST) 6. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Jim... I'm using the searchlight signals with the script developed by Conn McCarthy (Joe Diamond) back in July or August. I never use the close button and I can get them to work for a session or two. Then if I do any trackwork anywhere on the route (not even in proximity to the Signals) and then go back later to do more work I get the "signals and tiles out of sync with tdb" message). So, I use the "Advanced" button to rebuild the TDB and this merely forces me to delete all signals, platforms and siding markers since they all come back trashed and out of sync. Very, very, frustrating. It appears that you should have all your signaled trackage set and fixed before adding any signaling or platform and siding markers...... Oh well, backups have become my best friend....
Joe C. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
sniper297 (1090 posts)
Dec-16-01, 09:42 PM (EST) 7. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Thanks, Dick. Downloaded and saved, I'll see if I can use them later. That's one of the mysteries of this thing, the extended shapes need to be there for the route editor but not for the sim? I noticed that Marias had a bunch of the gantry types already mounted on gantries, but you couldn't place another one of the same type. Wierd.
Yeah, Joe, I had the same problems with rebuilding the TDB, knock on wood I haven't had to rebuild it recently, but one of the things I do is make sure I delete any linked signals near the section I want to change first. If I click on a switch and get that linked message, I say NO! Forget I clicked on this switch, I do NOT want to edit it, and I sure as hell don't want a buggy piece of garbage like you automatically removing or deleting anything for me, if I do it myself it's less likely that you can botch it up.
(Yes, I talk to the route editor frequently that way, it gives me less &#^%#! if I let it know I'm the boss and it's the untrustworthy incompetent employee!)
I don't let the editor do anything for me, I manually delete all the signals from the section I'm gonna change first then replace them, never leave a two-headed interlocking unlinked. So there's my secret to avoiding that problem, or it could be my luck just hasn't run out yet.
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jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 07:40 AM (EST) 8. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Great tip. Does that mean you cruise the entire blue-outlined grid to remove all signaling before track work or only the immediate areas outlined in black? Hilarious cartoon. What's the procedure for attaching screenshots to these posts???... I lost my notes on this! Stay in touch and thanks again for the signal editing tip. I also do not let the editor do anything "automatically" w/o checking my own skills out first.
Joe Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 07:41 AM (EST) 9. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." One last point. Isn't Abacus supposed to be coming out with a new Route Editor program or are they just producing the one which will allow us to design our own 3D graphics more easily?
Do you know anything about this?
Joe C. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 07:47 AM (EST) 10. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Had any trouble with Sound Regions. I just started placing a few (once I figured out how to add them to the ssource file) and have found them great simulator enhancers. Especially nice are the squeeling wheels on tight curves and train sounds on
Tehachapi Loop from "3D trainstuff". Wonder if you've tried any?
Joe C. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
sniper297 (1090 posts)
Dec-17-01, 11:17 AM (EST) 12. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Yes. No. Maybe. Sometimes. It depends.
Sorry, couldn't resist. Pretty much sums up the answers to all the problems with this SNAFU editor tho, don't it?
Yeah, had a few carloads of problems with sound regions, which is why no, I haven't tried any add-on sounds yet. I like to deal with only one problem at a time, signals screw up the TDB, sound regions screw it up, roads screw it up, sneezing when you align a piece of track screws it up. Hell, opening the editor screws it up.
I don't think it has anything to do with the quad boundaries tho, what I do is just look over the section of track I want to change, and delete any signals on that section, plus any linked signals that have a path going thru that section. All my doubletrack sections so far are pretty short, so it's fairly easy to see where the links are going.
Again tho, this may not be a magic formula, it could be that Jupiter crossing over into my 8th house cusp is presently enhancing my luck, and when the stars are aligned differently I'll suddenly start having problems with things that worked fine before. Like everything else with these godforsaken editors, ya never know. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 11:47 AM (EST) 13. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Thanks Jim. I hear you loud and clear. Have a safe, restful Christmas. You earned it with all those kids in class!
Joe C. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck (73 posts)
Dec-17-01, 11:49 AM (EST) 14. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Maybe I'm doing this all wrong, so maybe ists my fault. The way I've been doing it is by clicking 2 signals.(ctrl click on 2 diff red triangles) then I click the info tab, and click the top box and hit link. I've assuming since the previous messages, that I'm messing up big time. Thanks for all your time and help (I can suplly screens if any would like when I get home from school at 3 est time)
Greg Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck (73 posts)
Dec-17-01, 11:51 AM (EST) 15. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." I am also using the Amtrak Signals, (I would consider using BNSF if I could figure out how to add ONLY those shapes, etc, to my route) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 11:58 AM (EST) 17. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." There is a program in the "Searchlight" utilities in the Files of this Forum that will allow you to use EITHER the BNSF 3-light signals OR the Searchlight signals designed by Conn McCarthy (Joe Diamond) or any combination of the two. I have not tried the NE Corridor position light signals since I don't like their appearance. But check the Utilities Programs for the Searchlight program.....Joe Cooney Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-17-01, 11:52 AM (EST) 16. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." Greg.....I am off college this week so email me with questions when you get home. Maybe I can walk you through this. My email is jkcooney@hotmail.com. I should be on line at home around 4:00est (Ocala, FL) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
SilverFox (58 posts)
Dec-17-01, 06:17 PM (EST) 18. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." >I also make sure I link them as I place them, so I don't forget one and get the "unlinked signal" error when I go to save the route and have to hunt the obnoxious little lost orphan stepchild down.<Hi,
I discovered by accident that when you get the "unlinked signal" error message if you double click on the signal coordinates given in the error message the editor jumps straight to the unlinked signal. That saved me a lot of time hunting down the little blighters.
-John Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck (73 posts)
Dec-18-01, 11:49 AM (EST) 19. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." the only promblem is? EXMANS!! ah, oh well, I can take an hour break from school till I start studying. Right???
But on a more serious note; I have downloaded the searchlight a while back, and I think I still have them. If I use those, will it work as the same as the BNSF (linking wise?)
Thanks again for all your help.Greg Marck Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (555 posts)
Dec-18-01, 11:55 AM (EST) 20. "RE: Promblems with Linking Signals." The linkage procedure is the same regardless of which set you use. All you need to be sure of is that you have the correct REF lines in your route file. As I recall the "ReadME" instructions are very clear and easy to follow. good luck. Keep in touch to let me know any problems you run into. Good luck on Exams!!
JC Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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