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peteK (61 posts)
May-26-02, 07:18 AM (EDT) "Objects library" We (russian developers for MSTS) have one idea: make a library of almost all standart objects of Routes in MSTS.What is library. Handly catalog what contains this information:
.s-file
.ace-files
small screenshotIt will be greatly easy to search objects for route. We making russian route and ofcouse many of objects we have to make ourselves to make route realistic. But some houses, garage, bridges, trees etc - easy to take ready-made when make from scratch. But it's hard to find necessary object without any catalog of something...Question is: maybe somewhere already prepared such catalog? train-sim.com file archive or somewhere else?If not - if where is any interested people to help make such object library? It will be handly thing for all Route Builders I think.Sincerely, Kirillov Peter
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Objects library darkrose May-26-02 1 RE: Objects library SharkNose May-26-02 2 RE: Objects library peteK May-26-02 3 RE: Objects library SharkNose May-26-02 4 RE: Objects library peteK May-26-02 5 RE: Objects library SharkNose May-26-02 6 RE: Objects library mivone May-26-02 7 RE: Objects library SharkNose May-26-02 8 RE: Objects library Engineer May-27-02 9 RE: Objects library SharkNose May-27-02 11 RE: Objects library Engineer May-28-02 12 RE: Objects library Engineer May-27-02 10

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darkrose (85 posts)
May-26-02, 07:56 AM (EDT) 1. "RE: Objects library" Good luck with your site and as I stated in another message that if you go to http://www.train-sim.com/login.htm you will find the file library. You need to register as its on another server, but its easy and then you can search for whatever objects you need that might be listed there... Good luck

"Is All That We See Or Seem But A Dream Within A Dream?"--Poe
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SharkNose (133 posts)
May-26-02, 09:26 AM (EDT) 2. "RE: Objects library" LAST EDITED ON May-26-02 AT 09:35 AM (EDT)Hi. I think PeteK is referring to a catalog or directory of objects that come with MSTS. In other words, what foot bridges are available in MSTS or what farm houses? That way route designers can see what has already been included with MSTS and can decide whether to use the standard object or search Train-Sim.com or make their own if it doesn't meet their needs.I had a discussion with Cal Rasmussen a few weeks ago about this very topic: http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/DCForumID6/4828.html I have done a little work in Visual Basic along these lines and have started collecting 256 x 256 screenshots of some objects in the RE.I also have a Microsoft Access database of the filenames and directories of a complete clean installation of MSTS to work from.PeteK, I agree that a library such as this will be indispensable to route designers. What are your thoughts on how an interface like this should look?- Andrew PATCO Hi-Speed Line
EDIT: I don't know of such an object library, if it exists, but am willing to help with one! Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
peteK (61 posts)
May-26-02, 11:36 AM (EDT) 3. "RE: Objects library" LAST EDITED ON May-26-02 AT 11:52 AM (EDT)Hi, SharkNose!Your idea about program with good handly interface better that my We wanted to make static files - html or something else... Ofcouse it's not comfortable at all.I very like interface on the picture in your post. I just want to tell one (but very necessary) thing: near the filename, filesize etc where must be .ACE-files for this .s-file to make developer faster search for necessary files of object.So I think you (or WE?) got to make program with interface like yours.Let's work on this library together? We can discuss and divide varios type objects - one man taking information (filename, filesize, ace-files and SCREENSHOT 256x256) about bridges, another - for small buildings, another - for high buildings.I read your discussion with Cal. I thing where is no need to make groups of screenshots. If on this "projects" will be working team of 10 people I think we can do screenshot for each object.P.S. Please sorry for my English. It can be problem to undestand some my sentences...Sincerely, Kirillov Peter
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SharkNose (133 posts)
May-26-02, 01:54 PM (EDT) 4. "RE: Objects library" LAST EDITED ON May-26-02 AT 01:57 PM (EDT)Thanks for the comments on my design! I'm glad you like it. You are correct about the having the .ACE file associated with the .S file. I was going to include .ACE files as separate objects, but your idea makes more sense. Where does the .ACE file get referenced? In the .S file itself or the corresponding .SD file? I haven't looked into that yet. If the .ACE filename is easily recognizable in the file, than maybe I can write a program to extract it and add it to the database for the appropriate .S file automatically.I'm using Jim Ward's (sniper297) EZStuff4.BAT (3c3243ea7062208e.zip in the file download area) utility as a basis for grouping objects. This utility puts every known MSTS object into one route for use within the Route Editor. Here's a summary of what's included in the All_Stuff.REF file:

Class Count
--------------- -------
Animals 3
Bridges 91
Bridges and Viaducts 34
Bridges, Foot 5
Buildings 220
Clutter 52
Dynamic track 1
Farm 6
Fence 18
Flags 7
Hazards 4
Interactive Objects 3
Level Crossings 13
Lights 7
Mainline Stations 142
People 2
Pickup Objects 7
Power 13
Road Sections 20
Signs 7
Terrain Items 3
Track Buildings 29
Track Objects 48
Track Sections 1
Transfers 18
Transfers2 12
Tunnel 10
Vegetation 60
Vehicles 45
Walls 17

Does this sound like a proper grouping of objects? We can assign these groups to various people to work on. The group "Buildings" and "Mainline Stations" and maybe "Bridges" may need to be broken up further. Let me know what you think of this.Here's how I had been gathering and collecting the data:Filename, Filesize and directory location – I already have this in my database from a directory listing, so there's no need to collect this again..ACE files – As I said I haven't collected these in regards to their respective .S files yet. If we can get these easily from the .S or .SD files automatically, it would be good. If not, we'll have to collect this information manually.Screen Shots – This will be the time-consuming task. I had been following these guidelines when collecting the screenshots:- Put the object on the standard green terrain in the RE.
- Don't have any other objects in the screen shot, only the object.*
- Position the object so a single view shows as much of the object as possible (hidden details from behind, etc).
- Try to have the object fill up a 256 x 256 square fairly completely.
- Save the screen shot as a .JPG file with 90% quality factor.
- Name the .JPG screen shot file the same as the object with a .JPG extension (for example, object billboard3.s would have a screen shot named billboard3.s.jpg) – keep the .s in the filename – this is because my database already has the filename stored. All I have to do then is add .JPG to the filename to get the screen shot filename.* When the object is difficult to discern size from, I've included the object workman.s (in the people class) in the screen shot to show size (he's at the bottom center):Basically, all we need to do is assign groups, collect .ACE file information and make the screen shots. Let me know if you can think of anything else that would be useful to have. I have already captured screen shots (not .ACE info) of the following groups:Animals
Bridges, Foot
Dynamic Track
Farm
PeopleSpeaking of track, should we do all the track sections too? I thought it would be a good idea, but maybe we can save that for later.Let me know what you think. Any comments and suggestions are welcome from anybody. P.S. to PeteK – Your English is fine.- Andrew PATCO Hi-Speed Line Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
peteK (61 posts)
May-26-02, 02:26 PM (EDT) 5. "RE: Objects library" > Does this sound like a proper grouping of objects?
yes, it isbut we ofcouse have to broke large groups in some parts. By the part of the list in alphabet order for example.little advice: where is no visial difference between 90 and 65-70 jpeg quality, but we'll can reduce file size of all completed project by megabytes if do little change to jpeg quality.> Speaking of track, should we do all the track sections too?
> I thought it would be a good idea, but maybe we can save
> that for later.
I think what it will be good to make first version with screenshot of most impotatant types objects (without such objects like track section). And then make some packeges with other screenshots...Now about reference of ACE-files. We can take this information from S-files. We have to decompress file with ffeditc_unicode.exe utility. Then search for "images (" string in it. In the following strings where is ACE-files for the shape. It can be done manually... but the number of objects not small. And automation of process of examine ACE files for shapes is really prefered.OK. So if you'll write program to take ACE filenames from .s-files all we'll have to do - is making screenshots.Let us take groups Bridges and Bridges and Viaducts to make screens. Can you give me list of .s-files from this groups?If I'll find more people (on my russian forum at www.trainsim.ru) i'll ask for another groups of objects.Another thing. You ofcouse know what where is alternative textures for objects in MSTS for different weather and time of year. It will be good to store this information. This info is available in .sd file (ESD_Alternative_Texture parameter) Sincerely, Kirillov Peter
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SharkNose (133 posts)
May-26-02, 03:53 PM (EDT) 6. "RE: Objects library" Great! Sounds like a good start...>little advice: where is no visial difference between 90 and 65-70 jpeg quality, but we'll can reduce file size of all completed project by megabytes if do little change to jpeg quality.That's fine. My screen shots were between 10 and 25 KB at 90% quality. There will be hundreds of files, so if 65 – 70% quality will save even more, let's do it that way.>OK. So if you'll write program to take ACE filenames from .s-files all we'll have to do - is making screenshots.I'm on it. I'll start the programming on that this evening. I will also keep the ESD_Alternative_Texture parameter in mind as I do this too.>Let us take groups Bridges and Bridges and Viaducts to make screens. Can you give me list of .s-files from this groups?Yes, I will e-mail that list to you shortly. No sense clogging up the message board with a lot of data.- Andrew PATCO Hi-Speed Line Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
mivone (211 posts)
May-26-02, 08:48 PM (EDT) 7. "RE: Objects library" Note that Dick van den Hoven has already figured out all the *.ace files: get crossref.zip from the library.Good luck with your project: sounds very useful!Michael Vone
- Step by Step Guide to Route Building for Microsoft Train Simulator (http://TrainSimulatorWorld.com/)
- Albula Line
- Rocky Island Route
- Cliff Hanger Route
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SharkNose (133 posts)
May-26-02, 10:13 PM (EDT) 8. "RE: Objects library" DOH! I just gave my computer a heart attack by uncompressing 1,960 shape files!!! Thanks for the heads up on the crossref.zip file, Michael. I should have checked the message board sooner and I forgot to look in the file library for an ACE file collection. Oh well, at least I have something to check my results with.- Andrew PATCO Hi-Speed Line Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Engineer (21 posts)
May-27-02, 08:08 PM (EDT) 9. "RE: Objects library" I have a couple of programs I've been working on with the same purpose in mind. A catalog with automatic transfer to the routes. In one program I shell to the FFedit program to extract the necessary file data from the shape file and transfer data to the desired route. I've been searching for a viewer program or code to view the shape in the catalog. I haven't found the necessary code or viewer yet and one person doing what you speak of would be impractical. I have a lot of Ideas I've been working on but the necessary info is scarce. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
SharkNose (133 posts)
May-27-02, 08:44 PM (EDT) 11. "RE: Objects library" LAST EDITED ON May-27-02 AT 08:48 PM (EDT)Hi. I also was hesitant to start a massive project like capturing over 1000 screenshots, but since PeteK had a similar idea, I thought I'd speak up. PeteK and his friends at http://www.trainsim.ru/en/ have already started capturing screen shots of objects and I have done some too. I've also had another volunteer to help, so with this community effort, we might just pull this off.This catalog or library will not move anything or affect your MSTS files. It just presents the objects with some information and a little picture so you can see what the object looks like.If you want to help out and are familiar with Jim Ward's EZStuff4.BAT program and can make JPG images from screen captures, we could use some more assistance. - Andrew PATCO Hi-Speed LineEdit: P.S. - I searched around for a shape viewer as well with no luck. A DLL or ActiveX control along these lines would make this project so much easier. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Engineer (21 posts)
May-28-02, 11:20 AM (EDT) 12. "RE: Objects library" I am interested in helping! I have a Freeware program that does it all sure needs the pictures though. I capture at 200x142 to preserve the H-W ratio. what ratio have you settled on? I read 256x256?Thanks
Jake Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Engineer (21 posts)
May-27-02, 08:23 PM (EDT) 10. "RE: Objects library" I have a couple of programs I've been working on with the same purpose in mind. A catalog with automatic transfer to the routes. In one program I shell to the FFedit program to extract the necessary file data from the shape file and transfer data to the desired route. I've been searching for a viewer program or code to view the shape in the catalog. I haven't found the necessary code or viewer yet and one person doing what you speak of would be impractical. I have a lot of Ideas I've been working on but the necessary info is scarce. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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