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"Problems changing from summer to other time of the year"

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oudrun (19 posts)
Aug-01-01, 07:48 AM (EST) "Problems changing from summer to other time of the year" I must have missed something important. On a new route I'm working on, I get into trouble when I try to change the time of the year. Then all sorts of "shapes" are missing. What am I doing wrong???RuO Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Problems changing from summer t... JMSteven_W98 Aug-01-01 1 RE: Problems changing from summer t... oudrun Aug-01-01 2 RE: Problems changing from summer t... JMSteven_W98 Aug-01-01 3 RE: Problems changing from summer t... jkcooney Aug-25-01 4

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JMSteven_W98 (329 posts)
Aug-01-01, 01:22 PM (EST) 1. "RE: Problems changing from summer to other time of the year" Sounds like you're now learning how complex the game's shapes and textures links are. It's taken me nearly two months to combine the full set of items and the result was a serious learning exercise.When combining objects from other routes into a new one there is one absolute rule that cannot be broken:The REF file has little if anything to do with the objects or shapes available in your route. Never place anything in this file UNTIL you have copied the Shape file, and either copied or created the Shape Description file, and copied all Texture files for the object.There are twelve configuration files (many threads on this forum) and there are literally 3500 ACE files associated with textures.Many shape files require shape description files. Read the TechDoc that ships with the game about Shape Description files and you'll learn about objects like buildings and vegetation that require two, six or eight "ACE" files in the subdirectory "Textures" of your route.Rule Two: Never "blind copy" items from other routes into your folder. Many items are missing in those other routes file names in two routes may be duplicated, but they refer to different objects.The ACE texture file names will not match the shape names, and some shapes have textures named "Archway" or "lobby" or "left side" that go with things like "building" so it takes sleuthing.The game changes textures by referencing the SD file ESD information and uses Textures, Textures\Night, Textures\Snow and the full set of season shapes. You cannot just copy the "night" items if the shape has other textures. The game will eventually hang.Jim Steven, MCSE
Sr Microsoft Windows Application Developer Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
oudrun (19 posts)
Aug-01-01, 04:47 PM (EST) 2. "RE: Problems changing from summer to other time of the year" Tnks. for your respons. Waht I've seen of the threads the last week, I understand what you mean. Unfortunatly I used early verions of instructions to copy "all" to my new route. And didn't get the grip of the ref files.Doesen't realy matter since it was more or less a learning lesson (and I have learned a lot just the last couple of weeks... ).So next time I'll be a lot more careful.Nothing is like learning by doing.....
RuO Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
JMSteven_W98 (329 posts)
Aug-01-01, 05:55 PM (EST) 3. "RE: Problems changing from summer to other time of the year" I know what you mean. Don't feel bad. I did a real dumb thing when I started using the game:I copied things into a common place too. At first the route worked. Then I left it running with the train parked and an hour later the route was in night time.I tried using it and got the same errors you saw.I've used MS Windows since 1984 (release 1.0) and the file not found messages got me to try "Find files or folders" to find the missing items.I did find them, and copied them to the "Textures" folder without knowing they went in \Textures\Night.The game returned to working until the sun came up. Now it couldn't find any shapes for the daytime because I replaced them all with night shapes.We're all working on a common goal of handling combining objects and documenting things to be careful of. Keep checking the threads for "Combined REF" information.
Jim Steven, MCSE
Sr Microsoft Windows Application Developer Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jkcooney (414 posts)
Aug-25-01, 12:23 PM (EST) 4. "RE: Problems changing from summer to other time of the year" In other words Jim, the LAST thing we do after copying shapes, textures, etc. is rename the REF file? Am I correct. How about the ambient sounds (entering tunnels, crossing trestles, etc., etc.). How are these transfered from existing routes to my own?
Joe Cooney, Ocala, FL Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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