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PilotRailfanDMBFan (7 posts)
Oct-29-01, 01:16 AM (EST) "Folder names, aliases, etc. (Long)" We all know one of the shortcomings of MSTS compared to FS is the relative inability to manipulate file names, references, folder names, etc. without causing the end of the world. To this end, I have a few specific questions, some of which I am totally clueless and some I would just like clarification of what I have found:1. Does the name of the FOLDER in which an engine or car resides matter to anything except consists (and therefore activities)? IOW, if I was starting fresh and deleted all activities, paths, consists, could I name the FOLDERS of rolling stock anything I wanted?2. Which line in a .wag file is the name that shows up in the consist editor??? In an .eng file, it is that "name" line near the end... what about the .wag? I hate making consists of us2freight$^$#@%^!!! Instead I would like to make a consist of ATSF 546338, CSXT 100908, etc.3. LOADS/EMPTIES: Basically my goal is to have two 'versions'?? of each car in my fleet - loaded and empty, but I am vaguely aware of the problems that can happen in the consist editor/activity editor because of duplicate file names (.s, .wag, .ace, etc.) Could one of you 'experts' give me a step by step idea of how to make a Loaded and Empty directory so each car shows up twice in my consist editor?? e.g. - BNSF 477353 (Loaded) & BNSF 477353 (Empty), but same picture (shape file?) in the editor.
Now for the background info: Born in Grafton, WV, so I guess I'm B&O, Chessie, and CSX fan by birth, but special place in heart for Clinchfield. Currently in Vermont near the NECR. Lifelong railfan, but currently armchair modeler. Until I settle down, MSTS is taking the place of modeling. Consequently, I am putting all of the effort that I would normally put into modeling into TS, I am trying to do everything I can to operate Marias pass as prototypically as possible. Since buying MSTS, I have spent more time researching BNSF operations, customers of the area, etc., then running trains. That is beginning to change. I almost have enough info to start really "operating" the way I want. So my question on this subject is......IS ANYONE WITH ME?? Is anyone else trying to operate TS like a model railroad, like a continuous, never ending operating session?? I mean does anyone else know what S BPATAC1 28 is?? My operating sessions so far have been REALISTIC. This is what I enjoy, just like everyone has their favorite parts of TS. I would just like to share ideas and info with anyone else out there that is deranged like me......hope to hear from you soon.....meanwhile....I'm going to call myself for Z CHCSSE2 26 early in the morning, so I have to get to bed. Hope everyone had a great weekend and God Bless America.Semper Fi, Brian Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Folder names, aliases, etc. (L... JimStrenk Oct-31-01 1

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JimStrenk (44 posts)
Oct-31-01, 05:15 AM (EST) 1. "RE: Folder names, aliases, etc. (Long)" Brian wrote:>We all know one of the shortcomings of MSTS compared to FS is the relative inability to manipulate file names, references, folder names, etc. without causing the end of the world. To this end, I have a few specific questions, some of which I am totally clueless and some I would just like clarification of what I have found: 1. Does the name of the FOLDER in which an engine or car resides matter to anything except consists (and) therefore activities)? IOW, if I was starting fresh and deleted all activities, paths, consists, could I name the FOLDERS of rolling stock anything I wanted? 2. Which line in a .wag file is the name that shows up in the
consist editor??? In an .eng file, it is that "name" line near the end...
what about the .wag? I hate making consists of us2freight$^$#@%!!! Instead I would like to make a consist of ATSF 546338, CSXT 100908, etc. 3. LOADS/EMPTIES: Basically my goal is to have two 'versions'?? of each car in my fleet - loaded and empty, but I am vaguely aware of the problems that can happen in the consist editor/activity editor because of duplicate file names (.s, .wag, .ace, etc.) Could one of you 'experts' give me a step by step idea of how to make a Loaded and Empty directory so each car shows up twice in my consist editor?? e.g. - BNSF 477353 (Loaded) & BNSF 477353 (Empty), but same picture (shape file?) in the editor.
Now for the background info: Born in Grafton, WV, so I guess I'm B&O, Chessie, and CSX fan by birth, but special place in heart
for Clinchfield. Currently in Vermont near the NECR. Lifelong railfan, but currently armchair modeler. Until I settle down, MSTS is taking the place of modeling. Consequently, I am putting all of the effort that I would normally put into modeling into TS, I am trying to do everything I can to operate Marias pass as prototypically as possible. Since buying MSTS, I have spent more time researching BNSF operations, customers of the area, etc., then running trains. That is beginning to change. I almost have enough info to start really "operating" the way I want. So my question on this subject is......IS ANYONE WITH ME??

Is anyone else trying to operate TS like a model railroad, like a continuous, never ending operating session?? I mean does anyone else know what S BPATAC1 28 is?? My operating sessions so far have been REALISTIC. This is what I enjoy, just like everyone has their favorite parts of TS.
I would just like to share ideas and info with anyone else out there that is deranged like me......hope to hear from you soon.....meanwhile....I'm going to call myself for Z CHCSSE2 26 early in the morning, so I have to get to bed. Hope everyone had a great weekend and God Bless America. Semper Fi, >Brian Answer #1It was explained to me that trainset folder names CAN have ANY name, but was cautioned to use folder names suggested by author. This would be especially true should one decide to create an activity that contains cars OTHER THAN DEFAULT cars. The reason behind this idea is that the folder name is part of the PATH to a particular car/engine. For example, if I had downloaded the EMD F45 and the author suggested calling the folder EMDF45 I SHOULD follow his instructions and place the required files into a folder called EMDF45. If I and everyone else did the same and I created an activity using the F45, those that choose to download my activity will not get an error message indicating that a file(s) are missing. On the other hand, if I had placed the F45 files into a folder called Electro Motive Division F45 and uploaded an activity using THAT folder name for the F45, ANYONE who hadn't unzipped their F45 files into the Electro Motive Division F45 folder would get an error.I would also suggest using the folder name that is suggested or supplied by the author. Doing otherwise runs the risk that activities that you upload may not work correctly.Answer #2You may add the the name specification to your wag files. You may place it either at the end of the file like you've found or just after the first line. The format should be as follows: Name ( "Value to show up in consist editor and elsewhere" )From my observations, it would appear that rolling stock names are generated by the name of the wag, sd and s files as created by the author in cases where the Name ( " " ) specification is left out.I would like to suggest to those that are creating and re-skinning rolling stock that they SHOULD include the Name specification to there wag/eng file. I would further suggest that some type of "naming convention" be used; such as BNSF #5690 F45, DTTX #607977 TFOC, or something like that. This would especially be helpful in those cases where multiple cars of one type or other have been uploaded in a zip file. I would also like to recommend to our uploading friends that both loaded and unloaded versions of their cars be included in the zip file. This would extremely help to properly simulate "real world" conditions in railroading. Currently, the only cars that seem to have loaded and unloaded versions are the recent batch of coal and closed hopper cars. Most of the box and tank cars have been prepared as loaded cars, leaving those that have downloaded models in the position of always pulling loaded cars, and no consists with empties involved! Not very prototypical in my mind.Answer #3Now that a goodly number of loaded and unloaded hopper cars are available in each zipped hopper car file, it appears that the generally accepted pratice is to place BOTH loaded and unloaded versions of rolling stock within the SAME folder. Some authors have appended l for loaded and ul for unloaded, so that a pair of Santa Fe Hopper cars might have wag, sd and s file such as ATSF #596966 Hopper_l and ATSF #596966 Hopper_ul or Hopperl and Hopperul. The idea here is that loaded and unloaded rolling stock can exist within the same folder when make sure the loaded and unloaded car has different wag, sd and s files.If anybody has corrections to what I've just mentioned, or has some suggestions in regards to folder name or specifications within the wag file, I'd be happy to hear them. It would seem that now is the time to begin proposing "naming conventions" and file specification before the community gets swamped having to change names and specifications to the many files that they've downloaded from this site and others.I hope this helps you Brian decide as to what course of action you should follow.Happy Railroading!
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