The next Public release of Open Rails will take place on May 27th

[captain82]

clueless!

Ok, I'm sure this probably was explained sometime ago but what exactly is open rails supposed to be?

[muskokaandtahoe]

Otto, your last image... the question marks: I believe this is a case where the sky box is showing that it is, in fact, a half sphere and what you're seeing there is its bottom edge (and points beyond). Another item added to the to-do list.

Regarding the bounding box issue in the .sd file. Whats going on is the info therein is being used to determine if an object is -- or is not -- within the camera view (being culled if the answer is no). If the line is missing entirely the program generates a default value as a substitution. Unfortunately the file parser doesn't know what to do when the line is present but has no data. I'm not sure why the program cannot use the bounding box data found in the .s file but for now it does not.

[muskokaandtahoe]

Ok, I'm sure this probably was explained sometime ago but what exactly is open rails supposed to be?

The short answer, for now, is a new program that lets you run MSTS routes and their models using modern display software, that can take advantage of modern, multi-core cpu's. It's freeware and being developed by volunteers.

The software is expected to eventually go beyond what MSTS can do, with features like networked multi-player.

See http://www.openrails.org/ for more info and the link to download the software.

[OTTODAD]

Another item added to the to-do list.

One of many, no doubt !

Thanks for the explanations, I guessed that much.

ORTS should do what MSTS does, if there is some data in support files it does not understand, created by add-on contributors, then just ignore it. Like if there is no WAV file a SMS calls for. It just can not sound it and carries on running the route !

ORTS is still a baby which has to learn how to walk and run. How well it will do will depend on it's parents teaching it.

Interesting to watch it grow up !

O t t o

[GaryG]

One of many, no doubt !

ORTS should do what MSTS does, if there is some data in support files it does not understand, created by add-on contributors, then just ignore it. Like if there is no WAV file a SMS calls for. It just can not sound it and carries on running the route !

O t t o

Hi Otto and others.

My feelings about this is that this is a good way to find problems that (we think) MSTS has always ignored. If we use this "error" information then we can, when ORTS is ready for release, have routes and equipment that can use ORTS's capabilities to the fullest. Perhaps, if we get lucky, we may even find that a few strange MSTS problems might also happen to 'disappear' as well.

GaryG

[csantucci]

In my opinion in cases where MSTS ignores not perfect syntax and by consequence looses features, OR should not accept such syntax; however in cases where features are not lost ignoring such not perfect syntax, OR could accept such syntax to increase compatibility with MSTS. I think that the "floating objects" issue and the "missing bounding box parameters in .sd files" pertain to this second category. But we must accept decisions of the OR people, that are striving to provide us a great gift.

Carlo

[OTTODAD]

In my opinion in cases where MSTS ignores not perfect syntax and by consequence looses features, OR should not accept such syntax; however in cases where features are not lost ignoring such not perfect syntax, OR could accept such syntax to increase compatibility with MSTS. I think that the "floating objects" issue and the "missing bounding box parameters in .sd files" pertain to this second category. But we must accept decisions of the OR people, that are striving to provide us a great gift.

Keeping in mind that some add-on creators are not all that accurate when coding their files and a Train Simulator not making allowances for that will not be able to run or use them !

I have a habit of just deleting WAV files I do not want to hear in routes, rather than mess with their SMS files !

O t t o