OpenRails and Raildriver

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  • CSX FAN
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2006
    • 307
    • North Carolina

    #1

    OpenRails and Raildriver

    Just wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of how to set up Raildriver with OpenRails? Have search this weekend and have come up short. There is suppose to be some sort of documentation but I can't locate it.

    Thanks,
    CSX FAN
  • conductorchris
    2500 Post Veteran

    • Mar 2010
    • 2905
    • Vermont
    • General

    #2
    I can't tell you the address for it, sorry - I know I've read it.

    There isn't much to it, as far as using open rails and raildriver. You fire up open rails and then turn on raildriver. Or the other way around, now I can't remember (easy enough to try both ways). Hopefully somebody else will jump in and compensate for my flue-addled memory.

    Christopher

    Comment

    • pilote99
      New Member
      • Jan 2013
      • 9

      #3
      Calibrate it with the MSTS version of the raildriver utility. And start open rails. Do not forget there is a on/off button on the raildriver. First down left button.

      Comment

      • CSX FAN
        Senior Member
        • Mar 2006
        • 307
        • North Carolina

        #4
        I have to reinstall Raildriver before I can get all of this done. Ever since I had Windows 7, I have been using the keyboard for MSTS/OR. I'm just wanting to get back into using it instead of it sitting on my desk for all this time and collecting dust.

        Thanks,
        CSX FAN

        Comment

        • wjcurrey
          Member
          • Jun 2010
          • 28

          #5
          Listed below is an extract from the Installation Guide pages 16-18. The complete Installation Guide is available at http://www.openrails.org/release.html under documentation tag as http://www.openrails.org/files/insta...n_guide_en.pdf




          How to Use RailDriver® with Open Rails
          You can use RailDriver® to run Open Rails. Just follow the steps in this section.
          Setting up the RailDriver calibration file
          If you already have a RailDriver installation where you have calibrated your RailDriver, you’re in luck, as there is very little to do. Simply find your RailDriver software folder (C:\Program Files\PI Engineering\RailDriver, or something similar). With luck, Open Rails will find it there. (A Registry entry LOCAL MACHINE/SOFTWARE/PI Engineering/PIBUS/RailDriver should identify the location. If you’re not familiar with Registry navigation, don’t try.)
          If you can find it, but Open Rails software cannot, look in a folder named controller and copy the ModernCalibration.rdm file to your main Microsoft Train Simulator folder. You’re done! Hook up your RailDriver and launch Open Rails software
          If you don’t have a ModernCalibration.rdm file or you want to re-calibrate your RailDriver, here is the suggested procedure:
          1. If you have an existing RailDriver software installation, find the installation folder (C:\Program Files\PI Engineering\RailDriver, or something similar). If you don’t, you’ll have to install the RailDriver software from your RailDriver CD or from the RailDriver website, at ttp://www.raildriver.com/support/downloads.php . Use the MSTS version, halfway down the page. (If you like, you can uninstall it at the end of this calibration procedure.) Using the RailDriver Calibration application, this procedure will have you create an independent copy of just the calibration file.
          2. Now that you have located or installed your RailDriver software folder, create a new folder in any place of convenience to hold just the files needed for calibration. Name the folder something like RDcalibration.
          3. Now you’re going to fill the new RDcalibration folder from the RailDriver software folder. Copy the following eight files from the RailDriver software folder to the new RDcalibration folder:
          RDcalibration.cnt RDcalibration.exe
          RDcalibration.hlp RDcalibration_ger.cnt
          RDcalibration_ger.hlp RDCalReadme.txt
          RDLanguage.ini PIEHid.dll

          Also, copy the controller folder (along with the two files in it) to your RDcalibration folder.
          4. If you haven’t hooked up your RailDriver already, do so now – power and USB cable, at least.
          5. You’re ready to calibrate the RailDriver. Launch RDcalibration.exe by double-clicking it. (If you get a window from User Account Control asking your permission to proceed with the launch, click Allow.) Then, follow the RailDriver calibration instructions to their completion.
          After you click Finish at the end of the procedure, and if you’re running Windows Vista or Windows 7, you may get a Program Compatibility Assistant notification that the setup may not have succeeded. If the calibration seemed to go smoothly, you can click “This program installed correctly.” If it didn’t, let us know.
          6. After the RailDriver calibration program exits, check the controller folder in your RDcalibration folder. The calibration program should have modified the two files in the controller folder (with a “Date modified” of approximately the time you clicked Finished).
          7. Copy the ModernCalibration.rdm file to your main Microsoft Train Simulator folder.
          8. You’re done! (If you had to install the RailDriver software from your RailDriver CD, you can uninstall it now, if you want.)
          Driving with your RailDriver in Open Rails
          Now that you have a calibration file in a place where Open Rails knows to look, you’re ready to fire up an operating session.
          1. Power up your RailDriver, but without the USB cable plugged in. The LED display is blank.
          2. Plug in the USB cable. Windows will detect new hardware and respond by installing a generic human interface driver. Assuming the installation is successful, the LED display is "rd".
          3. Launch Open Rails (V471 or greater) with your selected route and activity to load. The LED's now contain "---".
          4. Press the RailDriver Run/Stop button. The LED's contain "0.0" (speed).
          5. If you hit Run/Stop again while operating, the LED's will turn to “---“, and if you hit it again, the LED's will return to report your speed.
          6. With RailDriver still active, if you hit RailDriver's ESC button, Open Rails will exit normally, and the LED's will turn blank
          In general, you should experience the following start-up sequence.
          1. When you click Start on the Open Rails main menu, Open Rails looks for a RailDriver. If it finds one, the interface is initialized and the RailDriver LED's are set to three dashes.
          2. Next, the calibration file (ModernCalibration.rdm) is read. The code first looks for a calibration file in the train simulator folder that contains the route. If no file is found there, the code checks in the folder pointed to by Registry entry LOCAL MACHINE/SOFTWARE/PI Engineering/PIBUS/RailDriver. If a calibration file is not found there, Open Rails blanks the LED's and uses default values instead of the calibration file. (Your RailDriver probably won't work properly if there is no calibration data that matches your particular RailDriver. It will be to your advantage to perform the calibration procedure.)
          3. Whether a calibration file is used or default values are used, the RailDriver starts in the inactive state and you need to press the Run/Stop button to activate the RailDriver.
          4. Most of the RailDriver buttons work the same as with Microsoft Train Simulator. Buttons that do not have an Open Rails equivalent do nothing at all.

          Comment

          • CSX FAN
            Senior Member
            • Mar 2006
            • 307
            • North Carolina

            #6
            Thanks for that documentation. Just curious, will I have to install the RailDriver Fix from off of that German site?

            Well just found out that I didn't need to upload that fix after all for Open Rails.

            CSX FAN
            Last edited by CSX FAN; 12-23-2013, 23:03.

            Comment

            • rlkimbal
              Member
              • Dec 2005
              • 92
              • Atlanta, GA, USA.

              #7
              I didn't think Raildriver would work with windows 7.

              Dick Kimball

              Originally posted by CSX FAN
              I have to reinstall Raildriver before I can get all of this done. Ever since I had Windows 7, I have been using the keyboard for MSTS/OR. I'm just wanting to get back into using it instead of it sitting on my desk for all this time and collecting dust.

              Thanks,
              CSX FAN

              Comment

              • CSX FAN
                Senior Member
                • Mar 2006
                • 307
                • North Carolina

                #8
                It works with Open Rails but I don't have all of the throttle settings. It only gives me notches 1-6. I have tried again to obtain the RailDriver fix from that German site, but everytime I use my password I can't get in. Will keep trying later this evening due to my son still opening Christmas gifts.

                CSX FAN

                Comment

                • conductorchris
                  2500 Post Veteran

                  • Mar 2010
                  • 2905
                  • Vermont
                  • General

                  #9
                  Raildriver won't work with msts in windows 7. It will work fine in other programs.

                  Comment

                  • CSX FAN
                    Senior Member
                    • Mar 2006
                    • 307
                    • North Carolina

                    #10
                    Originally posted by conductorchris
                    Raildriver won't work with msts in windows 7. It will work fine in other programs.
                    I tried to work Raildriver with the fix from the German site with MSTS. It works but since OpenRails came out, I haven't ran MSTS. But I only run OpenRails now and completely happy with how Raildriver works with OR. Thanks to the OR Team for their hard work on this.

                    Thanks
                    CSX FAN

                    Comment

                    • rlkimbal
                      Member
                      • Dec 2005
                      • 92
                      • Atlanta, GA, USA.

                      #11
                      Thanks. I have gotten my RD back up and running again. It is great to be back at the controls.

                      Dick Kimball

                      Originally posted by conductorchris
                      Raildriver won't work with msts in windows 7. It will work fine in other programs.

                      Comment

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