MSTS Static Engine lights - flashing vegetation - and a DPU utility question

**crstagg** · 04-09-2015, 14:25

Originally posted by qballbandit

Hello,
............
Lastly, every time I run a Route Riter created AI engine (used as a trailing engine) through DPU to recode for smoke, it does not show up in the consist in OR. I can see the freightanim, and smoke, but no main shape.
All comments welcomed.

Thanks for your help!

The Last time I used DPU to edit an Engine it replaced the Type Line with a Comment about being edited by DPU. When I brought this to the attention of Markus, he did not give an indication of fixing this any time soon. I have discarded DPU and begun using Marc Nelson's Diesel Smoke Replacement. http://www.3dtrains.com/downloads/misc.shtml

**qballbandit** · 04-09-2015, 14:46

Hi Charles,
Yes, I see that too, though using DPU doesn't effect my lead player engine, just any trailing units defined as AI by Route Riter for MSTS.
I'll have a look at Marc's utility.

Thanks for your response.

**plainsman** · 04-09-2015, 14:53

if you widen the nozzles and keep the smoke under 2, you can manually edit it. The nozzles need to be about 0.33 meters wide.
I tried DPU, and went back to editing, DPU was more hassle for me??

**R. Steele** · 04-09-2015, 15:39

Originally posted by qballbandit

Hello,
Much of my vegetation flashes. Not sure if it is because they (the .ace files) have all been edited from their original state or not - but wondering if this has been an issue for others, and how they corrected it. Is it as simple as turning down a setting in the OR options?
Thanks for your help!

Re: Flashing vegetation, yep, from what I've read the OR team is aware. Not being a route builder I will not try to explain it. However, I think it is more of the way routes were created with the RE than with OR, although, some progress has been made in reducing it.
Search the threads at Elvas, try flashing vegetation or some permutation of same and see what you can find. It has been discussed many times.

And yes, I see it. Not as frequently as I used to, also tuning your video card for OR can help.

**TGM** · 04-09-2015, 15:52

Morning Neill,

I can't help you with #2 or #3 but maybe I can help you with your #1 question: static light issue.

I have attached two light sections for you to look at (below the pictures). The first is one of my static GP38s & the second is a static SD40-2, both come from the SLI_BNSF folder.

I normally have two GP38s coupled together (rear to rear) but one should work fine on it's own. I have only set up the headlights (on dim) as they are sitting in a yard & I don't need to have their ditch lights on.

The first set is a normal light setup using the front headlight & the second section (DPU) is still using the front headlight only with the engine flipped. Note the service, unit & control settings for the GP38, pretty standard.

The SD40-2 has it's light settings a little different as I wanted this loco to appear as if it were ready to go out onto the main from a siding so, hence it has all of it's front lights going (on bright). The only conditions being used are headlight (0) & unit (0).

I even have some nice pictures to show the lights working as well. The first two shots are of the GP38s. The first one # 2264 is the front headlights going & the second one #2285 is the DPU lights going.

The third shot shows the SD40-2 placed on the main with a static train just to show you the lights are all going.

I hope this helps. Any questions don't hesitate to ask.

regards Tom

Here is the GP38s relevant light section for you to check & below that the SD40-2 section.

Lights ( 12
Light (
Comment( Headlight top dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Service ( 2 )
Unit ( 2 )
Control ( 1 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.28 8.14 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( Headlight bottom dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Service ( 2 )
Unit ( 2 )
Control ( 1 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.08 8.13 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( Headlight top dim #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Service ( 2 )
Unit ( 2 )
Control ( 1 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.28 8.14 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( Headlight bottom dim #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Service ( 2 )
Unit ( 2 )
Control ( 1 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.08 8.13 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
Comment ( DPU light section x 4 )
)
Light (
Comment( DPU front headlight top dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
headlight ( 4 )
Unit ( 4 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.28 8.14 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( DPU front headlight bottom dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 4 )
Unit ( 4 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.08 8.13 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( DPU front headlight top dim #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 4 )
Unit ( 4 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.28 8.14 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( DPU front headlight bottom dim #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 4 )
Unit ( 4 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.02 3.08 8.13 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.20 )
)
)
)

+++++++++++++++++++

SLI BNSF SD40-2 light section

Lights ( 12
Light (
Comment( Headlight top bright )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( 0.0 4.39 7.05 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( Headlight bottom bright )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( 0.0 4.2 7.03 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( Headlight top bright #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( 0.0 4.39 7.05 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( Headlight bottom bright #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( 0.0 4.2 7.03 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( CNDR side ditch light )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
Cycle ( 0 )
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( -0.88 1.86 10.17 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( ENGR side ditch light )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
Cycle ( 0 )
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( 0.88 1.86 10.17 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( CNDR side ditch light #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
Cycle ( 0 )
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( -0.88 1.86 10.17 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)
Light (
Comment( ENGR side ditch light #2 )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Headlight ( 0 )
Unit ( 0 )
)
Cycle ( 0 )
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffca91 )
Position ( 0.88 1.86 10.17 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.24 )
)
)
)

**qballbandit** · 04-09-2015, 21:14

Thanks for the replies you guys have shared.
Bob, I'll save your information right into my personal notes. I did have a copy of Marc's batch files already in my Global folder, so just messed with them - however, do want some variations, so manual editing may be the way to go.

Gerry, good deal. I'll try to dig up some posts over at Elvas on the subject. There isn't any flashing until the train starts moving, which is interesting.

Tom, thanks, and maybe my eyes are just tired, but I am confused. I too generally only have the dim lights on, front & rear.
Here is the lighting section for the front lights, and they look identical to your settings, but my engines lights are still not shining:
Lights ( 4
Light (
comment( Bottom Hood light dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Service ( 2 )
Unit ( 2 )
Control ( 1 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.0 4.17 6.41 )
Azimuth ( 0.0 -5.0 5.0 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.5 )
)
)
)
Light (
comment( Top Hood light dim )
Type ( 0 )
Conditions (
Service ( 2 )
Unit ( 2 )
Control ( 1 )
)
FadeIn ( 0.5 )
FadeOut ( 0.5 )
Cycle ( 0 )
States ( 1
State (
Duration ( 0.0 )
LightColour ( ffffef8f )
Position ( 0.0 4.395 6.43 )
Azimuth ( 0.0 -5.0 5.0 )
Transition ( 0 )
Radius ( 0.5 )
)
)
)

Not sure what the heck the issue is?

**TGM** · 04-09-2015, 23:15

Yeah, they look the same Neil, except, try removing the azimuth lines & see if that fixes the issue.

Also, are the length measurements correct? 6.41 & 6.43 look a little short to me, of course I don't know which engine you using so I could be wrong?

regards Tom

**markus1996** · 04-10-2015, 05:18

Originally posted by plainsman

[...]
I tried DPU, and went back to editing, DPU was more hassle for me??

Originally posted by crstagg

The Last time I used DPU to edit an Engine it replaced the Type Line with a Comment about being edited by DPU. When I brought this to the attention of Markus, he did not give an indication of fixing this any time soon.[...]

Please keep in mind the X in DPU´s current version info - it means, it´s still an experimental release and everything will be fixed.

However, when that will happen is currently hard to tell. My day (and night) job as an ambulance man has been very time consuming during the last 3 months (120+ over hours), so progress has slowed to a crawl. I hope that during the summer, when I´m done with civil service, I can get back to working on DPU more intensively, which would allow me to release a final Version 3 still this year.

Cheers, Markus

**scottb613** · 04-10-2015, 05:32

Hi Folks,

In regards to DPU - just FYI - what I've found is the "Type" line gets replaced only when running the file through DPU more than once with the "Multiple DPU" executable... If I use the "Single DPU" - on subsequent runs it doesn't seem to replace that line... You mileage may vary...

Regards,
Scott

**qballbandit** · 04-10-2015, 10:13

Tom, the engine lights are fine in MSTS, so I'll try the azimuth removal. I admit, I have not gotten for enough into OR yet to see if my other Static engines have any issues, but will quickly start broadening my testing of activities.

Hi Markus, no worries - life is more important. I don't think anyone is speaking negatively about your utility, I like the ease of use. Will be patient and wait for future updates.

Scott, I am simply dragging the .eng files over the main executable - once, and it is removing the "Type" data line. Easy enough to just type it back in, but a future fix will be better received.

**TGM** · 04-10-2015, 20:58

Hi Neil,
I tried your azimuth lines on my lights & they still worked ok. so, thats not the issue. Oh well, at least that eliminates one line of thought.
Just out of interest, what engine is it that you are having the issues with.

regards Tom

**markus1996** · 04-11-2015, 07:49

Originally posted by scottb613

Hi Folks,

In regards to DPU - just FYI - what I've found is the "Type" line gets replaced only when running the file through DPU more than once with the "Multiple DPU" executable... If I use the "Single DPU" - on subsequent runs it doesn't seem to replace that line... You mileage may vary...

Regards,
Scott

What do you mean by "Multiple DPU" exe / single ... ?

The problem with the Type line being swallowed is the code to limit the number of "Edited by DPU ..." comments at the beginning of the file. Something is going wrong when counting the number of lines before the type line.

Cheers, Markus

**crstagg** · 04-11-2015, 08:32

Markus,

FYI I never used the Multiple process. But I did use the Single procedure more than once as I did not like the first result.

For everyone's information ORTS is not bothered if the Type line, "Type ( Engine )" in the Wagon section of an ENG file is not present as it knows it is an Engine by the file extension ENG. BUT MSTS and all the consist editors do use that Type Line and when it is missing the engine will either not be listed or there will be problems with the CON file created.

**scottb613** · 04-11-2015, 11:39

Hi Markus,

In my copy of DPU it looked like you had two executables - one was labeled single - one multiple - something like that - I don't have it in front of me at the moment... The way I've been using it - is when processing a single file - I would drop it on the DPU I thought was for single files - when I did a bunch at the same time - I rdropped them on the one I thought was for multiple files... In all fairness to you - I probably didn't read the instructions and therefore I could have a gross conceptual error in its use... It seemed to work though - I even figured out how to turn the alerter off and the horn triggers bell options... It's a fantastic utility - I have plans to modify it so I can set all my steam locomotive controls the same with the same drag and drop ease...

Regards,
Scott