xtracks for open rails?

[bnsf844]

just curious do i need to have msts to install xtracks? tried installing it and would not let me because i dont have msts installed.

[ckawahara]

Xtracks installs in the MSTS Global folder. You will also find that the sound folder may be needed for some routes.

[OTTODAD]

X-Tracks can be installed into any temporary location !

But for ORTS to be able to use the MSTS stuff it needs to function, it can be in a folder with any name, but must contain MSTS folders and files in the same Directory structure as used by the installed MSTS !

[baldwin]

Ummmmm, Open Rails manual section 4.8, OR folder structure. That should cover it. 4.9 deals with what files go where.

[Vince]

People need to stop saying this...
.............snip,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,
According to the ORTS Team, you do not need MSTS for ORTS to run.
I HAVE YET TO SEE ANYONE PROVIDE A LIST TO ALL THE NEWBIES HERE AS TO WHAT THIS "DIRECTORY STRUCTURE" IS SUPPOSED TO BE! .........snip.........................
If it is in some ORTS documentation somewhere, on how to do this, it must be so well hidden, that almost no one is seeing it...

Not sure if it's in the Manual but have you looked? Lotsa' good info in there.

I asked the question before, if this MSTS "Directory Structure" is so important, then why doesn't the ORTS installation program create the MSTS "Directory Structure" for the end user...

Ummm, it does create a directory structure all in it's own directory where you tell it to (i use the experimental versions daily update so I put my Open Rails directory on my desktop)

In this directory is the OR.exe program and all it's sub-folders, oops sorry, sub-Directories, and other files needed to faithfully allow you to drive trains.
When running from the desktop folder, I can access ANY of my many MSTS routes spread across 3 hard drives, one of them an external.

So lay back buddy, you DON"T NEED to create a 'directory Structure' to run OR.
If you have MSTS installed somewhere, then you already have all the directory structure need.

Just do some reading of the OR Manual and all this mystery will be made known to you.
I respectfully suggest that being this is a completely new Sim and reading a Manual on a monitor is difficult that you print out the Manual and read at your leisure. Cuppa' coffee per chapter is about right for me. YMMV.

Conversely, if you hate reading then just start up Open Rails and click on the [OPTIONS] button, then the Content Tab. There you will tell OR where your MSTS install is (path) and you're done.
btw, When OR is running, pressing the F1 key will bring up a list of keyboard commands. It will do you well to browse through that list.

..............snip................................ .........
Even an included MSTS Directory Structure Install.bat file would be very helpful. Just something to create the "MSTS/Global" folder and all the rest of the required folders, for those that want to use MSTS Content.
Still NOTHING.

That's because all your rants (not undeserved) and questions (expected & welcomed) are out there in the Open Rails Manual and have been in ongoing discussion for over a year at Elvas Tower!

And still... People keep saying, the END USER must provide or create this "Directory Structure" for ORTS.

Yes. That's exactly right! Your Machine. Your MSTS install (that's got the 'directory structure' right there where you told it to install) and it's all ready to allow you to run trains with OR

And so, the question of "Do I need to Install MSTS?"... Keeps coming up, time and time and time again, with the same unhelpful answer. "NO, BUT..." Either it is needed, or it isn't. Pick One!

Maybe because both ARE correct? But let's read on . . .

If not, then there need to be a quick solution, something like I pointed out above, made available to everyone.
As of the time of this posting... It seems that it is easiest for everyone to just install MSTS. Sooner or Later, you'll probably need something from an MSTS Install, so just do it. You don't have to use it, but having it installed will help most users. Most routes out there, require XTracks, and New Roads, ETC. Install all that next. THEN install ORTS.

Okay, quite a rant and I DO understand your frustration. First off, OR is not MSTS! Most commands remain the same but there are changes!
OR doesn't care a whit about X-Tracks!
If a route you run in MSTS needs XTracks then Open Rails need them installed to your MSTS installation just like you would install them for running MSTS.

Bin. Not needed at all for OR. Open Rails WILL handle the Bin enhancements to eng & wag files (lights ect.)

Ditto for NewRoads and other add-on content.
Basically, if you have a running MSTS installation, you simply install Open Rails somewhere on you machine.
Me, I picked the desktop, named the directory [OR on Desktop].
Then you get to pick your OR install directory anywhere you want. I gave my reason.(convenience)
You get to pick you reason. Simple really.

You can read all about them in the well written Open Rails Manual

Now a definitive answer on folders (directories):
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...48#entry170048

Or for those who don't have access for one reason or another, a quote from developer Rob Roeterdink:

Post
Lindsayts, a member of Elvas Tower, on 14 January 2015 - 02:24 PM, said:
Open Rails only requires ............

GLOBAL
ROUTES
TRAINS
SOUND
................................................
Rob Roeterdink, OR Developer replied:
This requires some qualification, as these may be the folders OR requires - but the contents is something quite different.

GLOBAL:
many routes use specific track sets, like XTRACK, UK-finescale etc.
Routes which solely use such sets (i.e. no MSTS track at all) do not need the any of the original MSTS files from GLOBAL, as all required files come from the relevant track set.

ROUTES:
in principle, to run a route only that specific route folder is required.
However, many routes - in particular freeware routes - ( like the nec4) - use much stuff from the original MSTS routes, and therefor the original MSTS routes need to be available in order to install these routes properly.

TRAINS:
similar as to routes, more or less. Again, only the folders for the trains which are actually used are required, but here too many such items refer to original MSTS files like cabviews and, in particular, soundfiles. Many consists refer to engines or wagons from original MSTS routes but those can be easily exchanged for other engines or wagons.

SOUND:
this folder needs many of the original MSTS files. Only very few routes provide a full new soundset.

Regards,
Rob Roeterdink "

In case you don't remember Rob Roeterdink is the chap that solved the Cutbank Broken Coupler Syndrome Mystery back in 2002. When he speaks; I listen . . . carefully!

regards,

[R. Steele]

Can a moderator please sticky this new thread I just started..... it should address the whole issue for the future.
That is, if people will take the time to read it.

https://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?323402-MSTS-File-Format-Compatibility&p=1882682#post1882682

(and postscript to Vince...everything you posted #6 - right on the money & glad you included that quote from Rob Roeterdink)