ORTS - Runs, doesn't run, runs, doesn't run....

[qballbandit]

Hello,
I have been struggling with an issue since deciding to run ORTS full time vs. MSTS.

I can run my MSTS activities on any stable or test version for a couple of days, then I start getting "render process hangs" errors.
I'll get the errors on activities (unchanged) that I have run successfully during the prior few days.
When I get this error, I can not run any activity until I either delete OR and re-install a different version, or simply update to the newest stable or test version available.
Then I can successfully run any of the same activities I was trying to run prior, when the failures reoccurred.

It's a continuous cycle for me - run fine 2 or 3 days, then bam - error. Delete/Update, runs fine.

If it is a system problem that is causing it, I can't find the issue. But then why would a fresh version of OR always be the cure?

Anyone else live through this with their own stories to tell?

[baldwin]

Neil
As a first step, can you provide a log of a session where the render process has hung, and if possible, a screenshot of the F5 debug screen when this happens.

[csantucci]

Switch also off the Experimental Option "Show shape warnings" if you have it on. And, as baldwin says, pls. provide the OpenRailsLog.txt file. Maybe there is some other option to be tuned.

[qballbandit]

Hello,
I never have the "Show shape warnings" on.
I'll turn on logging, and post the next log file after the event occurs.
The activity never starts, so won't be able to get the F5 screen, unless I don't understand the request?

Thanks much,

[danb1]

Hello,
I have been struggling with an issue since deciding to run ORTS full time vs. MSTS.
Anyone else live through this with their own stories to tell?

Yes, I understand the frustration.
I gave ORTS a massive try. Then found so many problems I switched back to MSTS
The environments are just so much better in MSTS.
As soon as you see a screenshot taken in ORTS it's obvious.
OK, guys without the skills to get MSTS working on their systems, it's a way out for them.
I feel ORTS is years away from coming close to what MSTS is capable of, time I do not have.
DB

[charland]

I had trouble a while back with OR, I had to go into OR>Options>Experimental, and uncheck beside MSTS Environments. Decent clouds go away but it's run fine ever since.

Paul :-)

[R. Steele]

As soon as you see a screenshot taken in ORTS it's obvious.

Yep, I agree, it's obvious these screenshots were taken in OR

ATSF-Sunset.jpg Keddie Wye.jpg PRB_2.jpg

OK, guys without the skills to get MSTS working on their systems, it's a way out for them.
I feel ORTS is years away from coming close to what MSTS is capable of, time I do not have.
DB

This is what I find interesting, that when many of the MSTS "guys" try OR, they complain about the work needed, or the learning curve. Where are the "great skills" when you need them? Thank goodness I never used MSTS as a train sim platform. I taught myself how to use it, set it up on my machine, learned the file and folder structures, how to tweak different files, etc, etc, - then found OR and never looked back, MUCH MUCH MUCH better platform - now with actual working turntables.
DO NOT misinterpret this statement as a slam on MSTS...it was a seminal, important step in train simulation platforms.

[Mark15]

Yes, I understand the frustration.
I gave ORTS a massive try. Then found so many problems I switched back to MSTS
The environments are just so much better in MSTS.
As soon as you see a screenshot taken in ORTS it's obvious.
OK, guys without the skills to get MSTS working on their systems, it's a way out for them.
I feel ORTS is years away from coming close to what MSTS is capable of, time I do not have.
DB

For the immediate future I've dumped train simming altogether.
I was very keen since release to try out MSTS but time limitations prevented this until recently.
Finally I get the time and load up MSTS. Let's be serious here, it's just an outdated/buggy piece of software incapable of running on modern hardware. It won't be attracting a bunch of new simmers.

So I come across OR. Great! The perfect solution to MSTS!
It's a great platform for MSTS content but yes, needs further development.
The biggest issue for me and the reason I've now switched to another non train sim is I don't feel OR is a project for everyone. You get the feeling it's for MSTS old timers. The OR main forum being locked off to the world blows me away! This is the single best way of making certain new OR simmers will move on elsewhere as I have done.

I'm not interested in messing with a sim I can't give input too. I check in here time to time to see where things stand but until there are either massive improvements to Open Rails so input is rarely required from the user or the official forums open to everyone I won't be back. My new sim looks like a heck of a lot of fun (with forum!) so if I get hooked on it, may never come back to train sim at all.

It's disappointing because there is no one who has waited for almost one and half decades to really get stuck into train simming and if MSTS and OR can't keep me interested...well...

Sorry, just putting it out there honestly.

[lateagain]

Well although they raise quite a few points Gerry's post #7 and mark's #8 have absolutely diddly squat to do with the original post .

PLEASE leave the fanbois posts to that other rail based game .

Really nice screen grabs Gerry but I would point out that for those that haven't delved into the latest OR environment mods the MAJORITY of OR screengrabs posted do not use what's now built in to OR, preferring instead to use the simple blue sky world of the early versions .....for whatever reason? Maybe Dan is not alone in not realising this and frankly nor would I have been except for one post here I stumbled on by accident. Perhaps a point to the relevant part of the ever thickening OR manual would have been helpful? I'm not on my Sim box at the moment or I'd do just that.

Dan you may be right about not attracting a bunch of new simmers but on every other point many will disagree.
1) It runs fine on my two year old Flight Sim "special" in Win7 64bit.
2) It's arguably the LEAST buggy of all Rail Sims. It should be since the work the community has put in "bug fixing" over it's 15 years of existence and the massive improvement made by the BIN patch it's still capable of things that newer Sims are not and has features still under development for OR
3) OR is without doubt the natural successor to MSTS and it's huge strength is that current freeware developers can continue to create new content, whilst the vast library of existing MSTS content and payware will run in it.
4) The current OR forum issue is as a result of one individuals actions. It's been discussed at length here in the forum.

You don't name your "new sim" but frankly with more MSTS/OR content than I could expect to run in my lifetime I fail to understand what exactly you're looking for

[R. Steele]

Well although they raise quite a few points Gerry's post #7 and mark's #8 have absolutely diddly squat to do with the original post .

For my part, mea culpa, could not help myself....talk about lack of self control*.
[*refers to my post #22 in this thread >>> https://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showth...1#post1903701]

Really nice screen grabs Gerry

Thank you.

[CSRX]

Yes, I understand the frustration.
I gave ORTS a massive try. Then found so many problems I switched back to MSTS
The environments are just so much better in MSTS.
As soon as you see a screenshot taken in ORTS it's obvious.
OK, guys without the skills to get MSTS working on their systems, it's a way out for them.
I feel ORTS is years away from coming close to what MSTS is capable of, time I do not have.
DB

Well then. This has made my night complete.

I guess I am just a skill-less person because I prefer ORTS over MSTS.

Man, and to think ORTS is much more realistic in terms of physics handling, etc, than that of MSTS.

OH!, I don't think MSTS allowed "kicking" of cars either like ORTS can.

[ossie]

I guess I am just a skill-less person because I prefer ORTS over MSTS.

That made me smile also. The constant need for some to suggest MSTS is better than ORTS or vice versa is pitiful. Both have strong points in regard to the other. For instance, I get very envious of some of the great environment shots I see in MSTS, but having recently fired up my old MSTS machine, I found I just couldn't get back into the small window after being used to running ORTS on a wide screen monitor on my newer PC. In a perfect world, I'd be using both depending on what I wanted to do in a particular situation but from a practicality pov, its ORTS for me. MSTS won't get any better than what it is now but hopefully ORTS will continue to develop and improve and in time match or better the areas where MSTS still outshines it.

[lateagain]

Sorry Neil I don't know enough to help with the activities issues, but I'm interested in any feedback related to this.

Meanwhile to clear up one issue ENVIRONMENTS....
http://openrails.org/files/OpenRails-Testing-Manual.pdf This is the latest version uploaded September 2016 according to the link.

Open the pdf and search the word ENVIRONMENT. You get 17 references within the manual. Last time I ran it there was a definite improvement in how you could set up Environments

NOW if they can ever get to changing weather or Actual weather ....as implemented in FSX 10 years ago.....

Of course there's a big drawback in that level or reality. Matter of choice of course but there seems little point in driving a route in darkness or fog or heavy rain when the visibility is reduced from zero through to just a few wagon lengths? Rather makes the efforts of the better route builders pointless?

[qballbandit]

Well, this thread bounced off the track quickly....but,

"Of course there's a big drawback in that level or reality. Matter of choice of course but there seems little point in driving a route in darkness or fog or heavy rain when the visibility is reduced from zero through to just a few wagon lengths? Rather makes the efforts of the better route builders pointless?"

In MSTS/ORTS as well as MSFS, when I run an activity or fly a plane on any given day, I want the simulation to depict the real world conditions at my general location, so for me personally - I'd love to see a weather engine similar to FlightSim. Railroading ain't all clear, sunny days, so if ORTS has strength in simulating rail conditions, etc., real weather would be a bonus, and add to the train handling challenges faced in the RW.

[CSRX]

I can stand behind that idea of real world based weather. When I start my shift around 1500, It's typically sunny and clear, but that is one area, we get to Middleburry, and it could easily be cloudy and rainy. Which it has numerous times before. That is only 1hr and 30mins into the shift! Get back to Burlington after an 8-9 hour shift, and it's clear, cool and you can see the stars, of what you can due to city lights...

Yes, I'd love that idea!

Though I see Neil is having activity issues. Honestly, I haven't ran in activity in ages. Until we actually get a program to create activities, I'm simply stuck running just with my train, no AI, no cars in sidings. Bleh. Get's boring. I miss switching out industries and meeting trains along the way.. In a sense, I miss creating my own activities. Although, MSTS was a bit of a pain creating them. Ugh.