Rock Island route

[bandorr2000]

I found problems with shape files that couldn't be compressed due to Distance Levels containing [ ] instaed of a number. I have corrected and compressed the shape files - there were over 200 that needed fixing. The attached zip file contains the corrected shape folder. Nice route.

[crstagg]

Is your shapes.zip for this file: Rock Island in Colorado (RI_2.0) File ID 90565 that was just uploaded? Or is it for some other Route?

Also, I recommend you add some instructions for the newbies and other tech impaired forum participants.

[bandorr2000]

Sorry Charles, yes for the Rock Island in Colorado Route (RI 2.0). download the shape file unzip, and install in the route folder.

[dlfrenchmd]

Glenn emailed me and will upload his files when available. I appreciate Charles' note, since I am fairly new at this myself. No idea what Glenn is talking about. But, as a scenery maker, I would like to be enlightened.
1. What is this compression of shapes files Glenn is talking about?
2. Why is it important? Should I be doing this before uploading a new route?
3. Is there a tutorial somewhere on how to do it, if it is important?
Thanks. Always wanting to learn.
Dan French

[bandorr2000]

Dan, I always compress all shapes to save hard drive space. What I found was I couldn't compress about 200 shapes because of the distance level setting in the shape file didn't have a number, they had a pair of brackets - [ ] - where there should have been a number. This is what controls when the shape will appear in the route. The default value seems to be 2000 ( meters ). I have never made a shape, so I have no idea how this is setup. I use Shape File Manager to edit the shape and compress it, and to set the distance level.

[dlfrenchmd]

Thanks, Glenn. I understand now. Back when I first got started making scenery a couple of years ago (there is a forum thread on this, I think), I was having my buildings not show up. So I was advised then to eliminate the distance level of 200m when saving the shape in s and sd formats. It worked. Everything shows up fine, so I never place an LOD level in the model when making the shape files. My advisors suggested most computers today have plenty of space, so this wasn't necessary. That seems now to be untrue. In the future I will probably do the same, so if you don't mind converting and uploading the work you require, it will be great by me. Thanks. I've learned something.
Dan