Just my thoughts

[Magoo]

Hello,

I have been using TSRE for a while to make a test route. I think that a few changes should be made to this program.

The things listed here are only my own ideas.
1 – Make the pointer (cursor) change looks with each different application. The same as Microsoft Route Editor. (RE) It is so much easier to tell what is going on that way instead of looking for a button that has been pushed.
2 – I like the use of 'F' keys instead of hunting for a button to push for different application. Quicker and easy to do with out chasing a mouse pointer around the screen.
3 – I can't find 'Forests' in the TSRE but they show up alright in RE. What do you think is wrong with that?
4 – Don't see the need to control whether track is applied to the data base. Do the same as RE and on a save put info in TDB. I have never had a problem with going back to delete or change track in RE.
5 – It appears the Control + Z (undo) only works with objects that have been placed. Tried this with a change to terrain with no success.
6 – How can you make the cursor go to deselect mode. Seems that no matter where you click it is still active and you never know what might happen next click on the mouse.
7 – How can you change the default setting for Terrain Collision mode? Crazy to start out able to go below the surface. I think you can change to this mode as you need. Most likely if you lost something below the surface or want to see the wire form when setting the terrain to different elevations.
8 – The printed information is rather vague. I have most of the Book printed and 14 pages of info that Vince gave in his postings. Still a lot of questions come up.

I feel it's a good think I can still use RE because it has got me out of trouble with this test route. Actually I ended up using RE to make the test route I am working with. Just this morning I was changing some terrain texture and got a white tile (don't know how) and had to use RE to get some texture on it. I could not select that tile, in TSRE, to make any changes to it.

I realize this is a 'work in progress' so there will be improvements to TSRE over time, I just wanted to express my thoughts at this time. I made a route many years ago with RE and it was uploaded here. Just getting back into MSTS after a long stretch of other interest.

All of my thoughts printed here …....... are just that.

Glenn

[peacockg]

Hi Glenn

3. Forests are listed under Other
5. CtrlZ works for me to undo terrain. Just raised a bit, CtrlZ and it was back where it started.
7. There is a line in settings.txt that does this -- cameraStickToTerrain = true

I use TSRE exclusively now. I can't remember the last time I opened a route in MSTSRE
Garry

[Vince]

Hello,

I have been using TSRE for a while to make a test route. I think that a few changes should be made to this program.

The things listed here are only my own ideas.
1 – Make the pointer (cursor) change looks with each different application. The same as Microsoft Route Editor. (RE) It is so much easier to tell what is going on that way instead of looking for a button that has been pushed.
2 – I like the use of 'F' keys instead of hunting for a button to push for different application. Quicker and easy to do with out chasing a mouse pointer around the screen.
3 – I can't find 'Forests' in the TSRE but they show up alright in RE. What do you think is wrong with that?
4 – Don't see the need to control whether track is applied to the data base. Do the same as RE and on a save put info in TDB. I have never had a problem with going back to delete or change track in RE.
5 – It appears the Control + Z (undo) only works with objects that have been placed. Tried this with a change to terrain with no success.
6 – How can you make the cursor go to deselect mode. Seems that no matter where you click it is still active and you never know what might happen next click on the mouse.
7 – How can you change the default setting for Terrain Collision mode? Crazy to start out able to go below the surface. I think you can change to this mode as you need. Most likely if you lost something below the surface or want to see the wire form when setting the terrain to different elevations.
8 – The printed information is rather vague. I have most of the Book printed and 14 pages of info that Vince gave in his postings. Still a lot of questions come up.

I feel it's a good think I can still use RE because it has got me out of trouble with this test route. Actually I ended up using RE to make the test route I am working with. Just this morning I was changing some terrain texture and got a white tile (don't know how) and had to use RE to get some texture on it. I could not select that tile, in TSRE, to make any changes to it.

I realize this is a 'work in progress' so there will be improvements to TSRE over time, I just wanted to express my thoughts at this time. I made a route many years ago with RE and it was uploaded here. Just getting back into MSTS after a long stretch of other interest.

All of my thoughts printed here …....... are just that.
Glenn

C1. I have no problems with pointer. Only change is 'Stick to Setting' ( Shift+Q) Easily seen . . . with experience.

C2. Agree.

C3. Select Forests in the "Other" menu where signals are listed also. Use the search function.

C4. Safety my friend is why! You certainly DO NOT want track database automatic when you are changing and fitting track, trying different sections for a good fit. You're going to have one in the TDB and you'll move it without pressing 'Z' and then you ARE screwed big time. Leave this alone, it's a safety net for you.

C5. It's stated somewhere in the documentation that Undo is NOT for terrain. For me, It works for everything else, works backward from your last placement. It also works when adjusting terrain to track with the 'F' key. BTW, The 'F' key, "ADJ Terrain to Object works for ANY object. Be warned though some shapes are faulty and produce VERY strange results if you tru to adjust terrain under them using the selected object. (all un-doable tho')

C6. Press the [SELECT] button. This toggles select on/off.

C7. The exact same way you did in the MSTS editor!

C8. Like you said; "It's a work in progress."

Additional info.
If you are modding a route with interactives installed some cautions.

A Track Vector is all the track between:

a. Two Track End Nodes. ie 2 Blue Poles.
b. A Track End Node (Blue Pole) and A Junction Node (Red Pole)
c. Two Junction Nodes (Red Poles)

Now the RULE:
When modding track Interactive Objects MUST be removed (deleted) from ANY track vector between Nodes as described above.

Ignore this and you WILL destroy any signal links and probably introduce corruption into the database files.
Speedpost and Mileposts seem particularly affected throwing all sorts of bad stuff at you.

Use a marker object to mark deleted interactive objects. I use a big 'ol smokestack or a animated smoke object. Easy to see. Of course you need to actually write into a notebook what each marker is standing for.

Bottom line: TSRE is light years ahead of the MSTS editor but it DOES have it's little quirks. Practice and learn.

regards,

[Magoo]

Hey thanks for the info to some of my questions.

C4. Safety my friend is why! You certainly DO NOT want track database automatic when you are changing and fitting track, trying different sections for a good fit. You're going to have one in the TDB and you'll move it without pressing 'Z' and then you ARE screwed big time. Leave this alone, it's a safety net for you.

Vince, why does this work in RE without pressing any keys. I have not had a problem with RE and I have changed track to find what works for the space etc. I just don't understand the need to decide when a track piece should be entered in the TDB. May be in this program it is different.

I know it will take a while to get used to a new program with all of the different ways to accomplish something.

Thanks again for the help.

Glenn

[Magoo]

Garry,

I looked at the Settings file and it has the 'cameraStickToTerrain = true' all ready but the camera goes right through the surface terrain into 'no man's land'. If I set it in the menu inside of the program it is then OK. Don't know why?

Another thing I would like to see is a display of the direction and Lat. & Lon. location. I'm never happy!

Glenn

[ebnertra000]

...

Another thing I would like to see is a display of the direction and Lat. & Lon. location. I'm never happy!

Glenn

That exists. In one of the drop-down menus is an option for a compass

[Vince]

Hey thanks for the info to some of my questions.
I just don't understand the need to decide when a track piece should be entered in the TDB. May be in this program it is different.
Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Okay, say you're putting in various size track sections looking for a good fit. In automatic add to TDB as soon as you de-select a track it gets a TDB vector assigned.If you re-select the track section and move it without removing the yellow TDB line you will corrupt the TDB/World file synchronization and that is a problem. The thing is, trains don't run on the tracks.They run on the TDB.
Here are a couple of tutorials that say it better than I.
http://msts.steam4me.net/tutorials/h...ders_work.html
and http://msts.steam4me.net/tutorials/rt_fold.html

Leaving Automatic Add to TDB off removes the risk by leaving you in control as to when you want to add the new track section to the database. Not when you just de-select the track.

You'll be doing a lot of swapping track in and out and the last thing you want is mistakenly moving a track while the yellow line is still associated with that track section.

regards,

[peacockg]

Hi Glenn
Lat/long values of the camera are shown in the small Navi Window.
Compass is the last option in the View drop down menu.
Garry

[Magoo]

Hi Glenn
Lat/long values of the camera are shown in the small Navi Window.
Compass is the last option in the View drop down menu.
Garry

I don't see any Compass listed in the View drop down menu. I assume I have the current version of TSRE, #5. In the NAVI window the text is very small and numbers change so fast to indicate the pointer position. I only use that to enter Lat. and Lon. numbers to jump to a start point on a tile. The numbers listed by Camera don't change while moving the camera. What do you think I am doing wrong?

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
Glenn

[Vince]

Hi Glenn,

If you don't see a [Compass] listed in the >View< menu you are using a obsolete down level version.
As Garry posted the Latitude and Longitude, Tile address and positions are all shown in the small NAVI window that opens when you start TSRE.

The OpenRailsLog.txt file that is created on your desktop IF you have the [LOGGING] box checked on the OR opening screen.
We absolutely need this log to fix your problems.
Please attach the test file log to your answering post and we can help.

regards,

[peacockg]

Hi Glenn
I am using TSREv6963. In the Navi Window the 3 boxes x y z beside Pointer change as I move the pointer about the screen. But the x y z beside Camera remain constant, as do the x y values (world tile numbers) below them, and the lat long values at the bottom.
Garry

[Vince]

But the x y z beside Camera remain constant, as do the x y values (world tile numbers) below them, and the lat long values at the bottom.
Garry

Hi Garry,
They remain constant until you move the camera.
You can over type these fields and then press the [Jump] button to travel to the coordinates you type.

Within a Tile, you can Jump to any Tile coordinates you type in the X, Y & Z fields BUT Only one coordinate at a time!

For example, your located on a tile and you need to locate a specific location 643.22 54.20 -736,77 on THAT TILE.

First you type 643.22 in the TileX filed and press [Jump] Your camera position changes to TileX=643.22

Next type -736,77 into the TileZ field and again press [Jump]

Forget about the middle coodinate. That's the vertical Y axis and usually not needed except special use like jumping to a spot underground (useful in finding all that buried tracl in the PRR-East route.

Now your camera changes to TileX=643.22 TileZ-736,77 exactly where you wanted to go.

I was NOT successful when typing in BOTH tileX & TileZ coordinates at the same time jumping within the same tile..
I needed to perform the [Jump] one coordinate at a time and I don't know why but the two-step process works where getting an accurate coordinate position was impossible when doing a two-coordinate jump. No idea why.

The [Jump] function, other than this quirk when jumping within a single tile works the same as the MSTS Jump function except with TSRE tou can over-type all of the coordiate fields.

TSRE has much the same functions as the MSTS editor but has some the same and some different keys/commands.
Do not let your MSTS experience with editor functions guide you. It's a whole new ball game.

Print out any available documentation. I keep mine in plastic protect sleeves in a looseleaf notebook. There's not a lot but it's a whole lot more that you EVER got from the scumbags at Microsoft.

The new age of computers is okay but I still like my editor documentation on hard copy.
Hate reading that stuff off a monitor and it intrudes with the programs I'm trying to run.
regards,

[Magoo]

Vince,

I don't have a openrailslog.txt file. Not sure what you are talking about. I use TSRE with MSTS not Open Rails .The version is 0.69482, I think that is the latest version. Am I correct in that respect?

I am only playing with this software and don't intend to make a big route to share with anyone. Mostly something to keep me busy. I am 80 years old and like to learn something new, but it is not the end of the world if I never get this program perfected.

Glenn

[peacockg]

Hi Glenn
The latest version of TSRE is 6963, available here:

http://koniec.org/TSRE5_v0.6963.exe

The advantage of using this version is that Goku has got the maps layer working again.
Garry

[peacockg]

Hi Vince
There seem to be a lot of odd things that work for one person and not for another in TSRE.
I can change both x and z coordinates within a tile at the same time, and then jump to the new location. I am using v6963.
Garry