TSRE Activity Editor

[CSRX]

There has got to be a simpler way to make activities. Granted, the old school Activity Editor from MSTS had some issues, but at least it worked, and would inform you of any errors along the way. TSRE, is just, a mess when it comes to this.

I have spent almost 3 hours now, trying to make a simple activity on the old school Marias Pass 5 route, using TSRE, and I am just, not impressed.

I try to test what I have so far in Open Rails, and this pops up.




Of course, no idea what any of that means, but I go, and take a look at what I may or may not have done with the activity.

So, I check out the services real quick, okay, everything seems to be okay.





Now to take a look at the traffic files. Hmm.



Oh, okay, undefined? so, I click the appropriate train for the traffic piece once again. I do this for the next one, same thing, undefined, so I click the appropriate train. Go back to the top, oh, undefined again.. well okay.




and then, everything seems fine here..





So, I am not actually sure whats going on, but with zero manuals or tips and tricks on how to defeat the TSRE, it's a little lack luster... at least the Route Editing portion is good so far.

[R. Steele]

Shawn, Here's a link to a manual, which does have a section on the AE -- the manual is still a work in progress.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hvtCQGrQqlXaSx8KftaxtrhxvNbWeiuBStZkmc2wNIU/edit

Others have the same - or similar - problems, searching the threads will turn them up. Sympathize with your frustrations, I have some with the AE myself, especially that it is intertwined with the RE...wish none of the RE functions were available to the casual user of the AE - not being a route creator, I'm always concerned that I will move something in the route, or somehow screw it up -- Goku is dismissive of that viewpoint..not receptive to any other opinions. Some of the moves that have to be made to save traffic or services seem very counter intuitive to me.

[CSRX]

Shawn, Here's a link to a manual, which does have a section on the AE -- the manual is still a work in progress.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hvtCQGrQqlXaSx8KftaxtrhxvNbWeiuBStZkmc2wNIU/edit

Others have the same - or similar - problems, searching the threads will turn them up. Sympathize with your frustrations, I have some with the AE myself, especially that it is intertwined with the RE...wish none of the RE functions were available to the casual user of the AE - not being a route creator, I'm always concerned that I will move something in the route, or somehow screw it up -- Goku is dismissive of that viewpoint..not receptive to any other opinions. Some of the moves that have to be made to save traffic or services seem very counter intuitive to me.

I'll take a look, see what I can come up with, majority of the time the search system of this forum brings up more unrelated stuff than it does stuff you actually want.

[CSRX]

Went into explore mode..

clearly something went wrong somewhere... going to take a wild guess I need to reinstall Marias Pass 5.

Oh, this is frustrating. Shame the old editors don't work on my computer, because I'd most certainly drop this AE tool for the old MSTS version in a heart beat..

[motormaster532]

I have the same problem. Took a while to even get where I am with TSRE. Like you,when I put AI Traffic in, I would get "Undefined" and of course it would not run. I also like the old MSTS AE method of placing loose consists on sidings or yards. The TSRE method for me is slow and a bit of a problem. The thing is that fortunately or unfortunately with most Routes going to an Open Rails only platform the old MSTS Activity Editor is finished. Its' a shame because I could usually crank out a quality Activity very quickly. Cant do it now! I do feel that I am close to the promised land with TSRE and then I guess I will wonder how I did without it. The Activity that I started work with TSRE was on Vinces' excellent,and I mean excellent PRR-East. I focused different and created a Reading Company commuter run with the Silverliner set available at the site. Its' great except for the AI that didnt spawn! Figure it out eventually though! Take care Brian

[amtrak115]

Shawn, I've been working with traffic files lately in TSRE and a couple of things. If you make a change to the traffic file, delete a service, change start time, add a service. when you hit save, it will save the traffic file, however, it doesn't update the activity file. I've found that you have to delete the traffic file completely from the activity and then readd it. I've also found that there is a "quirk" (not sure if its a bug or nog, as GoKu has not responded to my questions about it) but when you save (or delete) a traffic file to an activity, you have to modify the activity somehow or the traffic wont be included. I usually add 1 second to start time, save the activity, then I can remove the second I added and re-save. I've been able to make it work. I don't have a working copy of the old MSTS AE so I can't compare how it works.

[pwillard]

This is to explain the "work in progress" and lack of updates on that "DOC".

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I took it upon myself to collect what I could and cajole it into a manual. (I had to convince myself to work on it... though I don't make much use it)

So, for my effort, I got grief about it being "full of mistakes" and "not up to date" by the creator of TSRE (even though my source has been their website and with input and tips from people who actually use it). Note: I really don't use it... but this was a favor to the community. As a result... work on it basically halted, as nobody, not even Goku, seems willing to collaborate to "make it right". Sorry, I tried. (and then gave up)

But it's all out there on GITHUB for anyone inclined to update it. It uses ALL free tools to make the PDF so nobody is locked into an expensive tool.

[motormaster532]

This is to explain the "work in progress" and lack of updates on that "DOC".

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I took it upon myself to collect what I could and cajole it into a manual. (I had to convince myself to work on it... though I don't make much use it)

So, for my effort, I got grief about it being "full of mistakes" and "not up to date" by the creator of TSRE (even though my source has been their website and with input and tips from people who actually use it). Note: I really don't use it... but this was a favor to the community. As a result... work on it basically halted, as nobody, not even Goku, seems willing to collaborate to "make it right". Sorry, I tried. (and then gave up)

But it's all out there on GITHUB for anyone inclined to update it. It uses ALL free tools to make the PDF so nobody is locked into an expensive tool.

Well,I for one wish to thank you for your attempt! It is unfortunate that some attempts to gain support for ones' efforts to improve something are met with apathy or the cold shoulder. Once again,Thank You for your attempt and for all else that you do. Brian

[crstagg]

Shawn,
The Null Reference error you got (see your #1 post) may have nothing to do with your activity. Look at the information in the error message. Note the SUGGESTION to post your Log.txt i.e. C;\users\shawn\desktop\openrailslog.txt That file is created after every run so you have probably over written it by now. BUT next time zip it up and post it here so that more experienced users can help by analyizing what it reports. Note that I shouted SUGGESTION. It is more of a requirement than a suggestion. Personally I have NO inclination to help when a log.txt file has not been posted.

There is a way to save the openrailslog file with a date time stamp in the filename. Method was posted here or at Elvas tower. May also be in the OR manual.

[CSRX]

Thanks for the responses fella's. I shouldn't have come off so harsh, however it is a bit frustrating, especially seeing how someone the route got corrupted, and now I am currently redownloading and going to reinstall.

Instead of going all out point A to B with a 230 car grain train, I may try something a little smaller, maybe a yard job in Whitefish, with a transfer to Columbia Falls and back, with maybe a few through trains passing by. That, or leave the Activity creation to the exports until something comes about with the current TSRE AE.

However, by the sounds of it, updates to it, isn't promising. Which, I get.


Charles, I should have probably done so with the log file, guess I will learn from that, and upload it as well next time.