Here's what the AE track diagram should of looked like...

The MSTS 1 Route Editor can be a beast to use, but it's capable of some amazing results, here you can talk with the wizards that are building some of the fantastic routes available and learn how to make your own.

Moderator: Moderators

Here's what the AE track diagram should of looked like...

Postby timbooth on Mon Nov 01, 2004 6:22 am

A preview of something I've been working on.... :)

Basically, it creates traditional looking track diagrams from MSTS routes - using the track database. Its really a tool I'm developing to help me spot track laying issues that AE/RE don't indicate ( or are inconsisent with). I also wanted a way of producing track diagrams without having to resort to manual tracing from books. Its a tad slow on a very large route, but I'm working on ways to improve that - though for most routes its actually about the same speed as AE for scrolling/panning.

Initially it will be just a viewing tool, but I do want to look into the possibility of editing track paths (or even track layouts), and editing of object/interactive parameters. It would be nice to be able to join two slightly mismatched track ends, for example. I also want to add a scratch area for testing shapes or track layouts in safety - ie. work out the exact layout precisely, without even launching RE.

Plus, I want the signals to be configurable, so that each signal type can display a more appropriate image - eg. ground disc, or bracket signals. It would make the diagram more realistic, and help drivers to learn the signals.

Although its been designed with UKFS in mind, its not going to have anything specific to UKFS - so it will be possible to integrate other track systems, for things like colour coding.

A demo should be released with the next few days

Image
Image
Image
Image
Tim Booth
http://www.trainsimfiles.com - virtual engineering
User avatar
timbooth
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 1699
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2002 12:00 am
Location: Wolverhampton, UK

Postby Iluka on Mon Nov 01, 2004 7:02 am

Hi Tim

This looks brilliant - not only for MSTS (or its successor) but also for all the Model Railway enthusiast out there.

I have a very complex model railway layout based on Exeter St David's (Sorry GWR not SR!!) and could use this proposed tool for my Control Panel Layout as could thousands of people around the world in any Scale(N/OO/HO/O etc).

Kindest Regards

Mike
User avatar
Iluka
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 1737
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:38 pm
Location: Western Australia

Postby DarwinS on Mon Nov 01, 2004 7:02 am

Nice idea Tim!
User avatar
DarwinS
Well Established Forum Member
 
Posts: 848
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 10:08 am
Location: Bali... looking forward to soon discovering the railways of Java

Postby ianm42 on Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:24 am

Once again, you have produced something that we did not even realise we needed. Brilliant. 8)
User avatar
ianm42
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Basingstoke, UK

Postby saddletank on Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:46 am

Excellent Tim. Thank you. Those nice thick track lines remind me of CAD-drawn model railway layouts.

Just wondering what you have coded into this software that allows it to differentiate between ground discs and route signals. Are the signal symbols generic - the same for colour lights and semaphore arms or is it practical to have separate symbols indicating semaphore signals akin to signal box diagrams?
Martin
_______________________________________
ED209: "Please put down your weapon. You have 20 seconds to comply."
User avatar
saddletank
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 15634
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2001 12:00 am
Location: UK East Midlands

Postby Backfoot2002 on Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:53 am

Looks like a very useful tool!

Ill look forward to testing it out :)
Image
Backfoot2002
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 2750
Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2002 9:39 pm
Location: Sheffield

Postby nwallace on Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:55 am

Just what I needed when I started route building.
---------------------------------------
http://www.NiallWallace.co.uk

Pining for Windows for Workgroups 3.11
User avatar
nwallace
Creator of fantasy routes that exist in his mind
 
Posts: 4305
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Secret Route Builders Castle Retirement Home (Fictional Wing)

Postby qzdcg8 on Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:49 pm

Very nice Tim. Does it work for non-flat track? I too have looked at something like this (my screenshot would be nowhere near as good as yours) but ran into the old QDirection parameter and ground to a halt...
Steve N
Retired Modeller and Route Builder - now playing with big boys toys!
Image
User avatar
qzdcg8
Woodhead Route Author
 
Posts: 4770
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Manchester/London

Postby tinsley on Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:09 pm

That looks brilliant... :lol: and is going to be so useful for a 'little' :o signalling project coming up... :wink:
Georges
tinsley
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 1399
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2001 12:00 am
Location: LONDON

Postby snooganhead on Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:49 pm

yeah looks well good, look forward to it!
snooganhead
Been on the forums for a while
 
Posts: 189
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:04 am

Postby timbooth on Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:16 pm

saddletank wrote:Excellent Tim. Thank you. Those nice thick track lines remind me of CAD-drawn model railway layouts.

Just wondering what you have coded into this software that allows it to differentiate between ground discs and route signals. Are the signal symbols generic - the same for colour lights and semaphore arms or is it practical to have separate symbols indicating semaphore signals akin to signal box diagrams?


At the moment, it just has one symbol for all signals. However, its possible to read in the signal type and/or filename - then each different signal type/filename can be assigned a different symbol. My aim is initially to allow a simple selection such as Home, Distant, Home+Distant, Ground Disc, and simple Junction signals - these would be just passive symbols, rather than an exact rendition, but with a choice of semaphore or colour light. In theory though, it would be possible to have custom signal posts - and then link MSTS signals to certain positions. You will though be able to click on a signal and then see any linked paths.

I'd also like to be able to make signals work, so they can be tested - but thats quite a challenge.

qzdcg8 wrote:Very nice Tim. Does it work for non-flat track? I too have looked at something like this (my screenshot would be nowhere near as good as yours) but ran into the old QDirection parameter and ground to a halt...


Yes, the maths gets pretty deep when you get into 3d axis rotations.

Currently it doesn't take into account gradients when drawing lines - the X/Y positions are ok though as MSTS stores the position of each section - you would though have gaps where there are large gradients.
I am though about to add the maths to take into account gradients, as I already have derived the euler values from the tdb file. The qdirections are in quaterion format, and only apply to worldfile objects, which I'm not currently using.

Once I've mastered the maths, I aim to post up the conversion processes.[/quote]
Last edited by timbooth on Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tim Booth
http://www.trainsimfiles.com - virtual engineering
User avatar
timbooth
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 1699
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2002 12:00 am
Location: Wolverhampton, UK

Postby saddletank on Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:20 pm

Thanks for the feedback Tim, this really does have very interesting potential.
Martin
_______________________________________
ED209: "Please put down your weapon. You have 20 seconds to comply."
User avatar
saddletank
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 15634
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2001 12:00 am
Location: UK East Midlands

Postby Cobos on Mon Nov 01, 2004 6:22 pm

Oh yes :D , that's real cool Tim.

Kerr
Image
User avatar
Cobos
Well Established Forum Member
 
Posts: 964
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 10:44 am
Location: Fife, Scotland.

Postby gopher on Mon Nov 01, 2004 7:23 pm

Very impressive Tim. Route mapping now made easy. Any plans for other interactives apart from signals such as sidings and platforms?

Gordon
User avatar
gopher
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 1009
Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Just about here >

Postby asalmon on Mon Nov 01, 2004 7:29 pm

Looking good Tim

Following on from Gordon - showing speed limits would be very useful too - that is something even the AE cannot do!

Alan
User avatar
asalmon
Very Active Forum Member
 
Posts: 6356
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2001 12:00 am
Location: near Bristol

Next

Return to [MSTS1] Route Building

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest