Setting up Developer Folders

[Retro]

Hi.
I am trying to set up my own developer folders and have created the folders according to the Dev Docs.
In the Source Folder I have my Provider name Retro. Within that folder I have a Product Folder called James within which are the folders as laid out in the Dev Docs eg. Scenery, RailNetwork etc.
If I try to Create a Route Blueprint in the editor using a copy of my original Blueprint but replacing the Provider with Retro and the Product with James it can't find the files it needs because they are in the Kuju Folder. which means that I have to change my Developer and Product names back to Kuju and RailSimulator which defeats the object of having your own folders. Sorry if this should be obvious. Any help much appreciated.
Regards James.

[Sly401]

Hi James

When you say items are in the Kuju folder, do you mean ASSETS/Kuju or SOURCE/Kuju ?

If they are in source just simply copy and paste them over in windows explorer

Sly

[Retro]

Hi Sly.
The files the blueprint is looking for are in the either D:\Program Files\Rail Simulator\Assets\Kuju\RailSimulatorCore or D:\Program Files\Rail Simulator\Assets\Kuju\RailSimulator. It can find these as long as I do not use my own Developer name. In the instructions it says folders will be created in the Asset folder after you setup the Source Folder Structure with your own Developer Name. Puzzled.
Thanks for your reply
Regards James.

[Sly401]

Now routes are definately not my area but blueprints only look in the source side of things, and really only items that are in your own developer tree..

Any Items from other developers can be added in the world editor later

which Assets / core Items are you wishing to put in a blueprint?

Sly

[Retro]

Hi Sly,
It is the XML Files as below
TimeOfDay\Default.xml
Weather\Default.xml
From RailSimulatorCore
and
Environment\Terrain\Texturing.xml
From RailSimulator
I don't know if you are supposed to produce a Route under your own Developer Name or not because it says something about RailSim Files must stay in the Kuju\RailSimulator folder.
Thanks Regards James.

[Retro]

I think I may have sorted it Sly. What you said about Assets and Source got me thinking. I have done some copying from the Source\Developer\Addon\files to my own Folders and now it can find the files. Thanks will let you know how I get on Tomorrow when I try to export the Route template and use it.
Regards James.

[Retro]

Hi,
Exported the Route Template and it created my Folders Retro etc. to Assets but on creating the New Route there are loads of textures and other bits missing. I have ticked the Retro and Kuju RailSimulator in the Object Filter Thingy but no difference. So it looks like you have to have Kuju and RailSimulator in the boxes and not your own Developer Name.
Regards James.

[mikesimpson]

Hi James,

I see you have got it fixed now, however if you have RS_Tools, it has menu items for automatically setting up Developer and Product folders, all you do is type in your Developer name, e.g. Retro and the Product name, James and all of the sub-folders recommended in the docs are automatically created under Source.

Saves a whole lot of MakeDir commands with the possibility of mis-naming some of them.

All of my blueprints have entries like
Kuju
RailSimulatorCore
TimeOfDay\Default.xml

these work fine when exporting a route template etc. However you do get a message when exporting like
Child blueprint from external set - not included in build: Kuju\RailSimulatorCore\TimeOfDay\Default.xml

I think the wording of this is a little unfortunate and confusing to users, but it means that this file has not been included with your route, it is merely called from within your route in the same manner as MSTS aliases sounds etc.

[Retro]

Thanks Mike I did use your program to set up the folders and it worked fine and created them all properly. I seem to be hitting trouble when I try to produce a Route Template Blueprint with my Developer, Product Name Instead of the Kuju
RailSimulatorCore ones The New Route has loads of missing textures all over the ground area while the Kuju RailSimulatorCore Template creates a route with everything correct.
The Dev Docs are far from clear in this area.
Confused.
Regards James

[Acorncomputer]

Hi James

I did set up my own developer folder which was fairly easy. I also followed the instructions for creating my own route template which was placed in the route template folder in my developer folder. When I ran RS the route appeared in the list of routes and when I selected it ran but there was no terrain or sky. This was predicted in the documentation and after following the instructions I closed the route and then selected it again which presented me with a blank route ready to start building from scratch.

This is where is gets a bit tricky. Having got to this stage I think the idea is that you start building your route from here and the system is not designed to import data from a route based on another template.
Using Mike's Tools I was able to identify my route and also the developer route I had created and tried to transfer the assets and contents files from there to my new route. I had some success with this but I think it started to confuse the routes.xml file and my developer route was not a complete copy. I tried to edit the routes/xml file which is fairly logical in its layout and have an idea of what the problem is but I decided to put it aside for the moment on the basis that I would finish the route first.

I believe, however, that a route based on a default template can be shared anyway.

You are a little ahead of me, but I think what be both need is a little instruction on how to export routes built on default templates but as freeware developers.

By the way, I have been using a little bit of freeware called Notepad2 for reading and editing xml files. It really is very good and works well in conjunction with other editors already available. Google 'Notepad2' to find it.

[Retro]

Thanks for the reply Geoff. I am trying this out so I can produce a short test route with my own Developer Folder to check out packaging. I have been doing some thinking and I believe that you have to do the Route Template exactly as in the Dev Docs but because you are using your own Developer Source Folder for all templates, Track Rules etc. it will require the user to tick your Developer Name in the object filter box thingy thereby The Route then is linked to you.
I was trying to do the Route Template with my own Developer name instead of Kuju so it could not find the textures etc. because the Routes are stored in the Contents Folder and not the Assets Folder as say scenery Items where all files are stored within the Assets Folder under the Developers name. This means you still have to use Kuju and RailSimulatorCore in provider and product. Sorry if this is as clear as Mud but the Dev Docs seem to be a bit hazy in this area. Thanks for the info on Notepad 2 I will give it a try. I can now empathise with Vern's comments on the Blueprint System, I think he has a point there.
Regards James.

[Acorncomputer]

Hi James

As far as I can see, the routes.xml file stores the information about routes available. If you have not yet studied this then open it up in Mike Simpsons Tools, a browser, notepad or perhaps Notepad2 and you will find a definite pattern of entries for each route. Starting with the name of the route (in various languages) and then pointers towards the files needed to open the route and in particular the template to use. If you identify each route you will find the location of the templates are different for some routes and what you should be aiming at is to see the location of your route shown as your developer folder. Note that the routes.xml file does not show the full folder path to the required files, just the last few parts of the path.

Based on other routes I have downloaded, the route seems to appear on its own but assets accompanying the route need to be selected in the object selection box against the name of the developer who made the route & assets (if any), and the third party developer assets that are required. We cannot distribute Kuju Assets or any other third party assets with a route unless there is a specific allowance to do so. Another question then arises in that whilst the end user can obtain the required non-distributable third party assets themselves, how do we filter out those assets that cannot be distributed before packaging up the route?

I think I need a bit more document reading now or some external assistance but I like the idea of creating a test route in the developer folder and seeing exactly how all of this actually works.

I cannot offer anything more at the moment but let us know how you get on - after Wimbledon has finished of course.

[Retro]

Hi Geoff,
It has worked as I described and their is a tick in my Provider Name in the Object Filter. The Route has loaded and a Track Rule has been located to the Asset Folder in the required file section in my Provider Folder. So it seems to be OK and everything is working. Will produce a Short Route and then attempt to Package it. I am just sticking to the English Routes ATM and have not ticked the US Route or any other Provider box.
Wimbledon, what a game, Andy Murray is a brilliant Tennis Player and deserves to win Wimbledon, Rafa is next though so we will have to wait and see.
Kind Regards James.