Idiots guide to creating a mini route

[rtracey]

Is there one? I`ve left BVE & come back to MSTS, it was Crich & Manchester Metrolink that got me back. So basically i`m trying to set up a Crich mini route, but after many attempts i`ve failed & I need help. First I installed MSTS, installed the 1.2 upgrade followed by X-Tracks & then tsection 37. I then followed the mini route guide on train-sim.com & created a master copy of msts & deleted all of the default routes like the guide said. I then created a another copy & renamed it Crich & I then installed Crich into the default installation & installed the Sheffield 510 tram & the Blackpool standard pack. I ran the installme batch file & the route worked fine, so I copied the Crich route folder & the trams & consists to the Crich mini route folder just like the guide said & when I try to run Crich as a mini route, msts locks up. Is there something simple i`m missing or is there a problem with running Crich as a mini route?

If anyone could refresh my memory on how to create a mini route then I would be very grateful.

Ta
Rich

[jessie1940]

I use Route_Riter to make all my mini routes. All you have to do is follow the instructions on screen and it all happens for you. The mini route option is on the front page of Route_Riter. Just install Crich into MSTS and then run Route_Riter.
Mike

[Lad491]

well, to be honest, and no disrespect to the author intended, but i had three attempts at using route-riter to make a mini route and i cant get it to work. Its not as simple as it seems and i dont find the instructions at all clear

But then maybe im a bit thick

A clear step by step guide, so i dont have to bother doing screen prints of the pop up instructions which disappear after step 1, from start to finish would be great.

[dkightley]

I can't think of any reason for Crich not to run as a standalone route.....although it can run quite happily alongside the six default routes..and Metrolink as well.

It needs Xtracks and about a dozen files from the default routes...which it sounds as if you've got in the default installation. Copying of the route and stock/consists is all that's needed.

[jessie1940]

This is my guide using Route Riter
First make sure that the route you want to make into a Mini-Route is installed on MSTS and is running (make sure it is not stored using Trainstore)

Go to Mini-Routes in Route Riter and click on "Mini-Route Setup" and select drive and path for new Mini-Route and then press "Create new Mini-Route" button which will transfer all MSTS files into your new route. Once this happens then follow the directions below.

1. Click "Mini-Route Copy Route" button to copy the required route folder into the Mini-Route "Route" folder.

2. Go to Mini-Route folder in left hand window of Route Riter and double click on "Train Simulator" folder.

3. Then go to "Files"(top of page) then "MSTS Path" menu and click "Select" to set Mini-Route as default.

4. Select Mini-Route and then press "Confirm Route" button.

5. Exit Route Riter and then restart it to reset everything.

6. Back to Mini-Routes and then click on "Get Stock"

7. Select the Mini-Route "Route" folder(Left hand window) and then press "Check Route" button.

8. If this is okay then exit Route Riter and go to your hard drive where you saved your Mini-Route and click on "Train Simulator" folder in your Mini-Route and right click on the "train.exe" file and select "send to desktop as a shortcut".

9. Run shortcut and check all is okay with the route.

10. Finally back to Route Riter and click on "Compact Tracks" to remove unwanted track from your Mini-Route. Ensure Route Riter is showing your Mini-Route in the left hand window BEFORE you compact track.

This has worked for me in that I have created 25 Mini-Routes using the above method.
Mind you I am always open to new ideas

Mike
New Zealand

[AdamsRadial]

This is how I created my miniroutes

1 Get the route installed and running in your main MSTS folder.

2. Create the Destination folder, say e:\Mini_Crich

3. Create a new folder Train Simulator under e:\Mini_Crich

4. Copy everything from the main MSTS folder to e:\Mini_Crich except for the ROUTES folder (although you can also exclude the SAMPLES, UTILS, TEMPLATES and Route Geography folders, and the uninstall exectutable and pdf files to save on disk space)

5. Make a new ROUTES Folder in e:\Mini_Crich\Train simulator and copy into it the Crich folder from your main MSTS installation Routes folder.

6. Right-click on the train.exe icon in e:\Mini-Crich\Train simulator, and choose send to desktop (create shortcut)

Clicking on the new shortcut should run the mini-route in the new location.

A bit of extra pruning can then be done to remove consists and trains that do not belong in Crich, but remember to leave the DEFAULT folder in there, and be careful of engines that are using the Goldsdorf or Scotsman for sounds or cabviews.

RouteRiter will make an easier job of it, but this is the method I devised before I started using Mike's excellent program.

[dkightley]

Now that's value for money....

Two guides by idiots....sorry, I rephrase that...two idiot's guides for the price of one.


Only kidding......

[rtracey]

If I try to put Crich into the routes folder of the mini route installation, msts locks up & surely if Crich requires a certain shape file, then I thought msts would tell me that the required .s & .sd files couldn`t be found. I`ll give route riter & try & i`ll see what happens.

Ta
Rich

[dkightley]

Surprisingly, I didn't use a single MSTS default object in the whole route. All of the shapes, with the exception of trees and bushes, are my own creations. And the trees, etc are the work of two other builders..

[rtracey]

I`ve followed the guide by AdamsRadial but it still won`t work & i`ve tried to open the route in route editor but it won`t do that either, so i`m really clueless now. The only way I can get it to work as a mini route, is if I have the default routes installed in the mini route folder & if I rename all of the default routes .trk file to .off then i`m back to square one. I`m glad BVEs simpler than msts.

[Lad491]

Im away in sunny Yorkshire so havent had a chance to try out the instructions given. I'll try it Friday when i get to Birmingham.

[AdamsRadial]

I`ve followed the guide by AdamsRadial but it still won`t work & i`ve tried to open the route in route editor but it won`t do that either

you won't be able to open a mini-route in the route editor, because it will only look in the main MSTS folder for routes.

If you are saying that Route Editor won't open the route when it is in the main MSTS folder it suggests that there is a problem with the route, in which case you should get that problem resolved before trying to create a mini route.

However

The only way I can get it to work as a mini route, is if I have the default routes installed in the mini route folder

suggests that you do not have any activities created for the Crich route, which is why you are having to copy the default routes into the mini route folder? I remember this being discussed about the time Foxfield came out, because I found myself having to do something similar in order to be able to run Foxfield. If you are testing Crich in the main MSTS by using explore route and it has no activities then this might explain the failure to run as a stand-alone rute.

[rtracey]

Problem sorted, it seems like Crich wont work unless the tutorial route is also in the Routes folder of the Crich mini route installation. In the main msts installation I just changed all of the default routes .trk to .off, & I then changed each .off file type back to a .trk file type & the first route I did was the tutorial route & bingo, Crich loaded fine & so did the route editor. So now I can start making some activities & enjoy the route.

Ta
Rich