LNWR Route

[Geoffwright]

I have loaded this excellent route into my main TS route & successfully run the TEST activity.
However, when I try to create a new activity, strange things happen.
I do all the usual stuff to create the activity & save it, but when I reload it, the player service box is now blank & the traffic file has disappeared ! Attempts to replace them again don't work as the drop-down boxes to find them don't show them as existing. Yet when I exit the editor & examine the route structure, there they are in the services & traffic folders ! I've never seen anything like this before, so perhaps my original route installation has gone wrong somewhere.
Has anyone else found this problem ? Has anyone else got an activity I could try installing ?

[slipperman12]

Hi Geoff,
Where have you installed MSTS?
If it's in the default location (C:\Program Files (x86) or C:\Program Files), then you've encountered Microsoft's "security" system!! I suggest this is the case, because when you use Explorer, you can see the "missing" files. Microsoft has saved them elsewhere because it doesn't allow non-installed files to be put into those folders. MSTS doesn't understand where it needs to look for those files because it was written long before Vista (and any later OS) was available. You should uninstall MSTS and re-install according to the Steam4Me tutorial - http://msts.steam4me.net/tutorials/inst ... ts_w7.html. One additional task, after you've re-installed, is to set launcher.exe and train.exe to "Run as administrator" (right-click the exe file, select Properties then the Compatibility tab)

Cheers,
Ged

[eholly]

Hi Geoff

I've just uploaded my first activity for this route - WAL - Coventry to Wolverhampton - so give it a run when you get the chance.

Cheers

Eric

[dforrest]

There is a problem with the route which has been highlighted by Eric's first activity.

The route folder name and the "RouteID" in the .trk file must be the same. If not, activity packaging (and perhaps other actions) will not work. The folder name and ID are different in this route.

[ianmacmillan]

I have uploaded a PO wagon pack for the southern section of the LMS.
Most of these are replacements for existing wagons.
20 owners are included with 48 different wagons.

I will also upload a pack of wagons made for the Potteries route.
Most would be seen on the LNWR lines.

The wagons in the PO London and the PO South East packs would also load from the Cannock collieries and the PO Stephenson Clarke wagons were everwhere.
Yorkshire coalfield wagons (In the Skipton packs) would also pass thru on their way to Liverpool docks for export.
Should result in some colourfull trains.

[Geoffwright]

Would it be OK to just edit the RouteID in the trk file from BC1 to Black Country - LNWR then ?
Or will this mess something else up ?

[slipperman12]

Hi,
Regarding the .apk file :
My first investigations indicate that the apk file is incomplete. Looking at an unpacked version of it in a hex editor, it starts with the consists details instead of .act file header.
TSUnpack reports that it is expecting more data and APKExtractor3 indicates that the file contains incomplete or corrupted data. I don't think changing the RouteID will have any effect, but I could be wrong!!

Cheers,
Ged

Edit: Have just changed the RouteID, but, as I expected, it doesn't help. No, Geoff, I suggest you use the .exe file instead of the .apk file.

[dforrest]

Hi,
Regarding the .apk file :
My first investigations indicate that the apk file is incomplete. Looking at an unpacked version of it in a hex editor, it starts with the consists details instead of .act file header.
TSUnpack reports that it is expecting more data and APKExtractor3 indicates that the file contains incomplete or corrupted data. I don't think changing the RouteID will have any effect, but I could be wrong!!

Cheers,
Ged

Edit: Have just changed the RouteID, but, as I expected, it doesn't help. No, Geoff, I suggest you use the .exe file instead of the .apk file.

Ged, see my post three posts up for what I believe is the cause of this.

Geoff, your suggestion would resolve the issue but it would effect activities already in use.


Ged, I replied before reading your "edit". It appears to resolve the issue for me.

________________
David

[slipperman12]

Hi David,
Yes, mate, I accept that the RouteID should be the same as the route's folder name, but it won't help with this .apk file.

Cheers,
Ged

[dforrest]

Ged I am emailing you and .act and .apk file I have just created which demonstrates this.

_____________
David

[slipperman12]

Hi David,
I haven't picked up your email yet, because I have just created two activities/.apk files. The first with the route as released - the .apk file isn't accepted. The second with the RouteID changed as per your post and it is unpacked using TSUnpack and APKExtractor3 without problem. However, Eric's .apk file still won't install.

Cheers,
Ged

[dforrest]

Hi David,
I haven't picked up your email yet, because I have just created two activities/.apk files. The first with the route as released - the .apk file isn't accepted. The second with the RouteID changed as per your post and it is unpacked using TSUnpack and APKExtractor3 without problem. However, Eric's .apk file still won't install.

Cheers,
Ged

Ged, Eric's will not install because he created the activity using the old ID. If the .act file obtained with the .exe installation, is manually edited to show the new ID, it will the package OK. Unfortunately the activity will need to be re-released with the .zip file created and an .apk file generated using the new ID.

Test.act will also need to have it's ID manually corrected.

_________________
David

[eholly]

Hi Chaps

Just for clarity, could you confirm whether it is my .apk that is incorrect or is the fault residing inside the Route?

Eric

[dforrest]

Hi Chaps

Just for clarity, could you confirm whether it is my .apk that is incorrect or is the fault residing inside the Route?

Eric

Eric, I think we agree that the fault is in the route which will need to be corrected. Unfortunately your download files will need to be changed to reflect the route chance. Oh for having the first activity uploaded!!!!!

_______________
David

[slipperman12]

Hi David and Eric,
David : Thanks for the email - no problem unpacking your .apk

I'm sorry, but I have to say there is a problem with your .apk file, Eric, other than with the RouteID.
APKExtractor3 will unpack a .apk file to a .zip even if the route is not installed (so has nothing to validate against). I removed the Black Country - LNWR route from my installation, but, as expected, APKExtractor3 still reports the "incomplete or corrupted" message. I don't yet know the reason, but if/when I do, I'll post details here.

Cheers,
Ged