When to install Train Store

[dipper6]

Hi all,
When is the best time to install Train Store, after all add-ons have been installed, or when only MSTS has been installed ?, that is, no add-ons.
I have probelms with addons not running correctly & I've been advised that Train Store will offer a cure as the PC would be "overloaded" with files. The add-ons are some UKTrainsims Cd's, and the new release of TGV from Just Trains.
Why I'm asking is that I was installing the add-ons in question first, that is, after MSTS was installed, would that cause enough "overload" to be to blame, as UKTrainSims tech replied to my email.

thanks in advance.

EDIT
--------
I'm, sorry, but I forgot to include this, this is what is happening to me.

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... &sk=t&sd=a

I install add-ons and files are missing. It only happens when I install my UKTrainsim CD's and it did with just flight TGV pack, latest version.
I had thought it was the disks, I must admit that continues to stay at the back of my mind.

I downloaded Route Riter and it found that certain files were missing when I had it check the TGV and UKTrains Toddington.
I have contacted Just Trains. Also UKTrainsim, in the reply I was told Train Store was the solution.

[emrhd01]

Hi dipper6 and welcome,

I believe it makes no difference, but it is always advisable to 'Unstore everything' in TrainStore when installed before making any alterations (i.e. Adding Routes, Activities, Rolling Stock, etc,) to your MSTS installation.

Adding Train Store is one of the best things you can do for better running of MSTS.

You asked in another thread about Tsection, if loading an 'old' Route you should reinstall the latest available Tsection immediately in your Global folder as the installed Route may copy an old tsection file to your Global folder which can affect your other installed Routes.

If you read the instructions supplied with Train Store (I know it's big) it explains how you can set up your Routes to always look to the correct TSection file, if you get stuck setting this up come back here and someone will put you right.

[dipper6]

thanks Robert, much appreciated.
Just to make sure I got this right,

Install MSTS & nothing else.
Then install Train Store.
Should I also install T-Section at this point.
What about x-Tracks, is this one necessary ?

Then install the add-ons.
My oldest is Cambrian Route.
I found out that add-ons should be installed in the order of they were released, that is, by the year they were released.

[rogermatthews]

HI dipper, Robert's advice is good, but in practice I've found it unnecessary to unstore everything with Trainstore, nor even to install it with a 'vanilla' system.

Just install Trainstore with whatever set-up you have (assuming it's all working OK) then install the latest tsection.dat, overwriting when prompted. Check the Trainstore manual for advice about tsections because it has a facility to change the name, meaning you'll never accidentally overwrite the latest once installed.

X-tracks is only needed if you've got a route which needs it; if so, best to install X-tracks before the route. By all means install it anyway, do so before you add any other routes. But probably no harm if you forget, or get an error message, to install it retrospectively.

I've never found it necessary to to install add-ons in date order- you'll get in a real muddle keeping track! AS long as you check the readme's for what additional stuff they need (x-trracks, newroads etc), and install the latest t-section dat at the end.

The only real time you'll need to worry about the tsection.dat is if you have an unusual route, like the maglevs or maybe very old ones.

[emrhd01]

Hi dipper6,

All explained by Roger, although I don't agree with him when he says,

but in practice I've found it unnecessary to unstore everything with Trainstore

that's fine when you know how Train Store works, but can be confusing for newcomers. As you will be 'prompted' for overwriting files after installing new items.

I suppose its Horses for Courses, I like to keep things simple to begin with.

[rogermatthews]

HI Robert, I'm not disagreeing with you in any way, just curious - I assume you're referring to Trainstore's warning on paths, services etc, or maybe consists. But aren't you going to be asked this anyway when installing new items, whether or not you've unstored everything?

Or have I forgotten something? Just curious!

Roger

[emrhd01]

Hi Roger,

I didn't mean to suggest that you were incorrect, only that I 'personally' didn't agree with that method for newcomers to use.

If you do not 'Unstore everything' you will only be prompted after changing something in MSTS the next time you run that Route/Activity in Train Store, which is fine if you run it straight away, but can be confusing to newcomers if they run it some days later and then they get the prompts as items come out of store, if you see what I mean.

[alanch]

I agree with Robert - keep it simple when you first start off with Trainstore, and Unstore Everything when you want to install new stock or activities. That means when you run an apk file, you can choose not to overwrite consists, paths and services that you already have. Once you know what you are doing, you may choose just to Unstore the route you are working on.

My post in this thread http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... re#p954330 tells you how to associate a particular Tsection.dat with a route, so that you don't have to update it in MSTS each time you install a new route.

[rogermatthews]

Fair enough Robert - as you say, horses for courses (routes!) Probably easier for a newcomer as you say.

The only reason I don't like unstoring everything, particularly when installing an activity, is that if you want to remove it for any reason (usually when I groan at the amount of extra stock needed) it is easier to identify the new paths, services etc for removal. If installing a new route you don't normally get any overwrites and with stock/consists you're going to get an overwrite warning anyway.

But as you say, it's personal - I prefer items not to be self-installers, and I'm definitely in a minority there I suspect!

Cheers

Roger

[alanch]

The easiest way to identify anything newly installed in the Services/Paths/Traffic and Consist folders is to open them with Explorer, View Details and sort by date modified.

[rogermatthews]

Or - don't unstore everything then just delete what's in the folders!

As you say, Alan, it's personal preference - I'll stop now!

Cheers

Roger