Atomic Systems

douglee wrote:

Easilyconfused wrote:You hit the nail on the head there Mike - it is making consists without using the MS activity editor. The checking facilities are secondary since I always use Route-Riter to check my stock anyway.

For me it's the abillity to view the stock I intend to use (via the Shape Viewer link). Because the naming of some models, as you know, is not ideal. It will show Tenders on their own. Along with a random consist creator.

Also. The ability to change couplings and/or edit the .eng/.wag file of the highlighted and pictured item without changing pages. Apoligies if RR can do this but it has eluded me if it can.

Good luck
Doug

All I need is RR and Convoi - a free utility - to get all the checking and consist building functionality that I need. Convoi pictures the stock better than ConBuilder ever did, and if you use the Vignette utility you can make all the thumbnails you need for Convoi to a fare-thee-well. Actually, Convoi allows you to see the piece of rolling stock two different ways. You can right click and get the ShapeViewer view of the item (along with some descriptive text), and you can see the items in a preview window before you even select them.

As for changing couplings, both Convoi and RR have this ability.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi
I only have the original version of Conbuilder, but find it invaluable for checking cab and sound files, for script errors.
Whic is very handy for re-skinners etc.
The other thing I've always admired, is that it runs from its own ini file, so you can have a copy of Conbuilder in each mini route.

Cheers
Jon

mikesimpson wrote:At one time I did not include Conbuilder things and Joe did not include RR bits, but that has all become blurred over the years.

Good morning, Mike

I would think that the emphatic statement on http://www.conbuilder.com "Guess Nobody needs conbuilder now.. if You are dumb enough to go get it,do so have fun making it work. Recent purchasers will be refunded. I quit permanently this time" renders any such unspoken agreement null and void.

On another topic, Are going going to Hurstville this weekend? Ian's there and would probably have a cleansing ale or two with you.

The only challenge I had with Convoi (and I haven't installed it recently, so it may have changed) is that it hijacked all my consist files with its own icon and association setting and the association was not removeable in Settings | File Types | System File Types | Edit (I prefer that ConTEXT open my .con files on a double-click).

steam4me wrote:The only challenge I had with Convoi (and I haven't installed it recently, so it may have changed) is that it hijacked all my consist files with its own icon and association setting and the association was not removeable in Settings | File Types | System File Types | Edit (I prefer that ConTEXT open my .con files on a double-click).

Actually, I use ConTEXT for the same purpose, and alias that app to all of the standard MSTS text files: .con, .wag, .eng. etc. etc. That I can use Convoi and not have it hijack my .con files is probably because I'm using a newer version (1.50, which I think is the latest version), and the ability for it to be associated with .con files is now an option with a check box on the Options\Other Options tab.

Cheers,

Dave

conbuilder is a great program, no doubt.

but the way it has been sold, customers have been treated and the overall organistation has been absoloutley disgusting. pathetic.

i've lost my money to them and have just generally been scammed. it really is pathetic.

Well I have apparently received a "warning" on the Conbuilder forum for posting my views. I missed a locked sticky announcing more problems for Joe and more delays in getting resolutions. It also blamed users for not following the instructions etc. In return the thread I was posting on which was apparently the only active one (apart from the locked sticky) was locked. No PM or email to explain I was on a "warning" but something appears next to my name now saying I am on 25% warning whatever that means.

Still it is only 8 months since Conbuilder last worked for me. It could be more and looks like it will be more.

desiro5 wrote:conbuilder is a great program, no doubt.

but the way it has been sold, customers have been treated and the overall organistation has been absoloutley disgusting. pathetic.

i've lost my money to them and have just generally been scammed. it really is pathetic.

Hi Ali,

Because I posted on the TS.com forums on this subject I got a rather curt pm from a moderator telling me to back off because Joe had a family emergency. In reply I pointed out that it was generally acknowledged "over here" that that was the case but that as Joe was taking folks money for this programme he had a duty to communicate any hick-ups in support to his customers. The mod contacted Charles Stagg (who runs the conbuilder forum) who also pm'd me with an equally curt question about what the problem I'd highighted was. As this problem was not discovered by me personally (but during development work on MEP) I replied that he'd have to wait until the work on the route was completed and suggested that Joe needed to look at his security and support arrangements. Many suggestions have been made that would allow a better solution than the current USERCHK programme.

Sadly Charles response said that he thought he knew what the problem was and stated that it had not been fixed despite being looked at. He then went into great detail as to how an unnamed UK user had requested a new activation code for a hard disc change but that the (rather intrusive?) USERCHK program suggested that the programme was on a different computer. Charles, Joe, that MAY indicate pirating ...it may not? BUT .....WHATS THAT GOT TO DO WITH YOUR OTHER CUSTOMERS? Sorry to shout but you don't seem to be listening?

I can't comment on this other than to say that he didn't get a new activation code apparently. More to the point from our (the community as a whole) point of view is that instead of acknowledging that they could or should review their licencing/security policy and method he then went on to list all the benefits of Joe's involvement with Conbuilder and ask where the MSTS community would be without it?

Well as I'd also pointed out to Charles in my original reply "Without the freeware community and the decent payware providers (there have been a few that weren't!) his utility would be about as much use as breasts to a chicken. Maybe he should ponder that for a while."

MSTS has despite it's age a good selection of decent Payware in the form of Routes, Stock packs and utilities and tutorial books (well book if you bought the old Abacus guide to writing activities) and they all prosper because they have been professional and commited to supporting their customers. Those who spend just as much time providing stuff for the community for free have, in my experience with MEP, been equally happy to support and help with use or modification of their efforts.

The overall ethos is one of Friendly support and Goodwill.

Whilst a provider seems so obssessed with securing HIS rights and slow in supporting yours, you really have a personal choice as to whether to support that provider. Sadly, as with ALL consumer issues, it's only when a good few folk have had their fingers burnt that these issues come to light. It really makes you appreciate the efforts of Mike and Tony (and many others too) without who's efforts we really would be struggling with MSTS.

It's not too late for Joe and Charles to turn this around. The ball is in their court. Only they can make a difference but they need to step back and look afresh at where they are coming from?

Geoff

PS as the thread is locked and disappearing down the pages at TS.com here's the link if you want to read it..
http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/showth ... p?t=286313
Sad that issues of lack of support are seen as "Another useless thread and some folks that seem to want to maybe start something"! Have you forgotten Surfliner?

Geoff,
I thought I sent you a PRIVATE Message. I guess PM does not stand for "Private Message"

You said "His posts to some UK users have caused a lot of bad feeling on the UKTS forum". Since you did not identify who you were refering to I explained about the problem that he had had with one individual thinking that that was who you were refering to.

As to being "curt" you said "we found a fundamental problem with Conbuilder". I asked for clarification before I replied.
If that is viewed as "curt" I apoligize.
BTW after rereading your PM and looking at CON files created by MSTS CE, ConBuilder and Convoi, I am not sure I know what you are refering to. You call it a "problem." What I was refering to is a feature that is not implemented in either ConBuilder or Convoi. So I guess we will have to wait till you can be more specific.

As to the security method Joe uses or the way he treats his customers: I have nothing to do with that except to expresss to Joe my own feelings. Which I have done in private many times. My only contribution to ConBuilder has been to make suggestions as to how to improve it, to beta test, to run the forum and to respond to requests for help. I don't like the security method either, because I had to beta test it. It is not "work" to beta test the features of ConBuilder, but it is a PIA to beta test the security that Joe has added.

Easilyconfused wrote:Well I have apparently received a "warning" on the Conbuilder forum for posting my views. I missed a locked sticky announcing more problems for Joe and more delays in getting resolutions. It also blamed users for not following the instructions etc. In return the thread I was posting on which was apparently the only active one (apart from the locked sticky) was locked. No PM or email to explain I was on a "warning" but something appears next to my name now saying I am on 25% warning whatever that means.

Still it is only 8 months since Conbuilder last worked for me. It could be more and looks like it will be more.

John,

I am not an expert at running a forum. What do you mean by "Well I have apparently received a "warning" on the Conbuilder forum "?

I see nothing to indicate that.

Charles,

This morning the panel with my name on it and the details below had a notation that I was on 25% warning. It has now changed back to normal but definitely said I was 25% warning this morning.

Newbie


Group: Members
Posts: 8
Member No.: 19
Joined: 23-March 0

Easilyconfused wrote:Charles,

This morning the panel with my name on it and the details below had a notation that I was on 25% warning. It has now changed back to normal but definitely said I was 25% warning this morning.

Newbie


Group: Members
Posts: 8
Member No.: 19
Joined: 23-March 0

??????????? Not me and Not Joe as he has not been on the forum since 24 Sept

Suddenly MSTS AE doesn't look so bad!!!!

Off to find my CB radio and start a Convoi!!!!

Ruf

crstagg wrote:

Easilyconfused wrote:Charles,

This morning the panel with my name on it and the details below had a notation that I was on 25% warning. It has now changed back to normal but definitely said I was 25% warning this morning.

Newbie


Group: Members
Posts: 8
Member No.: 19
Joined: 23-March 0

??????????? Not me and Not Joe as he has not been on the forum since 24 Sept

Well that is interesting since the 25% caption had a link and when I clicked on it it popped up a window with the details and with your cr-stagg name as the person issuing the warning. Maybe that was because you locked the thread so the forum auto-generated a warning.

Unfortunately for me it was sufficiently early for me to neglect to capture a screen shot. Won't make that mistake again I can assure you.

I guess I will have to wait for Joe to get back to go round the loop again. I suspect part of my problem is that I have changed email address since the donation. I did explain this in the email I sent him and provided enough information to enable him to identify me. I have to get away from my old work email address since that is going away very soon.

It is getting very frustrating not having a working version of Conbuilder since I came to rely on it. I may have older (non-protected) versions on backup CDs but that is a big job hunting through all those. I know 2.7 is available to download still from some sites so I may have to delete the 3.x version and go back to the older version due to the intransigence that Joe is showing at the moment.

steam4me wrote:

mikesimpson wrote:At one time I did not include Conbuilder things and Joe did not include RR bits, but that has all become blurred over the years.

Good morning, Mike

I would think that the emphatic statement on http://www.conbuilder.com "Guess Nobody needs conbuilder now.. if You are dumb enough to go get it,do so have fun making it work. Recent purchasers will be refunded. I quit permanently this time" renders any such unspoken agreement null and void.

On another topic, Are going going to Hurstville this weekend? Ian's there and would probably have a cleansing ale or two with you.

Hi Yuri,

I had forgotten all about Hurstville, so not sure if I will get or not, Monday will be the only possibility. If I go, I will chase up Ian.

Mike