Corrupted TSM files

[dee4141]

Hi, I had a computer crash this afternoon whilst working on a model in TSM - I believe this was caused by my AntiVirus programme deciding to do a scan or update. Anyway the PC is up and running again, but unfortunately TSM sees my .dst file as an invalid format now - although I can still open other .dst files that were closed at the time. I even tried Renaming the .bak file, but TSM won't open this either.

The model has taken almost 2 weeks work and is over 90% complete, and initially I thought that all this effort was lost, but luckily I had exported it last night so I still have a fairly up-to-date shape file. I just wondered if it was possible to "reverse engineer" this shape file in any way so that TSM would recognise it? If not it would seem that the only option would be to add the remaining parts by FreightAnim - this would probably mean having to do without a crew, unless someone has a suitable TSM crew file that I could build into?

Does anyone have any other ideas?

The model is an SECR "H" Class:

[slipperman12]

Hi Danny,
Sorry to hear of the crash, and what I am suggesting may just be a lot of hot air!!

I don't have TSM, so don't know how it works. Does TSM create those .bak files? If so, it should be able to read them, as .bak files, so I suggest you rename the corrupted file to something totally different (like .xxx); then check all the options in TSM for a recovery procedure. Maybe the action of removing the corrupt .dst may cause it to load the .bak file without any further action on your part. Make sure the original .bak file is a .bak file, if you see what I mean!

Only an idea, but you never know!

Regards,
Ged

[dee4141]

Thanks for the suggestion Ged - I tried it but no luck I'm afraid.

[slipperman12]

Hi Danny,
I've just had a look at the TSM Manual (on the 'net) and there is no mention of .bak files. Do you know which program created them?

Ged

[dee4141]

Yes, it's TSM. All of the model/project files have a corresponding .bak file. I've opened a couple just to prove they work and they do load the correct project.

[ianmacmillan]

Try opening the file in Notepad.

It's mostly unreadable but you might spot something.

[slipperman12]

Hi Danny,

I've opened a couple just to prove they work and they do load the correct project.

As an experiment, copy one of your 'good' files to somewhere safe, delete the original, then try to load from the .bak file. If this doesn't work, create a blank file (use Notepad, but change the file type to All Files and add .dst to file name) with the original 'good' file name, then try to load from the .bak file. Does this work?
The thinking behind this is that the program may require matching .dst and .bak file names to use the .bak file.

I would have thought that one of the many TSM users would have come across this problem before, so have you asked in the Abacus TS Modeler forum?

Cheers,
Ged

[dee4141]

Cannot open files in Notepad, just get a blank page. File size shows 2.8 Mb.

No problem in opening a (good) .bak file even with the (good) .dst file relocated away.