***Polite message to activity uploaders***

madrid · Post by **madrid** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:10 am

Thank you so much for sharing your hobby with us.

However I've downloaded a few acts for ECE and they don't work and the reason being that the correct download list is not correct (i.e stock missing).

Please make sure you do put the correct download stock either on the upload page when you upload it or in a "read me". Finding what stock you are using is easy by using route riter or trainstore as it is very easily to get carried away with the AE, adding stock here and there and trying after to remember what stock you've used. It was trainstore that helped me find the missing stock to download from the act I downloaded. But a lot novices won't know this and cause a load of error messages for them when they load up MSTS.

As I use to write and upload acts myself, they were emailed and tested by somebody else before they were uploaded onto this site. You can do the same as their are plenty of others who will be more than willing to test the act for you (if they have the time).

Thank You
Raymond

petethetim · Post by **petethetim** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:53 am

Here Here Raymond

I have been one of the few activity creators who would be in favour of a compulsory detailed stock list / related file list ( which adds a link to each bit of stock required see one of my more download intensive activities below)

Here is a thread I started on the subject in Feb this year http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?t=51524
I must say it had a mixed response Some people were in complete agreement with me & others seem to think that it was a laborious task asking people who publish these to use the relate file system I like yourself back then was relativity new & got very cheesed off ( for want of a stronger phrase) downloading dozens of items of stock to find nothing works because the author has detailed something incorrectly or left something out .

I personally think the argument is still there for at least a compulsory use of the related file system if not compulsory detailed documentation.
the use of the related file system means an activity creator going back to his uploads & maybe spending another 15 mins max Here is a couple of my biggest activity stock wise & it only took an extra 5 - 10 mins to sort it.

Invalid File ID [14454]

Invalid File ID [14498]

prairie4566 · Post by **prairie4566** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:25 am

Good point Raymond

For my Ashburton Activities I've cut down the stocklist a bit, but still not forgotten to mention everything.

Backfoot2002 · Post by **Backfoot2002** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:00 am

I add them as related files, list them in the upload and readme. I check that I have all stock listed using route riter too. I do know what you mean though, as I downloaded an ECE activity and I had to restart MSTS about 6 times, as each time there was a missing piece of stock that had not been listed.

petethetim · Post by **petethetim** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:49 pm

Backfoot2002 wrote:I add them as related files, list them in the upload and readme. I check that I have all stock listed using route riter too. I do know what you mean though, as I downloaded an ECE activity and I had to restart MSTS about 6 times, as each time there was a missing piece of stock that had not been listed.

You bear you my point Backfoot Its not really that difficult I say once again why do an activity that no one can use with out a lot of hassle

Traveller54 · Post by **Traveller54** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:34 pm

... on the other hand there are users out there who don't have broadband connections so downloading the 'required' stock is a problem? And then of course is when a link is 'dead' or the stock 'retired'??

Just looking outside the circle a little

Website · Post by **Easilyconfused** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:44 pm

Traveller54 wrote:on the other hand there are users out there who don't have broadband connections so downloading the 'required' stock is a problem?

Downloading stock on dial-up is not a problem - it just takes a little time and patience. I regularly used to download stock whilst "on the road" each week. I would just set the downloads running and wander off down the pub for a few hours and let the downloads run. It is only a problem for those who are too impatient to wait.

Traveller54 wrote:And then of course is when a link is 'dead' or the stock 'retired'??

That is a different problem entirely. I believe Matt has plans to use the "linked" files data in future so that all activities are linked to the stock required. Should any item of stock be withdrawn then all affected activity writers will be notified so they can update their activities. I am pretty sure that was in one of the other posts on this subject around the beginning of the year.

Kindest regards

John

madrid · Post by **madrid** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:55 pm

Traveller54 wrote:... on the other hand there are users out there who don't have broadband connections so downloading the 'required' stock is a problem? And then of course is when a link is 'dead' or the stock 'retired'??

Just looking outside the circle a little

Broadband did not come out here in suburban Bangkok until last year. Before that with dial-up I used a download manager. As stock files are not really that big, the speed was'nt an issue. But some acts list about 40 items to download and that puts me off straight away.

Normaly the link to stock and anything else only gets withrawn if somebody has offended the creator in the forums.

Traveller54 · Post by **Traveller54** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:10 pm

Fair enough chaps - just trying to broaden the picture a little!

As for files not being 'big' - try d/l an 8Mb+ file (and there a few - about 10% of the library!) which on dial-up do take a while? I suppose we are lucky here in the UK that most dial-up is 'free' but time limited to 1 hour per connection - in other parts of the World (and I include some of the USA here) you still have to pay per minute.

The bottom line is that it is not compulsory to use the required/suggested stock so choice is king - just imposing these sorts of 'rules' tend to restrict peoples perceptions of access both from providing (the important bit) and taking - at least that was my experience I have had whilst running a significant download library in Flight Simulator land.

petethetim · Post by **petethetim** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:52 pm

One does not mind making the effort to download if the list provided is correct

Traveller54 · Post by **Traveller54** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:35 pm

... here is an example when the 'provided' link (in this case a text reference) goes wrong?

I have just d/l six files relating to the 'Brighton Belle' for use with the 'Steyning' route. Each file refers to ukts file: #10807 - which, when going to the library to fetch, is missing completly (and does not appear in the file list html file either).

Now this is not a critiscism of the difficult job the file managers have only and example that when a file is removed at a future date problems can occur!

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:44 pm

i would but it'd take me forever to find the numbers.

petethetim · Post by **petethetim** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:50 pm

salopiangrowler wrote:i would but it'd take me forever to find the numbers.

If You make an Activity I can not see the problem making a note of Stock used

madrid · Post by **madrid** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:52 pm

salopiangrowler wrote:i would but it'd take me forever to find the numbers.

Yes this is the most frustrating part of uploading acts, finding the correct file id numbers, checking that he stock is available for download and wondering did the stock I used was from UKTS website or from a UKTS CD?
As stock from the web does not necessary have the same name as stock from the CD, eventhough its the same train.

petethetim · Post by **petethetim** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:58 pm

Repeat Make Notes not excuses

If You intend Uploading If It just for private use well who cares