Decals and putting them into RW.

[chriswillis81]

As i seem to have hit a brick wall trying to get markers into RW, i thought i'd try the other angle.

I used RWDecal to create the entire map of my route, all 60 miles of it. This was saved as a kml file as instructed on the RWDecal tutorial. It then shows you what you need to do to create the decals but then thats it.

To create route markers i understood that i had to convert the kml file into a cvs file, thats fine and thats where i just cant get any further on, i've followed the instructions on rw-tools and used that but they just wont show up.

So, i understand that i can input the google images that have been captured and turned into decals but i'm not sure how i do that? I'm of the understanding that they need to be converted to ACE files?

I've looked on a post on here that tells you about inputting Google images into RW but because that person has not used RWDecal it gets very confusing as to what bits i need to follow and what bits i dont need to follow becuase RWDecal would have already done some of the process.

5 days into building my route and still no track, i cant wait until i crack this

[pjt1974]

If you're using RWDecal and you have a KML path. Select file in RWDecal then select Auto Grab Kml Path.
You will be taken to a screen asking you to select the KML path you wish to use and to choose a number of options.

One done press ok. It'll ask you if you wish to see the selected areas, best pressing yes so you can just check what decals you're making.

Press finished to return to the main RWDecal program and under Load Markers: press the button 'create all'. Another box will pop up giving you the choice of which decals you want to create or not by ticking or unticking.

Press ok then ok when asked to confirm.

Jim has done a few excellent YouTube tutorials that he has posted on the RWDecal website to help with all this if you get stuck.

http://www.rwdecal.co.uk/youtube/index.php

Regards
Phil

[chriswillis81]

Hi Phil,

I've done all that, i did that about 4 days ago, but what now? (sorry i forgot how far in the process i got) how do i get my decals into RW?

[chriswillis81]

i'm actually starting to get a little confused now. All my decals are created and i have them sitting in a folder on my computer, but i dont know how i then get those decals into railworks. i've looked at the tutorials and either i am being a complete idiot or i am missing something. I cant get anything that i created to show up in the editor.

[rivimey]

Chris,

It sounds like you've done all you need with RWDecal. The things you should have done at this stage - other than just making the decals - are:
- ensure that when you asked RWDecal the "auto-rotate" option was enabled
- ensure that you asked for markers at the corners (not the centre - not sure why that's there!)
- having a whole decal as well as the chunks is only slighly useful, as RW won't display it properly.

You'll probably need some sort of map of the area available to look at while doing the next step. GE is fine if you can see it as well as RW.

The next step is to start up RW and load your route. With the Asset placement tool select the Misc filter. You should find that decals corresponding to the name you selected have been added to the list, with a GE: prefix.

On the bottom left flyout there's a round button that you should enable to show markers. Flying to the right location in the map you should discover that there is a rectangular grid of markers (with RWDecal logo on them) indicating where the tiles should go.

So. Select a tile and place it on the map. Select the next and place it next to the first... and so on. The RWDecal manual has a little diagram that shows you how the X / Y numbers relate to the map locations.

Hope this helps,
Ruth

[nobkins]

Hi Chris,

RWDecal puts GoogleEarth images into RailWorks. I am not sure why you want markers as well. For route building you don;t need them. With the decals you virtually have a paint by numbers view in RailWorks.

Align the decals to the markers generated by RWDecal (nothing to do with your path) and then place the track on top.

My video tutorials (which there are many) on the RWDecal website cover all the things you need to do.

If you have a reason for wanting to convert a KML path into markers for use in RW then tell us what that is. Otherwise place the decals in game and off you go.

Jim

[chriswillis81]

Hi Jim,

I already know that rwdecal puts google images in RW, i have stated that above, but my question was how? (hopefully the post previous to yours will help, and i am going to give that a go in a second)

My frustration comes when on one hand i have people telling me to use rw_decal because like you say its like a painting by numbers, but yet on the other hand you have tutorials on here that tell you to use rw-tools and route markers. So in all fairness to your question, i only have a need to place markers into rw becuase that is the tutorial i was following. I came across this tutorial at the same time i came across rwdecal.

This is in no way a jibe at your reply because at the end of the day i know you've responded to help me but i can understand why people get so confused when their are various ways to do things.

[chriswillis81]

Ruth,

i used the rwdecal option to create decals for the whole route after mapping it out with a path. Do i need to go and create the decals again using the options you have stated?

When i said the decals are sitting in a folder i meant i have 1 kml file in there which i am assuming contains all the decals within it?

Thanks.

[Darpor]

You will need to activate your developer folder, thats maybe what is missing here.

[nobkins]

Ok... let me break it down.

RWDecal puts Google Earth in RailWorks. It also creates Markers especially for the decals created to help you position them at the real latitude and longitude (real as in same as real world).

You can also create markers and paths completely separately from this. Some people still create routes using this method. Most use RWDecal. Some people use both.

You seem to be over complexing it. You have some decals (which you may or may not have created correctly based on previous posts). Place them in game where the RWDecal markers show they should be placed. There is a video tutorial showing you the best way to place decals in game.

I also recommend you slow down a little. Creating decals for a 60 mile route without testing a single one in advance is likely to cause problems. The most likely being that you are not happy with or do not use appropriate options in RWDecal to get what you want. If you created 10 decals and played around with those in game you will learn the process and not waste hours by having to create them all again if you realise they are not exactly as you want.

Try to take smaller steps and build on them. I think you are finding it very hard because you are jumping on to the next stages when you have not got to grips with the previous ones.

And one final request. Please provide as much info as possible. I have said in one of your other troubleshooting threads that images are very helpful. Take a screenshot of what you see and post it up here. Just upload the image to flikr or whatever you like and insert the link. Pictures speak a 1000 words.

Good luck

Jim

[chriswillis81]

Thanks Jim, i'll start again with my decals i think, and take your advice and just create a couple to begin with.

In answer to your final request i remember you asking for images and i actually posted asking how i do that? but like a donut put that on the wrong thread so you never got it.

I'll let you know how i get on with my decals.

Thanks,

[nobkins]

In answer to your final request i remember you asking for images and i actually posted asking how i do that? but like a donut put that on the wrong thread so you never got it.

No problem. Many people just have a flikr account and then upload images to that. Then all you need to do is paste the URL into your post. If you want to be very fancy then surrond the URL with:

Code: Select all

[URL][/URL]

And the image will be shown rather than just a link.

Just make sure it is not bigger than 800x600 (forum rules). Flickr etc I think can do that automatically.

[chriswillis81]

Taking your advice Jim i have decided to start again with my decals. First station on the route is Hastings so lets create a decal for it. I am following the tutorial on the rwdecal site 'How to use RWDecal grab system.

So i click on the Grab LL button on RWDecal and up pops google. I navigate to hastings station and place the guided square thats on google and place that in the bottom left of the area i want to create. The tutorial says click on 'set LL placemark' and then when that happens a pin appears with the name Leeds Station LL. Well when i click on 'set LL placemark' i get nothing, so i thought maybe i have to put the pin in myself, so i did and labelled it 'Hasintgs Station LL' i also did the same for the UR but i get no red box appear joining them up.

I must be doing something wrong but i have followed the tutorial exactly.

[nobkins]

In GoogleEarth delete the RWDecal Objects from your "my places".

Close GE
Close RWDecal
Load RWDecal

try again

[chriswillis81]

Done all you requested.

Placed the marker in the lower left, clicked on set current to ll and i get a pop up box.....

'You have successfully ''Grabbed'' the coordinates for Hastings Station Lower Left (ll)

but when i click ok on that box i get no yellow pin appear