Saving edited routes, activities and stock.

[PWHolmes]

I have just bought The Port Road and have to say that the achievement if its author in creating an almost photo-perfect route should be applauded. I just wish I had the patience to create something half as good.

However, in my usual pedantic, nit-picking way, there is a little thing I would like to modify, namely the colour lights returning to red immediately the front of my loco goes past so that I seemingly SPAD every one. Not a real problem, just a shift of link 0 30m or so. (At least I think that shouldn't cause problems..... to all you signalling experts out there please let me know if this assumption is a fatuous simplification and shifting the link 0s will cause me problems!!).

This them prompts the question, "How do I stop Steam from undoing any modifications?".

I have added SSS sounds to some stock, and changed the smoke density on my new BR 2MT 2-6-0 and a few other bits and bobs and kept records and download backups of various bits of modification software in a remote directory, so rolling stock assets are covered but what about routes and scenarios. (For example I dont like the Black 5s and 8Fs included with the Port Road so I have changed these with RW Tools to my preferred re-sounded versions) and I have modified the Falmouth branch, taking out that silly fence that runs like a long track DC feeder 3ft from the sleeper end.

So:

1) If I save the route to a different name, eg add "enhanced" to the end of the name will that protect the route and the associated scenarios?
2) If I rename the scenario when I have changed a loco for example, but leave the route as its original name, will that protect the scenario?
3) Is there any way to stop steam updating my asset and contents files when they, for example, update the base programme?

Thanks for your help again chaps.

[bigmull]

This them prompts the question, "How do I stop Steam from undoing any modifications?".


Thanks for your help again chaps.

What i do is "clone" the Route,then swap and fiddle to my hearts content.Im not sure if any "Steam Update" will have an effect on the cloned route,as its named diferently.I swapped all the Black 5's with SSS ones and added a few 7 & 8F's as well.

[Carinthia]

1) If I save the route to a different name, eg add "enhanced" to the end of the name will that protect the route and the associated scenarios?

No, refreshing the file "cache" or an update will overwrite it and rename it back again.

2) If I rename the scenario when I have changed a loco for example, but leave the route as its original name, will that protect the scenario?

No - same as above.

In both the above examples, you should do as bigmull suggests - clone the route or scenario to avoid it being over-written.

3) Is there any way to stop steam updating my asset and contents files when they, for example, update the base programme?

Well, you could work in off-line mode but to be honest I wouldn't recommend blocking updates - some may be beneficial.

One good way to protect your work would be to use a utility like Generic Mod Enabler which would allow you to copy back your modifications after an update:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Mis ... bler.shtml

John

[PWHolmes]

Thanks for that.

Just to make sure I have this correct, renaming a route will not eliminate the possibility of Steam overwriting it and undoing any mods, but modifying a clone with a new name will protect the revised route. Similarly, cloning a scenario with a new name will protect that on an unmodified route.

To save space and duplication, can I delete the original route with impunity? I have got a back up copy after all.

Paul

[MisterWho]

Paul,
a small clarification of the idea you just posted. It's not that renaming a route will or will not protect it from being overwritten / updated during a cache verification. If you rename an existing route folder by changing that long hex ID code in any way, the cache verify will simply create a new "copy" of that route for you with the original folder name - the renamed folder will still be there after the cache verify, since it won't be recognised as the same thing ...

For the same reason, if you clone a route (or scenario), then it gets a new ID code and is again not recognised as being a "copy" of the standard thing. As such, the cloned route or scenario will not be overwritten in any way by an update or cache verify. Of course, this does also mean that any clones that you have created will never receive any updates that the standard DLC gets from RSC / DTG.

Hope that helps,
moi

[MisterWho]

In terms of deleting a route or scenario to save space, just deleting the appropriate folder will work, but the next cache verify will create a new "copy" of that folder for you, consuming the free space you gained once again. If you want to delete a route, then you should first "disable" that DLC by following the instructions in this post by Darren Porter -

http://dpsimulation.blogspot.co.uk/2014 ... oting.html

I'm not absolutely sure whether this will or will not also delete the folder from your installation, but if not then it's a simple matter to do that manually yourself (after making sure you've got the correct folder name of course ...).

I'm not aware of any scenarios that are complete DLCs in their own right, so this method isn't going to help with them - but then scenarios don't normally take up much space ...

HTH,
moi

[gptech]

3) Is there any way to stop steam updating my asset and contents files when they, for example, update the base programme?

As an alternative to cloning, having 2 copies of the game installed does that---one goes online for updates etc, all you do is use Windows Explorer's search facility filtered by 'Date Modified' and copy the 'base program' files over to your second, staying off-line, copy.