Mucked up my track rules

[martinhodgson]

I dived into route building before reading keithmross's tutorial on route building, and have subsequently laid all my track using a mix of rules to get more appropriate track for different parts of the route. The problem is that I have now come back to the speed limits, and because of all the rules I cannot set speed limits on certain areas such as points; and I am also stuggling to get them to link up where I have changed rules in the middle of laying track, as the preferences box has no options. This causes chaos with the track monitor as it picks up most junctions as being 100mph; despite the fact there may be a 30mph speed limit immediately afterwards.

The questions is; is there any way of re-editing the rules to permit easier speed limit setting; or perhaps of standardising them so I can set speed limits at junctions?

[LoneWolfDon]

Under the "Linear Object" options, click on the "Select" tool. Highlight the section of track with the select-tool marker that you want to change the speed-limit for. Then on the menu-box that appears on the right-side of the screen, you should be able to enter in a Primary and Secondary speed limits for the selection of track you have highlighted. Is this what you're looking for?

[martinhodgson]

I have found that - the problem is that when I select track with seperate rules, I cannot enter anything in the box!

[LoneWolfDon]

I'm still fairly new at using the editor myself, so most likely someone more experienced can offer some advice.
But perhaps if you "blend" two separate track types together, would you then be able to set or change the speed limits for it?

[RSAdam]

Hiya,

Can I recommend checking out the RailWorks Developer Wiki on Track Rule setup and usage.

Regards

[hertsbob]

Under the "Linear Object" options, click on the "Select" tool. Highlight the section of track with the select-tool marker that you want to change the speed-limit for. Then on the menu-box that appears on the right-side of the screen, you should be able to enter in a Primary and Secondary speed limits for the selection of track you have highlighted. Is this what you're looking for?

Thanks for that. I've been wondering how to do that for ages! It appeared that it was so obvious I'd been afraid to ask!

As far as the multiple track rules are concerned I think you may well be knackered without relaying the 'incorrect' track or possibly hacking the .bin/.xml files.

Cheers

Bob

[hertsbob]

The Wiki is definitely a good source of information, as are these esteemed pages.

"It is strongly recommended that only one track rule is used per track network. Defining properties across two track rules that are connected together is very problematic. If more than one track network exists in the route, and these are not directly connected together, then different track rules can be used for each network."

Like I said...

However, something being "very problematic" and something being "impossible to fix" are two completely different issues. It then becomes a matter of whether it's quicker to bin the whole lot and start again or to try and work out how to fix it (probably the former).

Cheers

Bob

[RSAdam]

Hiya,

Can I suggest that resorting to hacking game files at such an early stage is really not a good idea. If time isnt taken to at least learn the basics of the software, it may result in bigger mistakes being made in future or the position that a method thought only possible by hacking data, is actually provided as a direct in-game tool that is 10 times faster and safer to use.

Remember that every single RailWorks user has exactly the same tools used by the Official Development Team and that the team has NEVER had to hack or retro engineer game files in order to achieve anything that has been developed for RailWorks to date.

Trial and error can be a very power way of learning and very beneficial in the long run. It is an unfortunate position to find yourself in if you need to start over though.

Regards

[AndiS]

The problem is that it does not take game file hacking to get into this trap, you just pick from the offering of the official graphical user interface. But it takes game file hacking to get out of the trap.

If this was just a test route, then maybe start afresh. Else, you can try the following.
First, decide which of the track rules will be your one and only one.
Then, make a backup of the route folder.
The go into that folder, and there into Networks. Use serz.exe to convert it to XML and open it using Notepad. (Can RW-Tools do string replacement? I confess not to know.)
Then, search for the string "trackrules". You will find something like

railnetwork\trackrules\bath_temp_trackrules_maindown 70.xml

If that is the one you want to keep, copy it to another editor window, so you can paste it in later.
If this is another one, go on searching for the "good" trackrule. Better not search for oxford or bath or such because there is a lot with that name.

After you found your ideal, you go bet to the start of the file and search again for "trackrules". Now, when you find one that needs to go, you do a string replacement from
railnetwork\trackrules\bad_rule.xml
to
railnetwork\trackrules\bath_temp_trackrules_maindown 70.xml.

Repeat until you believe that all bad rules are gone. It helps a lot if you can remember which ones you used at all.
If you have some string search facility, you can tabulate all occurrences of trackrules to make a complete list of those that are there.
If you have time, you can just search for trackrules in the file until you hit the end without finding another bad one.

Save and serz Tracks.xml to obtain Tracks.bin.

[hertsbob]

Greetings Adam.

Fair comments. Can't argue with that at all in retrospect.

What I would say is that human nature being as it is, one tends to learn from one's mistakes - including reading the instructions after the event! And of course - with the utmost respect and admiration -the developers know what they are supposed to be doing before they start. Learning on the job for the rest of us can sometimes be a tad painful.

Andi - looking forward to trying this, thanks!
"Can RW-Tools do string replacement?" Oh yes indeed!


Cheers

Bob

[martinhodgson]

Fortunately as it is only a very short route it isn't going to be too bad to re-do the track - though I may not bother; as the route isn't likely to be released; it is more of a 'playground' to try things; though as one of those things was RW decal it is currently based on a realistic route!

Thanks for the advice gents; I'll be sure to remember it next time!

[Acorncomputer]

Hi

I found this problem way back with The Big Layout and it was at the junctions that you could not run the change every bit of speed limit although with some persistence you can eventually get it all the same in about 80% of instances. This does not particularly affect performance but it does mean that the driver window does indicate incorrect next speed limits based on about two inches of residual track that cannot be changed. You can zoom in very close to the track but you sometimes just cannot get rid of that last little bit.

If you are brave enough, you can re-lay the track over the offending section with different track rules that match the main track.

The bottom line is that part of the preparations before starting any route, along with route templates, markers, DEM, weather, terrain, ets, is to consider what track rules you are going to use. Creating your own is probably best but if using default rules, then you have to accept that whilst you can change the properties of the track afterwards, there will be very small sections that you just cannot change at junctions. Changing properties on straight lengths of track is no problem though.

[dlljones]

I've had a problem with "All Track Rules" because there are two of them in the drop down list. Unfortunately they are both different and will throw up the "multiple track rules" message. I find this very frustrating. I used both of them because one has a sharper curve than the other.

The only solution is to try and relay the offending track but when you have laid many miles of it it's most annoying.

If I knew how to do it safely I'd delete the file containing the "All Track Rules" with the wider curve.

Llew

[Acorncomputer]

Hi

As far as I know there is only one 'all track rules' rule, so how you have two is a bit of a mystery.

One other possibility is to replace track with RW Tools which have tried once and it worked but it needs a bit of concentration to achieve. You could make a clone of your route and try out changes on that before committing to the master route.

[AndiS]

I guess one will be the one that comes with RW and the other is the original download from Jim via UKTS from two years ago. That had 4 m track distance and the one that comes with RW has the brainless 3.14 again.

However, in such a case I suggest you really try the search and replace method described above. If you make a backup there is nothing you can loose and it is less work than relaying track. And also, you can never be sure where there are remaining pieces laid to the other track rule.