Mini Routes : The way forward?

[rickloader]

As a routebuilder I`m becoming increasingly frustrated by the constraints of the Global folder. Global files can`t be modified for fear of screwing up other routes.
So a route is restricted to one track or road system, with no customising. Likewise the user is restricted to a single Bin version or tsection, which may not be compatible with all routes.
From the routebuilders` angle offering a route as a mini route only seems compelling, but what are the issues from a users` point of view?
True, the download file would be bigger, but not if a mini route setup utility could copy the users own MSTS installation.
Before I plunge into an exclusive mini route, advice from users would be welcome. Thanks.
Rick

[Easilyconfused]

In my opinion Rick Miniroutes are the way forward. Disk space has never been cheaper so the overheads of duplicating stock are not what they used to be (speaking as somebody who started out with a 100MB hard drive that Windows consumed nearly 20% of).

There are varying opinions and when Black Country was released it wasn't long before a guide to pushing it back into the standard MSTS install appeared. That won't work with some of the larger routes in progress at the moment.

[Iluka]

Hi Rick

I have been using Mini Routes for many years now and I never regretted making the move to them.

The major advantages are :-

1) Any version of T Section.dat can be used on any Mini Route
2) Any version of MSTSBin can be used
3) Any version of the DEFAULT wag can be used
4) GLOBAL Folder is unique to each Mini Route
5) Activities start up in no time at all using Mike Simpson's excellent Mini Loader which in my opinion is far superior to Trainstore
6) Editors & Tools is an absolute breeze to use
7) Stuttering and FPS are improved
etc etc
I have currently 64 Mini Routes installed each with all the Activities currently written for them with all the associated Rolling Stock required and it takes up 215GB of my HD but with 1TB HD's now very common and cheap that is absolutely no problem at all.

I do all my Testing for Making Tracks using Mini Routes and all my testing for Mid East Plus is also set up as a Mini Route noting that MEP will be released as a Mini Route due to it's size (currently 4.43GB)

Hope the above is of assistance

Regards

Mike

[rickloader]

Thanks Mike and John for your helpful responses. Would a mini only route be suitable for a UKTS download or restricted to cd/dvd? I`m anticipating problems firstly with size, and second, expecting people to set up the mini. Although I`ve just created my mini route in about 40 min, and most of that was waiting for file copying. But would an installer be needed? And where do you get them?
I`m not trying to invent problems, but once I have custom global and tsections there will be no going back.
Mike has explained the advantages, and I think they will apply even more to Open Rails, so the case for minis looks convincing
Rick

[rufuskins]

I can only echo the previous comments, and by using Mike Simpson's Mini Route creation routine in RouteRiter - totorial on Steam4me - it is relatively straightforward. In addition it is also possible to add in activities direct to the Mini Route - again there is a tutorial on Steam4me.

Also by using Mike's Mini Loader, operating Mini Routes is not much different to using Train Store.

I'm currently in the process of setting up all my routes as Mini Routes.

Alec

[systema]

Hi Rick,

Mini routes are a good solution for the different requirements of different routes along with all the various extras that are available nowadays for MSTS.

Iluka says it all really.

MEP has been chosen to be issued as a Mini route for these reasons.

Mick Clarke
MEP

[rickloader]

Thanks Alec, I just tried the "mini route setup" in routeriter and it started busily copying files for a new mini. So that is one answer to the installer concerns. I don`t see the mini loader in my routeriter, but in any case I would favour making a desktop short cut launcher because you can specify the memory and AA etc.
I followed the very clear advice on Elvas Tower, here
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/index. ... ni-routes/
edit thanks Mick too. Looks like I`m in good company then!
Rick

[aj52mdy]

Hello everyone.
I apologise for asking a very silly question here and please pardon my ignorance, but what excactly is a mini route?
Is it compatable with exsisting MSTS routes? and can it be used on Windows XP?

Cheers
Andy

[markh5682]

Hi Andy

A mini route is a standalone copy of MSTS, with a single (usually large) route installed, along with all files and stock needed to run all the activities, it has its own startup screen similar to trainstore.

Yes, it is compatible with all MSTS routes and stock.

And yes, it should run fine on Win XP.

[tialho]

I have two main issues over the use of mini-routes:

(a) Unneccesary duplication of files - for instance, mini-roues that copy the entire contents of the MSTS root and global folders rather than just essential files (from memory , I believe the Black Country disc only copied essential files although I as subsequently transferred it into the main MSTS installation I can't verify this). As on my set-up this amounts to nearly half a gig of data, even with a 1Tb hard drive, setting up every one of my 200+ routes as such would seriously eat into disc capacity!
(b) Limited stock/ activities - this was the reason I moved Black Country into the main installation, as I wanted to make use of items from the main installation in the route.

That said, I accept that with good management they are a way of doing something a bit dfferent - a good example is the 'ProTrain37' route published by TrainTeamBerlin, which includes authentic 'grooved' tram tracks and true-scale 600mm narrow gauge (therefore requiring a novel tsection), and only copied essential files from the main installation. I also recognise that with some forthcoming routes, due to route size/detail there MAY be operational issues if not installed as such (although, equipped with a top-end PC and train-store, I have not encountered significant problems with any route to date). So I would consider installing mini-routes under the following circumstances:

(a) true justification for mini-route ('novel' situaton, or limitations on operation if installed in main folder)
(b)'lean' installation.
(c) 'Self-contained' in terms of rolling stock and activities (Mid-East plus/ Scottish Central may be routes amenable to this approach, based on what I know from the forums on scope/content)

Regards,

Tim

[aj52mdy]

Hi Andy

A mini route is a standalone copy of MSTS, with a single (usually large) route installed, along with all files and stock needed to run all the activities, it has its own startup screen similar to trainstore.

Yes, it is compatible with all MSTS routes and stock.

And yes, it should run fine on Win XP.

Thanks Mark,
Cheers
Andy

[rickloader]

Thanks Tim, that is exactly the kind of view I need, and I will endeavour to follow your advice, especially culling surplus files. I don`t plan the kind of unique situation you mention, but I do believe I can create a better route if, I`m able to tinker with Global files.
Andy, to give an example close to home, Uddens estate siding was all but derelict. There are no UKFS or BR track sections to show curved rusty track. In a mini route I can modify or even create suitable track. Perhaps rusty track seems trivial, but i do believe it will help make an authentic route.
Rick

[SDtrains]

Hi Rick,

andy, to give an example close to home, Uddens estate siding was all but derelict. There are no UKFS or BR track sections to show curved rusty track. In a mini route I can modify or even create suitable track. Perhaps rusty track seems trivial, but i do believe it will help make an authentic route.

I could not help noticing this. You could actually modify this by first creating the track sections using global shapes, then manually substitute your own shapes on the world tile. This way, you could have anything you want within reason, and the route would not be obliged to exist in mini route form, and those who wish to run it from the main folder may do so.

Personally, I don't have mini routes and prefer to run everything from Trainstore. I don't find much, if any, advantage in miniroutes.

Regards

Steve

[rickloader]

Ah! Steve you have exposed my laziness! Ihave made substitute shapes and manually edited the world files as you suggest. It works fine, but is very time consuming. After about a dozen complete, and about a hundred shapes on 1 tile alone, I thought "to hell with it!". Mini routes must be easier.
But if a mini only approach will exclude many users, then I will have to adopt your world file approach. This is of course why I am seeking peoples` views.
For some reason, Ifind train store awkward, but I know most swear by it. Thanks for your contribution.
Rick

[rickloader]

Problem solved! Routeriter can automate aliasing substitute shapes, avoiding the tiresome hand editing of world files. I`m sorry to have answered my own question, but sometimes you do need to bounce ideas off others, rather than bashing on alone. Without Steve`s prompting I wouldn`t have re-examined aliasing shapes.
I sill feel mini routes are the way forward, but now with an easy way of aliasing shapes, I don`t need to exclude those who don`t like mini routes.
Thanks to all who contributed
Rick