Corrupted Route

[spontin]

Ok. Big problem so looking for help.

Been updating my Talyllyn route and decided to see if I could enhance the track so:-

• Backedup the Track folder in the Assets folder (good thought or so I thought)
  Made new track asset. Viewed in Previewer - ok
  Exported to route
  Added new track in editor - ok
  Tried to run route - crashed - DMP file
  Couldn't fix it so copied back Track folder
  Crash - DMP file
  Check with RW - no bad files
  Deleted the TS2014 database files under the Railworks folder & forced TS2014 to rebuild - ok
  Tried Route - Crash with DMP file

Can't think what else to try. Big worry is that backing up files may not be a way to protect your work now.
Any ideas other than de-installing and re-installing route from my original install files??
Would loose all my changes

Thanks

[AndiS]

You backed up the track assets, but not their usage in the route. The trackwork of the route is defined in Tracks.bin and the Track Tiles folder, in the route folder (i.e., Content/big-hex-number).

However, the original problem will lie with your tracks. I would start a small test route (just the default blueprint with a few pieces of track). I do that with everything. Only problem is you cloak up your route list with zillions of tests you don't throw away for some or no reason. But you never hurt anything which is of value and I lost count of the corrupted test routes I just deleted.

So, in that test route, lay a piece of track, exit the route and reload. Bang or no bang, that is the question?
That piece can either be the old track or the new one. Somehow something must be wrong with some minor detail. I would start with trying the new one. But it could be many things and I have no clue about them. I just describe my way of doing dangerous things in the lab.

Another thing I would do in your position would be to go through all the .bin files associated with your new track and compare them side by side with something that is know to work. You might have some small flaw in some of the definitions (a wrong digit, a missing letter in a filename, .bin instead of .xml in the filename, a blank entry that must be filled in, stuff like that).

[chrisonline]

Hi Steve

First, let me say, I'm a big fan of the Talyllyn Route, especially as I spent many days there as a kid while we were on holiday over many a summer in the 60's. I live in the US now and last saw the line back in 1998 when Sir Haydn was still in Corris livery, and before Tywyn Wharf was rebuilt. I just got your route a few weeks ago after discovering it when you uploaded No.8 Merseysiderand, and I have enjoyed tinkering with it (I never let things alone!), loco thumbnail pics, route thumbnail pic, a couple of free roams and QD's, etc.

I can't speak specifically for the track issue, but couldn't you keep the existing (corrupted) folders as a renamed backup, reinstall the whole route, and then transfer back the changes you have made, one folder at a time, ensuring each time that everything works before moving to the next? That way you are unlikely to lose much, if any, of your subsequent development work. Having said that, are you saying that you don't have all changes in a separate file structure to one side? I assume I am misunderstanding you there

While writing, could I seek your input on something . . .I have had no problem editing, switching, and moving around the various items of rolling stock, EXCEPT the open wagon (named TR_open_wagon in the TS editor, and kng_open_wagon in the kngtrains asset folder), and the Corris Brake ("TR Corris_Brake" in the editor, and Corris_Brake in the Corris asset folder). Just with these two items, I can add them to a scenario, but once added they can not be highlighted to move them around or delete them - they stay firmly put, wherever they are first placed. All I can do is delete them using RW_Tools and then add them back in via the editor screen exactly where I wanted to move them to.

Oh and another question - any idea where I can get Sir Haydn in the earlier Corris livery? I gather that it exists, but it didn't come in the CD package, nor did Dolgoch in green or the real Douglas (not Duncan with the face!) though I see the textures are all there.

Hoping you resolve the track issue soon and looking forward to future updates!

Chris

[maxtedrw]

Steve don't do anything !

Copy the route that is in the "contents" directory immediately to a safe place.

Do not delete anything.

Ring me - i'll send you an email

It happened to me sort of and it is recoverable but i'll need to tak you through it.

Richard

[spontin]

Cheers everyone. Thanks for the replies.
I knew someone out there would have some ideas

Andy - cheers. I do use a test route normally but got carried away once I had seen the track working in the previewer!! Will be more careful next time.

Richard - thanks. Just seen your emails. Will respond to you via those.

Chris- thanks for your comments. I'll reply when I'm at home and can look at the issues you mention.

Regards

[spontin]

Hi Steve

First, let me say, I'm a big fan of the Talyllyn Route, especially as I spent many days there as a kid while we were on holiday over many a summer in the 60's. I live in the US now and last saw the line back in 1998 when Sir Haydn was still in Corris livery, and before Tywyn Wharf was rebuilt. I just got your route a few weeks ago after discovering it when you uploaded No.8 Merseysiderand, and I have enjoyed tinkering with it (I never let things alone!), loco thumbnail pics, route thumbnail pic, a couple of free roams and QD's, etc.

I can't speak specifically for the track issue, but couldn't you keep the existing (corrupted) folders as a renamed backup, reinstall the whole route, and then transfer back the changes you have made, one folder at a time, ensuring each time that everything works before moving to the next? That way you are unlikely to lose much, if any, of your subsequent development work. Having said that, are you saying that you don't have all changes in a separate file structure to one side? I assume I am misunderstanding you there

While writing, could I seek your input on something . . .I have had no problem editing, switching, and moving around the various items of rolling stock, EXCEPT the open wagon (named TR_open_wagon in the TS editor, and kng_open_wagon in the kngtrains asset folder), and the Corris Brake ("TR Corris_Brake" in the editor, and Corris_Brake in the Corris asset folder). Just with these two items, I can add them to a scenario, but once added they can not be highlighted to move them around or delete them - they stay firmly put, wherever they are first placed. All I can do is delete them using RW_Tools and then add them back in via the editor screen exactly where I wanted to move them to.

Oh and another question - any idea where I can get Sir Haydn in the earlier Corris livery? I gather that it exists, but it didn't come in the CD package, nor did Dolgoch in green or the real Douglas (not Duncan with the face!) though I see the textures are all there.

Hoping you resolve the track issue soon and looking forward to future updates!

Chris

Hi Chris
To answer your questions:
The Corris Brake & Open wagons were created by Kevin Martin and are quite old versions. However I don't recall problems with them from my CD but there were some issues like you describe a long time ago which I'm sure Kevin issued a fix on.
Might help to know whether you bought the Talyllyn Adventure CD from UKTrainsim or from my website (sptalyllyn.co.uk) but there was a patch issued for use with the UkTrainsim version which is on the website (can't recall what that covered at the moment).

All Kevin's models should be found under the folder SPTalyllyn folder of my CD install (I don't use anything under kngtrains to avoid Kevin's original models and the ones he let me package & re-use, being mixed up)

Again Dolgoch in green is definitely packaged with my CD, again all under the SPTalyllyn folder. So I suspect there may be a mix of versions in your system???

Finally, Sir Haydn in Corris Red was released by Kevin as part of the Phorum Penisular Charity route so you can pick that up from within that route.

Any further questions then post or email me at talyllyn.sims@sptalyllyn.co.uk

Regards
Steve

[chrisonline]

Hi Steve, thanks for the reply. I obtained the CD from UKTS a couple of weeks ago (prompted by your uploading of No.8 Merseysider, before which I wasn't aware of the route!). I also wasn't aware of your Talyllyn website until Kevin Martin pointed me to it.

I've delved deeper and have also been in direct message/email contact with Kevin Martin. Here's what I've discovered and worked out (I know you know most of this, but I am setting it out the benefit of others who might be interested):

- The problems of non-selectability arose following the introduction of TS2012. Something to do with the way Kevin had produced the GeoPcDx files, and there were also some shading issues with his NG locos.

- You issued a "v1.1 Patch" to update the GeoPcDx files of Kevin's four locos used on the TR

- You then issued a "cumulative v1.2 Patch" which also included Kevin's update to the "Open Wagon" in the SPTalyllyn\Misc_NG folder

(I wasn't aware of these when I first posted above, but have since installed the patch and those assets are now fine)

- However there is also the Corris Brake which sits in the SPTalyllyn\Corris folder, and which also suffered from the non-selectability issue after TS2012 was introduced. This was also Kevin's creation (in fact he had previously issued it as a beta on UKTS in 2008) and he had updated this model when he did the others. However this does not appear to have been included in any update patches either on UKTS or for the TR.

Kevin has emailed me the revised GeoPcDx file for the Corris Brake, and it works fine, making it fully selectable like everything else. I don't know if he has also sent it to you, but I will email it to you separately as I guess you will want to incorporate it into the changes you are currently making on the route.

Again, I thoroughly enjoy the route, and am looking forward to the enhancements that you are currently working on

Chris

[chrisonline]

I didn't respond to your other comments.

Sorry, you are correct - the green Dolgoch is there. Not sure what I was thinking

I didn't realize that Phorum's Corris No.3 was the same as the Sir Haydn in Corris livery. I know it's the same original model, but though the "reddish/brown" of the Phorum model was not the same as Sir Haydn's. Oh well . .

But I'd love to know if there is a model for the "real" Douglas (as opposed to Duncan with the face on the smokebox). I assume there must be, because it's all there in the texture files, I assume it needs a different GeoPcDx file to point to all the right areas.

Chris

[kevmt]

I didn't realize that Phorum's Corris No.3 was the same as the Sir Haydn in Corris livery. I know it's the same original model, but though the "reddish/brown" of the Phorum model was not the same as Sir Haydn's. Oh well . .

Chris

The Phorum Corris no 3 was based on the livery info I was given, when making the original models way back in 2001 for MSTS.

Since making them I have seen the no 3 on the Talyllyn in red. This does look much redder then I was lead to believe the Corris red was.

Just as an aside Corris 1 and 2 are available in the download section.

I hope you sort out your problems, Steve!

Cheers,
Kevin

[spontin]

Hi All
Just to say after an extremely useful phone call with Richard (maxtedrw) I have now been able to restore the route.
I had to redo the new siding at Quarry for the new carriage shed which was hard enough !! I don't think RW likes having new track added after it's all be laid !!
Needless to say, I am taking more backups of the Content folder as well as the Assets folder now so hopefully won't have this problem again.

Regards

Steve

[chrisonline]

Looking forward to the upgrades

Chris

[maxtedrw]

Nice One Steve !

Maybe we ought to tell all for future ref ?

[spontin]

Nice One Steve !

Maybe we ought to tell all for future ref ?

Indeed!

For reference, Richard's advice for backing up your builds includes the Content folder for the route you are working on. This would then include the Tracks , Roads & Lofts folders which are pretty key to the route itself.
This is the bit I neglected

So the key is the Assets folders & the Contents folders of the Route you are working on before making fundamental changes to the route.

Also as others have pointed out, a Test route or clone of the one you are working on is a good idea to test things without screwing up the master and having to restore things.

Hope that helps

Have a great Christmas everyone.

Steve