Richard Fletcher reskins InstallMexx.bat files

peterfhayes · Post by **peterfhayes** » Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:14 pm

Richard Fletcher reskins InstallMexx.bat files
Hi Richard
I use a lot of your re-skins mainly from DPS and I do find that the InstallMexxx.bat files do not work in copying across the needed GeoPCDX files due to the r/w issue. The InstallMe*.bat file is not even deleted after running it.

I am loathe to use RW_Tools to remove the “read” restriction, so I wondered if you could include in your instructions the files that need to be copied over manually? I can usuall work these out but not in all cases.

I now know to always copy the bat file to an external drive and get the info that way but there have been many reskins that I have installed previously that may not have the needed GeoPCDX files copied over.

I tried to use RW_Tools to find the locos that had these missing files but failed miserably!!

It would be a great addition to your already excellent reskins.

Regards
pH

deltic009 · Post by **deltic009** » Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:21 pm

Two things

1. If you right c!ick and hit Edit, you can read exactly what the batch file does.

2. I really don't see it as worthwhile for Richard to use up valuable time making a bigger readme and instructions to allow someone to take a more convoluted way around what is already provided.

That's just my opinion though.

FoityBill · Post by **FoityBill** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:22 am

The only problem I've had with the batch file is if I try to install multiple reskins at the same time. You then get multiple batch files in the asset directory. When you run the batch file for the first time, the 7zip exe file is deleted so when you try the next file, it can't find it. I keep a copy of the exe elsewhere then just copy it back. I always like his batch file as it means you don't need to mess about unpacking AP files.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

rfletcher72 · Post by **rfletcher72** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:33 am

I can think of a colloquial term that fittingly describes my position with regards to manual installation versus batch files.

My main motive for using them was to make the installation process much easier, as I know by my own experiences that manually copying files across is easy enough but you can't account for the human element

.

Whereas before I would get queries that people cannot find the required files (usually .ap related), I now get ones that complain that the batch file has not copied the files across. I could use both routes and mention both methods in the readme file, but as sure as eggs are eggs this would only serve to confuse. So falling short of actually going round to the simmer's house and installing it for them I am happy to continue to use the .bat file process as in my mind it provides the path of resistance for both me and the user. Making files read/write only requires a bit of legwork and a small leap of faith.

And as Matthew correctly mentions, if one is in any doubt just right click the installer, click edit and you can open it and see what files are required, where these are and where these need to go, if you experience any issues and/or you want to do it the old-fashioned way.

atlasduff47 · Post by **atlasduff47** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:04 pm

I have never had a problem with any of the batch files used to install reskins.

peterfhayes · Post by **peterfhayes** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:25 pm

Thanks, for the replies

pH

MrHillingdon · Post by **MrHillingdon** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 9:34 pm

Sorry chaps but excuse my ignorance as I have only just started with TS and am learning as I go. I have the West Highland Route and have downloaded Richard's class 37 in large logo with the yellow end panels. When I load the loco in the simulator I only see the couplings. Should I be doing something else after running the batch file?

Regards,

Paul

gptech · Post by **gptech** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:17 pm

Hi Paul,
no, you shouldn't have to do anything else after running the batch file but, as the opening post in this thread states, sometimes the batch file doesn't work as intended. This is on no account a failing by Richard but more an issue with how different peoples machines are configured. The file protection offered by Windows itself can cause difficulties when moving files in areas the operating system sees as being an *important, not to be messed with* areas, usually because the user has Steam/TS installed in the default location of ..\..\..\Program Files (x86).

Before delving into things with any great depth though, have you cleared the game's cache, or at least the portion of it that deals with the West Highland Line?
This is basically just an *index* of where assets are that the game uses rather than search through every folder each time you start it.
You can clear the whole cache from within the game; in the main menu click on "Settings", which is in the top right hand corner, then on "Tools" in the pop up window, and finally the "Clear Cache" button in the same pop-up. To delete the portion of cache relating to just assets in the West Highland Line folders simply delete the ..\Assets\Thomson\FortWilliamMallaig\Blueprints.pak file---files making up the cache are always .pak files.
Give that a go, try the loco again and if it doesn't still show we'll look at what .GeoPcDx files the .bat has copied, if any, and how to manually do it for any that are missing.

MrHillingdon · Post by **MrHillingdon** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 9:46 am

Many thanks for your help. Having done as you stated I still have no class 37.

Thanks,

Paul

gptech · Post by **gptech** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 10:55 am

MrHillingdon wrote:I still have no class 37.

OK, time for a delve...

Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the ..\Assets\Thomson\FortWilliamMallaig\RailVehicles\Diesel\Class37\LargeLogoYellow\Engine folder and see if you have a file called Class37.GeoPcDx
If you don't have, that'll be the cause of your problem and it's this file (plus a couple more) that need to be copied over from within the .ap archive.
Do you have RW Tools, or 7-Zip, or WinRAR installed?

TransportSteve · Post by **TransportSteve** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 11:31 am

Hmmm, well, I've had a go at this just now, and, the batch file doesn't work.......

These are simple screenshots showing the stages of input, I haven't bothered with the inputting of the rwp file thru Package Manager, but, these are what happens when you go into the Thomson folder structure.

As you can see, none of the information contained in the batch file ( the 3 GeoPcDx files) are being transferred across from the default engine folder to the reskin folder automatically.

EDIT: I've just looked in the Cab View folder on the reskin and there are NO files in there apart from texture files, no, bin file, or, GeoPcDx, and nothing showing in the batch file information.

gptech · Post by **gptech** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 11:48 am

Yeah, it works for many )does for me) but not for all. It has to be a permissions/security related issue and as we all have differing configurations there isn't a 'one size fits all solution'

TransportSteve wrote: I've just looked in the Cab View folder on the reskin and there are NO files in there apart from texture files, no, bin file, or, GeoPcDx

It possibly only needs the textures in there Steve, depends how the pathing is specified in the .GeoPcDx. In the game do you see what you'd expect?

MrHillingdon · Post by **MrHillingdon** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:13 pm

The Class37.GeoPcDx isn't present in the stated folder.
I have recently installed RW Tools but haven't used it yet.

Cheers,

Paul

TransportSteve · Post by **TransportSteve** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:26 pm

gptech wrote:Yeah, it works for many )does for me) but not for all. It has to be a permissions/security related issue and as we all have differing configurations there isn't a 'one size fits all solution'

TransportSteve wrote: I've just looked in the Cab View folder on the reskin and there are NO files in there apart from texture files, no, bin file, or, GeoPcDx
It possibly only needs the textures in there Steve, depends how the pathing is specified in the .GeoPcDx. In the game do you see what you'd expect?

Oh, I haven't got that far yet, Gary, I'm trying to get my lunch sorted out......

Just hang on then I'll go and have a look, I've transferred the files across manually, hopefully it will show, but, you're quite correct logically speaking in the pathing issue for all of these files, it depends how Richard has set it up.

Cheerz. Steve.

gptech · Post by **gptech** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:32 pm

OK Paul,

RW Tools offers a nice easy way to copy files from within .ap archives, but as you're new to the program it could be confusing to start with.
I've no idea what your level of 'techiness' is so I'll assume it's low---if I state the obvious or seem condescending it's not intentional!

The .ap archives confuse a lot of people, possibly because they're an unfamiliar thing...so, lets make it familiar.

Using Windows Explorer again, navigate to ..\Assets\Thomson\FortWilliamMallaig and copy the FortWilliamMallaigAssets.ap file to somewhere---entirely up to you where you stick it, as long as it's OUT of the game's folders and where you can get to it easy enough. If your desktop's nice and tidy that's as good a place as any.

Once you've pasted the copy to it's temporary location, right click it and choose 'Rename'. All you're going to do is change the .ap extension to .zip, so it's name will now be FortWilliamMallaigAssets.zip--Windows will now be able to see inside it, and you'll feel a lot more comfortable because it's a .zip file and we all know what they are!

Once you've done that, open it up and navigate to the RailVehicles\Diesel\Class37\Default\Engine folder and select these 3 files:

class37.GeoPcDx
nameplatetest.GeoPcDx
snowploughs.GeoPcDx

These files need copying and pasting into your ..\Assets\Thomson\FortWilliamMallaig\RailVehicles\Diesel\Class37\LargeLogoYellow\Engine folder, and once you've done that you should be all sorted. It'd be worthwhile deleting the ]..\Assets\Thomson\FortWilliamMallaig\Blueprints.pak file to ensure that the relevant part of the cache is cleared, more as a belt and braces exercise than a necessity but once it's done it's one less thing to consider if it's still a bit iffy.

Atomic Systems