Vulcan productions Christmas goodies

[Farioli]

I have a small question about the route: it is prototypical that some speed signs are not in place?
For example approaching Paignton there is no signal about the 10 mph restriction and the same is for the 40 mph limit just after departure.
Another one is on the up main approaching the sea wall between Exminster and Starcross, where the speed line drop from 90 mph to 65 mph.

[adburgess1992]

Yes all the testers had finished clean version at the start of december the only thing added after then was new scenarios and fixing things like floating signs and such, The installer timestamp will be wrong as it was built by Matt when he got the chance as late as possible to make sure it was all working correctly before release and the scenario timestamp will be because of the they were built using the Fletcher Mk1 Blue and Grey Coaches since the Mk1 Mega Pack V2 wasnt finished at the time then swapped out to Mega Pack V2 Mk1's when they were finished. We have a team of 20+ junior testers and most of which tested it all for a good month and the 10+ senior testers had it in mid November.

I cant answer the question about speed signs sadly as Mark built the route while I was busy working on my own stuff and im a steam era and preservation era person mostle so not massivly knowledgeable about these things,Its possible there could be a few missing as it was built over the period of 3 years or more when he had the time

[whittaker]

Big thanks for the 47 pack ,good to see some old Gateshead locos with crest .

thanks

Joe Whittaker

[gptech]

Yes all the testers had finished clean version

That's good then, proves that the package at some point was tested, but the question still remains "was the released to the likes of us package fully tested?"
No matter how trivial changes may seem they're still changes, and whilst swapping stock (I presume with RW Tools to explain all the *.bak files?) and adding scenarios isn't something you'd expect to cause issues any change has potential to do so.

The installer timestamp will be wrong

No, not possible. You prove that with

it was built by Matt when he got the chance as late as possible

so whilst the individual components of the package may have been tested even minutes before the package was created, the package we can download was only put together within 24 hours or so of the last scenario revision. The time stamps on files contained as archived copies (as is the case with the .exe installer and contained files) is inviolate; it's stamped with the time as set by the time server your installation checks with at boot/periodically.
Not that it matters here, but having a scenario tested as a stand alone package is different to having a scenario tested as part of a larger package. What I'm asking is was the package we can download and install tested fully, with every scenario run through to completion successfully before release?
I'd imagine NO.
That's not being judgemental, in all honesty I wouldn't consider anything more than a check of the package actually installing being taken as proof that it was all OK, particularly as all that was amended was a simple swap to a different version of some coaches: however, you do need to be prepared for the possibility that that does not mean all the packaged content will install/run correctly on any system.
Checking a package at the start of December is not testing a package put together at the árse end of December!

Yes. I'm, being niggly and argumentative (well, it is Christmas after all ) and the point is rather moot but it's a valid point for future reference.

[chrisreb]

The scenario is the Up Cornish Riviera

This scenario ( de6ad7a8-86c6-4be9-8bf3-020e2eb9ca7c ) is a "rolling start" variant, so swapping stock with RW Tools only does half the job---the information contained in StartingSave.bin won't match that in ScenarioProperties.xml/Scenario.bin. You need to drop into the editor and untick the 'rolling start' box. If you cant get in the editor, then deleting the StartingSave.bin file may work.
I've just downloaded and installed the route, swapped the stock in the scenario and get an immediate crash when attempting to play...now I'll try my above advice....


EDIT: Yep. unticking the 'rolling start' box works and drops me straight in the cab of the HST.

Useful advice thanks for the future.

[TransportSteve]

Well, I've just installed this route with the .exe applicator and when you go into the Content Folder there is the route with a duplicate route folder inside it, so, instead of it being 123mbs, it's 246mbs, did you know you Vulcans???

Cheerz. Steve.

[gptech]

Just delete the duplicate Steve, or cut & paste it out somewhere safe 'just in case'.

[johnbarron]

I've just installed this route and, although I have all of the prerequisites, I have no platforms and the lights and signs are just suspended in mid-air.

Any hints as to what's gone wrong?

[michaelhendle]

Hi
Have you got these 2 addons from Just Trains https://www.justtrains.net/product/west ... -extension and http://www.justtrains.net/product/paignton-extension?
according to the manual you need these two addons.

[class377fcc12]

I've just installed this route and, although I have all of the prerequisites, I have no platforms and the lights and signs are just suspended in mid-air.

Any hints as to what's gone wrong?

If you have all the requirements, it's safe to bet that it's related to the scenery density setting. The Exeter St Davids model from Riviera in the 50s requires the scenery density to be at the highest possible level.

Hope this helps,
Rob

[gptech]

Hi
Have you got these 2 addons from Just Trains …...

Not quite Mike....
It's one or the other, not both.

JT South Devon Main Line (Extension or Standalone)

although I have all of the prerequisites, I have no platforms and the lights and signs are just suspended in mid-air.

Forgive me for going over the most basic of basic trouble shooting ploys...but does RW Tools flag any assets as *missing*?

it's related to the scenery density setting. The Exeter St Davids model from Riviera in the 50s requires the scenery density to be at the highest possible level.

Definitely worth trying.... just drop into the World Editor and move your mouse over where a *missing* platform should ne---if it suddenly pops into existence then its the LOD level that's too low on your system

[michaelhendle]

I;m only going by the message I got when I tried to in stall the Paington Branch,it said I needed to install the South Devon Mainline
Mike

[SkylineBoy]

I;m only going by the message I got when I tried to in stall the Paington Branch,it said I needed to install the South Devon Mainline
Mike

Which is one route, you said two.

[gptech]

message I got when I tried to in stall...……………………...it said

Generally, messages along those lines can be ignored. Without all the requirements for any route/rework of an existing route all you're liable to be missing are scenic items--of course having the correct track already installed is pretty important, but even that can be worked round.

…...above was all done without any of the assets provided by the installer installed

Think of .exe installers as being nothing more than a fancy, self extracting .zip archive, coupled with the 7-Zip extractor to pull any required shape filers from .ap archives---in other words just a posey routine that more often than not makes the provider 'look good' rather than simplifies the process for everybody. Most of them aren't even *proper* .exe files, being just a conversion of .bat routines into a surrogate .exe format.

[thetrainfan]

…...above was all done without any of the assets provided by the installer installed

Think of .exe installers as being nothing more than a fancy, self extracting .zip archive, coupled with the 7-Zip extractor to pull any required shape filers from .ap archives---in other words just a posey routine that more often than not makes the provider 'look good' rather than simplifies the process for everybody. Most of them aren't even *proper* .exe files, being just a conversion of .bat routines into a surrogate .exe format.

What is your problem?

As long as the installer (be it an exe, bat or whatever file) does what it says on the tin, I really don't think anyone is fussed.