TS20XX Utilities & Re-skins

[johnrossetti]

If I need to load certain things I have to use TS Utilities, Do I have to press refresh first ? it can take 40 mins to finish
Likewise at the end it goes through the same refresh again, this time on its own CAN I STOP IT ?

When TS_Tools, or RW_Tools tells me about missing stock, how do i tell if its a primary product or a re-skin of one ?

Cheers John

[gptech]

If I need to load certain things I have to use TS Utilities

Many find it much easier to manually install stuff, simply dragging and dropping the contents of the .rwp archive into the game, but you've no need to refresh the Package Manager routine in Utilities if you stick with that method.

When TS_Tools, or RW_Tools tells me about missing stock, how do i tell if its a primary product or a re-skin of one ?

From the path to the .bin file that those tools can't find. If the missing stock is from a product provided in a .ap archive then it isn't missing and will be the default model. If the pathing to the errant asset isn't in the .ap then it's a reskin.

[peterfhayes]

John
Have a look in your :\STEAM\steamapps\common\RailWorks\PackageInfo folder - how many files?
Try moving and saving (to a safe place) any pre say mid- 2020 files - does that now make the Refresh time shorter?
Also look for very large pi files as they can slow utilities.exe down considerably - I had a couple of route .pi's approaching the 2MB size with lots of assets/info in them.
Make sure you have no zero byte files also!
If you want to see or remove an old install, you can then move the saved files back and wait 40 minutes to find it!
If this does not make refresh shorter just move the saved files back into the Packageinfo folder

With regard to missing stock - its as Gary states wrt to .ap files - the issue may arise if it is a 3rd party asset (no .ap), Old DTG/RSC assets pre .ap - not sure how you check those. Gary - any thoughts?

pH

[johnrossetti]

Super advise, Gary, Peter. Thank you
What started this all of was the desire to download and get working The Railways of Devon and Cornwall v11, I knew the list of the requirements, so I knew I was missing some, but I was shocked to find I only had the right stock for 17 out of the 66 Scenarios included and most of those were Freeroams.
So I found out what was missing, easy enough. But then as TS_Tools offers the button, I thought I would see how many items were missing for ALL my routes, the sums took me back a bit, out of 7003 items of stock required by all scenarios, 1753 were missing. Illustrating perhaps my preference for earlier stock and not modern.
As far as I know EVERY .ap containing the important files for routes and Scenarios and stock have been extracted, not down to every file of course just the ones need by TS/RW_Tools to give a listing.
So I did a comparative Excel Spreadsheet and compared the results, It lists 11 columns and whilst the first column (I added missing column) is the maker, the second the name of the pack, leading through the columns to a bin file, it wasn’t obvious where the missing one came from. See example, although I guess that is a DPS file, wherever they come from !
With so many items it’s a mammoth task to either get them all (Finding the website first) and install them, or exchange everyone in Tools.

Oh and a little moan, please scenario writers, dont include (You know who) stock, you cant get it anymore, sadly. It would be easier to add it if one had it, than having to remove them.

Cheers John
Peter Package information was 269 files 2011 to 2021.

[FoggyMorning]

Super advise, Gary, Peter. Thank you
What started this all of was the desire to download and get working The Railways of Devon and Cornwall v11, I knew the list of the requirements, so I knew I was missing some, but I was shocked to find I only had the right stock for 17 out of the 66 Scenarios included and most of those were Freeroams.
So I found out what was missing, easy enough. But then as TS_Tools offers the button, I thought I would see how many items were missing for ALL my routes, the sums took me back a bit, out of 7003 items of stock required by all scenarios, 1753 were missing. Illustrating perhaps my preference for earlier stock and not modern.
As far as I know EVERY .ap containing the important files for routes and Scenarios and stock have been extracted, not down to every file of course just the ones need by TS/RW_Tools to give a listing.
So I did a comparative Excel Spreadsheet and compared the results, It lists 11 columns and whilst the first column (I added missing column) is the maker, the second the name of the pack, leading through the columns to a bin file, it wasn’t obvious where the missing one came from. See example, although I guess that is a DPS file, wherever they come from !
With so many items it’s a mammoth task to either get them all (Finding the website first) and install them, or exchange everyone in Tools.

Oh and a little moan, please scenario writers, dont include (You know who) stock, you cant get it anymore, sadly. It would be easier to add it if one had it, than having to remove them.

Cheers John
Peter Package information was 269 files 2011 to 2021.
railworks illustration missing.jpg

I would guess that DPS stands for DPSimulation and is the reskin for the class 59 found here https://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/dpsreskins.html

Using discontinued stock has long been a conundrum. On the one hand, it does mean that those that didn't purchase it when it was available will need to perform a swap, but on the other it seems a shame for those who did buy it not to have further opportunities to use it.

[gptech]

Using discontinued stock has long been a conundrum

To add to Steve's point...if a scenario features recently released items of rolling stock which you don't have, may not even want if you have appropriate alternatives, you still have to replace or procure those items. OK, that's easier than being faced with unavailable items but it comes dangerously close to yet another plea of "please write scenarios using the stock I have"

[johnrossetti]

Your right of course, there seems no easy answer, If it was just a question of going into TS20XX in the scenario editor to SWAP consists, it would be pretty easy, but of course if you don't have the stock, nothing shows, obviously. It would be lovely if TS placed a load of blobs where the missing stock should be so you can swap it.

If it wasnt for TS/RW Tools we couldnt do it at all ??. Thank goodness for Mikes programs, but I never seem to have any luck with Muliple units, DMU etc

In a way I wish there was a way of editing the Scenario Properties text, with a menu of stock to select from,, like in my picture !

The only way, but what as faff, for the scenario writer, is to compose 2 versions of each scenario, one in the stock they want, and the other in a generic engine only that everyone has by default and then at least, because you can see it, its possible to go through with the scenario editor and visually change each consist.

Oh well, time to watch the snow.
Thanks everyone
John

[gptech]

2 versions of each scenario, one in the stock they want, and the other in a generic engine only that everyone has by default

Bear in mind that what a lot of us consider *default stock* (Kuju locos) isn't default in TS2021, so there could be quite a few versions of *default* to cater for.

If it wasnt for TS/RW Tools we couldnt do it at all

Yes we could; it'd just take a lot longer and involve more swearing.

I never seem to have any luck with Muliple units, DMU etc

What goes wrong?

In a way I wish there was a way of editing the Scenario Properties text, with a menu of stock to select from,, like in my picture !

If you know the name of the stock you want to swap out, using the "search and replace" facility in RW Tools allows you to fairly quickly edit the ScenarioProperties.xml file, changing those entries for the path and file name you do have installed. No need for a database listing, Windows Explorer will provide the pathing to just copy and paste over.

[749006]

2 versions of each scenario, one in the stock they want, and the other in a generic engine only that everyone has by default

Bear in mind that what a lot of us consider *default stock* (Kuju locos) isn't default in TS2021, so there could be quite a few versions of *default* to cater for.

I think most players would have the EL&AP so the default loco is a 37/47/55 and the default unit is the 166

Just Trains do that with some of their routes, like giving a Class 166 in Northern Livery for the EDB-NCl route.
And I wonder what do JT use for the Default Stock scenario from Leeds (Sheffield) to Nottingham (Derby) for the MML?

[gptech]

And I wonder what do JT use for the Default Stock scenario from Leeds (Sheffield) to Nottingham (Derby) for the MML?

You've already answered that...

I think most players would have the EL&AP

Which whilst we can call it "Default", isn't so for new users of the game so the statement "that everyone has by default" is still not valid.

[749006]

Which whilst we can call it "Default", isn't so for new users of the game so the statement "that everyone has by default" is still not valid.

Best tell Just Trains as they call the Standard Scenarios Default

[gptech]

Best tell Just Trains as they call the Standard Scenarios Default

You think I haven't?
The reply was that they'd that covered, with the route advertised with this proviso...

System Requirements:

•Train Simulator 2021 with the European Loco & Asset Pack installed

so the statement "that everyone has by default" is still, still not valid--certainly when applied on a global basis as you've done: "most players" having the EL&AP does not make the EL&AP a default item

[peterfhayes]

P749

And I wonder what do JT use for the Default Stock scenario from Leeds (Sheffield) to Nottingham (Derby) for the MML?

Kuju\RailSimulator\RailVehicles\Diesel\Class166\FGW\DMOCL\class166_dmocl_fgw.xml
pH