I have uploaded a combined 'ref' file to the file library at Train Simulator Fan Site

[hemo]

Hi Gang,

I have uploaded a file to the Train Simulator Fan Site file library called "combined.ref"
Every object listed in the 6 'ref' files from all the routes have been combined into this single file eliminating any duplicates. Copy the 'Shapes' and 'Textures' directories from Europe1, Europe2, Japan1, Japan2, Usa1 and Usa2 into the route directory created for the route you are building. When prompted answer 'yes to all' to overwrite existing files and directories. Change the name of combined.ref to "your route name".ref. When you open the route editor next time you will then have access to all the objects contained within the ref files.

I hope the community finds this file helpful in making the editing job easier. At the very least it will provide a richer variety of objects than are available from any single route.

The file "MSTS Ref File Objects.xls" is an Excel spreadsheet listing all the objects and where in each route they appear.

Good luck! If you find any glaring errors or omissions in this file, feel free to email me at ctalpas@sympatico.ca

Chris aka hemo

[lrperkins]

Thank you!!

But one thing, I tried to make some changes to the .ref file a couple of days ago, but I couldn't get it save. I have Word 200, and WordPad. But I still couldn't get the changes to save without destroying the file. What program did you make the changes with, and how did you did save it?

Thanks for the help,
Lonnie
KRNO

[hemo]

>Thank you!!
>
>But one thing, I tried to
>make some changes to the
>.ref file a couple of
>days ago, but I couldn't
>get it save. I
>have Word 200, and WordPad.
> But I still couldn't
>get the changes to save
>without destroying the file.
>What program did you make
>the changes with, and how
>did you did save it?
>
>
>Thanks for the help,
>Lonnie
>KRNO


Hi Lonnie,

I used Wordpad. Just make sure when you save the file you use the Save As "Unicode Text File" option. Do that and you should be one your way.

Chris

[lrperkins]

Thank you very much.

Lonnie
KRNO

[Vince]

I cannot find this file in the library. Where is it located?
Thanks, Vince

[hemo]

>I cannot find this file in
>the library. Where is it
>located?
>Thanks, Vince


Hi Vince,

This file is now resident at train-sim.com in their file library in the utilities section. The file is called comboref.zip

Chris

[avilesgu]

Hi Chris.

Well, I have follow all the instruction contained in Conboref, but I'm still missing all these obcjets in the route I have create.
Where have I to copy the *ref file? what do you think I'm doing wrong?

Thanks in advance

Pedro Aviles
www.train-magazine.com

[lrperkins]

After you copy the shape files, and the textures, you need to make sure that the ref file that you've downloaded is in the directory of the route that you are working on, and you also need to rename the old ref file to something different, and then rename the comboref file to replace your old one.

Hope this helps,
Lonnie
KRNO

[avilesgu]

Thanks a lot for your help Lonnie..

Thanks, thanks, and again....thanks :))

[lrperkins]

Glad to have been some help.
Lonnie
KRNO

[avilesgu]

Hi again Lonie.
Again a new question about the Comboref.
It happens to me that after installing the conboref file, when in the Route editor, some items are lost. I mean I cannot find them anymore. For example the Dynamict Track but also others. Can you Lonie tell me how can I fix this uncomfortable situation?

Thanks in advance

Pedro

[lrperkins]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-12-01 AT 09:30AM (EST)[p]Hopefully this will be an easy fix. Some things get moved around. 'Dynamic track gets moved into 'Track Sections' it's at the bottom of the list now. The 'Diesel Pump' is now under 'Pickup Objects'. The 'Siding' and 'Platform' markers are in the 'Mainline Stations' directory.

Take a good look through all of the object directories, you should be able to find everything. You can also open the 'ref' file with WordPad and do a search in the file. That would show you the directory or 'Object Class' that the object will be in.
http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3b4da5f345f310cd.gif
And you can also modify the 'ref' file to put objects in different directories, or create your own. I'be been thinking about doing that myself, but I have to find the time.

Hope this helps, in the meantime, off to work I go...
Lonnie
KRNO

[avilesgu]

What can I say Lonnie?

As my english is not so good the only I can say is THANKS, and you have a friend in Madrid :))


Pedro

[JMSteven_W98]

The main problem with combining the existing route files is you do not get the full object set.

The "combined" objects file I have in my "Templates" folder lists about 2000 objects, but combining the existing routes results in 1200.

Kuju did not ship the complete set of "SD" files either. You must manually edit your own to get some of the missing shapes.

There are also errors in the Road items and errors in Track items.

[bleuzzmann]

>The main problem with combining the
>existing route files is you
>do not get the full
>object set.
>
>The "combined" objects file I have
>in my "Templates" folder lists
>about 2000 objects, but combining
>the existing routes results in
>1200.
>
>Kuju did not ship the complete
>set of "SD" files either.
>You must manually edit your
>own to get some of
>the missing shapes.
>
>There are also errors in the
>Road items and errors in
>Track items.


Sounds like it's time for a major patch to include these new items! Jim, is the file size precluding an upload of the combined objects file you have?
Thanks,
bill

[JMSteven_W98]

The file is about 250 Kb.

The issue is documenting the "SD" files that were left out of the shipping code, the missing interactive objects like the rock loaders, sand tower, fuel depot, etc that work when you press ENTER just like loading passengers.

There are edits to the FORESTS.DAT, CARSPAWN.DAT, SPEEDPOST.DAT, SIGCFG.DAT, SIGSCR.DAT, SSOURCE.DAT files and updates to the TERRTEX folder and numerous updates to the TEXTURES and TEXTURES\<Sub_Name> folder sets.

Some of the missing items aren't copied to a route folder, but should be.

I'm trying to figure out how to create a reference for this since it's nice to have a TEMPLATES folder with 2000 shapes available.

There are some errors in the Tech_Docs and some missing things like the wire frame edits that make a clean tunnel entrance possible.

I'm willing to work on it, but just need to figure out how to organize it.

Jim Steven,
Sr Microsoft Windows Application Developer
Oakland CA

[bleuzzmann]

250 kb? That's a file that NEEDS to be in the public domain somehow. As for the SD files, they'd be great to have too...working items such as you mention that 'perform' when you hit enter would add so much. It's a shame that a series of several shape files with people couldn't either slowly 'grow' as a train unloads, or 'shrink' as a train took on passengers. I'd imagine that several small people groupings could do this from a platform and would lend some nifty effects. Seems like the coding wouldn't be all that tough either....

sooo much to do...

Jim...how is it that you've set these items up in your template folder and what is contained within...I've a hint from another post of yours but am interested in details.....
Thanks,
bill

[DKlemm]

Can tell you what I've done tonight. As a first step, I believe you need to copy all the shapes and textures from all routes either to your route that you are using and/or the template folder. Then add the combined.ref to either or both places. I then took the carspawner.dat, forest.dat, ssource.dat and ttype.dat from USA2 to my route folder and the template one. I added the sigcfg files that are in the utility section to both places also. Finally I copied the data from inside the speedpost.dat files in USA1 and USA2 folders to my speedpost.dat in my route folder. And then copied that file to the template folder.

What does that get me, a lot more of the available items in a new route that I create as well as in my existing one. Sounds like from Jim though that even this won't get me everything and I hope he can help us there.

David

[bleuzzmann]

Jim is definitely ahead of the curve here with information. I've read some of his stuff on the 'turntable' ideas and I believe he'll have a fully functional version going. Sounds like he's got a leg up on the other 'interactive' items too...like the log loader at the saw mill. Hopefully, his insight and knowledge will benefit us all with some new files and releases!