Updated Marias Pass 3.1, Templates, Activites etc. Options

[jrmeindl]

Norm had asked me if I would consider updating the Marias Pass 3.1 templates if needed. I took a quick look at all the documentation provided with all the updates that have been released so far and at the actual route layout in the activity editor. I haven't seen any additions that stand out so far regarding track layout which includes and siding being named or renamed. Most of those were taken care of in the original 3.1 release. I did take a look at the serial number of the track database. The latest version is 190 with a date of 11/09/2008. The original I have was at 177 with a date of 09/19/2002. I tried to unpack a few older activities that I have. I did get a notice that advised me of the track database change, but the activity did continue to install. I was able to start and run the activity with no issues. I have yet to do line by line comparison of the two databases, but will within the next day or so. Per the documentation, there were changes made to the actual rails. That in itself is a good thing. I did create an activity that takes me from Whitefish to Shelby to test the route for any missed issues. Currently, I think the templates are still good and won't need any updating. Older activities should still work, but will generate a message advising of the database change.

Jim

[jrmeindl]

As of 11/29/2008, I have finally finished going over the Marias Pass 3.1 updates. With all the added updates, I have been checking and rechecking the files. It sure would have been easier if it had been only a few updates!!! I did make a mistake in my previous post. I wrote there were changes to the actual rails. That was incorrect. There have been NO changes to the actual rails. The only issue encountered was the serial number changes that occur in the track database. I have unpacked older activities with no major issues. All of them did run fine. You will get an error notifying you of the track database being at a different level, but I just continued with the unpacking. Since there were no changes, I did go and edit the files back to the number of the original database. That got rid of the database change messages while unpacking. I am a bit disappointed regarding the car spawners. The vehicle traffic on some of the rural roads is heavier than it is in my own town just outside of Chicago. I made one change myself, which I have done to a few routes. I usually change the ACleanTrack2.ace file in the route's Texture and Texture\Snow folders. I have been using the same file the Bob Wirth has used on his most recent routes. If you installed the updated files as is, there were a lot of unnecessary files included. I got rid of all the *.bk and *.thm files. I also like to clean out all the terrain buffers and let them rebuild after this sort of change. I did create a batch file to automate this task. If anyone would like this file, PM me with your email address and I'll send it.

Regards,

Jim