Run-time error 6? Options

[sgdavis]

I have received a couple of reports from users that they will see a Run-time error 6 when trying to replace rolling stock using Activity Master. I have never seen this error or caused it to occur. However I've seen it on other people's machines, and it is nearly always caused by a file or file structure error in the user's \TRAINSET folder. Our suggestion is to run Conbuilder or RouteRiter, both excellent and in my opinion "Must have" utilities, to check all the rolling stock files first, before using Activity Master to replace.

I will continue to try and hunt down this elusive run-time error and come up with a better way for Activity Master to dea with it or a better more informative error message, however so far every time I have seen this it has been curable by using Route Riter or ConBuilder.

Some users have reported this on only one route. In that case it's generally because the user is using TrainStore (which I use and also highly recommend), and, when the rolling stock giving the problems is "stored" (because the route is stored) then the problems go away, and when that rolling stock is unstored the problems appear.

If you DO get this error please post to this forum, I want to track it down. I'll want to know what route and what activity you were working on.

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

I have received a couple of reports from users that they will see a Run-time error 6 when trying to replace rolling stock using Activity Master. I have never seen this error or caused it to occur. However I've seen it on other people's machines, and it is nearly always caused by a file or file structure error in the user's \TRAINSET folder. Our suggestion is to run Conbuilder or RouteRiter, both excellent and in my opinion "Must have" utilities, to check all the rolling stock files first, before using Activity Master to replace.

I will continue to try and hunt down this elusive run-time error and come up with a better way for Activity Master to dea with it or a better more informative error message, however so far every time I have seen this it has been curable by using Route Riter or ConBuilder.

Some users have reported this on only one route. In that case it's generally because the user is using TrainStore (which I use and also highly recommend), and, when the rolling stock giving the problems is "stored" (because the route is stored) then the problems go away, and when that rolling stock is unstored the problems appear.

If you DO get this error please post to this forum, I want to track it down. I'll want to know what route and what activity you were working on.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

I had just downloaded an activity for the Freeware Cajon Pass route. The file is bnsfemp.zip at Train-Sim. When I loaded this activity into Activity Master, I had approximately 660 unknown pieces of rolling stock that was not located on my hard drive. If I tried to replace stock, I got the runtime error 6. It didn't matter whether I used a specific list or let AM choose for me. I've never had this error show up before, and after reading some of the messages here, I was wondering if there could be something wrong in one of the trainset folders. That would make sense if it had been happening all along. This activity has 20 AI services along with the player consist and some cars on sidings. I manually edited the activity file down to 5 AI services. That brought the number of cars needing replacement down just under 200. Activity Master was then able to swap out cars using a specific list or any of it's own choosing. I then added the services again to the activity file in groups of 5 until I was able to have all of them replaced so I could run the activity as the author uploaded it. For my problem here, it seems the number of unknown cars, or ones not on my drive, was limited to around 200. I am using version 1.5.8.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Hi Steve,

I had just downloaded an activity for the Freeware Cajon Pass route. The file is bnsfemp.zip at Train-Sim. When I loaded this activity into Activity Master, I had approximately 660 unknown pieces of rolling stock that was not located on my hard drive. If I tried to replace stock, I got the runtime error 6. It didn't matter whether I used a specific list or let AM choose for me. I've never had this error show up before, and after reading some of the messages here, I was wondering if there could be something wrong in one of the trainset folders. That would make sense if it had been happening all along. This activity has 20 AI services along with the player consist and some cars on sidings. I manually edited the activity file down to 5 AI services. That brought the number of cars needing replacement down just under 200. Activity Master was then able to swap out cars using a specific list or any of it's own choosing. I then added the services again to the activity file in groups of 5 until I was able to have all of them replaced so I could run the activity as the author uploaded it. For my problem here, it seems the number of unknown cars, or ones not on my drive, was limited to around 200. I am using version 1.5.8.

Jim

Jim,

This is very helpful. I will cull through my code and see it the number of unknowns is in fact limited to 200. That would indeed be an error I would need to fix and might solve this "Run time error 6" for a lot of users! For those interested in programming, run time error 6 means than an array index was accessed beyond it's boundaries, and that could be happening if the boundary is set at 200. I'll check it out and if so post a fix, THANKS!

Nice detective work, thanks for your perseverance in finding this.

Sincerely,

Steve Davis

[jrmeindl]

Jim,

This is very helpful. I will cull through my code and see it the number of unknowns is in fact limited to 200. That would indeed be an error I would need to fix and might solve this "Run time error 6" for a lot of users! For those interested in programming, run time error 6 means than an array index was accessed beyond it's boundaries, and that could be happening if the boundary is set at 200. I'll check it out and if so post a fix, THANKS!

Nice detective work, thanks for your perseverance in finding this.

Sincerely,

Steve Davis

Steve,

You're welcome. It was just a long shot when I edited the activity file. I remembered you made an edit to the code for AG, when Denis made the Burton-Derby template, changing the number of allowable sidings. That gave me the idea to limit the number of cars I would have to replace.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Steve,

You're welcome. It was just a long shot when I edited the activity file. I remembered you made an edit to the code for AG, when Denis made the Burton-Derby template, changing the number of allowable sidings. That gave me the idea to limit the number of cars I would have to replace.

Jim

Jim,

I am having trouble duplicating this problem. In my code it appears that the limit is 2000 cars. I replaced all the cars in the activity you mentioned (bnsfemp.zip) I showed 1164 cars not on my drive. I hit 'replace' and it worked without errors.

I didn't use the 'specific list' but that shouldn't make a difference. Can you tell me specifically what steps you followed and when the run time error came up? Also I assume you are running v 1.5.8, correct?

If you could check "Check here to generate a debug file", then run this on the full unedited activity (the one that generates the run time error) and then send me the debug.txt file after running AM and getting this error (as an attachment to a post in this forum would be fine) I'd appreciate it. That might help me to unlock this mystery.

Sorry I couldn't get this to happen on my machine.

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

Jim,

I am having trouble duplicating this problem. In my code it appears that the limit is 2000 cars. I replaced all the cars in the activity you mentioned (bnsfemp.zip) I showed 1164 cars not on my drive. I hit 'replace' and it worked without errors.

I didn't use the 'specific list' but that shouldn't make a difference. Can you tell me specifically what steps you followed and when the run time error came up? Also I assume you are running v 1.5.8, correct?

If you could check "Check here to generate a debug file", then run this on the full unedited activity (the one that generates the run time error) and then send me the debug.txt file after running AM and getting this error (as an attachment to a post in this forum would be fine) I'd appreciate it. That might help me to unlock this mystery.

Sorry I couldn't get this to happen on my machine.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,

I am using v 1.5.8. Everything runs fine up to the point before clicking either button, "Replace Rolling Stock" if letting AM do the selections or "Set up Replacement List." When clicking either of those is when the Run-time error 6 'overflow' occurs. I included the debug files from both attempts.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Steve,

I am using v 1.5.8. Everything runs fine up to the point before clicking either button, "Replace Rolling Stock" if letting AM do the selections or "Set up Replacement List." When clicking either of those is when the Run-time error 6 'overflow' occurs. I included the debug files from both attempts.

Jim

Jim,

I have posted an update, version 1.5.9, that *may* correct this. Please download this and let me know your results. Do you get any error messages? If so what? I have increased the number of unknowns in an activity to 2500, which is a lot more than MSTS can actually handle since the limit is usually about 500 - 700 cars.

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

Jim,

I have posted an update, version 1.5.9, that *may* correct this. Please download this and let me know your results. Do you get any error messages? If so what? I have increased the number of unknowns in an activity to 2500, which is a lot more than MSTS can actually handle since the limit is usually about 500 - 700 cars.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

I downloaded and ran version 1.5.9. For me, this was not as robust as 1.5.8. It took a bit to load this version and took some time to read my trainset directory. I ran bnsfemp.zip again after installing 1.5.9. I did get a couple of errors. I included the screen shots and the debug file. The first time I ran it, about 2/3 of the cars were replaced. I ran the replace a second time and managed to replace all of the cars. I let AM choose the replacements for me. I'm wondering if it just might be my computer short of enough memory (512 MB), although I haven't ran into any issues before.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Hi Steve,

I downloaded and ran version 1.5.9. For me, this was not as robust as 1.5.8. It took a bit to load this version and took some time to read my trainset directory. I ran bnsfemp.zip again after installing 1.5.9. I did get a couple of errors. I included the screen shots and the debug file. The first time I ran it, about 2/3 of the cars were replaced. I ran the replace a second time and managed to replace all of the cars. I let AM choose the replacements for me. I'm wondering if it just might be my computer short of enough memory (512 MB), although I haven't ran into any issues before.

Jim

Jim,

Thanks for checking this out. It shouldn't be less robust though, I added MORE error checking. But that could be wha'ts slowing it down though. Also checking the 'generate debug file' does slow it down because it has to write quite a bit to disk and disk i/o is always a bottleneck. Thanks for attaching the screen shots and debug.txt, that is extremely helpful. Notice that instead of just dumping you out, you got the overload error but the program CONTINUED. It didn't replace all the cars though as you said because it did jump out (instead of crashing). If you ran it a second time on the same activity that had already had some replacements made, then it worked and replaced all the cars.

As for WHY you got that first error though, that is still a mystery to me. Since i = 89 and the maximum for that is 5,000, and j = 1101 and the maximum for that is 32,000, I know now that the overflow is NOT a matter of capacity or an array index out of range. It seems to be some piece of data getting set to a type that it can't be coerced to. For instance attempting to set an integer to a null string. I will keep troubleshooting this, I really appreciate your patience and help.

The other error means just what it says. There is an AI engine in the player consist, you needed to select a driveable engine as a possible replacement for it. Not sure why the AI engine was in the player consist though. To get around this try selecting your own player driveable locomotives using that feature in AM. It's better anyway: you get to drive what you want, and it isn't as picky -- as long as the LEAD loco is driveable you can have non-driveable locos elsewhere in the consist. When performing automatic replacement though AM doesn't take into consideration the position in the consist, it replaces all locos in the player consist with driveable. This is because in the current code there is no logic to mark the ordinal position of the piece of rolling stock being replaced so AM can't "know" if this is the first, last, etc. loco. But in "Choose Player Locomotives" each locomotive is examined on the basis of it's ordinal position in the consist.

I am attaching another update, 1.5.10. It isn't guaranteed to fix the problem but at least it should tell us which piece of rolling stock the program is getting stuck on. Can you also try this where YOU select the replacements and let me know how/if it works?

 AMUpdate.zip ( 85.1K ) Number of downloads: 165


Also 512MB is plenty of memory for AM, there is no problem there.

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

Jim,

Thanks for checking this out. It shouldn't be less robust though, I added MORE error checking. But that could be wha'ts slowing it down though. Also checking the 'generate debug file' does slow it down because it has to write quite a bit to disk and disk i/o is always a bottleneck. Thanks for attaching the screen shots and debug.txt, that is extremely helpful. Notice that instead of just dumping you out, you got the overload error but the program CONTINUED. It didn't replace all the cars though as you said because it did jump out (instead of crashing). If you ran it a second time on the same activity that had already had some replacements made, then it worked and replaced all the cars.

As for WHY you got that first error though, that is still a mystery to me. Since i = 89 and the maximum for that is 5,000, and j = 1101 and the maximum for that is 32,000, I know now that the overflow is NOT a matter of capacity or an array index out of range. It seems to be some piece of data getting set to a type that it can't be coerced to. For instance attempting to set an integer to a null string. I will keep troubleshooting this, I really appreciate your patience and help.

The other error means just what it says. There is an AI engine in the player consist, you needed to select a driveable engine as a possible replacement for it. Not sure why the AI engine was in the player consist though. To get around this try selecting your own player driveable locomotives using that feature in AM. It's better anyway: you get to drive what you want, and it isn't as picky -- as long as the LEAD loco is driveable you can have non-driveable locos elsewhere in the consist. When performing automatic replacement though AM doesn't take into consideration the position in the consist, it replaces all locos in the player consist with driveable. This is because in the current code there is no logic to mark the ordinal position of the piece of rolling stock being replaced so AM can't "know" if this is the first, last, etc. loco. But in "Choose Player Locomotives" each locomotive is examined on the basis of it's ordinal position in the consist.

I am attaching another update, 1.5.10. It isn't guaranteed to fix the problem but at least it should tell us which piece of rolling stock the program is getting stuck on. Can you also try this where YOU select the replacements and let me know how/if it works?

 AMUpdate.zip ( 85.1K ) Number of downloads: 165


Also 512MB is plenty of memory for AM, there is no problem there.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

You're welcome. I'm glad that the screen shots were a bit of a help. I figured it was best to send all error messages. The AI message would be an easy fix, I usually pick my own engines anyway. I also use rolling stock groups extensively to make stock choices easier. I did run AM a second time on the activity. All cars were replaced when I rechecked the activity.

I'll give 1.5.10 a go both ways, letting AM choose and by using the specific list option. I should be able to do that within the next few days. The specific list option will probably take some time to run thru based on the 660 cars missing

Activity Master is a GREAT program and I'm glad to be part of making it even better!

Regards,

Jim

[jrmeindl]

Hi Steve,

You're welcome. I'm glad that the screen shots were a bit of a help. I figured it was best to send all error messages. The AI message would be an easy fix, I usually pick my own engines anyway. I also use rolling stock groups extensively to make stock choices easier. I did run AM a second time on the activity. All cars were replaced when I rechecked the activity.

I'll give 1.5.10 a go both ways, letting AM choose and by using the specific list option. I should be able to do that within the next few days. The specific list option will probably take some time to run thru based on the 660 cars missing

Activity Master is a GREAT program and I'm glad to be part of making it even better!

Regards,

Jim

Hi Steve,

I downloaded version 1.5.10. Checked for the debug file and changed the player locomotives. Then I went to replace the cars. As you suggested, I was setting up so my selections were from the specific list this time. As soon as I clicked the button for "Set up replacement list" I encountered the Run-Time error '6' Overflow message again. It never got to open the list and AM closed.

I thought I would try one more thing. I use Rolling Stock Groups when modifying activities that I upload. I have at least, one car for each type the I have defined along the way. This way I can minimize the number of downloads someone whould have to do. I made one of my groups the current stock group. Went in set up my player engines and then opened the window for my specific list selections. I left the slider still at the left to replace only the cars that were not on my drive. The time I was able to make selections from my list. After proceeding to let AM make the changes, I got message 1. I'm not sure why since I had selected a drivable engine to replace it. I had removed the AI engines from my list. I was also using the specific list function.

Now I thought I would try it again, except this time change all the cars and locos to my choosing. I went and selected the group from the car list, move the slider all the way to the right and selected the specific list option on both known and unknow stock. I got the same message and AM stopped the replacement.

The only difference was AM allowed me to set up a replacement list while using one of my groups. I could not while letting AM make the selections. Once again, I got the same message for the locomotive, even though I had made a selection of my choosing for it.

I have inclued some screen shots and the debug files which I have emailed to you. There wasn't enough space to upload it here.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Hi Steve,

I downloaded version 1.5.10. Checked for the debug file and changed the player locomotives. Then I went to replace the cars. As you suggested, I was setting up so my selections were from the specific list this time. As soon as I clicked the button for "Set up replacement list" I encountered the Run-Time error '6' Overflow message again. It never got to open the list and AM closed.

I thought I would try one more thing. I use Rolling Stock Groups when modifying activities that I upload. I have at least, one car for each type the I have defined along the way. This way I can minimize the number of downloads someone whould have to do. I made one of my groups the current stock group. Went in set up my player engines and then opened the window for my specific list selections. I left the slider still at the left to replace only the cars that were not on my drive. The time I was able to make selections from my list. After proceeding to let AM make the changes, I got message 1. I'm not sure why since I had selected a drivable engine to replace it. I had removed the AI engines from my list. I was also using the specific list function.

Now I thought I would try it again, except this time change all the cars and locos to my choosing. I went and selected the group from the car list, move the slider all the way to the right and selected the specific list option on both known and unknow stock. I got the same message and AM stopped the replacement.

The only difference was AM allowed me to set up a replacement list while using one of my groups. I could not while letting AM make the selections. Once again, I got the same message for the locomotive, even though I had made a selection of my choosing for it.

I have inclued some screen shots and the debug files which I have emailed to you. There wasn't enough space to upload it here.

Jim

Jim,

Did you email me the pictures today? If so I have not yet received them, sorry. I am working on yet another update with help from Joe Smith (Joe Bandit on this forum) which has enhanced error checking built in. I may have that ready for you to check out this weekend.

Thanks also to Joe for the help! For those who don't know Joe, he is the Senior Programmer for ConBuilder.

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

Jim,

Did you email me the pictures today? If so I have not yet received them, sorry. I am working on yet another update with help from Joe Smith (Joe Bandit on this forum) which has enhanced error checking built in. I may have that ready for you to check out this weekend.

Thanks also to Joe for the help! For those who don't know Joe, he is the Senior Programmer for ConBuilder.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

I think I might have emailed them back in November. I checked to see if I still had them, but I think I deleted them already. I still have the activities that I had trouble with though. I'd be more than willing to give it a run.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Hi Steve,

I think I might have emailed them back in November. I checked to see if I still had them, but I think I deleted them already. I still have the activities that I had trouble with though. I'd be more than willing to give it a run.

Jim

Jim,

No need it it was that long ago. I didn't realize that, I thought this was a recent/current issue. Are you saying other routes/activities work ok for you but you have problems with this specific route or activity, only?

Thanks,

Steve

[jrmeindl]

Jim,

No need it it was that long ago. I didn't realize that, I thought this was a recent/current issue. Are you saying other routes/activities work ok for you but you have problems with this specific route or activity, only?

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,

I didn't have any trouble with any specific route. My problem arose when an activity had many cars/locos to change out due to not having the items on my drive. I seem to recall it was when the activity had more than 300 replacements. I think this goes back to when I sent you some items on your flash drive that you had mailed to me.

Jim

[sgdavis]

Steve,

I didn't have any trouble with any specific route. My problem arose when an activity had many cars/locos to change out due to not having the items on my drive. I seem to recall it was when the activity had more than 300 replacements. I think this goes back to when I sent you some items on your flash drive that you had mailed to me.

Jim

Jim,

Thanks, I will investigate the limit.

Regards,

Steve