Suggestion for Future Upgrade, Suggestion for Future Upgrade Options

[harryadkins]

I have been enjoying Activity Generator for years and it is an excellent tool for MSTS. However, AG lacks one element that would make this product more realistic - continuity. In the real world, freight cars move in a logical fashion on a day-to-day basis. In other words, it an activity I create tomorrow should build on what I did today. This function would require AG to save today's end-of-session status (what cars are at what industry). Tomorrow's activity would start out with all the same cars in place based on what I did (or was supposed to do) in today's session. For example, the empty boxcar I setout yesterday at the Grusome Casket Company would be loaded and ready for pickup today. The activities developed for the virtual Cascade & North Western follow a logical sequential order similar to this and are most realistic. I am not a programmer but I do remember that the waybill generation software (Commodore 64) I used for my HO layout years ago had this function. I think it is worth your consideration.

[nbeveridge]

I have been enjoying Activity Generator for years and it is an excellent tool for MSTS. However, AG lacks one element that would make this product more realistic - continuity. In the real world, freight cars move in a logical fashion on a day-to-day basis. In other words, it an activity I create tomorrow should build on what I did today. This function would require AG to save today's end-of-session status (what cars are at what industry). Tomorrow's activity would start out with all the same cars in place based on what I did (or was supposed to do) in today's session. For example, the empty boxcar I setout yesterday at the Grusome Casket Company would be loaded and ready for pickup today. The activities developed for the virtual Cascade & North Western follow a logical sequential order similar to this and are most realistic. I am not a programmer but I do remember that the waybill generation software (Commodore 64) I used for my HO layout years ago had this function. I think it is worth your consideration.

This is similar to the request that trains be able to operate end to end. Steve has worked on achieving end to end operation (i.e. having the finishing consist to be used for the next train), but unfortunately he has not been able to crack the code that MSTS uses to save the activities.

I am not saying that it is impossible. But it may not be achievable in MSTS's life time.

[sgdavis]

I have been enjoying Activity Generator for years and it is an excellent tool for MSTS. However, AG lacks one element that would make this product more realistic - continuity. In the real world, freight cars move in a logical fashion on a day-to-day basis. In other words, it an activity I create tomorrow should build on what I did today. This function would require AG to save today's end-of-session status (what cars are at what industry). Tomorrow's activity would start out with all the same cars in place based on what I did (or was supposed to do) in today's session. For example, the empty boxcar I setout yesterday at the Grusome Casket Company would be loaded and ready for pickup today. The activities developed for the virtual Cascade & North Western follow a logical sequential order similar to this and are most realistic. I am not a programmer but I do remember that the waybill generation software (Commodore 64) I used for my HO layout years ago had this function. I think it is worth your consideration.

I agree with you and Norm and I discussed doing this. As Norm said it is a little tough with MSTS because I haven't figured out how to 'crack' the save files. Such a thing COULD be done by ASSUMING all the work done was completed. But also I couldn't know exactly what order the setouts were made in etc. so when building the next activity, the way the setouts and existing cars lay out in a given spur, would not necessarily be the same order in which you actually set them out.

It isn't impossible and being a model railroader I understand the value of this, but probably it's something that we'll take a look at when MSTS-X comes out.

Thanks,

Steve