Hello Norm and Steve,

Since May of last year I have been creating activities for MSTS and have enjoyed it as well as the feedbacks. Now I have recently decided to tackle a new challenge in MSTS with attempting to create my first template for the AG3. I chose the newly released Northwest Line 2 to start with.

I have been reading the written tutorial and am getting a good idea of its mechanics. So I have started working on the CP line, with less sidings, a simpler task than the oncoming double track and longer CN line . Step one is done and step two is about to start today.

I may have to write to you if I have some problems. Hope not to be too bothersome. I will try to use the video or written tutorials available before consulting.

Thanks

Denis

I am glad that you are going to try creating a template.  We have recently had a request for the NWL, so your interest pleases me even more!  Any questions will gladly be answered here.  Bring it on!!!

Hi Norm,

Thanks for your support. So far, I have done step one to three. On step 4,when trying to create the csv track DB file with AG3, I receive the following message once the TDB file found:

#13: type incompatible.

I cannot find info on the PDF tutorial. Can you help? Thanks

Denis

This might be one for Steve to answer.

At this point you have already created a SWLACT***.csv?  And verified that it contains the information that you intended?  And checked and corrected the car types listed?

If the SWLACT***.csv checks out okay, then you should reopen AG, click on the "Choose Activity (CSV) File" button, then select this specific activity file which you just checked.  AG should tell you that the SWLTDB***.csv has not been created.  Close the comment box but not AG.  Then click on the "Create and Modify Activity Templates (CSV Files)" button.  Next, click on the "Create a Track CSV File from a Route's .tdb file" button.  Finally, select the .tdb file in this specific route's folder.  It should generate a SWLTDB***.csv for all marked tracks in the route.  You will then need to edit the file to eliminate markers which are not industry or yard tracks, and to correct the CAR TYPE WANTED for each track.

Hi Norm,

The steps you have mentioned have been carefully done before attempting to create the Track csv file. The following procedures have been done exactly the same way you explained. It is when I click on the Create a track CSV file and select the tdb file, in the occurence here Fan03.tdb file The error 13 message pops up.

I'll wait for Steve for his reply.

Thanks Norm,

Denis

 

I'm sorry to hear about this Denis.  I will download this route and see if I get the same error.  If I do I'll fix the problem in Activity Generator.  If not I'll then ask you for the files you've created so far so I can check them.

Thanks and sorry,

Steve

Hi Steve,

Just discovered something. I have taken away the CSV track file from the L&HR template and kept the rest to find out if the same message would re-appear. I opened AG3 and with the L&HR ACT file and CSV act file present and trying to creat a Track CSV file. The same message appeared. I have Microsoft Excel 2000. Does AG3 requires Excel for Win XP only or will it also take Excel 2000?

Denis

Denis,

No it doesn't matter what version of Excel you have, in fact you don't need Excel at all to run Activity Generator's functions (although it DOES help a lot with editing the CSV files after you use AG to create them).

Do you have the latest version of AG, 3.1.1?

Also I'm pretty sure you already did this but just to be sure, did you open the "Activity CSV" File first, before pressing the "Create a Track CSV File" button?

Did you open the .tdb file?  Is that when you got the error?

Sorry, I can't duplicate this problem.  I downloaded the route and created a TDBCSV file from it and got the message "Found 145 Sidings".

If you'll email your SWLACT file direct to me at SteveDavis@skylinecomputing.com, I will use it to create a SWLTDB file and send it back to you.

Or maybe you could email me some screen shots or be a little more specific about exactly where you are getting this error.

Sorry, I wish I could help more.  But I can't get the same problem to occur on my machine.

Thanks,

Steve Davis

 

Hi Steve and Norm,

Work for the NWL is in progress. I have started to work on the CN line. I have decided to add an additional path on the CP line to link Spruce Grove on the CN line at Falden to allow transfers of goods between CP and CN. That should be done tonight.

I have also started to write a readme file for the template and  I am wondering about something. When you change the starting time for the SLG act, do the AI trains schedule change too? Or they remain unchanged. In such case I will suggest Activity master to have the AI trains.

One other thing, What software do you and Norm use to create your route maps that comes with the templates?

Thanks

Denis

 

 

Denis,

The AI trains will slide with the start time.  I.e. if the default template start time is 9 AM, and the user chooses to change the start time to 11 AM, then all the AI traffic will slide back two hours.

As for maps, I make them using the drawing functions of EXCEL.  I am not sure what mapmeister Craig Kawahara uses, but his maps are definitely better than mine.

 

Norman

When I make maps I've usually just captured the screens from the MSTS Activity Editor maps, then pasted those into MS Word and used Word's "draw" functions to mark them up.

Sometimes I've used Visio.  I'm not sure what Craig uses either, his sure are great!

Thanks,

Steve