Hello List,

I have been away for a while and don't remember how to install a template. When I cut out, I was using Steve's excellent SLG program. I have bought AG4 just today and would like to start using this program but seem to not be having much success. Could someone refresh my memory?

I am sure to have more questions in the future but this will do for now.

Thanks a whole bunch to everyone in advance.

runeight

Many of the templates will self install, and all the user has to do is to point the installer at the train simulator directory.  Almost all templates are set up this way, except for some older templates, which we will eventually upgrade to AG4.

For those which do not self install, you would need to upzip the template to a temporary folder.  At that point there are two possibilities.

First, if the template unzips into the basic folders (ACTIVITIES, PATHS, SERVICES, TRAFFIC, and CONSISTS), then all you have to do is to copy the CONSISTS folder into the TRAINSET folder in the main train simulator folder.  Next copy the four remaining folders (ACTIVITIES, PATHS, SERVICES, TRAFFIC) into the route folder for the route corresponding to this template.

Second, if the template unzips into a bunch of individual files, then you must carefully copy these files into the proper folders.  Copy all .con files into the CONSISTS folder which is in the TRAINSET folder in the main train simulator folder.  Next copy all .tfc files into the TRAFFIC folder which is in the route corresponding to this template.  Next copy all .svc files into the SERVICES folder which is in the route corresponding to this template.  Next copy all .pat files into the PATHS folder which is in the route corresponding to this template.  Finally, copy all remaining files into the ACTIVITIES folder which is in the route corresponding to this template.

Hi Norman,

I am attempting to install the template for the ATSF Alma Sub. I have unzipped this template and all folders and files now reside in a folder named "Almabranchtemplateinstall". All the folders and files you have memtioned are in here plus, there is a folder named "Route" with all these folders and files with in the "Almabranchtemplateinstall" folder.

I have attempted to install this template as you have described. I get the work order and when I start up MSTS all I have for the Alma branch route is "Explore" and "Almabranchtemplate" as choices. When I click on the later, MSTS freezes up and I must then re-boot my computer. If I completly remove this template, MSTS works fine.

When I first bring up AG4 using this template, AG4 tells me this is an older template. However, the Skyline computer website says this template has been updated for AG4. I downloaded this template just the other day so I'm fairly certain that I have the latest updated template.

I aplogize for being so long winded but any help you or anyone else could render is greatly appreciated.

Thank You

Mel

Hello again everyone,

The folders I have in the Almabranchtemplateinstall folder are as followes:

50ACTIVITIES, 50CONSISTS, 50SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, CONSISTS, DOCS, PATHS, ROUTES, SERVICES, TRAINS, alma1a which is a screen shot of the Alma branch.

Now the Route folder that is mentioned has these folders inside it. Alma and inside this folder is 50ACTIVITIES, 50SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, DOCS, PATHS, SERVICES. 

There are no folders named "Traffic" for this template. 

Thanks again everyone

Mel         

 

Sorry, I didn't package this as well as I should have.  I have now repackaged this and reposted it.

Please download the new template package with the date of 8/14/07.  You can install either by unzipping directly into your \Train Simulator folder, or, by first unzipping to anywhere then copying the \ROUTES folder to your \Train Simulator folder and copying the \TRAINS folder to your \Train Simulator folder.

Be sure to read Norm's docs about using the activities with "50" in them.  They require additional downloads, delete them if you won't be using them.  Norm provides instructions.

Thanks and sorry about the packaging error.

Best,

Steve Davis

sgdavis2007-8-14 20:59:43

Hi Steve,

Thank you for the fix. I am really looking forward to running this template. I work nights and would really enjoy coming home after a hard night, pull down a work order and loose myself kicking cars at the various industries on the Alma Sub. I will let you know how this works out. Thanks again Steve.

Mel

Hello again everyone, Sorry to be a pest but I am really excited to work this out so I can get to work on the railroad.

I unzipped the new updated Alma template directly to my Train Simulator folder as Steve had suggested above and these are the messages I received when I started up MSTS after generating an activity with AG4.

"Failed to open texture file routes\Alma\Textures\Spring\treeblockforest.ace"

"Failed to load tree texture <treeblockforest.ace>. Please check route textures sub-dirs."

Also, here is what I have for choices when MSTS loads the Alma Sub.

Explore Route, AlmaTemplate, AlmaTemplate50

Explore mode works fine but when I choose either AlmaTemplate or AlmaTemplate50 it says "Unknown" for a locomotive.

Any ideas?

Thanks a million in advance again everyone.

Mel

Hi runeight
I don't have this route template but it looks like
something didn't load right. Do you have all six of the
default routes loaded in your route folder. The
freeware routes draw texture files from them.
About the templates that show up when you load up
MSTS don't click on them that's a no no. What you
need to do is use AG4 on the alma template in your
routes/alma/activities folder and create new activities
for the alma route otherwise you can only use the
explore route in the MSTS window when you load it.
Hope this help you. Highdesertdave.

Hello DRG,

Yes, I have all the default routes installed as you suggest. Also, as you stated, I attempted to create an activity using AG4 serveral times and still got what is mentioned in the menu. I tried doing this again and before I generated the activity I clicked on "Summer" figuring this would maybe avoid using the treeblockforest.ace file in the "Spring" folder and the following is what I received.

"Run Time Error '53': File not found" This was the first message I received. Upon clicking "OK" I then received this error message.

"Fatal Template Error. Missing Player Consist File: C;\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\TRAINS\CONSISTS\.con. Contact the template designer."

As I stated in my last message, everything works fine in "Explore Mode" or if I run an activity in another route.

Thank you DRG for your help. I greatly appreciate your input.

Mel

 

Sorry that I have been slow to respond, I have been out of town on business.

The error is not Steve's, it is mine.  Somehow when I updated the Alma template for AG4, I left out the CONSISTS folder.  This morning I packaged the template again, including the CONSISTS folder, and sent it to Steve.  Perhaps he will have time to post it tonight.  I believe that the runtime error 53 stems from the absence of the CONSISTS folder.

In the AG4 update, the folders with the 50 designation are no longer needed.  For installation of the new Alma template, all of the '50's version files are included in the regular folders, and instructions are given for removing these if the user so desires.

None of the Alma templates include traffic, hence no TRAFFIC folder.

The texture file errors have nothing to do with the template.  If you still have these problems, I suggest that you check the route using Route-Riter.

nbeveridge2007-8-15 17:25:56

I recall having some issues with missing files.  I would make sure that the following files are in the textures directories autumn, autumnsnow, spring, springsnow, winter and wintersnow: jp2autotree1.ace, tree1.ace, treeblock.ace and treeblockforest.ace.

 

Jim

Thank you Jim and Norman,

I will check for the files you have mentioned Jim and check this route with Route Riter as you suggest Norman. Thanks so much to the both of you for your time in helping me figure this one out.

Mel

Mel,

Please let us know how this turns out.

nbeveridge2007-8-15 23:34:16

Okay, The Alma Sub and AG4 are in business!

I checked the folders and files Jim suggested I check and they checked out okay except for the following.

I loaded the Alma Sub and the template with my antivirus software turned off. However, there were still some missing files I needed to insert into the "Texture/Spring" folder. They were the treeblockforest.ace and treeblock.ace files. These files were not inside the "Spring" folder.

I also saved the activity once I arrived at Harveyville to ensure it would save and it did.

Also, for some reason, some of the default rollingstock did not install when I re-installed MSTS. I needed to go into MSTS, detirmine what I needed and install it from my back-ups. Once I did this, all seemed to run okay so some of the problem was on my end as well.

I hope what I did to get this to work helps someone eles down the road.

Thanks again to all who helped me. I really do appreciate it.

Mel

 

Hello everyone,

I don't believe Steve has had a chance to upload the updated template yet. The template updated on 8/14/07 seems to be the same as the one I just downloaded, file for file.

Actually, I deleted the Alma sub because it was not even allowing me to get into MSTS without freezing up so I deleted this route and MSTS works fine.

I will need to download and install this route with my anti-virus turned off because I found several files missing that should have been in this route. I will download and re-install this route and let everyone know how it works with AG4.

Thanks again to everyone for your help.

Mel