[dforrest]

Is there anywhere that gives full information on how Include Files can be used? Section 8.14 of the manual only refers to use with .eng and .wag files.

[Genma Saotome]

AFAIK those are the only places that have been coded for their use.

[Lindsayts]

It APPEARS Openrails uses the same parser routines for all text files it reads, if that is the case then includes could be used in any of them. For instance this would likely simplify the signal config no end.

The current main use is for ENG and WAG files because that is where the interest is for the two people pushing there use the most.

Lindsay

[dforrest]

 Lindsayts, on 16 July 2017 - 07:06 PM, said:

It APPEARS Openrails uses the same parser routines for all text files it reads, if that is the case then includes could be used in any of them. For instance this would likely simplify the signal config no end.

The current main use is for ENG and WAG files because that is where the interest is for the two people pushing there use the most.

Lindsay

Thay sounds hopeful Lindsay.

As some for of clarification for me. Could I have a distinct;y and completely different .s file for Open Rails and in some way reference the use of this to override the use of the MSTS version?

David

[Csantucci]

The basics of Include files are described in para. 8.14.1, which makes reference to .eng and .wag files. This can be used also to define OR specific freight animations, as described in para. 9.3.
As a general rule any line or group of lines of .eng and .wag files may be subject of an include file, and this is true also for the reference to the .s file (contained in the Wagonshape line). This is true also for the reference to .cvf and .sms files, allowing OR-specific cabview and sound files. If one wants to modify the Lights block, the complete block has to be inserted in the include file (not only the modified lights).
Include files may also be used for:
.trk files (see para. 8.13.1, 13.3, 13.4, 15.1, 15.3.1, 15.7.1, 15.10, 15.11)
tsection.dat file (see para. 15.3.2, 15.6)

OR-specific additions and modifications for .w files follow a different rule, explained in para. 15.4.

OR-specific additions and modifications for files sigscr.dat and sigcfg.dat follow a different rule, explained in para. 10.14.2.

[James Ross]

 dforrest, on 16 July 2017 - 12:23 PM, said:

Is there anywhere that gives full information on how Include Files can be used? Section 8.14 of the manual only refers to use with .eng and .wag files.

I'm not sure if it's written down anywhere, but any Simis text file should work just fine with "Include" statements in Open Rails, like Lindsay suspected. What is specific to engine and wagon files (and a few others) is that they also support the "OpenRails" subdirectory; together with "Include", this allows for fairly easy extension/overriding of items for OR without editing the MSTS version of the file, AIUI.

As the include mechanism is specific to Simis text files, you cannot use it inside Simis binary files - like shapes, (most?) tiles and world files, etc. - but we have special support for world files, as Carlo's identified. Just be careful with this, as it's prone to issues if the route is edited.

[dforrest]

How good it would be, in my opinion, for MSTS/OR compatibility, if any file in the OpenRails subfolder of any MSTS folder, with the same name as a file in the parent folder, is used by OR in the sim.

MSTS compatible file in the parent folder which would be used by MSTS.

OR compatible file in the OpenRails subfolder which would be used by OR.

[copperpen]

Far as I am aware that is exactly how it does work.

[dforrest]

 copperpen, on 18 July 2017 - 12:42 AM, said:

Far as I am aware that is exactly how it does work.

That would make co-ordination of MSTS and OR data files much easier but I do not see it in the documentation. Is it just a matter of adding the necessary file to the OpenRails sub-folder or is a text file required?

[Jovet]

 dforrest, on 18 July 2017 - 03:53 AM, said:

Is it just a matter of adding the necessary file to the OpenRails sub-folder or is a text file required?

Yes, just stick the OR-intended file into an OpenRails sub-folder. No other text file should be required.

The "include file" trick comes in handy with the Open Rails files to partially rely on the original MSTS file content....but it isn't required.