[JeroenP]

Dear all,
I have thought about this issue some more. The problem that was noted was that 'take other exit' was not working on the proper node, but on an earlier node (at the same junction). As a result a large part of the path was discarded.

There is actually two possible reasons for what is happening.

• As mentioned before, it is possible that the path is not drawn far enough. In that case the junction that is selected is not the intended one but an earlier one. Do note that if the path is drawn exactly until the junction of interest, then 'take other exit' should not be available on that node.
• But possibly, TrackViewer is not properly selecting the proper path node (in case multiple path nodes are on top of each other on the same junction node). TrackViewer is supposed to use the last (drawn) node. But perhaps, due to numerical issues, it is selecting the wrong. I now do have an idea where in the code this might be happening. But as was already noted, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This makes it difficult to actually verify that the issue is solved. Does anyone have an example where the issue really happens often?

I did consider the idea that it should not be allowed to have 'take other exit' (one where a large part of the path is removed) should not be allowed on path nodes that have a reversal point later in the path. This is similar to not allowing 'take other exit' when there is already an end point.

Regarding point 1. Part of the issue is that when the path folds back on itself, it is not very clear until where the path is drawn. So I considered a few options to make it clearer until where the path was drawn.

The first possibility would be to draw a bigger disc on the last-drawn node:
 greenshot000020.jpg (53.62K)
Number of downloads: 1

A second possibility is to draw a disc with a different color on the last-drawn node (in this case red):
 greenshot000021.jpg (53.94K)
Number of downloads: 1

I can imagine that there are other options as well. Please let me know what you think.

Quote

In a next path editor, wouldn't it be possible to create complex paths by joining many smaller simple paths?

As last point. I am indeed considering the possibility to merge paths. This would then mean that the path you are working on would be extended with another existing path.

Best regards.
Jeroen.

[Csantucci]

To this aim in MSTS AE I use the "highlight" feature; it allows to understand well the sequence of the path nodes.

[Genma Saotome]

Jeroen, so nice to see you active on the board again. :cool3:

Any interest in expanding the feature set of your track viewer?

[JeroenP]

Dear Carlos and all.
Initially I had no idea what you were talking about, this highlight feature. And I did not have any working MSTS installation anymore. So I found my 10-year old laptop, re-installed Vista and MSTS and tried it. So if I get it right, the highlight feature just highlights the last drawn track, doesn't it? So that would be something like
 greenshot000052.jpg (133.45K)
Number of downloads: 1

Ok. I can imagine that is a good way (or perhaps the best. I would need to

Quote

Any interest in expanding the feature set of your track viewer?

Well, I am currently doing some (overdue?) maintenance stuff. I already worked on the documentation. And I would like to focus first on improving stability and usability of the existing features. This post was about both. And then perhaps take it from there.
Best regards. Jeroen.

[rickloader]

Hi Jeroen, it is great to see you are developing track viewer. I think the proposed highlighting of the last path segment would be very helpful.
Can I also suggest highlighting the associated text when you mouse over a platform marker? In a crowded scene it is often hard to see the platform name, and you need this for timetables.
Thank you for trackviewer. It was one of the missing links in OR achieving independence from MSTS, and it is much appreciated.
rick

[mapindo]

JeroenP, on 09 January 2018 - 12:51 AM, said:

But possibly, TrackViewer is not properly selecting the proper path node (in case multiple path nodes are on top of each other on the same junction node). TrackViewer is supposed to use the last (drawn) node. But perhaps, due to numerical issues, it is selecting the wrong. I now do have an idea where in the code this might be happening. But as was already noted, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This makes it difficult to actually verify that the issue is solved. Does anyone have an example where the issue really happens often?

Hi Jeroen,
Thank you for your interest in the matter.
I attach the complex path that give me the problem. It's the composition of a freight train at the station of Borgo S. Donnino, an old italian route. You can download it here Il Deposito
The attached path is build with MSTS AE cause there was no way to do it with Track Viewer.

Good idea the higlight of the last drawn section!

See you soon
Davide

Attached File(s)

•  Borgo San Donnino - PR.zip (1.06K)
  Number of downloads: 3

[Csantucci]

Hi Jeroen,
when you click on the "Highlight" button MSTS AE highlights the first track of the path. By clicking on the ..prev and ..next buttons the previous or next track of the path is highlighted. So, by pressing such buttons multiple times, you can check very well how your path behaves in case of multiple reversal points. Starting highlight with the last track, as you suggest, instead of the first track, may be a good idea.

[mapindo]

I'm not an expert activity maker, but I agree with Csantucci.
See you soon
Davide

[JeroenP]

I have commited an update to TrackViewer to highlight the last drawn-section. You can select whether you want that via the Path-Editor menu.
I was wondering whether in complex situations it would not also be useful to highlight not so much the last-drawn section, but everything since the last reversal point (if you have one of course). Please let me know.

Note that I also have updated the manual. Not just about this, but I did also quite some maintenance that was overdue.

rickloader, on 11 January 2018 - 07:48 AM, said:

Can I also suggest highlighting the associated text when you mouse over a platform marker? In a crowded scene it is often hard to see the platform name, and you need this for timetables. rick

Dear Rick. Instead of highlighting the text itself in a crowded scene, I would suggest adding it to the statusbar (at the bottom). What do you think?
 greenshot000062.jpg (134.74K)
Number of downloads: 0

Best regards,
Jeroen.

[PA1930]

Very nice work, Jeroen. Thanks for your effort and for your updates.

[rickloader]

Oh yes! adding the platform name to the status bar is even better. Thanks, it will be a great help.
rick

[JeroenP]

mapindo, on 30 December 2017 - 10:15 AM, said:

In a next path editor, wouldn't it be possible to create complex paths by joining many smaller simple paths?
Davide

Dear Davide. I have committed an enhancement that allows you to join two paths. You start with a first part. And then you 'Extend' the path with another one. The new path is first added as a so-called tail (which is already in the documentation). And then the editor tries to reconnect the already existing path to that tail. The latter might not always work if the two paths do not nicely line up of course. But if you have two paths that line up reasonably, then it will auto-connect. If it is not connecting it will still have the tail and you can try to improve the original path so that it is possible to reconnect.
I did not update the manual yet.

rickloader, on 14 January 2018 - 01:15 PM, said:

Oh yes! adding the platform name to the status bar is even better. Thanks, it will be a great help.
rick

I have committed this as well. Note that both the station name and the platform name are given in the status bar, independent of whether the platform names or station names are shown in the main window. Let me know if this is indeed what you needed.

Best regards. Jeroen.

[rickloader]

Hi Jeroen. Yes, having both the platform names and the station name in the status bar is very helpful. This is because in timetables you need the station names for the entries in the spreadsheet, and also the platform names to ensure you have placed linked paths on the same track ( ie platform).

I tried the fix all broken paths, apparently with success, on some. Others not fixed are probably due to my recent track alterations.I would like to have saved the resulting report window but I had to close it before continuing. Would it be possible to make the window accessible to save or copy/paste?
But I do see the status bar gives very useful info about path faults, so its not essential.
Thanks very much, rick x4031

[mapindo]

JeroenP, on 15 January 2018 - 01:17 PM, said:

Dear Davide. I have committed an enhancement that allows you to join two paths. You start with a first part. And then you 'Extend' the path with another one. The new path is first added as a so-called tail (which is already in the documentation). And then the editor tries to reconnect the already existing path to that tail. The latter might not always work if the two paths do not nicely line up of course. But if you have two paths that line up reasonably, then it will auto-connect. If it is not connecting it will still have the tail and you can try to improve the original path so that it is possible to reconnect.
I did not update the manual yet.

Hi Jeroen,
thank you!
At the moment I'm busy with my work, so I can't try the new version of TV.
Give me a week and I will tell you.
See you soon
Davide

[rickloader]

Hi, I have hit a snag with TV and x4032
I get an error at the point where TV says getting angles etc. on loading the route ."system out of range exception:Index was outside the bounds of the array"
I have tried these routes
1) my very simple test route : result - TV loads route ok
2)zig-zag route result : TV Ok
3) Lyme Regis Branch : result - Out of range exception
4) Watersnake (my route) : result - Out of range exception
Watersnake has some track faults - these might cause errors. But in X4026 the route loads in TV.
In X4031 I loaded TV and selected to show platforms in the status bar, and fixed some paths. Then it intermittently refused to load and now not at all (except in x4026)
rick