So, How Do You Sort It Out? MSTS vs ORTS
#1
Posted 26 August 2014 - 12:06 AM
But I do have some questions that haven't been presented (or I haven't found them :)), so bear with me guys.
OK, so here goes: I want to run both MSTS and ORTS at the same time. OR is still a work in progress and, frankly, there are a lot of changes to make to the locomotives and cars and routes (60 plus routes and their related equipment) that I want to import the changes gradually and not mix up locos and cars specifically modified for OR with the MSTS equipment.
So how do you keep them separate? Do you have two separate paths, one for MS and one for OR? Have you had success with just blending everything? How do YOU do it?
I have lots of hard drive space so I could duplicate my entire Microsoft Games folder (Less Flight Simulator :wallbash: ) and still have plenty of space, but I don't want to jump in with both feet until I hear what some of you have done.
So lemme have it! :sign_oops:
#2
Posted 26 August 2014 - 12:31 AM
You can point ORTS anywhere you like to find routes, unlike MSTS.
So, I have separate ORTS mini routes and within these are ORTS models.
That's how I do it and I also have tons of hard drive space. I can create tons of mini routes.
That seemed to be the easiest way I figured it all out a couple years ago.
:)
#3
Posted 26 August 2014 - 01:21 AM
atsf37l, on 26 August 2014 - 12:06 AM, said:
So how do you keep them separate? Do you have two separate paths, one for MS and one for OR? Have you had success with just blending everything? How do YOU do it?
I don't fiddle with content, but I can tell you how to do this: for every .eng or .wag you wish to modify just for OR, put a copy of it in a new subdirectory called "OpenRails". OR will load that version if it exists, and from the normal location if it doesn't.
You can also use Include(..\foo.wag) inside the OR version to copy all the data and then override just the bits which are different, but this is more fiddly.
#4
Posted 26 August 2014 - 02:57 AM
I do exactly that.
MSTS is installed on my D drive, as is OR, OR is pointed to my MSTS install.
I test with OR, if an activity fails, I run up Train Store and test with MSTS.
I see no point in keeping them separate, yet.
cheers
#5
Posted 26 August 2014 - 03:51 AM
I have a mix, some are used in both, and some I have modified purely to run in OR by removing the files and folders that OR does not use. MSTS routes are on an HDD, OR on an SSD.
#6
Posted 26 August 2014 - 04:29 AM
The only catch I can see is if you have installed content that is not compatible with MSTS, and will run in OR only, you will want to keep that separate since if you run MSTS on that install it won't like what it finds and will start throwing errors.
With the daily updates of interim versions of OR being made available I actually have multiple installs of OR in separate folders and I run whichever I choose by starting OR from the appropriate folder. I assumed that that was OK to do. I haven't run into any problems doing that. One of the OR team members would need to advise if that is not advisable.
Paul :)
#7
Posted 26 August 2014 - 05:54 AM
Too busy building scenery to be messing with .eng and .wag files... :)
#8
Posted 26 August 2014 - 08:20 AM
All one needs to do this in OR is to copy the GLOBAL, ROUTES, TRAINS and sound directories and point OR to the apropriate directory.
I have two lots of MSTS installed, the first is just basic MSTS with the default routes but with all accessories installed, things like Xtracks, New Roads, UK fine scale etc. This is used as a base for all other directories, either MSTS or OR. One then just installs a route and its rolling stock after of course copying the required directories/files from the "base install" to the new location.
Note: I do a lot of playing around with eng and wag files.
Lindsay
#9
Posted 26 August 2014 - 10:13 AM
copperpen, on 26 August 2014 - 03:51 AM, said:
Thanks, that's great info. I wondered if MSTS would get bamboozled by things like Davis values added to the files. Good news, Copperpen. Thanks. :)
#10
Posted 26 August 2014 - 10:17 AM
James Ross, on 26 August 2014 - 01:21 AM, said:
You can also use Include(..\foo.wag) inside the OR version to copy all the data and then override just the bits which are different, but this is more fiddly.
So James, are you saying that if you put a folder named OpenRails in your TRAINSET folder that OR will check there first for the .eng you are requesting to use? :sign_oops: :)