[Traindude]

Hi.

On the route I am modifying, I feel it necessary to consolidate the number of *.ref file entries to eliminate entries for objects that are no longer needed. Is there a way for me to find out how many copies of a given object in a *.ref file entry are present in a route? I don't want to delete the *.ref file entry, and the associated shape and texture files, for something, only to find that it was a critical object for that route!

[steved]

Ref File Manager.
Trainsim.com
File ID 57698

Randy

[Traindude]

steved, on 26 September 2024 - 04:25 PM, said:

Ref File Manager.
Trainsim.com
File ID 57698

Randy

Thanks...but it doesn't seem to tell me how many copies of an object are on any given tile anywhere in the route itself. What I'm trying to do is find out:

1. Is the object present anywhere within the route, and
2. If it is, how many copies are there within the route.

IOW, I want to know if an object is actually used within the route itself before I try to delete the *.ref file entry.

[eric from trainsim]

Two thoughts....

1) Is there a reason you need REF files? Starting with TSRE v8.004, all shapefiles in the route's SHAPES directory are now available regardless if there's a REF entry for them. If you don't need that extra functionality (e.g. linking shapes from other route folders, using a descriptive name or groupings, pre-set specific shadow settings), you could in theory just delete the REF files entirely and potentially not lose much.

2) With debugOutput enabled, the existing TSRE logfile already lists every shape being instantiated the first time it's loaded. If the goal is to clean out the SHAPES folder, pulling that data out of the logfile should give you half of what you need to decide what stays. What's missing is a list of unused shapes, which might be a simple addition to TSRE.

[Weter]

Hello.
IIRC, Route Riter or some other tool can move all unused shape files to some folder from "Shapes" directory.
Not sure about count and location on tiles statistics, though.

[steved]

You can delete items from the ref file without it impacting the route, It just removes it from showing in the route editor not the route.
The ref file is for the route editor, it's not needed to run the route.
Is for not having a ref file, I've got 9767 unique shapes in 174 classes. How would I ever be able to find what I needed using just the .s.

Randy

[eric from trainsim]

steved, on 27 September 2024 - 08:45 AM, said:

I've got 9767 unique shapes in 174 classes. How would I ever be able to find what I needed using just the .s.

The object search wildcards the phrase you type in.

95% of the shapes I use are my own, and follow a naming convention.

That makes it somewhat easy to then use the search box to narrow down the displayed list.

For those that aren't mine, it's a matter of remembering the other authors' naming.

I know it's different from 20+ years of habits, but it works for me.

[Laci1959]

Weter, on 27 September 2024 - 08:08 AM, said:

Hello.
IIRC, Route Riter or some other tool can move all unused shape files to some folder from "Shapes" directory.
Not sure about count and location on tiles statistics, though.

Hi.

Could you describe the procedure? From which version does it work?
That's why it's worth being here. I'm learning a lot.

[Weter]

Quote

MSTSConv
A program for convertsion of shapes and textures, adding them to a route and clearing the route of unused objects.

---

Update from 06.08.05:
-Added English language interface.
-Batch conversion.
-Console is supported in this version.

Author(s): Vladimir Skvortsov (a.k.a. Ted)
Added: Aug. 6, 2005. 2005 г. 2:56:13
Size: 0,3 MB
Download
Downloaded: 14643 times

[Traindude]

steved, on 27 September 2024 - 08:45 AM, said:

You can delete items from the ref file without it impacting the route, It just removes it from showing in the route editor not the route.
The ref file is for the route editor, it's not needed to run the route.
Is for not having a ref file, I've got 9767 unique shapes in 174 classes. How would I ever be able to find what I needed using just the .s.

Randy

Let me see if I'm understanding this correctly:

1) Deleting a *.ref file entry for any given object will not in any way affect any copies of said object anywhere within the route.
2) The *.ref file, therefore, is only needed in order to add new copies of said object to the route.

Is this true, or am I misreading things?

[steved]

Yeah, you don't need a ref file to run a route.
It's only used as a list for the route editor.
Randy

[Weter]

A list, referencing every object to some category, telling, should object have shadow, and which; should it be interactive, should trains and smoke collide with it and giving to object custom display name.
All these are for better sorting the choose list in route editor only. You can give recognizible display name to object, include it to category, named by yourself too, and define, should object have: no, rectangular or realistic shadow in game. Should it be interactive (signal, crossing, load point, platform, siding, etc.) or static. All said options can be set individually per object on route, without a ref-file - via context menu, called by clicking them with mouse right button.

If I understand right, what Eric said - it's no longer needed for new TSRE version to gel all objects available for placement.

And some payware routes have ref-file deleted to prevent eazy editing or grabbing objects. But they work in game well.

[eric from trainsim]

Traindude, on 29 September 2024 - 04:57 PM, said:

Let me see if I'm understanding this correctly:

1) Deleting a *.ref file entry for any given object will not in any way affect any copies of said object anywhere within the route.
2) The *.ref file, therefore, is only needed in order to add new copies of said object to the route.

Is this true, or am I misreading things?

1) Correct. The Ref file is for reference/lookup only by the editor, and there's no need to have it for running the game, nor will deleting it cause any objects to be removed from your route.

2) Maybe. The Ref file is useful for object choosing and placement, but not required. You can add new copies of an object (or new objects) without the Ref file. The Ref file does make it easier if you want them organized by class (e.g. farming objects, buildings, trees) or want to pre-define some aspects like shadow type, or collision/terrain properties. All of those can also be set post-placement in TSRE.

[eric from trainsim]

I've been able to create two output files from TSRE when opening up a route -- files used by the route, and files present in the Shapes directory which don't appear to be used by the route.

In the settings file, it will be enabled by the "listFiles = true" which will otherwise be turned off.

That will be packaged up as the next v8.005 test version some time on Tuesday afternoon.

[eric from trainsim]

Testing update 8.005f is out with this change.

https://www.trainsim...-testing-v8-005