Activity making's to hard for me!

[CNfavorite]

Been collecting all this great CN and VIA stuff from the talented members here, and thought I try my hand at making a activity. I've done 'tweeks' before, and know how to make consists, so how much harder can making a new activity be? Boys, was I wrong! I wanted to do a simple NEC VIA Philly to Washington 'Fall Tour' train, and use the traffic from the Amtrak #178 activity for extra action. The activity creation seemed easy enough. But when I went to go and run it, I got all these 'SMS files not found'. Then everything seemed to work, got my train going, then I notice there's no overhead wires! Then more 'SMS file not found'. I gave it up, and tried another route, and it too had no overheads! I was using the NEC 2.0, and just re-installed it, and all came back fine thankfully. :) Including my VIA to Washington activity? No 'SMS File' stuff?
But when I went to go drive it, this high pitch 'whine' comes out if I don't use any controls for like 5 seconds, and only in the cab? Anyhoo, I deleted the activity, re-installed the F40, put my consist into the SEPTA soutbound to try out, and all works fine.

I think it's going to be a while before I ever try to make an activity again. But it certainly gives me new respect for all you folks that do successfully make them. Keep up the good work! :)

[clinchvalley]

Uh oh, sounds bad. I've only had MSTS for a few weeks and am ready to try my own activity. Mine will be on the Marias route.
Sounds like it might be tougher than I thought. Other than the basic program included, do I need anything else?

[SkyRat]

I enjoy making activities, but i stay away from electric trains like the plague! Keep trying. Suggest start with only default rolling stock and engines till ya get more used to it!

Enjoy.

SkyRat

[CNfavorite]

Oh, I'm sure I'll take another stab at it sooner than later? ;-)
I've just seen in the 'Sound Design' area here, another member has had the exact same problems I described - so I don't feel so bad now that I totally fouled up alone? :)

Thanks guys!

[JivaGoswami]

I agree ... coming out with our own activities is a very good “path” :) . With all the gold (in the form of downloads) on our systems now ... it soon becomes time to try your own activity. Along the North East Corridor, I’ve seen those blank billboards! Fortunately, I’ve been lucky enough to come across this one:
ACTIVITY EDITOR BASIC TUTORIAL FOR MICROSOFT’S TRAIN SIMULATOR By Richard Garber. This wonder work was downloaded by me in a flurry of first contact 4 AM downloading. This is a very good manual, and professionally written. It’s like a textbook not only for generating our own MSTS Activities, but for those who want to practice (or for me ... admire) great technical writing ... as art ... precision communication ... the use of progression ... this PDF book is just a must.

This book is free ... like all data is becoming free. It is free like it is priceless, of very good fundamental use and value here and now.

Bad news? :) I don’t remember where I saw this book here on Trainsim.com but it is here and I believe it answers all our fundamental MSTS activities questions.
jivajiva

[darkfyre]

Okay..No overhead wires? Go to the main screen of MSTS, then to the options thingy at the bottom of the screen, click the 'Advanced Display' tab, and select the 'Overhead Wires' option..

As for the SMS, you have to edit the ENG files to fix it..
For the trains you're using, double-check to make sure the sound definition is correct..For example, a train i have has sounds aliased from the Acela:

Sound ( "..\\..\\Acela\\Sound\\AcelaEng.sms" )

Sound ( "..\\..\\Acela\\Sound\\AcelaCab.sms" )


Doesn't sound like anything's wrong with your activity, though...

The high-pitched whine? Ah, I see you've met Mr. Alerter :).. It to, can be changed in the ENG file..

Look for 'Emergency Stop Monitor' in the Edit -> Find menu...

then look for this below it:

MonitoringDeviceAppliesEmergencyBrake( 1 )

Change that 1 to a 0.



Then, 'Vigilance Monitor'..

look for this:

MonitoringDeviceAppliesFullBrake( 1 )


change the '1' to a '0'.

Then, below that, you will see the words 'Overspeed Monitor':

MonitoringDeviceTriggerOnTrackOverspeed( 1 )

change this to a '0' as well.

That should fix your problem :D

[hr]
Hauling cars is fun; but crashing them is even better.
http://www.guilfordrail.com/images/gti.gif
-Darkfyre

[CNfavorite]

Thanks a bunch guys!:) Sounds very encouraging! Yes Darkfyre, when I got MLT's Kicking Horse Pass - I got this whine again. Checked my drivers, reinstalled KHP, reinstalled MSTS, almost threw my laptop out the window! But then it dawned on me - 'the alerter!' ;-) So after all that frustration, DUH - it's one little switch! Like to find this PDF 'book' as well, sounds like it's really well done. I've seen so many manuals lately, and the 'art' just isn't in them - or underwriters don't know how to translate anymore? But I'm intrigued by the passion for this person's undertaking. Hope I can find it soon? :)

Thanks again all.