Catastrophe

Ok, here I am again, everything has gone up in smoke,so I don't want to D/L MSTS again,so how do I go Open rails only.

I have the (very basic) MSTS on a USB stick,how do I go from here to load routes for O.R. only (inc Mini Routes if poss).

Answers please in very simple terms please.

I have put MSTS back on my PC, but "NO ADDITIONAL ROUTES".
What I have is MSTS,X Tracks New Roads .etc. TIA.

Hi Roger,
It sounds as if you've had a bad day !!

First of all, many routes, especially older ones, need to be installed in an MSTS installation because they copy files from the default routes, using a batch file.

From what you've said, you do have a default MSTS, properly installed, installation.  If so, you can use my suite DIY-Mini Routes to install routes into their own installations, even those which use batch files.

Then you've got ConBuilder and Route_Riter (along with some other utilities) which, if you want to process an installation which isn't the default MSTS need configuring to pick up the correct folder. My utility MSTS_Swap can be used to avoid that necessity.

If you don't already have Open Rails installed, go to  http://openrails.org/download/program/
Open Rails MUST be installed into its own folder (not any of Windows folders on drive C:).  MSTS/OR installations MUST NOT be placed in the Open Rails folder you just created - they can be anywhere you like (excluding the usual folders on Drive C:); you tell OR the location of each installation.

Cheers,
Ged

Also, it might be worthwhile having a look at my 'Guide to Transitioning from MSTS to Open Rails'

https://tsshonline.weebly.com/shortnorths-uploads.html

Read through it first to see if you are comfortable in setting up OR like this.

Remember this is NOT the definitive way to setup OR, but the way I do it allows all my pre-group routes and stock to placed together, and a separate setup for all my LMS routes and stock - this idea can be easily extended to 'other railways' as required.

Regards, Brian

Hi Brian,
Thanks for an excellent tutorial

Generally, it's how I have my MSTS installations set up except that I keep clear of C:\Program Files, but I can understand why you've specified its use!

Obviously, when the time comes that I move solely to using Open Rails, each installation will lose all the files necessary for the operation of MSTS (but it might be a while yet!!).

Cheers,
Ged

G'day Ged,

Originally, I meant this 'Guide' as a potential answer to Roger, but if you find anything that is useful to you, that's OK too!

I've now been using this methodology for about 5 years and find no reason to change - it just works for me really well.

Brian