Visual Basic Routines for reading/changing MSTS file content

Those of you who had the stamina to read my FG DMU posts on UKTS will have noted my reference to VBA routines for reading MSTS file contents and trying to intitiate changes in the same. This was intended to supplement the editing capability within Mike Simpson's excellent Route Riter (RR). In addition it meant that I could edit files outside of the Train Simulator folder, although I understand that RR can be used this way now.

I wanted to be able to read ENG and WAG files in order to list the various SMS, CVF lines, etc. I was also trying to see how one could list and/or change friction lines, as this wasn't included in RR. When compiling my original trainset back in my earliest MSTS days, I was always taken aback at the variations in the above lines, and it was this that started that particular obsession.

I was wondering whether anyone else was doing anything similar, or whether there was any interest in this area out there. I believe that many users amend the ENG and WAG files immediately they put them in their own trainset.

To be honest I required a lot of help from a work colleague, as the VB routine based on MS Excel needed to read a text file.

I have passed a copy of one routine to a member, and I hope that it has proved of some limited use. They proved of great value to me when I changed my FG DMU sets from automatic to manaul gear operation.

Alec

Mike, I do most of these manually as they are usually only made one.

I have often thought that it would be good to be able to change things such as headcodes (usually freight animation entries) on the fly when an activity starts. Perhaps this is something to discuss with the OR team.

David

rufuskins wrote:Those of you who had the stamina to read my FG DMU posts on UKTS will have noted my reference to VBA routines for reading MSTS file contents and trying to intitiate changes in the same. This was intended to supplement the editing capability within Mike Simpson's excellent Route Riter (RR). In addition it meant that I could edit files outside of the Train Simulator folder, although I understand that RR can be used this way now.

I wanted to be able to read ENG and WAG files in order to list the various SMS, CVF lines, etc. I was also trying to see how one could list and/or change friction lines, as this wasn't included in RR. When compiling my original trainset back in my earliest MSTS days, I was always taken aback at the variations in the above lines, and it was this that started that particular obsession.

I was wondering whether anyone else was doing anything similar, or whether there was any interest in this area out there. I believe that many users amend the ENG and WAG files immediately they put them in their own trainset.

To be honest I required a lot of help from a work colleague, as the VB routine based on MS Excel needed to read a text file.

I have passed a copy of one routine to a member, and I hope that it has proved of some limited use. They proved of great value to me when I changed my FG DMU sets from automatic to manaul gear operation.

Alec

Hi Alec,

I haven't had a chance to look at this yet as I've currently got my teeth into a new loco and want to keep at it until I get to the boring bits (handrails, steps etc).

There's a new pack of locos for the TT route in the offing and I will test it on that.

Alec,

Have you ever had a look at EngMod by Derek Morton?

It allows you to change many of the internal parameters in .eng and .wag files (including the cabview aliasing but not sounds) and even to make the changes to more than one unit at a time.

Bob.

Bob

It's good to hear from you here on TS Forums. The reference you give rings the proverbial bell, but I will need to check at home whetherI've got it?

Alec