OR Screenshots etc

Well I've just completed my first ever  activity (ie..I actually finished the act) in Open Rails.Coal to Crewe,and must admit that it was a nice run.But I did find it Different.The HUD shows steam usage but appears not to show how much is being produced.I really liked the Track Monitor showing a few lights ahead.

But I was certainly hoping to take some Screenshots,but as I run in Widescreen this just doesn't seem to be possible.

The advice I have been given is as follows.
1)  Change the Keyboard Binding for "Screenshot" to some thing else,but I haven't a clue how to.
2)  Enable the experimental option "fast full screen alt-tabs".

So if there's anyone out there who can explain in very simple English how to do so I will be most grateful.

Hi Roger,

It's very simple.

1 Tick Windowed Box on main Menu.

2 Press Print Screen on keyboard ( as in MSTS ) when you want to take a screenshot. A message will appear telling you screenshot saved and where it has been saved.

Hope this helps,

Stephen

Hi Stephen,thanks for the reply,but I'm trying to find out how to get Screenshots when running in Widescreen.
It looks likely that its not possible so I'll just have to stay with MSTS ...Regards..Roger.

Hi Roger.

It doesn't matter whether you take the screenshot in widescreen or windowed, the aspect ratio will be the same in the screenshot pic, I tried to take a screenshot from ORv1 in fullscreen mode but OR just crashed back to desktop, I'll have to do screenshots in OR windowed mode in future, in MSTS before I managed to get the screen aspect ratio sorted, the picture appeared stretched horizontally on screen, but screenshots were in the proper aspect ratio when viewed.

Hi,
It appears that, when using the latest version, X3176, pressing PrtScn while in wide-screen mode doesn't crash Open Rails; it has a short pause, then continues, but a screenshot isn't saved. It is, of course, still available on the clipboard and may be pasted into a graphics program.

Cheers,
Ged

Hello Mark,Hi Ged, Thanks for the replies,but I only run the OR Sim in Widescreen,I cannot stand the tiny little window.As for it saving to "Paint" wouldn't that mean you could only take 1 screenshot per sitting ?

I will have a try later on as I intend to do the Carlisle\Carnforth excursion again,this time in OR (in one go,no saves).Having just done that Activity saving at each stop in MSTS (though it didn't crash,so I didn't need them).For my own comparison.

In MSTS I arrived at the first Station one minute late,after that I ran to time,even though Signal Checked a few times. very nice Activity.  Regards Roger.

Hi Roger,

As for it saving to "Paint" wouldn't that mean you could only take 1 screenshot per sitting ?

You are quite right ...

However, there's a "proper" way to do it in wide-screen! From the Menu, click on the Options button, then the Video tab. Towards the bottom left, you'll see "Window size", which defaults to 1024 x 768; set this to your full screen size (maybe it's 1920 x 1080), then when you run OR, select Windowed Mode. It'll look as if it's in full-screen mode, but you'll be able to take screenshots of the wide-screen and they'll be saved in the specified Open Rails folder.

Cheers,
Ged

Ok,so I've been a busy little Beaver and done the whole act again this time in OR.and I accept that I am to blame (probably) for the poor performance,I could not get Her to steam as freely as in MSTS,as is shown by the time comparison....

                                                                                          MSTS                                               OR
Depart Carlisle                                                                 10:00    on time ...................             10:01   ....................................... nothing in it.
  "   "   Workington                                                            10:43     ...............................            10:48  ......................................... 5 mins Later
  "   "   Ravenglass                                                             11:15    ...............................             11:23  ........................................  8 Mins Later

Now from here on every thing starts to go wrong for me,I was Signal Checked at Askam and STALLED,I just couldn't get moving again,NOT wheel spinning mind,She just liked the Scenery I suppose and didn't want to leave.But obviously she did but I couldn't get her to accelerate and must have done the next mile or two at 3 or 4 mph.I was now running so late that I was tempted to say a Naughty word or two,but plod on,struggling all the way.
At Ulverston I was down to 5% water and there was no way I was going to finish the Trip,but stopping I found that you can just press "T" and you have a full Tender again without the need for a Water tower.

Anyway I toddled into Carnforth at 12:58a full 32 mins later than in MSTS.............
My FPS in MSTS ranged from 25 to 59......................in OR     27 to 31,but even so the graphics appeared to be better in OR,I found one Tree "ALMOST" on the line,but none actually on the Rails,(Though the Tree's leave's had a shimmering effect).

Ged.....on my PC pressing "Print Screen" does make it C2D,but the picture is there in "Paint".
Once again I must say that I prefer the "Track Monitor" in OR,but am not fussy on the HUD,      F9 is better on MSTS,I prefer the pictures.

,Tomorrow I will try out what you say about getting Screenshots.

Hi Roger,
I haven't completed this activity yet, but have had a "funny" in MSTS.
You mentioning the fact that you can't get any speed out of the loco prompted me to report it here, otherwise, I just thought it was me!!

I found, quite suddenly, that, before getting to Maryport, the loco's brakes were on - but not the tender or coaches! After that, any appreciable speed was difficult to attain. I had exceeded the 30 mph / temporary 15 mph / speed limit before Maryport. On a second run, I didn't exceed the speed limit and all was OK until approaching Workington, I, again, exceeded the speed limit; this time the loco brakes were applied and the coaches brakes partially applied!! In both cases, no amount of applying and releasing the brakes had any effect. Even bringing the train to a halt and waiting a couple of minutes didn't help. I've looked at the activity and eng files but can't see anything which could have this effect. Has anybody else had this happen? In case it had any effect, I ensured that the Alerter option wasn't selected!

Regarding your OR experience, did you check if any of the brakes are on? Press F5 then 3 x Shift/F5

Regarding screenshots in OR - make sure you're running the latest version (X3176).

Cheers,
Ged

Hello Ged......As a suggestion only,I'm wondering whether or not I pressed the "#" key in error at some point when applying the Brakes,what effect would that have ? as it disconnects the Brake Hose.........Roger

Edit to the above....I was not on X3176 because when I upped to version 1.0 I was put (in the options) onto Stable,I have now altered this and have updated to X3176

I do quite like OR,but to be fair I have problems with the amount of key controls,my memory being suspect at the very best !
Having now done the Excursion route once in each Sim,I'm going to give that one a break,but will do it in OR again during the week. Regards Roger.

Hi Roger,

Don't worry to much about all the available key control functions as most of the time you don't need them. Virtually all the basic keys are the same as MSTS which keeps things simpler. If you do need any of the other keys simply pause the activity ( press "esc" ), then F1 to bring up the Help Box and all is revealed.

Hope this helps,

Stephen

There is a 15 mph restriction at Maryport for engineering works.  Exceeding this speed may cause coupling breaks and/or derailments.

Hello Ged,,I don't know if this helps at all,but its taken from the instructions at the start of the Act: Carlisle / Carnforth steam excursion.
Obviously the Couplings are not breaking,but they are warnings for MSTS not OR.....Regards .. Roger.

Also I have altered the settings as you explained and hey presto



I now have a folder in "my pictures",so I'm a happy Chappie.

Hello Stephen,I'm determined to get the hang of OR,I know things work differently,but running out of Water obviously had something to do with the train not running freely,whether because the brakes were partially on or not I do not know,but I will be doing that act again,though having done a 3 hour act twice in one day,I'm taking a breather. I don't like the fact that I had to Cheat to finish it,( Press "T" fill the Tender with Coal & Water, tut,tut ).But all in all I enjoyed the run.....Regards Roger.

Well I'm still trying,and getting nowhere FAST.I've run this Act in both MSTS and OR and they are very different,both in being held,checked and passing AI.
Starting at Northwich end in both Sims I was held at lights to await arriving Train.
So my timings were                   MSTS............OR
Northwich                                  8.07............  8.11      +4
Lostock Gralan                          8.09............. 8.13      +4
Plumley                                     8.12............. 8.16       +4
Knutsford                                  8.16 .............8.21       +5
Mobberley                                 8.20.............8.25       +5
Ashley                                       8.22.............8.29       +7    
Hale                                           8.25............8.34        +9   Held at signal      
Nav Rd                                      8.27............8.37       +10  
Timp junc                                  8.30............8.39       +10
Skelton junc                              8.32............8.41        +9
Northenden jnc                         8.39............8.47        +8
Newton Viaduct                       9.02............9.11        +9
Chunley                                   9.14.............9.22        +8
Dove Hole Tunnel                   9.19............9.33        +14
Ended                                      9.32............9.52        +20


The major problem I had was the hill climbs  attaining speeds of (only)12mph at New Mills Sth jnc    to Chinley max speed of 16mph    to and through Dove Hole Tunnel  9mph entering Quarry 8mph.
Using F5x3 I found that I had to initialise the Brakes every time I used them.    All in all an Interesting ride
Now all I need to do is find out what I'm doing wrong......