Repainting

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:58 am

The file comes out OK for me.

Attached is a copy of what I did based on your file..

WP5357_gp38_2_diff.dds is what you uploaded, with the name changed, and Z_WP5357_gp38_2_diff.dds is what I created from the shots you posted. The NIF is using yours.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:25 am

The file you uploaded is not working well: first, the engine is a blob in nifskope and I still can't figure out how to get color, second, I can't rename the diff files that are in the file and third I cannot see any transparency on the files you uploaded. I noticed while loading in the Png files that my current file below is RGB-alfa, 1 layer while yours are RGB, 1 layer.

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:13 am

I have never seen 'blobs' in NifSkope' You need to open the WP5357_gp38_2.kfm file by right clicking on it and going to 'Open With' and selecting 'NifSkope'. Ignore what the wheels look like.

As to renaming the files, that has to be done in NifSkope, and you MUST click on a different line before saving the changes, otherwise they will not take. Also, the files cannot be PNG, they must be DDS.

You will not see any transparencies, except with GIMP, and maybe a few other programs. They are there. The white will not show.

When the files are saved, they must be saved as DDS files, which seem to want to be single layer. I opened them up and took a screen shot of them. You can see there the Alpha. Gimp just merges the Alpha layer with the other layer.

I also add three DDS files that contain the nmrl, spec and emsk DDS files.

Did the original sfbillboard version show up OK in NifSkope for you?

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:32 pm

I don't see transparencies in gimp either, when I right click open with does not apear because the files already know to open in nifskope, but there are no textures on the model in nifskope when i open the nif and there is nothing in the kfm. now i can see textures in your latest upload. Does the, "ignore the wheels" mean that they should look square in nifskope? If so then my problem is solved. thought that they should be transparent like the decal.

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:15 am

The reason you do not see the KFM is because opening the NIF file does not open the KFM, BUT, opening the KFM file does open the NIF file. The game opens KFM files, which tell it which NIF files to use, which tells it what to use to create the object. The KFM also controls movements.

The wheels are a standard set of files in SMR. While you can copy them and put them in the folder with it, that would only be duplicating them for every engine used.

As to tranparencies.... If you are seeing a black and gray checkerboard pattern, that is the transparency. If you don't, you can check for it by clicking on 'Layer', 'Transparency', and looking to see if 'Add Alpha Channel' is gray of black. Gray means you cannot add one, it's already there. Black means you can add one. If you add a transparency, it will only show up if you take the Eraser to it.

Put it into your map and see what happens, the worst it can do is not work.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:19 am

how do I place an engine in a map?

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:19 am

Open the RRT_Trains_map_name.xml of the map. Take the file I enclosed and make the following changes:

Find <szName>TAG_NAME_GP_SERIES</szName> . Change GP to something like WP.

Below that is the year <Year>1950</Year>. Change that to 1800. This will bring the engine up first thing so you don't have to wait for it.

Then you want to change <szModel>EMD_GP38_2.kfm</szModel> to the name of your enginge KFM file.

You can leave the <szDunnyModel> alone as you are using the same type of engine. Tho some people rename a Dummy file to match the one for the engine they skinned, it is not needed and is a waste of space.

There may be a few minor edits of the DDSs to do, but see if you can get it running first and what it looks like.

Now copy the changed file and place it at the botton of the RRT_Trains XML, BUT BE SURE THE </RRTTrains> IS BELOW IT!!! Several people, including myself, have made this mistake during early editing..."I know I put it in there, why won't the **** thing show up????"

Your last 4 lines should look like this:

<szAverageAngleSqueal>AS3D_CURVE_SQUEAL_MEDIUM</szAverageAngleSqueal>
<szSlightAngleSqueal>AS3D_CURVE_SQUEAL_LIGHT</szSlightAngleSqueal>
</Train>
</RRTTrains>

Save it. Now put the folder that contains all the files into CustomAssets. The name will make no difference. Run the game and see what happens.

If you go into Railroads! Wiki, Customizing the game, Scenario Information - XML Reference, 2.17 RRT_Trains.xml you will fing explanations of what most of the lines of code do.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:08 am

how do you edit an xml file?

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:21 am

Go to this Web address:

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm

Go into Download and click on Download Notepad++ executable files. Then go down and click on XML Tools.

Read the instruction to install them. Then do a right=click on an XML file, select Notepad++ and set it to use that program for all files of that type.

Read your PM if you haven't already.

You can use other text editing programs, but this one lets you know if you make a mistake most of the time, and most of the time point it out to you.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:30 am

oops, forgot I had note pad.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:13 am

What might have happened? Said that the file did not load.

Lowell · Post by **Lowell** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:18 am

Did you rename the Nif file for the new dds name and so forth? The Kfm needs edited as well. Load the Kfm from the nif and make sure on the right hand side you click the plus sign and edit the models name...use the enter key and when after changing the nif models name, then when saving, make sure you use the file type from the drop down menu and save as a Kfm.

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:26 am

Did you use the files I sent you? Those have already been edited to work.

Copy the part of the XML you edited and paste it to your reply.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:47 am

here

<Train>
<szName>TAG_NAME_WP_SERIES</szName>
<Year>1800</Year>
<szManufacturerName>EMD</szManufacturerName>
<szModel>WP5357_gp38_2</szModel>
<szDummyModel>EMD_GP38_2_Dummies.nif</szDummyModel>
<szCar>_v2</szCar>
<szNewTrainImage>event_newtrain_GP.dds</szNewTrainImage>
<szGroundClackSound>AS3D_CLACK_PLANET_GROUND</szGroundClackSound>
<szBridgeClackSound>AS3D_CLACK_PLANET_BRIDGE</szBridgeClackSound>
<MaxSpeed>12</MaxSpeed>
<Speed0>15</Speed0>
<Power>14</Power>
<Cost>180000</Cost>
<MaintenanceCost>5000</MaintenanceCost>
<Diesel>1</Diesel>
<RunLength>80</RunLength>
<rgbDefaultColor>65,139,255</rgbDefaultColor>
<BitmapIcon>
<szFile>Assets/Interface/TrainRouting/routing_GP38.tga</szFile>
</BitmapIcon>
<fStartSoundCrossFade>2.0</fStartSoundCrossFade>
<szStartSound>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_START_3</szStartSound>
<szStopSound>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_STOP_3</szStopSound>
<fSpeedStartWait>0.25</fSpeedStartWait>
<fSpeedCrossFade>3.0</fSpeedCrossFade>
<iPitchChange>2000</iPitchChange>
<SpeedSounds>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_SLOW_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_SLOW_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_MID_SLOW_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_MID_SLOW_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_MID_FAST_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_MID_FAST_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_FAST_LP_3</szSpeed>
<szSpeed>AS3D_TR_DIESEL_ENGINE_FAST_LP_3</szSpeed>
</SpeedSounds>
<szSharpAngleSqueal>AS3D_CURVE_SQUEAL</szSharpAngleSqueal>
<szAverageAngleSqueal>AS3D_CURVE_SQUEAL_MEDIUM</szAverageAngleSqueal>
<szSlightAngleSqueal>AS3D_CURVE_SQUEAL_LIGHT</szSlightAngleSqueal>
</Train>
</RRTTrains>

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:03 am

<szModel>WP5357_gp38_2</szModel>

The problem is that you didn't tell it what type of file this is. It should be:

WP5357_gp38_2.kfm

You forgot to add the .kfm to it.

Hey, it happens