Railworks America

Hey all, I hope I'm posting in the right section. If not I apologize in advance and feel free to move the thread to the appropriate place.

So a while back I set up TS to import terrain data and have the google maps overlay for a route I'm building. (and will post a thread about that in more detail at the appropriate time) Everything worked splendidly! However recently the Google maps overlay has stopped working. And by that I mean the loading circles have appeared, but nothing happens. Also, terrain refuses to general when applied.

I haven't changed my settings or anything so I'm rather puzzled as to why it all stopped working. Any ideas or suggestions?

Hi there,

In the past several months Google changed their policy regarding use of their API's (the keys that allow Railworks to display Google Earth overlay). The thread below covers discussion of this. If you read through it right through the end, it covers some other users experiences with what you are describing.

http://railworksamerica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=20025

All you need a credit card enable billing Google account.

I don't have that and mine is working just fine.

buzz456 wrote:I don't have that and mine is working just fine.

You are lucky!

Just remove the Key in the Settings/Tools/Google Maps/Google Maps API Key and give it some time to associate itself, and you should see the maps when you go to the Editor and press Control-G. Also, it doesn't work in the Scenario Editor or if you try Pressing the key combination while in one of the side panels. I had a problem earlier this month, but since removing the Key as described, I have had no problems with Google Maps.

So in short, you are saying that the overlay will work without an API key, provided at least one has initially been read by the Steam app (TS)? Or am I misinterpreting this?

RailWanderer wrote:Just remove the Key in the Settings/Tools/Google Maps/Google Maps API Key and give it some time to associate itself, and you should see the maps when you go to the Editor and press Control-G. Also, it doesn't work in the Scenario Editor or if you try Pressing the key combination while in one of the side panels. I had a problem earlier this month, but since removing the Key as described, I have had no problems with Google Maps.

After following the threat link provided in the first response I enevitably removed the API key and BAM, the overlay was working again! So much obliged for the info on that.

Now if I can just figure out why the editor won't import my DEM data. :/

SAR704 wrote:So in short, you are saying that the overlay will work without an API key, provided at least one has initially been read by the Steam app (TS)? Or am I misinterpreting this?

Just to clarify, and to prove the point, and its not that hard;
I uninstalled TS2018;
reinstalled TS2018;
verified my new install through Steam;
Opened TS2018;
opened Settings/Tools/Googles maps;
entered the Google Maps API Key textbox and with the cursor showing I left click the box;
then Saved the entries after making the selections of what size, type, and intensity of the Google Maps I wanted;
back to Main Menu;
selected Build;
chose the route I wanted to edit, HSC;
In the Editor I pressed the key combination Control-G and the Google Maps appeared;
End Of Story.

KeggWorks wrote:

RailWanderer wrote:Now if I can just figure out why the editor won't import my DEM data. :/

DEM isn't that hard in TS, first you need a good source, and for beginners I would suggest: https://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/ . TS uses SRTM Height Map data for the different Quadrangle(square or grid) locations on the surface of the Earth in relationship to the real world coordinates(Latitude & Longitude), and this data needs to be located in a folder tree of DEM/SRTM with only the .HGT files for each height map file for TS to use. When you go to the link above, select SRTM1/ and then you will need to search through the listings for the latitudes and longitudes you may want for your route. Say you want the coordinates within 42 north and -72 west then you would need N42W072.hgt.zip for that set of height files. These zip files are all the proper height map files you can use for your latitude and longitude, and all you need to do is unpack the zip file CONTENT into the SRTM folder, not the folder itself. When you look at that folder you will see a series of height files (.HGT) within the SRTM folder, if you have more sub-folders I would suggest removing them and just place the DATA FILES (.HGT) within the SRTM folder. Then it is just a matter of going into the Editor and moving to the proper coordinates, and using the Import button, selecting the size in squares of the terrain you want produced, selecting SRTM format, and finishing the process with selecting the Import Terrain DEM. Its actually fairly simple once you have done it a few times.

I would suggest downloading 1 arc second DEM from the USGS site. The 3 arc second stuff from the above link is really soft.

A link to a tutorial some guy made on the subject is below:

http://railworksamerica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17791

RailWanderer wrote:

KeggWorks wrote:

RailWanderer wrote:Now if I can just figure out why the editor won't import my DEM data. :/

DEM isn't that hard in TS, first you need a good source, and for beginners I would suggest: https://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/ . TS uses SRTM Height Map data for the different Quadrangle(square or grid) locations on the surface of the Earth in relationship to the real world coordinates(Latitude & Longitude), and this data needs to be located in a folder tree of DEM/SRTM with only the .HGT files for each height map file for TS to use. When you go to the link above, select SRTM1/ and then you will need to search through the listings for the latitudes and longitudes you may want for your route. Say you want the coordinates within 42 north and -72 west then you would need N42W072.hgt.zip for that set of height files. These zip files are all the proper height map files you can use for your latitude and longitude, and all you need to do is unpack the zip file CONTENT into the SRTM folder, not the folder itself. When you look at that folder you will see a series of height files (.HGT) within the SRTM folder, if you have more sub-folders I would suggest removing them and just place the DATA FILES (.HGT) within the SRTM folder. Then it is just a matter of going into the Editor and moving to the proper coordinates, and using the Import button, selecting the size in squares of the terrain you want produced, selecting SRTM format, and finishing the process with selecting the Import Terrain DEM. Its actually fairly simple once you have done it a few times.

The areas I'm trying to model are Central Arizona, Nevada (around Battle Mountain and Lewis Cnayon) and New Mexico. So what regions' data would that br in the link provided?