Incorrect "Missing marker" errors when loading scenarios

[Chacal]

Just a heads-up: after swapping some rolling stock using RW-Tools and then fiddling with wagon numbers, RW failed to load the scenario, displaying an error message with some missing track markers, even though those markers were not missing at all.
However the scenario instruction that used those markers was referencing wagon numbers that did not exist in any consist.

e.g. "Drop off 170167, 170145, 34, and 170234 at Acme siding 3" where Acme siding 3 exists, but wagon 34 does not exist.

Trying to correct the wagon number manually in the scenario editor resulted in a SBHH.
Manually correcting the instruction in scenario.bin fixed the problem.

So be aware that errors displayed when failing to load a scenario may have nothing to do with the actual problem, but still present a clue as to where to look for the problem.


EDIT: THis problem is now fixed in RW-Tools, see below.

[Machinist]

Happened quite the same with me this week (no SBHH at this time, though). After I swapped and added wagons with RWTools I got an error message saying the siding marker I had created was missing, but it was visibly there. Got it fixed deleting both the marker and the instruction, exiting the scenario editor, lauching SE again, and finally recreating the siding marker and a new instruction with the new cars.

BTW, Chacal, this week I started to edit the scenarios' bin with RWTools instead editing with SE, as you suggested in another thread one month ago, and this is indeed far better and faster to work than using SE. for the tip...

Doc.

[OldProf]

I'm pretty sure that Mike Simpson reads this forum, but let me suggest that one of you let him know about this directly so he can investigate or perhaps explain how to make this feature of RW_Tools work correctly.

[Chacal]

Done already, I've been exchanging e-mails with Mike and doing tests for a while now. He's looking into the problem as we speak.
I noticed that swapping rolling stock often breaks scenario instructions (notably "drop" instructions) because RW-Tools uses wagon numbers from the csv files if available.
I've suggested that original wagon numbers be preserved. I have tested it and it causes no problem.

[Machinist]

A tip is modify the consists and then (re)create the instruction. In my case the consist was too "light" when I tested the scenario, so I swapped by heavier cars (also added others) though keeping the same existing instruction, which caused the problem.

Another very usefull feature, which is not working, should be "change start time for all consists" (my RWTools version is 3.0.48). Currently I'm having to edit the new start times for each train on timetable. Chacal, could you also warn Mike about?

[Machinist]

I've suggested that original wagon numbers be preserved. I have tested it and it causes no problem.

Yesterday I lost almost 3 hours uninstalling and re-installing 5 times a new loco (and looking into bin and textures files) because I forgot to uncheck the new box/feature "Don't change numbers when swapping stocks". At least when swapping locos this is causing problems with numbers on "numbers' display" like shown in pics below (blank or double numbers series), be ware. Swapping locos leaving that box unchecked (ie, changing loco's number) is not causing problems.

RailWorksProc2 2012-04-16 12-31-35-74.jpg

RailWorksProc2 2012-04-17 18-54-23-54.jpg

RailWorksProc2 2012-04-17 19-00-23-89.jpg

[Chacal]

Maybe I should have said "It causes no problem with the scenario instructions".
It will cause problems with displaying numbers on some engines, as you have shown. But then you usually don't need to check this box before swapping locos. Engine numbers are rarely part of scenario instructions.
As for wagons, what I observed is some of them not displaying any number, when the assigned number doesn't match any of those in the csv file.

[OldProf]

Maybe I should have said "It causes no problem with the scenario instructions".
It will cause problems with displaying numbers on some engines, as you have shown. But then you usually don't need to check this box before swapping locos. Engine numbers are rarely part of scenario instructions.
As for wagons, what I observed is some of them not displaying any number, when the assigned number doesn't match any of those in the csv file.

One place where loco numbers become part of scenario instructions is in Marshall instructions when a driver's task is to assemble a consist and then drive it away (as opposed to dropping it off). In that case, the engine's number is included in the consist. I really appreciate Mike's continuing efforts to make RW easier to edit, but when it comes to wagon and engine numbering, I still prefer to handle the task the hard way.

[Chacal]

That's why he wisely chose to make the option user-selectable with a checkbox.