New issue with latest RW_Tools version

[OlPaint]

Mike

I upgraded RW_Tools to version 5.0.43. I had to re-register it with my license which was no problem. But I soon discovered that now I am getting an error.

When I choose the "Edit Assets" tab and I "Build List of Assets" for a particular Provider's RailVehicles by clicking on the "Add to List" option, I still get all the rolling stock in a Provider/Product spread sheet.

It used to be that I could click on one of the listing Name lines in the spread sheet and could get a graphical view of a TgPcDx texture file in that Name asset directory to appear in the upper right hand corner view window.

Well then...so instead, I now get an error window to popup with the text as follows:

-----
serz Application
-----
serz Application has stopped working. Windows is checking for a solution to the problem...
-----

And immediately the popup window text changes to as follows:

-----
serz Application
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serz Application has stopped working.
A problem caused the program to stop working correctly.
Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available." with a "Close Program" button.
-----
I must click the "Close Program" button to recover.

I used to get a freight car texture ( maybe the new pixelated view, however ) to display in the view window or a "No Picture Found" message to show if no TgPcDx texture was readable.

I am running Win7 64bit OS. Is this error caused by RW_Tools calling serz utility without running the program as administator?

I know that we have the "TGPCDX Viewer" to use that is now available bundled with the RW_Tools package but there quite a few steps involved to view the texture files while using that tool. The quick view in Edit Assets function is so much more convenient.

We also have a new asset viewer embedded in the TS2014 Quick Drive Train Builder feature. Follow this path to the Build Consist screen: Quick Drive tile > Train button > Locomotive tile > Next button > Edit button > Build Consist screen. The asset list will be created. It takes a long time if you have a large collection of assets. There is Percent Completed display to occupy you waiting time. Once the list is finished, you can view each asset and can rovolve the rolling stock so all sides can be viewed.

Edit:

OK, I now understand what a "Thumbnail" is to RW_Tools. Each assist in your collection must have a "builders photo" (.JPG file - 325x203 pixels - 96 dpi - 24bit color depth) in the \RW_TOOLS\Thumbnails\ folder in order for the view window to work as advertized.

I have noticed that Mike has published two compressed picture packs files of mainly European rolling stock (Thumbnails.7z and Thumbnails2.7z) which are available on the his website . Here is the link: http://www.rstools.info/downloads.html. There are a lot of gaps in the coverage particularly for North American Locos and Rolling Stock. I have started capturing screen shots of all my Assets (it is a daunting task since I have over 5000 locos and cars).

But you know the old Chinese adage, "A journey begins with the first step..."

OlPaint

[mikesimpson]

Hi OlPaint,

Sorry for delay in replying, it is holiday season over here (mid-summer), so not spending so much time on programming.

1. Serz.exe problems - please note that Serz.exe was changed in latest version of TS2014, RW_Tools does need this to expand files along with its associated .dlls so make sure you have copied :-
Serz.exe
stlport_vc10.5.2.dll
zlibwapi.dll
From the Railworks folder into your RW_Tools folder for best results.

2. With regard to the thumbnails - From RW_Tools v5.0.41 -
I have also changed the picture viewer in the Edit Assets screen so that if you select
the 'Name' column of a Locomotive which has a LocoInformation folder (which covers most
RSC locomotives), then the image.png file in that folder will be displayed, even if you
don't have the loco in the RW_Tools\Thumbnails folder.

I hope that helps

Mike

[OlPaint]

Mike

That was the trick. Thanks for reminding me. I had copied serz.exe to RW_Tools folder but had forgotten to copy over the .DLL files too.

And I checked out the image.png displaying in Asset Edit tab and was very pleased with the results. Outstanding!

OlPaint
Doyle

[harryadkins]

RW Tools displays the png file for me, but I get no picture for rolling stock in the Thumbnails folders.

[OlPaint]

Harry

I have noticed that you have taken the time to make thumbnails of all your recent repaints. Thank you. I wish every one would do that and include them in their repaint packages.

My question is do you make your thumbnails to follow Mike's specifications for a "builders photo" (.JPG file - 325x203 pixels - 96 dpi - 24bit color depth)? Also do you put them into the C:\Rail Utilities\RW_Tools\Thumbnails\ folder. That is where I have placed Mike's two already prepared Thumbnails.7z and Thumbnails2.7z files (uncompressed, I might add) that I found on Mike's downloads Web page: http://www.rstools.info/downloads.html.
And I also continue to place my own thumbnails, prepared from screen shots I take of each piece from my asset collection. I discovered it is very important to name the .JPG file with the same identical name as appears in the Edit Assets listing for it to appear in the view window.

OlPaint
Doyle

[harryadkins]

Doyle,

All I do is resize the images to 325X203 and be SURE their names match exactly. Most of the time they work as advertised, but there have been some images that just don't work.

Harry

[OlPaint]

Harry

I have discovered that some asset names have a leading "blank" character that must be matched in the thumbnail's name, go figure!

OlPaint
Doyle

[harryadkins]

How do you duplicate the "blank" character? Is it just a space?

[mikesimpson]

Hi Harry,

The thumbnails in the Thumbnails folder are all .jpg files - I changed my program so that it first looks in the LocoInformation folder for a file named image.png (they all have the same name), and if that exists then that is the one displayed. If no image.png, then RW_Tools looks in the Thumbnails folder - if nothing there, then you are out of luck.

All new locos produced by RSC do have the LocoInformation folder and picture, so I assume that 3rd party reskinners will be doing this as well.

I did ask for anyone who has done their own thumbnails to send them to me so that I could add them to the collection, but only one or two have done so.

Mike

[OlPaint]

@Harry

It is very important that the name of the Thumbnail matches exactly. I meant to to say "Space" instead of "Blank" character.

@Mike

I need to collect all the thumbnails I have built and send them to you.

OlPaint
Doyle

[mikesimpson]

Hi OlPaint,

That would be much appreciated. If you have somewhere you can upload them to in a single zip, I can download them here, e.g. somewhere like Dropbox will be fine.

Mike