Tutorials -- Microsoft Train Simulator Basics

Please note: This tutorial was originally written for 3DCrafter 7. It has not been fully updated to reflect the changes made in 3DCrafter 9/8. An updated version will be made available in a future version of 3DCrafter.

Microsoft Train Simulator Basics

In this tutorial we will give an overview of the basics of using 3DCrafter to create models for Microsoft Train Simulator.

Note that if you are using 3DCrafter Pro, the features of 3DCrafter Trainworks need to be enabled before you can export to a train simulator format. To enable the Trainworks features:

	Select Options... from the Tools menu.
	Click the Misc. tab.
	Check Enable Trainworks Features.
	Close and re-open 3DCrafter Pro.

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of 3DCrafter and the Microsoft Train Simulator Route Editor.

Our goal in this tutorial is to add a simple shape to a route in Train Simulator.

Drag and drop a sphere on to the 3DCrafter Scene.

Apply a texture to the sphere.

Microsoft Train Simulator requires that all shapes be textured. For more information on Microsoft Train Simulator materials see the Train Simulator Materials tutorial.

Select Use Plugin->Trainworks->Train Simulator Wizard from the Tools menu. This will start the Train Simulator Wizard.

Click the Next button until you are on the Attributes step. This is where you choose the route where you want to add your shape. If you have your own route already select it, if not select EUROPE1. This is the Settle & Carlisle line. We will not be making any permanent changes to this route.

Once you have selected EUROPE1, click Next

In this step 3DCrafter assists you in naming and organizing your model in a way that Train Simulator can recognize. A very specific hierarchical organization and naming convention are required by Train Simulator.

Click on the sphere to indicate that this is your model's "main" part. Once you have clicked on the sphere it will indicate that part identification is complete. Once it has, click the Finish button. The defaults for all of the remaining steps can be used.

Save your model.

Before a model can be used in Train Simulator it is necessary to let Train Simulator know that the model is available. A route's Ref file includes all of the models available to be used on that route. 3DCrafter created the entries required for the model, but does not update the route's Ref file. In Microsoft Train Simulator's ROUTES\EUROPE1 folder you will find two Ref files. The "settleca.ref" file is the Ref file for this route. The "myproject.ref" file includes the entries required to include this model in a route. Open both files with WordPad and add the contents of the "myproject.ref" to the end of the "settleca.ref".

Now open the Route Editor and edit the Settle & Carlisle Line.

Click the tool used for adding shapes to a route and click on the route. The shape Selector will be displayed. Select the sphere that you created in 3DCrafter. It will be part of the "3DCrafter Structures" shape class. If you had indicated in the wizard that you wanted to create a Scenery model it would have been placed in the "3DCrafter Scenery" class. Click OK.

Notice that the sphere is embedded in the route. This is because the sphere is exactly centered in its group. Train Simulator requires that you position the shape in its group so the axis is at the base of the shape. You could correct this in Train Simulator by moving the model, or you could correct it in 3DCrafter.

Close the route editor, but do not save your changes (unless you want a textured sphere on the Settle & Carlisle route).

Open your sphere and switch to wireframe mode. Notice the position of the group axis is exactly in the center of the shape.

Select the Shift tool. Ctrl-right-drag on the shape to move the group's axis position to the base of the shape.

Re-run the Train Simulator Wizard. When it starts, click the Finish button. You have already completed all of the necessary steps previously and it remembers all of your settings for this model.

The model is now ready to be re-added to Train Simulator. Note that since you have already made the changes to the Ref file there is no need to make any further changes.

Re-add the sphere to the route. Notice that it now sits properly on the surface.

To distribute your structure or scenery model to other Train Simulator users you will need to provide them with several files. You will need to provide them with the MyProject.s and MyProject.sd files, where "MyProject" is the project title you gave the project in the Title step of the Train Simulator Wizard. Also, you will need to provide them with the textures. These are named the same as the textures you used but end with ".ace" instead of ending with ".tga" or ".bmp". You may also need to provide them with the changes you made to the ref file. These files can be found in the folder of the route to which you exported your model. Usually this will be "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\ROUTES\ROUTENAME".

More information on this subject is provided in the technical documentation provided with Train Simulator. Train Simulator technical documentation can be found on the main install CD provided with Microsoft Train Simulator in a folder called "TechDocs".