Australian Railway Stations

[LaChupacabra]

Hey Garry
I've been playing with your stations recently and ran into a not nice problem.

For some reason your add-on enlarges the station selection window during construction. This probably has to do with adjusting the window to the length of the station name text, but I'm not sure. The same happens with Dutch stations. Here, however, the window is still much wider than the longest name. Something is wrong.

Such extension of the window does not help at all, but only covers the screen of the game during construction, which is troublesome, especially when building large stations.

Normal window size

Station construction window 1 - normal.PNG (61.27 KiB) Viewed 23087 times

Dutch stations - enlarged window adapted to too long names

Station construction window 2 - automatically enlarged - dutch set.PNG (69.81 KiB) Viewed 23087 times

Australian stations (especially freight) - unreasonably, 2x(!) enlarged window

Station construction window 3 - automatically enlarged - auz set.PNG (62.81 KiB) Viewed 23087 times

Btw. New bus and lorry terminals looks very interesting.

[GarryG]

When I first started coding I never thought that the description in the items would matter and also I using large monitor so not thought about smaller screens.

I think a lot of other people thought same as me.

So I think that something all codes have to start thinking of and start shortening the descriptions.

If necessary even do a new release of our projects with shorter names.

Just looking at some of mine:

I have "AuzCatenary: Catenary Bitumen" No need for the word "Catenary" to be twice.

Shall see what I can do.

Cheers pal.

[LaChupacabra]

Using short names so that they don't affect the width of the window is definitely a good idea - though it can be a problem at times, especially with addons as extensive as yours. Using shortcuts can also be inconvenient for the players. However, in the present case of your stations, the length of the text itself doesn't create a problem, it is elsewhere because it is not the text itself that stretches the window.

For example, in the case of DWE and Hungarian stations, the width of the window was increased only as much as it was necessary. For your stations (but not just yours - Dutch, Kiwi and Noth Korea Stations are also affected) the width of the text field is much wider than the text itself. It looks the worst in the case of Auz Freight Stations and Auz Train Depot Extensions, where the names would easily fit into the standard window width.

Below I have marked the parts with the longest names in few addons - you can see how much the windows are enlarged unnecessarily.

Station construction window 4 - auz freight stations.PNG (79.74 KiB) Viewed 22912 times

Station construction window 5 - auz train depot.PNG (86.94 KiB) Viewed 22912 times

Station construction window 6 - auz stations.PNG (78.82 KiB) Viewed 22912 times

Unfortunately, the problem persists with every of your stations addon.

Ps. You can also remove "Stations" from the names on the list of the... stations - they are not needed (look at ISR).

[Quast65]

Unfortunately, the problem persists with every of your stations addon.

The long areas without any text in the menu's is caused by some of the names of the actual stations being long, that automatically widens the windows even when that particular station is not selected in the menu.
Too bad that it is not possible for stations to have additional texts (like with objects), so you unfortunately have to explain the workings of some stations in one long line of text. (its also not possible to break down that one line of text into multiple lines below each other)
Maybe some extremely long names can be shortened a bit, but maybe buying a bigger monitor could also help

[GarryG]

The long name descriptions are a problem .. many I think I can shorten, but also need to be a name so people know what they selecting.

In the Rail Station Selection Menu .. probable could just have Auz: instead of Auz Freight: or Auz Stations: as long as a small description after Auz: explains what they are without having to click on each one to see.

Another problem is also in the writing in yellow below the image of the item. These will also make the windows longer.

Shall see what I can do.

[Quast65]

Another problem is also in the writing in yellow below the image of the item. These will also make the windows longer.

The longest name (be it either the menu's or the yellow station names) decides how long/wide the window will be.
So no need to make any names shorter, that are already shorter than the longest name That won't make any difference and it will be a waste of time.

Most important thing to know is that this is not a bug of some sort, its "normal" behaviour.
Best fix would be if stations could get an option for additional text (like objects can have), but I dont think that will happen soon

[GarryG]

The longest name (be it either the menu's or the yellow station names) decides how long/wide the window will be.
So no need to make any names shorter, that are already shorter than the longest name That won't make any difference and it will be a waste of time.

I will shorten some, but this not work if they have other stations loaded from other codes who still have long names.

Best fix would be if stations could get an option for additional text (like objects can have), but I dont think that will happen soon

That would be great is ever .. multi tile select work well with many.

Shame also they not have sub-menu. For instance .. only Auz Freight would be shown in main menu and it have a "+" sign indicating can expand the sub menu to see all that is available in that set.

But all a dream .. cheers

[LaChupacabra]

I will shorten some, but this not work if they have other stations loaded from other codes who still have long names.

Relax, this will work. Names of your add-ons are the longest among all add-ons with stations.

The longest name (be it either the menu's or the yellow station names) decides how long/wide the window will be.
So no need to make any names shorter, that are already shorter than the longest name That won't make any difference and it will be a waste of time.

Most important thing to know is that this is not a bug of some sort, its "normal" behaviour.

Misunderstanding. That's why you should also abbreviate the station name (if possible or meaningful of course), and not only those yellow descriptions below.
Creating such long descriptions or names is just creating bugs where there weren't before.

Station construction window 9 - auz train depot.png (50.54 KiB) Viewed 22706 times

Station construction window 8 - auz useless description.png (52.84 KiB) Viewed 22706 times

In my opinion, such extensive descriptions are completely unnecessary. You can see what this element is. Why describe something that is obvious???

...maybe buying a bigger monitor could also help

What laptop would you recommend for me 21, 23, or maybe I should go all the way and buy a 32"?
(I will just write that I travel quite often and I don't want to always take a desktop computer with me.)

[GarryG]

Relax, this will work. Names of your add-ons are the longest among all add-ons with stations.

I started working on it, but will take a while as there are a lot of stations pieces to do.

Where in the Menu list you show.

I have AuzFreight: Freight Platforms .. this has been shortened .. it will now read Auz: Freight Platforms.

AuzFreight: Mining .. is now Auz: Mining

Everywhere you see AuzStations: Changed to just Auz: as we know they be Station pieces .. just a matter of a brief description after it.

Maybe AuzStations: Country Platforms Gravel Surface .. could just be .. Auz: Gravel Platforms.

Misunderstanding. That's why you should also abbreviate the station name (if possible or meaningful of course), and not only those yellow descriptions below.
Creating such long descriptions or names is just creating bugs where there weren't before.

The description in the yellow below the image will be the biggest problem, but they could be shorter as well.


I will keep working on them and upload when done.

Cheers

[GarryG]

Started shortening the names in the Railway Station Selection Menu and descriptions.

RailStationSelectMenu.png (16.36 KiB) Viewed 19990 times

So far done AuzBuzAndTruckTerminals

AuzBusAndTruckTerminals.grf

(4.53 MiB) Downloaded 778 times

and AuzTrainDepotExtensions

AuzTrainDepotExtensions.grf

(1.27 MiB) Downloaded 654 times

In the AuzBusAndTruckTerminals I have room for 42 more items .. if there is anything I have in any of my object sets you think would go great as a Non-Track item .. please tell me.

Hope do at least another set today.

Cheers

[GarryG]

Heres a few more.

Names and menus changed to smaller descriptions.

Footbridges:

AuzStationsFootbridges.grf

(1.8 MiB) Downloaded 635 times

Freight Stations:

AuzFreightStations.grf

(3.54 MiB) Downloaded 703 times

[GarryG]

and 3 more

Country Stations"

AuzNewCountryPlatforms.grf

(1.79 MiB) Downloaded 729 times

City Stations:

AuzNewCityPlatforms.grf

(1.48 MiB) Downloaded 687 times

Station non-Tracks:

AuzStationsNonTracks.grf

(574.48 KiB) Downloaded 638 times

[GarryG]

Here the last of them.

Station Catenary:

AuzStationsCatenary.grf

(2.47 MiB) Downloaded 676 times

Stations Normal: (These are all normal platforms (double sided).

AuzStationsNormal.grf

(2.15 MiB) Downloaded 685 times

Sydney Stations:

AuzSydneyStation.grf

(1.66 MiB) Downloaded 714 times

Just 2 more to do ..

[GarryG]

Last 2:

Waypoints .. these didn't need to have descriptions changed as they don't get displayed. But I added a Singal box called "Illawarra Junction" some time ago, and forgot about it till now.

Illawarra Junction.png (45.54 KiB) Viewed 22541 times

AuzWaypointsV4.grf

(1.1 MiB) Downloaded 589 times

AuzWiredStations: Use with Wired - telecomunication wires set made by McZapkie.

AuzWiredStations.grf

(43.65 KiB) Downloaded 677 times

There is one word in the station sets I could shorten .. Bitumen .. in Australia it was knows as "Tar" if have no objections I will change Bitumen to Tar next time I update any of them.

Tar also another word for Thank You .. it a word we use around our little kids when they learning to talk.

[GarryG]

Hi all,

Been brought to my attention that I forgot to update the AuzRailwayStation set.

This set has many stations that I designed from railway stations in the State of New South Wales, Australia such as Awaba, Dora Creek, Cobar, Mindaribba and some others.

Changes made today:

Changed "AuzStations:" to "Auz:" so now you will get the displays as
Auz: Large Stations
Auz: Very Small
Auz: Non-Track buildings
Auz: Island Stations

Some stations had their names in Capitals .. these now in small letters like all the others.

I hope in a few weeks time (maybe after Christmas as that not far away) to start making more stations based on actual railway stations.

Cheers all

[GarryG]

Hi all,

For the past few weeks or so been working on a new Industry set that Quast65 and I been making.
OTIS - One Tile Industry Set
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=88584

It mainly suitable for those who love eye-candy play or want to buy and place their Industries where they want. They are cheap but they only sell you the Sold sign. You then have to get your tools and build what type of Industry you want.

There are some great object sets, but some times you might need to build the railway station a distance from the Industry so is hand to place non-track tiles from the station towards the induustrt to increase the stations coverage and reach the Industry.

AuzFreightStations1 has some that are suitable .. but if something you like that I haven't made yet, let me know and shall see what I can do.

Cheers

[Ameecher]

This is a very nice idea. Good work.

[GarryG]

This is a very nice idea. Good work.

Thanks pal,

If you or any one else see any objects I or someone else has done that would be great as a non-track station let me know and I see if can convert it.

Cheers

[GarryG]

Been suggested to see if I can make some railway subway platforms for airports.

Quast65 been kind enough to allow me to use some objects from his Fake Airports Objects v0.1.

This a sample:

Airport Station.png (68.52 KiB) Viewed 21398 times

The office type buildings are subway platforms rest is objects.

Unfortunately overhead wires do stick through. In my railway track set there is a Electric Track with invisible wires and poles to overcome this problem. Not sure if any other railway tracks from other sets have a similar track.

If all goes well be able to upload the game file on Friday or maybe Saturday.

Cheers

[GarryG]

Would you like to see railway stations from other States?

Then help us draw them.

You can make your own State set if like ..
Quast65 has a excellent step by step tutorial how to do railway platforms, stations, footbridges and more. I proud to say I was his first student.
GarryG Does Stations
http://www.simuscape.net/simutalk/viewt ... f=85&t=859

So come on get cracking and enjoy the fun of coding and drawing for the game.