
Semi-transparent Driver Aids
Copyright 2003, Bill Scott
Web Site: forthcoming
E-mail: timetraveller@mindspring.com


For me, fully transparent driver aids have always been hard to read over certain backgrounds. TV news stations routinely place text over a semi-transparent black screen and it is highly readable, yet the background still shows through, albeit muted. Taking a cue from this technique, I created these semi-transparent driver aids for these 4 commonly-used aid windows: Track Monitor (F4), Switch (F8), Next Station (F10), and the Controls & Gauges Display (F3). These new aids give you a hint of the background whizzing by yet display the information clearly on any background. Selected information is accented in bold, colored text, drawing your eye to the important text items. As an additional (5th) update, the Heads Up Display (F5) is now accented in bold text for easier reading. Each driver aid change can be installed separately.


INSTALLATION:

We will be dealing with files in the following folder within your MSTS main folder tree:
     C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\GUI\DRIVERAIDS

First, unzip the file package you downloaded to a temporary location.

Now open the Train Simulator\GUI\DRIVERAIDS folder.

You may install one or more (or all) semi-transparent driver aids.

INSTALL
1) Track Monitor (F4) Aid
     1. Backup the trackbk.ace file.
     2. Copy the unzipped trackbk.ace file into this folder.
     3. Backup the monitor.dat file.
     4. Copy the unzipped monitor.dat file into this folder.
     5. Done. Test if you wish.

INSTALL
2) Switch (F8) Aid
     1. Backup the pointsbk.ace file.
     2. Copy the unzipped pointsbk.ace file into this folder.
     3. Done. Test if you wish.

INSTALL
3) Next Station (F10) Aid
     1. Backup the progbk.ace file.
     2. Copy the unzipped progbk.ace file into this folder.
     3. Backup the progress.dat file.
     4. Copy the unzipped progress.dat file into this folder.
     5. Done. Test if you wish.

INSTALL
4) Controls & Gauges Display (F3) Aid
     1. Backup the tipsbk.ace file.
     2. Copy the unzipped tipsbk.ace file into this folder.
     3. Done. Test if you wish.

INSTALL
5) Heads Up Display (F5) Bold Text
     1. Backup the hud_dsl2.dat, hud_elec2.dat, and the hud_stm2.dat files.
     2. Copy the unzipped hud_dsl2.dat, hud_elec2.dat, and the hud_stm2.dat files into this folder.
     3. Done. Test if you wish.

One final thing for you to decide. If you would like the title text of the ALL driver aid windows (1-4, above, and others) to appear in bold text, continue with step #6. A bold title for each aid sets off the window, and I feel it is something Kuju forgot.

6) Change All Driver Aid Title Text to Bold
     1. Open the Train Simulator\GUI folder which you'll find just above the \DRIVERAIDS folder.
     2. You did change folders, right??
     3. Backup the driveraids.dat file.
     4. Copy the unzipped driveraids.dat file into this folder.
     5. Backup the notebook.dat file.
     6. Copy the unzipped notebook.dat file into this folder.
     7. Done.


NOTES:

I felt it unnecessary to make the Notebook (F11) and the Train Operations (F9) aids semi-transparent. Use of the Notebook halts TrainSim when it is displayed, making transparency irrelevant, and the Train Operations aid is probably best left alone as an opaque window.

I always found the Heads Up Display (F5) hard to read, especially on my CRT monitor. Making the text bold seems to help quite a bit. It seems to be less of a problem when using an LCD flat panel monitor.

I have not discovered if it is possible to make the siding/platform text bold, or the compass text.


NOTICE:

This work is Copyright 2003 Bill Scott, and is provided as freeware.  Use at your own risk. Use is subject to the following conditions:

1) You may use this work to enhance existing or future Train-Sim routes on your personal system.

2) You may include these modifications in any routes that you create and distribute as long the routes are distributed as freeware and as long as credit for the texture is given to Bill Scott in your accompanying documentation.

3) This file may be uploaded and distributed as long as all original documentation, including this readme file, is included, AND as long as no charge is made for its use or download.


I hope you like it and find it useful on your MSTS system.

Bill Scott
