Route-Riter

Route Riter is a set of tools for Microsoft Train Simulator created by Mike Simpson.

Note: If you find a bug or have an improvement for the repository/project, please feel free to submit an inquiry or request a change. Your collaboration is greatly appreciated.

Note: There are unused Forms and Modules in the source folder. If you have knowledge of MSTS, please help determine if these are needed or obsolete. Your collaboration is welcome.

⚠️ This repository is under reconstruction.

1. Prerequisites

• Download Visual Basic 6.0 or Visual Studio 6.0
• Download MSDN Library (Optional)
• Install Visual Studio 6 and MSDN Library.
• For Windows 10 64-bit users, use the Visual Studio 6 Installer Wizard v5.0 for installation. Refer to the (Video Tutorial) or Manual installation tutorial for guidance.
• After installing the MSDN library, you can apply the following updates:
  • MSDN Latest Version Update:
    • Disc1: Download
    • Disc2: Download
    • Disc3: Download
• Install Service Pack 6
• Install Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Cumulative Update
• Install Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Security Rollup Update
• Install the C1 Controls manually using the cabs files or the .ocx files. Alternatively, you can use the installers.
• If you encounter issues loading the vsflex8l.ocx, vsprint.ocx, and c1sizer.ocx controls in Visual Basic, try copying and registering them in both the /system32 and /SysWOW64 directories.

2. Recommended Add-ins/Tools for VB6 IDE

• Code Advisor (Free) - Optional
• Code Help 3.0 (Free) - Recommended for Tabs in VB IDE
• Visual Basic 6 Mouse Wheel Fix (Free) - Fixes Scroll Wheel in IDE
• MZ-Tools 8.0 (Paid) - A Very Recommended Tools Suite
• CodeSMART (Paid) - A Very Recommended Tools Suite
• Codejock Suite Pro for ActiveX (Paid) - Recommended Controls Suite
• ModernVB (Free) - Modernizes your VB6 IDE (Very Recommended)
• OLEEXP: Modern Shell Interfaces (Free)
• VB Common Controls Replacement Library (Free) - Remake of Common Controls (Recommended)
• DX9VB (Free) - Direct3D9 for Visual Basic 6
• VbTrickMultiThreading (Free) - Module for working with multithreading in VB6
• VbTrickTimer (Free) - Timer class for VB6/VBA compatible with 64-bit Office
• VB64bitDLLusage (Free) - Using 64-bit DLL in VB6 (in WOW64)
• VBPNG (Free) - Provides the ability to work with PNG/ICO/CUR/ANI images using the standard controls
• DeleteVbwFiles (Free) - VB6 Add-In to delete .vbw files automatically when opening or closing a project
• VB6NAMESPACES (Free) - Enables interoperability with VBA/VB6, including VB.NET Forms, Controls, Properties, Events, and NameSpaces, instanced as nested class buckets
• VB6 PORTER (Free) - Supports porting VB code forwards and backwards
• VBSQlite (Free) - VB SQLite Library

3. Running the Compilation

1. Run Visual Basic 6.0 and choose the option to load an existing project.
2. Select Route_Riter7.vbp to load the project.
3. Make the necessary changes and press F5 or Ctrl + F5 to compile and run.
4. From the Project menu, choose Properties > Compile to select the compilation mode.
5. From the File menu, generate an .exe file.
6. Drop the compiled executable into the Release folder.

4. After Compiling the Project

1. Extract all compressed files from the ./Release/Dependancies directory to the root of the Release folder.
2. Install mwgfxdll.exe.

Development Plans

• Improve the current code following the original direction.

Future Development Plans

• Prepare the Visual Basic 6.0 code for migration to Visual Basic .NET.
• Separate the application and data tiers into a separate DLL from the presentation.
• Change the user interface to an inductive user interface using MSDN's Inductive User Interface Guidelines.
• Fully parse the Microsoft Train Simulator files by adapting an XML parser such as pugixml.

Credits/Acknowledgement

This project would not have been possible without the contributions and permissions from the following individuals:

• Mike Simpson - for writing the initial code and granting necessary permissions. Contact: virtualtrains@tpg.com
• Jeffrey Kraus - for donating his code and allowing this project to be revived. Contact: support@digital-rails.com
• Carl-Heinz Rave - TsUtils. Contact: mail@carloshr.de
• Scott Miller - AceIt. Contact: aceit@ameritech.net
• Martin Wright - TGATools2A. Contact: martin@mwgfx.co.uk
• Paul Gausden - Shape Viewer. Contact: Decapod99 Blog
• Edward Grubb - PicFormat32. Contact: Planet Source Code
• Franky Braem - SAWZipNG. Contact: CodeProject
• Jean-loup Gailly - zlib.dll. Contact: zlib.net
• ComponentOne - c1sizer.ocx, vsflex8l.ocx, and vsprint8.ocx. Contact: ComponentOne
• Jordan Rusell Software - Inno Setup Installer. Contact: JR Software
• Uwe Herklotz - UHARC.EXE. Contact: Uwe.Herklotz@gmx.de
• Jerry Sulivan - tester. Contact: jhsulliv@comcast.net
• Giorgio Brausi - VS6Installer. Contact: VB Corner
• UPX Packer - upx.exe. Contact: UPX
• Okrasa Ghia - FCalc. Contact: okrasaghia@yahoo.com
• And many more.

License

This project is licensed under GNU GPLv3.

Disclaimer

The Route-Riter source code and all software in this repository are provided for educational purposes ONLY. This repository is not affiliated with or endorsed by their respective copyright holders.