Hello Train Sim World community! I'm excited to introduce Simple EBuLa, a new utility I have built. This is the second application I've ever made since beginning to learn programming. As a second year computer science student and passionate Train Sim World player, I wanted to offer something I've created to enhance the gameplay experience. The Simple EBuLa is a handy utility that overlays Buchfahrplan PDFs over the Train Sim World game window. The tool also includes Zoom and Transparency settings, which allow you to change the size and transparency of the window as needed. For those unaware, Ebulas are used in German trains to display real-time train information such as the train's current location, upcoming stations, arrival schedules, and so on. However, this feature is not included in Train Sim World by yet. Buchfahrplans are community created EBuLas that inform you about upcoming signal and speed changes, as well as the train's current position, just like the actual EBuLa. This is required if you like to play without the HUD enabled. Initially, I created this program for personal use because I didn't have a secondary monitor and found it inconvenient to constantly move between the game and a mobile device or another screen displaying the Buchfahrplan. However, understanding that others might experience the same problem, I decided to share it with the community. It's important to make clear that the Buchfahrplan PDFs used in this program weren't made by me. They are created by community members such as noir and Gesingus. I'd like to thank them for their excellent efforts, which helped make this tool possible. As this tool began as a personal initiative, I'm glad to hear your feedback and suggestions. The Simple EBuLa is available for download below. Please keep in mind that, while I thoroughly tested the tool, there may still be some issues. Thank you for your attention, and I hope the Simple EBuLa will improve your Train Sim World experience! If you have any queries or encounter any problems, please let me know. Supported Routes (as of now): Frankfurt Fulda Semmeringbahn Salzburg - Rosenheim Maintalbahn Vorarlberg Niddertalbahn Mainz - Koblenz Bremen - Oldenburg Dresden - Chemnitz Dresden - Riesa Hamburg - Lubeck Munchen - Augburg Koln - Aachen Hauptstrecke Rhein Ruhr Rhein-Ruhr Osten Main Spessart Bahn Ruhr Sieg Nord Rapid Transit How to use the tool: It is pretty simple. Extract the.rar file somewhere on your computer and run the Simple EBuLa.exe file within. Then select the desired route from the UI, and the Buchfahrplan will appear. Then, enable the always on top toggle, which will display the Buchfahrplan over the Train Sim World game window. There are many keyboard shortcuts available, and a list of them is included in a text file within the.rar file. Download link: https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/mods/c3-train-sim-world/c75-utilities/i4700-simple-ebu-la
That's awesome! Could you maybe include a list of supported routes and also explain how one can install the tool properly?
Funktioniert das auch über Mobile Telefon ? Was brauche ich eigentlich dazu, um dieses Programm öffnen zu können?
Its a PC only application. You can extract the zip file using a file archiver such as Winrar or 7zip, or use Windows 11's built-in extract feature, and then start the Simple EBuLa application from within the extracted folder.
I really like the overlay idea. I have been using the PDF versions since a long time, however, it’s defiantly more convenient to have it within the same frame. Thanks for this tool!
I would have one suggestion. Would it be possible to add an "invers colour" feature? The problem is that the overlay is always in your field of view, also when you look outside. In reality you would have it in front of you with a little light shining onto it. However, when you look outside it does not shine straight into your eyes. The transparency function helps to some extend, however, I would feel an invers toggle would make it even more usable...
Exactly something like that would be nice That I call a quick implementation! Looking forward to the update
I have an interesting bug for you As a (former) console peasant, I play on PC with my PS4 controller, with the sifa acknowledge and PZB release buttons assigned to both halves of the touchpad. Very convenient! But when I use Simple Ebula, somehow the touchpad loses functionality. All the other buttons still work, but the touchpad is dead in the water. Other than that, it's pretty nifty!
The new update has been published. https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/mods/c3-train-sim-world/c75-utilities/i4700-simple-ebu-la
That seems strange. I have never used a controller before and do not own one, so I cant do anything about it atm. But I will try and keep looking into what could be causing the problem. Thank you for informing me about this.
Thanks for the last update. Driving at night is now much easier! Been using the tool a bit more and I have two more suggestions: - I am using the zoom function quite a bit. The problem with that is that, depending on the format of the original PDF file, you may end up with quite a big empty field on the left hand side, which simply uses your field of view. This screenshot was taken on LFR: My suggestion would be to make the PDF movable within the window. Basically make it "grabable" with the mouse and move it to either side within the window of the tool. Hope I have made myself clear what I mean with that... - The second idea would be for the user to be able to display custom PDFs in the tool. The way this could be done, for example, would be to allow the user to store a PDF in a dedicated folder (probably where the .exe sits), maybe with a dedicated name for the program to recognize it, add a seperate button on the main manu which would then display this custom PDF. I have obviously no idea if this is at all possible and if yes how complicated it would be, however, I would certainly value these additions
Awesome project Juice#3053, I'll keep this thread pinned for a short while to let more eyes fall onto it, and maybe give you some more support!
The PDF is already movable within the window. To do this, simply use the "horizontal scroll" shortcut keys (ctrl + mouse scroll). If you are too far zoomed out, and the blank space on the right is visible, you must use ctrl + mouse scroll up to shift the entire pdf to the right. This is because using ctrl + mouse scroll down in normal zoom moves the pdf to the left, displaying the items to the right of the pdf on the app frame. The large empty field on the right side of the window is required for the zoom and scroll features to function while the window remains the same size. To remove it, just resize the window from the left side so that the blank space is no longer within the app frame. Here's a short video demonstrating both horizontal scrolling and window resizing:
Thank you so lot, Alex . I was initially hesitant to upload the mod because I worried it would be not good enough, but I still decided to give it a try. From that to having my mod thread pinned is something I never expected. Thank you very much.
Here's a look at the upcoming update that I'm working on, which will include timetables for each route: The finished app will look and work much better. It will take a while to be ready.
May I ask how you will achieve getting hold of the data? I was always very reluctant on opening every service on every route to obtain the times for each station. But to my knowledge this really is the only possibility to do it. I absolutely love the idea, though! This would be the ultimate EBuLa replacement, which I have been waiting for
Unfortunately, there is no other option than to manually open the services for the timetable data . But I am sure in the end it will be worth the effort .
Hello, I just noticed that every time I have one ebula open (with "always on top" enabled) and then open the same or a different one, that it doesn't stay on top of every other window anymore. Then I have to press the "always on top" button again although the virtual switch hasn't changed and it doesn't either after I press it. It's not a big deal since everything works normally afterwards, I just thought it was weird and If I'm just stupid, please let me know, Vincent.
Hallo, ich habe dieses programm nicht erstellt und desshalb kann es sein das ich etwas falsches sage. Ich habe in TSW4, in den Einstellungen unter "Bildschirm", bei "Fenstermodus" "Vollbild-Fenstermodus" ausgewählt. "Fenstermodus" ist auch möglich aber es ist dann halt im Fenstermodus. Bei "Vollbild-Fenstermodus" ist der Bildausschnitt wie im "Vollbildmoudus" und sonstige implikationen habe ich noch nicht bemerkt obwohl ich mich nicht genug auskenne um zu sagen dass, das spiel schlechter, gleich gut oder sogar besser laufen soll. Vincent.
Just out of curiosity: has anybody so far tried if they could use this on Linux, with Wine translating OS calls?
It feels weird to reply to myself ("Hey there, me!"), but it seems proper for context: it seems to work from inside of a Wine bottle, though I have yet to test if it'll work together with a running game. Just... you know, for the few who might like to know.
It's safe. These are false positives. I suppose the reason anti viruses think it's a virus is because: 1. The code is not signed. 2. I had to use the OS module for several purposes like opening the pdf viewer window in a specific place, adjusting window attributes (like always on top), etc. The first time I compiled the code into an executable, even my Windows Defender ate it I don't really know how to solve that at the moment.
There should be no issue if the tool is running within the same prefix as TSW. Actually let me test that real quick using Proton. Edit: Works wonderfully, if you're running through Steam you can add EBuLa as a non-Steam application through Steam, set compat to Proton, and it doesn't even need to be in the same prefix since it's an independent self-contained application. Though I'm having some trouble with overlaying the EBuLa app over TSW, but that's in all likelyhood caused by i3wm (I religiously refuse to use anything else, lol). But functionality-wise, it's flawless. Actually, Juice#3053, would you be willing to license the code under GPLv3 or a similar FOSS-adjacent license and provide the source via GitHub? That'd allow improvements from more than a singular developer and potentially allow for a more accessible Linux variant. There are dozens of us, I tell you, dozens!
Got the same issue with Plasma 6 on Wayland. Marking the eBuLa window as "on top of all other windows" is ineffective. Too bad, but it was worth the try. :P
Hmm. Well, at least we've proven it works, that's something. Now if DTG would ever get around to adding an actual EBuLa, that'd be nice... But so far, it's working nicely. Just gotta get a second monitor for the PDFs. I'll fiddle a bit with my setup, there's gotta be a way to overlay it.
Thank you for reporting. It has been fixed in the latest version, along with some other improvements. https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/mods/c3-train-sim-world/c75-utilities/i4700-simple-ebu-la
Hello, I just noticed that the timetabel for Oldenburg - Bremen is missing. There is only Bremen - Oldenburg. In addition I've noticed that there is a timetabel for the route: Tharandter Rampe and Ruhr Sieg Nord from "noir" but not in the simple Ebula application. In my opinion, the timetabels from "noir" are better since they are more detailed. I would like to know why they weren't added. Vincent
Thank you for reporting. I'll fix these in the next update. I will also add the timetables you requested. As for why noir's timetables were not included, I just included the pdfs that I was using at the time. Since then, I've spent the most of my time working on the code (as well as the upcoming V2 of the app), so I didn't have much time to change the pdfs.
Hello, I have just tried your latest version of simple Ebula and I have found some bugs, and also have some suggestions for future versions. Bugs: 1. When I open the tool, don't change the position of the main menu window, and then open the shortcuts, it opens outside of my screen on the left in such way, that I can't change it's position anymore. I have to close it, move the main menu to the right and then open the shortcuts again. 2. Every Timetable exists twice in the tool. 3. When I open one pdf and then open another, the first one crashes and I can only minimize, full screen or close it. The new pdf works fine though. (I also have perfomance issues, as mentioned later; though) 4. When i use the slider on the pdf to scroll up and down the pdf moves with it. 5. When I change the zoom level with a pdf already opened it resets my Content zoom in the pdf but not the slider. I have to change the postition of the Content slider and then it works again. 6. A part of the pdfs is cut out when I use the Content zoom. 7. The Content zoom doesn't work on fullscreen. suggestions for future versions: 1. The ability to save the settings including the transparancy and zoom, since, I atleast, change most of them to the same setting every time and If someone doesn't do that, saving their settings wouldn't be effect them, since they would have to change them anyways. 2. Speeding up the mouse wheel speed in the main menu to scroll faster. The mouse wheel speed in the pdfs is fine, since most of the time I only have to move it one or two steps to keep up with the train. 3. The ability to use the top bar (settings; import pdf; change between EbuLa and User pdfs) even after scrolling down in the main menu. The tool really slows down when I change any of the zoom and/ or transparancy settings and stays that slow even when i minimize the main menu. I don't have the fastest PC but I rarely had any real performance issues with the old version. Can this maybe be a case of old drivers, since I haven't updatet those for a long time?
I appreciate you pointing up these mistakes. I will investigate these and get them fixed as soon as I can.
The multiple pdf feature is still work in progress. Only the settings for the most recent pdf you opened can be changed. The finished version will allow you to change the settings for each window that is open independently.
Hey Juice, this is a great tool, thank you. I tried it out, and in my case, running 4K, my issue is I can’t zoom in enough on the PDF to make it large enough to read it. I hav old eyes and so tend to make things a bit bigger than the default Windows size. Using your app, I seem to be limited in zooming. Other PDF apps (non-game related though) tend to allow a lot more zoom. Just food for thought. If I could get more zoom, yours would be my eBula tool of choice. Thank you for making it!
Hello Juice, I have downloaded and try the EBuLa. I have some suggestions for furture improvement. 1. Seems it has a max window height limit. Because I need the HUD let me more handle the locomotive parameters like brake pipe pressure, but that also blocked quite amount of screen space. If the EBuLa window height can adjust freely, that would be so helpful. 2. I wish the Simple EBuLa can increase the zoom ratio above 200% to increase the font size. Because the right side of EBuLa PDF is time table zone, except we manually add the time we run for this ride, that space would not used. Thanks for the development, that quite increase my experience in driving German trains.
