Quick Drive Causing Ctd

Discussion in 'Technical Reports' started by 749006, Jun 15, 2023.

  1. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    On a number of DTG routes I'm getting a Crash to Desktop when I try a Quick Drive
    Always the same message
    Screenshot (289).png
    The last one occurred on GEML trying a QD from Liverpool St to Stratford
    Tried the 47 from the Kuju folder with the same result

    I tried a Standard Scenario without a problem so I think the route is ok?

    Anyone else had this?

    Thanks

    Peter
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2023
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  2. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    I realise I had this once before but I thought it had been fixed
     
  3. Tigert1966

    Tigert1966 Well-Known Member

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    I‘ve been doing a lot of Quickdrives recently and haven’t seen an issue.

    I’m at my PC so I tried the QD you specified above and it loaded and ran fine and I was able to drive it.

    For reference: i9 10k with 32gig + 3080.
     
  4. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks - I must still have a problem on my machine
     
  5. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Not necessarily.

    Interestingly, GEML is the only route I've come across yet that still likes to crash the editor when placing consists, even on a clean minimal test installation without the assets that AP installs to this folder (Wherry Lines update v2)

    Can you name a specific QD where it almost always crashes (Consist, Start, Dest, Time, Season)?

    Due to the nature of QuickDrive, which spawns random AI fitting the era, no QD is the same as you might have stock that spawns in that I do not have. So for having the exact same testing conditions, set the QD as "Player Train only".

    Note that every QD you start gets saved as a Standard Scenario, with the name "Quick Drive Scenario" in the route's folder. You could post this auto-generated scenario here, this way I could play the exact same QD you did. Just look for the latest folder that was created in the GEML route\scenarios folder after crashing.

    The only difference to a manually created Standard scenario is the lack of a scenario marker, so you don't see autogenerated QD scenarios floating around in the editor.

    Example, my latest GEML QD scenario:
    1.png
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 15, 2023
  6. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    For evaluating a QD crash, check its ScenarioProperties.xml and see the <RequiredSet> sections. This shows what other assets have been randomly selected - the cause might lie in them.

    In my last GEML QD, these assets were chosen:
    2.png

    So what I'm saying is that a QD is, due to its randomness which makes it great, prone to bad assets crashing it if you have a lot of stock installed and it happens to access a "bad" asset.

    ATM, I couldn't provoke a crash :)

    So to sum it up - it is neither the fault of GEML nor of the QD itself - just a problem with one of the assets loaded (which doesn't happen on normal scenarios, that's why they work for you.)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 15, 2023
  7. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    The QD I tried had the following
    Train - Class 47 BR Blue Light Loco
    Route - GEML -
    Depart
    London Liverpool St -
    Destination Stratford FAST
    Season - Summer
    Weather - Cloudy
    TOD - 10.30

    I had also tried same loco with a Stratford Start and finishing at Gidea Park - same CtoD
    And I tried Stratford - Liverpool St FAST with the same result - even having picked Player Train Only

    The ScenarioProperties.xml file is dated today at 11.50 this morning and having tried it again at 20.15 - it has not changed the time.

    It does not have any of the information you have in your files regarding consists

    And I notice your QD has a different HEX to mine which is 56b36944-c343-4a19-93b8-65a28cf20a5a

    I'm still none the wiser but thanks for looking

    Peter
     
  8. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Peter, of course the GUID is unique as it is randomly generated.

    Still can you zip that scenario and upload it here? Will see if it runs on my system.

    Just tried your QD (Player Train only to make sure we play the same). This is the Class 47 from WCML over Shap. (It says Light Engine, not Loco. Do we use the same?)

    No issues.
    11.png
    33.png

    Just one thought:

    If the game is crashing to desktop WITHOUT any error message, it is related to asset cache compiling. This happens when the blueprints.pak gets compiled and the process stops due to an error in the files or paths. You'll then have a zero-byte blueprints.pak in the corresponding asset folder - in which to look then. Can be easily resolved - can happen when you have multiple .ap's in the same folder. Fixing the load order did resolve such an issue on my end (I add new .ap files by renaming them to e.g. zMyAssetUpdates.ap). Load order is alphanumerically. Just a thought.

    Have a look inside Assets\RSC\GEML. The route is self-contained and needs no other assets. By default there is only one .ap file in there. Then AP added some stuff probably (Signal Pack, Wherry V2)- remove these folders to a backup location, delete blueprints.pak and start over.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 15, 2023
  9. 805 BENBOW

    805 BENBOW Active Member

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    Hello Peter. Got exactly the same. GEML (Stratford Carpenter Curve to Marks Tey Pass Loop but didn't get passed Stratford Station and Cardiff to Bristol ( Cardiff Stn then game crashed just outside station ) all in Quick Drive mode.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2023
  10. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Then join in and let's sort this out :)
     
  11. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Want to add that we can't ever have the exact same QD scenario, even if you tick "Player Train Only" there's still random static consists being generated (had forgotten about that...)

    So to compare, zip your crashing scenarios and post them here. (Sort Content\Routes\ by date)

    Player train only QD scenario, will still randomly access other DLC for the static stock
    2023-06-15 22_19_20-.png

    So in your case it seems a corrupt asset is being selected, that qualifies as QD-enabled for the GEML route. (PreLoad metadata)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 15, 2023
  12. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    I thought that as the QD comes from DTG then it would have the same HEX for everyone?
    It appears to be but I'm not 100% sure as the scenario does not load
    QD.jpg
    I only have the GEMLAssets.ap as I don't have Wherry V2 or the Signal Pack

    I also had some of the folders extracted for when I tried something -
    I have deleted all the folders outside the *ap Archive but it still crashes when I try this or any QD on this route

    If I run a normal scenario I don't have any problems on the route.
     
  13. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    The hex GUID is random because that QD is generated at the moment you press Play. DTG only supplies the QD template (containing only markers) which then generates the Standard Quick Drive Scenario you are playing, based on your selections in the QD menu.

    So, I'm waiting for scenario.zips to be posted so I can check. After crash, look in routes\00000038...\scenarios\<GUID> and zip the folder with the latest date.

    Again: Most likely it is not an issue with GEML itself, but at least one of many other random assets that qualify for GEML QD by their preload metadata.bin and get loaded for QD only as I've explained.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2023
  14. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry I'm not quite getting this
    If the QD only generates a HEX after I press play for that scenario how can I see QDs on routes where I have not played them that already have a hex number?

    The Scenarios folder has 87 files and it too big to post here at 8,960kb
     
  15. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    A QD works like this:

    A route comes with QD templates, premade by the developer. These are of the class "Template Scenario" and only contain markers for consist placement, and information on electrification and era (year). Each marker contains a path of go vias.
    As these templates are supplied with the route, the GUID is the same for everyone. But you cannot play a template scenario.

    The QD menu loads the template scenarios it finds in the route's scenarios folder, and creates a Starting point for each player spawn marker it finds. As each Player spawn marker contains a set of go vias, these are displayed as destinations then.

    So when you click play, the actual scenario based on your selections gets generated in your routes\xyz\scenarios\new random GUID\ folder, as a Standard Scenario and TS loads it up.

    If you play another QD, another Standards scenario gets created in the background. NameMyRoute.exe shows them - they all have the same DisplayName "Quick Drive Scenario". You can safely delete them once played.

    That scenario of yours is what I need to find the issue.

    For bad assets, I could easily create a bogus locomotive, create a preload metadata and enter GEML's route ID there and it will be used by GEML QD - the route itself cannot be blamed. It's sort of "everyone can apply for participating on GEML QD without needing approval". This goes for every other route of course. We have to find the consist which has GEML in its metadata and crashes your game. Which I may or may not have - but only seeing the files can get us further.

    So, again, please upload the autogenerated Quick Drive Scenarios that are crashing.

    Play - after crash open GEML route folder (00000038.....), open Scenarios folder and zip the folder with the latest modification date.

    If it's too big to upload here, upload it to workuploaddotcom and post the link here. Anyway, I really only need the ScenarioProperties.xml - can't play it then but it'll tell me what's being loaded.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2023
  16. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Here's a demonstration. The Scenarios folder is empty (for demonstration purpose). Upon clicking Start, the new folder containing the autogenerated playable Standard Scenario appears.

    1.png
    2.png
    3.png

    Checking what's loaded here: (in this demo, only GEML is installed to make sure the route is OK which it is.)
    4.png
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2023
  17. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Ok, I understand a bit more now - thank for your patience Torf
    This was the one I tried earlier
     

    Attached Files:

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  18. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Thanks, to access this (the autogenerated QDs won't show up in the Drive tab due to missing Scenario Markers), I'm copying it to the Scenarios folder and drive it via the Build menu where it shows up.

    Peter, I am actually into these things of digging for crash causes. And I do realize how much thought went into the TSC development. Still amazing.

    Ok. Your scenario uses GEML, WCML Shap and Class 321....

    Edit: I may have to edit the ScenarioProperties - it does not show up in my Build Menu, though my own do. Maybe it is linked to your Steam ID (savegames are, I once checked a career save from Cyclone, and it had -999.999 score on my end due to the check :) )
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2023
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  19. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Closing in...

    So, got your uploaded scenario running. It's not crashing - but it uses some repaints I do not have (I do have the Class321Pack02). Maybe these Greater Anglia repaints are the culprit! Check their asset folder - a zero byte blueprints.pak is one indicator that something's wrong. (RSC\Class321Pack02)

    5.png
     
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  20. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    I had Greater Anglia Red and Greater Anglia Blue folders so I deleted them and tried the scenario which works :)
    Screenshot_GEML London Ipswich_51.51778--0.08180_10-30-05.jpg
    I will see where I got those repaints and maybe reinstall them if I think I need them

    Thanks again Torf :)
    Maybe you should work for DTG

    Peter
     
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  21. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

    Glad we've sorted this :)

    Are these repaints from ATS?
     
  22. cscarpenter

    cscarpenter Well-Known Member

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    Couldn't agree more, you are an absolute legend on this forum.
    Thank you for taking the time and knowledge to bail us out of so many problems.
    It is well appreciated.
     
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  23. torfmeister

    torfmeister Guest

  24. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    It was that long since I installed them I'm not sure where they came from
    GEML is not a route I run that much which might be why they did not pop-up before
     

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