Contents

Description
Latest features
Download and Installation Instructions
Error Messages
Keyboard shortcuts
Version History
Screenshots

Shape Viewer displays an entire shape on screen without having to load up MSTS itself enabling you to examine the entire model and lets you see exactly what it looks like in the sim. You move the model by click and dragging the mouse on the screen.

You can view the bounding box, take screenshots, check textures, rotate and zoom model.

Latest Features in Ver 2.2 (maintenance release)

• Added - Reload WAG/ENG with Ctrl+F5 key;
• Added - Finer control over camera position with Ctrl+Shift keys;
• Fix - Quotes now allowed in CON/WAG/ENG file & folder names;
• Fix - no zero byte files created if the file referenced by con or wag file does not exist;
• Fix - Improved IM file support (fewer crashes);
• Fix - Adjusted animation rate dependant on FPS in model;
• Fix - Stuck in loop if opened second shape with hierarchy display;
• Fix - Installer now includes dx8vb.dll for vista users.

Latest Features in Ver 2.1

• Can now open MSTS ENG and WAG files (as well as CON files, see below), including freight anims.

Position displays for some items - lights, smoke, attachments etc;


Note: Click on particular point/effect in pop-up box and appropriate effect turns purple.

• Can now open MSTS Consist files (.CON);

  

• Some support for loading Trainz (TRS) models (config.txt) and meshes (.IM files)
• Some Multi-Monitor support.
• Reduced CPU usage (to almost zero)
• Camera field of view adjustment;
• Ability to load complex bounding boxes from MSTS SD files;
• Current Directory file list and scroll (Alt + Up or Down arrow)
• Support for more shaders and sub objects used by MSTS (Diffuse, GlossMap etc) - Sketchup MSTS models without - textures and "fixed" models should all display correctly.

Latest Features in Ver 1.5

• triggerable animations - pantographs , wipers (doors and mirrors too);

• visible wire (Tools | Wire or Ctrl-W) and wire height (Tools | Wire Height or Ctrl-H) adjustment;

  

• model matrix/vertex state/primitive hierarchy viewer (View | Hierarchy or Ctrl-I) with highlighting option (see image below):

  

• save textures as TGA or BMP;

  

• with the Main tab selected, pressing Num-lock shows the camera position;

  

• screenshot can now be a fixed file name or a prefix: if you select "c:\msts\sshot" SV generates numbers and serially increments the filename eg c:\msts\sshot001.jpg, c:\msts\sshot002.jpg, c:\msts\sshot003.jpg. etc..
  Now if you enter "c:\msts\sshot.jpg", the screenshot will always be sshot.jpg.

  More of a change for those that use the viewer control built into SView, such as Route Riter and Trainstore;

• AppPath and AppVersion now stored in the registry;
• Bogie wheels animate correctly.

Latest Features in Ver 1.4

• add a shape so you can load more than two shapes;
• you can view the bounding box of the model itself visually (Ctrl-B) or by the values in the .S file (Ctrl-C) and even display the .SD file bounding box (Ctrl-D);

  

• Orthographic projection (Ctrl-P) gives you a "plan" or 2-dimensional view of your model;
• "8-frame animation screenshot" (Ctrl-F12) - check your animation with 8 screenshots, taken with a single keystroke or mouse-click;
• 4-view screenshots (Ctrl-F11) - top, side, front, rear with one keystroke, mouse-click;
• initial view is reversed (for conbuilder);
• Window sizes and positions are remembered.
• Many other enhancements and functions - see keyboard shortcuts below for info. An example is "Backspace" which produces a wire frame rendition of the model:

  

Seasonal views of models with seasonal textures are also available - see below for screenshots.
 

Keyboard shortcuts - see this table.
 

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Download Links

Click here to download version 2.2 (build 237) of Paul's Shape Viewer - SView2_2_237.zip (build 237 is the current release version). 3.05 MB (3,203,920 bytes) Files dated / released 10 April 2008

Installation Instructions:

• Download the file from the link above;
   
• Uninstall older version first;
   
• Open ZIP file and double-click on SView22.msi to commence installation;
   
• You will find the program in Start | Shape Viewer 2.2.
   

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Error Messages

• You must have Directx v9.0 or higher installed, or you will see error messages such as "Object variable or With block variable not set" or a runtime error "91".
   
• If you get an error 429 (possibly caused by an automatic update of windows) when starting Shape Viewer - "No License", type the following from the Start | Run menu:
  REGSVR32 /V DX8VB.DLL
   
• If you get an error 'Run-time error '-2005532292 (8876017c)': Automation error when starting Shape Viewer - this error code translates to "out of video memory". If your card has more than 32Mb on board, then it is likely the video driver is not working properly or is not up to date.
   
• If you are also having problems displaying help text files try running:
  REGSVR32 /v hhctrl.ocx
  REGSVR32 /v itircl.dll
  REGSVR32 /v itss.dll
   
• If you receive a "Error 1316: A network error occurred while attempting to read from the file sview22.msi", you need to clean out any remnants of previous versions of Shape Viewer that were not cleanly uninstalled. Follow these steps:
  • Make sure you have uninstalled Shape Viewer via the Add/Remove Section in Control Panel;
  • Download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from microsoft.com;
  • Run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and look for Shape Viewer (see image below):

    

  • Highlight and select "Shape Viewer", click on "remove", then click on "ok" (see image below):

    

  • You should now be able to install Shape Viewer without any further difficulty.
  
   

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3dTrains have produced a track base for use in Shape Viewer which utilises their forthcoming superb ScaleRail texture: click on the image to go to 3dTrains' Utilities page to download the track base.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Key	Function
1 to 0 (keyboard only)	View shape from camera position 1-0
Ctrl-1 to Ctrl-0 (keyboard only)	Saves camera position 1-0 (then use on any shape)
Ctrl-A	Reverse the direction of the first shape on-screen (second shape - if loaded - is NOT reversed)
Ctrl-B	Toggles visual bounding box on/off
Ctrl-C	Shows full bounding box information in pop-up box
Ctrl-D	Show visual .SD file bounding box
Ctrl-E	Toggles Environment Mapping On/Off
Ctrl-F	Select screenshot folder and screenshot prefix
G or Ctrl-G	Toggles through blank, grid and grass ground textures
Ctrl-H	Set wire height
Ctrl-I	Show model matrix and hierarchy
Ctrl-L	Toggles Low Quality Textures On/Off
Ctrl-O	Open a new shape file
Ctrl-P	Toggles Orthogonal Projection on/off
Ctrl-R	Remove last shape
Ctrl-S	Select sky texture
Ctrl-T	Show texture files
Ctrl-W	Toggle wire on/off
Ctrl-X	Close Shape Viewer
F2	Reposition Second/Last Shape
Home	Re-centre model
Insert/Delete	Inrease/decrease brightness
PgUp/PgDn	Increase/decrease animation speed
F3	Add Second/Extra Shape
F4	Toggle Display Base On/Off
F5	Reload shape
F6	Options
F7	Toggle Sky On/Off
F8	Select Background Colour
F9	Toggle Animation On/Off
F11	Take a screenshot
F12	Toggles to Full-screen mode (bug here on return to normal mode)
Ctrl-F11	4-view screenshots
Ctrl-F12	8-frame animated screenshot
Backspace	Toggles wire-frame view on/off

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Notes:

Version 2.1.227 - 26th Sept 2007

• Support for more shaders and sub objects used by MSTS (Diffuse, GlossMap etc) - Sketchup MSTS models without - textures and "fixed" models should all display correctly.
• Fixed - Screenshot location now removes the .screenshot from the filename after a change.
• Fixed - models with textures of 16x16 or less failed to load.
• Fixed - hierarchy display now shows correct shader name.
• Ability to load complex bounding boxes from MSTS SD files.
• Can now Open MSTS ENG and WAG files, including freight anims.
• Can now open MSTS Consist files (.CON)
• Some support for loading Trainz (TRS) models (config.txt) and meshes (.IM files)
• Some Multi-Monitor support.
• Reduced CPU usage (to almost zero)
• Position displays for some items - lights, smoke, attachments etc
• Camera field of view adjustment
• Current Directory file list and scroll (Alt + Up or Down arrow)
• fixed loading of files containing extended ascii characters such as ü
• build 225 - few bug fixes added to 2.1.222, alpha sorting, quotes around file names and window ordering.
• build 227 - fixes european comma as decimal separator for points and SD bounding.

Version 1.5.181

• Overhead Wire display
• Save textures as TGA or BMP
• Screenshot can now be a fixed file name or a prefix
• AppPath and AppVersion now stored in the registry
• Triggerable animations - Pantographs , Wipers (Doors and Mirrors too)
• Bogie wheels animate correctly
• Model Matrix/vertex state/primitive hierarchy viewer with highlighting option
• With the Main tab selected, pressing Num-lock shows the camera position.

Version 1.4

• b.157 now works correctly with Win 98/ME installations
• Orthogonal Projection view (Tools/Orthogonal Ctrl-P)
• 4 View screenshot (Tools Menu)
• 8 frame animated screenshot (Tools Menu)
• Camera positioning menu option front/back/left/right/60 degrees left/right (tools menu)
• Reads simple bounding box info from .sd file
• Load Second shape is now functions as an "Add" shape.
• trainlib OCX now installed into windows\system folder.

Version 1.3.129

• Improved frame rates (FPS);
• Spanish version now looks for help file sview_es.chm instead of sview_fr.chm;
• Sun in the sky;
• 180 degree flip for main model;
• More bounding box info from the edit menu;

Version 1.2.122

• Bugs fixed for loading objects and others;
• Screenshot option to save as JPG;
• Model bounding box and Size display on Ctrl-B or Edit Menu (not the same as SD file);
• Low Quality Texture display (same as MSTS) Ctrl-L or Edit Menu;
• Language translations corrected;
• If the PC is set for German, Spanish or French language, the program will look for help text files sview_de.chm, sview_es.chm or sview_fr.chm. These do not exist, but should anyone wish to write them they can be distributed separately;
• Put back object rotation onto the animation tab.

Version 1.1.111

• New option to change sky texture, plus samples;
• Synchronised Sky menu with options;
• New option to set screenshot folder and prefix;
• fixed rotated bogie animations;
• Adjusted texture lighting effects;
• open file after using file association to start uses current folder;
• Time and latitude for "Sun";
• 10 saveable camera positions Ctrl+Number saves, Number to restore;
• Fixed non-identity main matrix bug;
• More countries will be able to see localized menus/captions;
• Seasonal textures;
• Display base option by Tim Court;
• Ctrl Key and Mouse movement control to control view point.

Version 1.0.95

• Corrected display to support more models (gmax and odd sized textures);
• Corrected uncompressed read for european mode windows;
• Grid and Grass options;
• Texture info display and toggle;
• Menu and Help Text;
• LOD list and "efficiency" display;
• Full keyboard control via arrow keys;
• Refresh/Reload on F5 key;
• Line Drawing mode (Backspace key);
• Load and position (including reverse) a second object into the scene;
• Adjustable background colour and brightness;
• Fog;
• Anisotropic texture filter;
• AntiAlias;
• Animation;
• Sky texture;
• Right or Middle mouse button zoom

Beta 4a

• fixed TSM model translucency;
• fixed Gateway PC SIS video card problems;
• fixed form resize distortion.

Beta 3 and beta 4 changes:

• Reads Uncompressed S files;
• F12 - Toggles full screen mode;
• F11 - Screenshot shortcut;
• Esc - Quit;
• Numeric keypad + and - change the view distance;
• Page up/down alter rotation speed;
• Now reads uncompressed files (slower than compressed);
• Texturing correct (?) - specular, bright, dark etc;
• Minimize window should no longer crash;
• Transparencies Corrected;
• Can be directly associated with S files;
• Screenshot uses a continuous sequence, does not restart at 000.

Beta 2 changes:

• Hopefully there are some improvements with transparency handling;
• You may now associate S files with SVIEW.EXE;
• Adjusting rotation speed is handled better;
• Grey background can be changed from black through grey to white;
• The mouse can be used to "drag" the camera - NOTE THE ROTATION APPLYS TO THE MODEL;
• Goldsdof 380 model now works;
• The screenshot now appears in the same folder as the program, not the S file;
• fixes for some video cards (ATI, Intel).

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Some Screenshots follow demonstrating the different textures and seasons that can be displayed by S Viewer: