NAM General Discussion Thread

[smoncrie 43]

I agree that lots should not be included with the NAM.  However it might be useful to mention a few lots in the NAM

[Ryan B 35]

Um, ryanb_sc4,   I believe he was asking for a new type of interchange, not the one he showed the picture of. 

quote>

6459978.:  I thought about it the minute after I wrote that post.  My fault for not understanding the question.

[Tropod 144]

Date: 5/30/2005 11:40:16 AM
Author: frimi2

Date: 5/30/2005 11:33:17 AM Author: mr.v sorry again , i can't find a link to download last version of NAM (official link please)

http://www.progressive-anarchists.org/glr.html

quote>

You may want to try this one, as it contains links/files to a few of the different projects;
http://ndex.simvision.net/files/signature.html
(This link can be found in greyveil sig).

------------------------------------------------------

Date: 5/30/2005 3:23:52 PM
Author: smoncrie

.......On a seperate note: The GLR mod is not totaly useless without stations; one can always use the Elevated to Ground piece.......

quote>

Date: 5/28/2005 4:36:15 PM
Author: Andreas Roth

......Of course you will need a GLR station for the GLR, but the user should have the choice between all available ones........

quote>

I've read the previous posts, & they all make valid points, but I think these two points here raise an important aspect; technically, nothing in the NAM (or NAMDevversion) relies on anything that is not included with it. Anything & everything in the NAM functions without the need to go & look for additional items somewhere else (the RH-Update is an exception to the rule). So it is essentially 'dependancy free', & this is very important. Granted it is understandable that certain Lots provide additional/added functionality for some things contained in the NAM, but anything additional that the community makes for the NAM, in the way of Lots (or Non-network orientated), are really enhancements to the NAM much in the same way as Lots & Bats are an enhancement to the game, & in the same way that the NAM itself is an enhancement to the game.

I think considering the next public release will see the integration/merger of a few different projects for the first time, perhaps at this point in time some added notes in the docs to mention the existance of community made Lots/enhacements (& pointers on where to obtain them) might be the best way to go. And then from there perhaps we can better gauge how things go. Feel free though to continue any discussion & perspectives on the matter .

[GoaSkin 2]

The AutoBuild-setting in the RUL conf file makes it possible to let puzzle pieces appear automaticly, if you build one network through another in the situation described in ConsLayout and CellLayout instead of putting the piece into an rotation ring.

For example, the monorail- and el-rail overpasses with elevated highways beyond are realized this way (is built automaticly if the situation happens that another elevated network is beeing built over an elevated highway.

I think there are much more puzzle pieces which may be built automaticly like the el-railway-over road puzzle pieces. If AutoBuild would be activated, you may build the puzzle pieces much easier by dragging el-rail over an existing road.

Is this easy to realize or are there many more adjustments to make?

[Tropod 144]

This is something that's previously been considered. Realise though, that the difference between an overpass & PuzzlePieces, is that overpasses have a set lenght as a whole, PuzzlePieces don't. And that's what makes PuzzlePieces so unique & flexible. Having the game auto build for something like puzzlepieces may be a good idea in theory, but in practise it isn't. If you try adjusting the ;lightrailxroad Dual - Straight Piece for yourself, adding the following line;
Autoplace = 1
And then try it out in-game you'll see why it's probably best to leave these sorts of items as is.

[lakeyboy 12]

I would like to propose to have the NAM menus cleared up abit. At the moment, there is 6 buttons in the road menu. 3 are road, avenue and one way overpasses. 3 are road, avenue and one way puzzle pieces. I propose to get rid of the overpasses from the menu (but can still be built if someone has the added plugin which a dialog comes up if say, you cross 2 roads with each other and it asks if you want an overpass). I would like to see how many people use the overpasses buttons. I haven't touched them since the puzzle pieces were released and they do basically the same thing and more as overpasses. What do you guys think about this? 

[GoaSkin 2]

lakeyboy: you have many ideas...

why don't you learn modding and try to create it yourself? That is easier than hoping that someone else does it.

[vadvaro 2]

i wish the onslope pieces were part of the NAM.  i have zero need or desire to use the GLR beyond that one piece.  mainly since i don't want to download even more stations.  i like the networks i have and won't be getting the stations for GLR meaning it is wasting space.  now, i understand why the on slope piece is where it is, but it has much more to do with the NAM and wish it was included so i didn't need to use th GLR.  i think they should be completely seperate, but that is just one guys opinion.

[lakeyboy 12]

Date: 6/2/2005 8:11:51 PM Author: vadvaro i wish the onslope pieces were part of the NAM.  i have zero need or desire to use the GLR beyond that one piece.  mainly since i don't want to download even more stations.  i like the networks i have and won't be getting the stations for GLR meaning it is wasting space.  now, i understand why the on slope piece is where it is, but it has much more to do with the NAM and wish it was included so i didn't need to use th GLR.  i think they should be completely seperate, but that is just one guys opinion.

quote>
Sorry mate, but if you want the on slope pieces, the GLR will also be put with it and other mods together in the NAM so you can't choose to just have the onslopes. But hey, just don't use them if you don't want them

And Goaskin, I would seriously love to mod things like some of you guys can but i don't really have the knowledge or the time to do serious modding. But I really want to give GMAX a go with the tutorial I found here when I get around to it. Then I could hopefully model some pieces!

[Andreas Roth 607]

Date: 6/2/2005 8:11:51 PM Author: vadvaro i wish the onslope pieces were part of the NAM.  i have zero need or desire to use the GLR beyond that one piece.  mainly since i don't want to download even more stations.  i like the networks i have and won't be getting the stations for GLR meaning it is wasting space.  now, i understand why the on slope piece is where it is, but it has much more to do with the NAM and wish it was included so i didn't need to use th GLR.  i think they should be completely seperate, but that is just one guys opinion.

The next version of the NAM includes both the onslope puzzle pieces and the GLR mod. We have to put everything into one package because there is a single RUL file that controls most aspects of the traffic engine. This is why the GLR has to be placed at a specific location, and this is also the reason why the onslope puzzle pieces were included there - smoncrie was the creator of both of them, so rather than creating two separate plugins that needs to be placed into a specific folder, he put all his traffic-related work together into a single file.

 

For every mod regarding the traffic system, the main RUL file has to be modified, and therefore it is not feasible to include this file into various different mods, since they would be incompatible with each other. Once one of them is changed, the others needed to be changed, too, causing and endless circle of updating and updating and updating again. I completely understand that some people don't want to use the full range of stuff included into the NAM, but unfortunately Maxis created this all-inclusive file that doesn't allow multiple mods without the risk of incompatibilities.

 

You also may have noticed that there are countless people still having problems to use the mods - one time the GLR puzzle pieces aren't working, another one has troubles using the NAM itself etc. This is all caused by incompatibilities between the various mods in their various versions. We try to make everything as easy as possible, but due to the complexibility regarding the internal file structure and the order the game is loading the files during startup, everyone who doesn't follow the instructions word by word will have problems. And the more people are asking for help, the less time is available for modding new stuff - unfortunately there are only a couple of people who really know the interna of the game, but countless players who request/suggest new stuff all the time - and therefore I agree with GoaSkin: If you really want to change something, try to start learning it yourself!

[Tropod 144]

Date: 6/2/2005 7:18:44 PM
Author: lakeyboy
I would like to propose to have the NAM menus cleared up abit. At the moment, there is 6 buttons in the road menu. 3 are road, avenue and one way overpasses. 3 are road, avenue and one way puzzle pieces. I propose to get rid of the overpasses from the menu (but can still be built if someone has the added plugin which a dialog comes up if say, you cross 2 roads with each other and it asks if you want an overpass). I would like to see how many people use the overpasses buttons. I haven't touched them since the puzzle pieces were released and they do basically the same thing and more as overpasses. What do you guys think about this?

quote>


I tend to agree with this. The problem however, is the practical & actual implementation for something like this. Removing the overpasses menu buttons can only be done if each & every single one of those overpasses has their Coding changed, which is not in the best interest for everyone or all the overpasses involved. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.
An alternative, something I have seriously considered doing because of this issue, is to make the installation of the certain various items contained in the NAM optional. This would effectively seperate the Menu Buttons from the main NAM.dat for those items might make optional. Unfortunately, the problem with this is that the installation becomes a lot more complex & confusing for people, especially those new to NAM. It also increases the chances of conflicts for end users if anything related to a MenuButton needs to be adjusted. For this reason this alternative has not been implemented.

[Member19922 0]

Just a thought...
Has any one looked into finding a free installation program for the NAM? Preferably one that would allow you to choose which pieces and files you want. That way there would be no need for manual installation.

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

i agree, that would help so much, someone please make this.

[galileo 0]

After almost nine months of being away (and not playing SimCity 4, either!), it's great to see all the progress the NAM has made. I do have a question, though, as I'm not the only one using my new installation:

Can I install the core NAM files in /maxis/simcity/plugins for all users, but put the automata and traffic files in /documents and settings/user/simcity so each family member can pick their own settings.

I like my traffic to be very normal, but I imagine my sister will appreciate the help of making traffic move faster. Any known issues with this placement of the files for individual users?

[GoaSkin 2]

That is not really true.

Two NAM versions were released in November 04 and one in the late winter '05. There wasn't really a big break.

But the NAM version on the ST ModdingFiles section is very old. This is because the admin of that page does not make any updates.

I think next NAM version will also be availlable through external links only.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Date: 6/2/2005 11:09:58 PM Author: Deaf2 Just a thought... Has any one looked into finding a free installation program for the NAM?  Preferably one that would allow you to choose which pieces and files you want.  That way there would be no need for manual installation.

quote>

I tried about 20 different freeware installer programs for distributing SimCity stuff, but they either didn't have the capability to create optional components or they were so difficult to use that I didn't understand anything at all. The easiest one is the installer PEG and the BSC are using, but unfortunately, it doesn't support optional components. In addition, those installers work only with Windows, but not with a Macintosh computer.

[Tropod 144]

Date: 6/3/2005 12:30:57 AM
Author: galileo
After almost nine months of being away (and not playing SimCity 4, either!), it's great to see all the progress the NAM has made. I do have a question, though, as I'm not the only one using my new installation:

Can I install the core NAM files in /maxis/simcity/plugins for all users, but put the automata and traffic files in /documents and settings/user/simcity so each family member can pick their own settings.


I like my traffic to be very normal, but I imagine my sister will appreciate the help of making traffic move faster. Any known issues with this placement of the files for individual users?

quote>

That should work just fine. I don't foresee why there would be any problems doing this. Just be sure there are no *_Traffic_* or *_Automata_* files in the installation directory's plugin folder.

[GoaSkin 2]

@Andreas: Try to find a java-based installer because this may be usable for all three systems!

Plugin-root-dirs:

Mac: /Applications/SimCity 4/SimCity 4 Data/Plugins
Linux: $HOME/.wine/Program Files/Maxis/SimCity 4/SimCity 4 Data/Plugins

to recognize the system: The uname commands returns darwin on Mac OS X, linux on linux and if this command does not exist, it is Windows.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Date: 6/3/2005 8:14:18 AM Author: GoaSkin @Andreas: Try to find a java-based installer because this may be usable for all three systems! Plugin-root-dirs: Mac: /Applications/SimCity 4/SimCity 4 Data/Plugins Linux: $HOME/.wine/Program Files/Maxis/SimCity 4/SimCity 4 Data/Plugins to recognize the system: The uname commands returns darwin on Mac OS X, linux on linux and if this command does not exist, it is Windows.

quote>

No, I won't waste any more time on looking for installers. I tried numerous ones for hours and hours, and no-one was satisfying. I'm sorry to say that, but the folks who are too lazy to read the readme file to get the NAM working simply shouldn't use it. If someone else wants to try to find another installer or even write a new one, then I'd be glad to help, but otherwise, I won't touch the subject anymore.

[Tunafish 48]

I hgave an idea on the whole sunken highway request, couldn't we make the ANT a highway that have like X meter high walls so when theyre dragged in smoncries sunken lots, they look like theyre sunken?, wouldn't it work?

[Tropod 144]

LOTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS THREAD AT ALL WHATSOEVER. Thank you.
---------------------------------------------
While the NAM can be obtained from the Modding Files section to the left, chances it is a much older version &/or is not the most upto date version. So please search near the rear of this thread, &/or the forum, for a more upto date version.

---------------------------------------------
Requests are no longer taken in this thread.
Requests relevant to this mod are now taken in the following thread:
NAM Requests
---------------------------------------------
NAM Development is now handled in the following thread:
NAM Development
---------------------------------------------

This thread is now just a general discussion thread for the Network Addon Mod. Any *general* feedback/comments/discussions etc should be made in this thread, & this thread only.
Also feel free to post &/or report bugs &/or issues. If you are posting an issue though, please include a proper description & picture of the problem.

[jbranam 0]

I recently downloaded the new version of the NAM from a site that Tropod had left on this page.  However, I'm having a few issues.  Suddenly, none of the single pieces, or custom interchanges work anymore.  They are all on my list in the game, but none will let me plop them.  I've tried removing everything else in my Plugin file, but it didn't help.  I've been able to use all the functions in the past, except for the dual level road/rail.  Am I missing something?  Please help if you can.  Thanks.

 

[greyveil 37]

what version is the NAM you downloaded? if you need the latest one, see my sig

[jbranam 0]

The most recent version is the one i downloaded from your site.  This is the one I am having problems with.  Am I supposed to download more than one thing, or amd I missing something else.

What I can't use:

 

-Custom Exchanges

-Road/ One Way/ Avenue Pieces

-Dual Level Road/Rail Pieces.

[greyveil 37]

do you have the GLR or ATL mod installed? if so you need to make sure they are in the right location

[jbranam 0]

I don't believe that I have either of them.

[bourneid 13]

I dont know if this has been brought up before...I am sure that I have the latest NAM, have the GLR and they work...have used the NAM alot...but I have been having problems with one piece in perticular...it is the puzzle piece slopping ave...its the first piece you get when you select the ave puzzle piece from the menu...after I place it...my game suddenly crashs...completly...has this issue been addressed? is there a work around other then not using that piece

[greyveil 37]

did you have an older version of the NAM installed? if so did you delete it completely before adding the new one, did you put the NAM files in the program files/plugin folder or the my documents folder? do you use any other transit related mod?

[jbranam 0]

I did have an older version of the NAM, but I always delete the older ones before I put a new copy in.  I put the NAM files in the plugin folder inside the my documents section.  I don't have any transit mods, just some transit enabled lots.  I have already tried removing all the other files in my plugin folder except the NAM, but it didn't help.

[vester_DK 477]

Date: 6/5/2005 8:29:39 PM
Author: greyveil
do you have the GLR or ATL mod installed? if so you need to make sure they are in the right location

quote>
What is ATL mod ?