NAM General Support

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

How about something a little less ancient?

[JessiLaurn 183]

For now, the hand-crafted antique still handles the game surprisingly well (with the exception of the installer), and SimCity is pretty much the only thing for which it is used.  I've the aforementioned laptop, but have stability issues with the game there, so the relic is my box of choice for this grand old game.

[APSMS 1,892]

Surprisingly SC4 ran wonderfully (if a bit hot) on my old Intel Celeron Laptop with Windows Vista 32-bit. I had a few less plugins, and only NAM 30+hotfix, but with less crashing issues and better automata performance than my current Sandy Bridge i7 quad core laptop.

 

No doubt the installer is likely referencing newer libraries or such that aren't available in xp versions, or require some extra oomph that your old machine simply lacks. I'd be interested in seeing if my old Pentium 4 machine (with XP Media Center) can run the game and installer, but I currently lack access and time to do either.

 

I suppose if it ain't broke...

[z1 566]

No doubt the installer is likely referencing newer libraries or such that aren't available in xp versions...

 

No, that isn't it; the installer was extensively tested under Windows XP and runs fine on a standard system.  And according to , about 22% of NAM users still use XP (or at least they did last year, after the new installer was released), and we'd expect to hear a lot more from them if there were any fundamental problems with the installer and Windows XP.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

With NAM32 it might just be the age of the Java environment that is causing a problem.

[Cool_Z 1,547]

...according to , about 22% of NAM users still use XP...

 

WOW !!! 

 

But yeah old machines can still run the game (recent multiprocessor beasts can't even run it full forward sometimes).

[JessiLaurn 183]

There's a surprising number of XP users even now.  Vista was something of a bust, and by the time 7 came around there was the question of whether it was worth upgrading or not.  Then in what seemed a blink of the eye, 8 came on the scene and immediately alienated older users who did not want their desktop to look like a sodding tablet.

 

My work machine - at a major university, no less - is still on XP/SP3.

[JessiLaurn 183]

Next question.  Is there a decent guide anywhere (aside from a quick youtube video) on how to use the EL-over-avenue bits?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Far as I know, EL over avenue is just a matter of dragging the EL tracks.  How are you confused by that?

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

She means this stuff:

 

 

 

Since it's a brand new component, the closest thing you'll find to a 'guide' is the NAM user manual.  It's also helps to test out new stuff in a test city.

[z1 566]

The video basically tells you everything you need to know.

[APSMS 1,892]

This^^^. Since the network is a FLEX-based network, the only thing you need to do once the appropriate base pieces are plopped is to drag the desired intersections out.

 

I haven't seen fit to use it yet, but it seems incredibly simple. Hopefully this approach will be applied eventually to El-Rail-over-Road. (I'd also like to see some work on getting Moonlightn's mod--alternate El-Rail facelift--compatible with it, but I understand the limitations involved. Still it'd be nice to not have to choose one over the other. iirc, the ELR-over-Road with the facelift works just fine...)

[jdenm8 362]

(I'd also like to see some work on getting Moonlightn's mod--alternate El-Rail facelift--compatible with it, but I understand the limitations involved. Still it'd be nice to not have to choose one over the other. iirc, the ELR-over-Road with the facelift works just fine...)

 

New models need to be made for it and it appears that Moonlight has lost interest in SC4 and moved on to Skyrim.

[JessiLaurn 183]

Fair enough.

 

Last question:

 

Is there a catenary mod that works with the double-decker networks (EL-over-road, EL-over-avenue)?  I've Plundere's very nice catenary mods active for both heavy rail (v3) and EL (v1), but it doesn't seem to work with the double-decker networks.  Mind, it also doesn't appear to include the gradual 45-degree curve for viaduct heavy rail, but that's likely because v3 predates development of that piece.

[yourcatch22 2]

Hey guys I am having trouble with the NAM 32 installer. I downloaded it from MODDB but when I go to install, the installer fails to create the z__NAM folder and all of its contents. That causes me not to be ablet o install the maxis highway override, bullet train, and road textures. Is anyone else having this problem or know of a solution?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Strange indeed.  What machine are you on?

[z1 566]

Also, what OS are you running?

[yourcatch22 2]

Windows 7. Been using NAM for years, never had a problem like this.

[z1 566]

Do you use the default installation folder for the NAM?  And have you checked the permissions on your top-level Plugins folder.

[yourcatch22 2]

I don't use the default folder because I have multiple folders setup for different versions of the game I run. I install it to the plugins folder in each designated game though, and up until this point the auto-install has never had a problem. I have also tried installing it to a dummy plugins folder on my desktop to isolate the problem but still no luck. Permissions are all fine.

 

Also I am having additional problems with L3 ramps not appearing and other glitches like that. I think they might all be connected.

[z1 566]

I don't use the default folder because I have multiple folders setup for different versions of the game I run. I install it to the plugins folder in each designated game though...

 

This sounds like the most probable source for your trouble.  Could you please give an example of your NAM folder's full path?

 

and up until this point the auto-install has never had a problem.

What was the previous NAM version you were using?  I don't believe the installer has changed the location of the z___NAM folder since that folder was introduced.

 

 

Also I am having additional problems with L3 ramps not appearing and other glitches like that. I think they might all be connected.

 

That's actually rather unlikely.

 

In your main NAM folder, you'll find a file called "install.log".  Open it up in your favorite editor and search for "z___NAM".  That should tell you immediately where that folder is.

[Roger51 381]

Hey NAM team, don't know if this is the right thread at all to post this, but have a slight texture issue with diagonal 6S FARHW ramp.

 

 

Maybe have to click to see it properly:

 

[towerpower123 1]

Okay, I have had endless issues since updating to NAM 32. First, the Network Configuration tool refuses to work. It needs Java and after trying several times, I have found that Java simply refuses to install on my laptop. It is a Toshiba Satellite L-55A with Windows 8.1. Apparently, Java does not get along with 8.1, according to numerous random forums. The next issue happens when I try to build a city and use the NAM tools. The city worked perfectly fine and I put about an hour into building a Tram-on-road network with the game paused. Upon starting the simulation, the game immediately crashed seconds after querying a station. I restarted the game, with the tram network still in place from a recent save and ran the simulation again. I saw about a dozen small red streetcars race down the street far faster than the cars and no more of them. The game then crashed about 3 minutes later, without being touched and without querying anything. I then downloaded a new streetcar, screamingman12's Portland streetcar, to replace the one that came with the NAM and reloaded the same city. No streetcars showed up, and the game crashed about 3 minutes later. After that, I created a completely new city, after reinstalling NAM, and tested a streetcar network. No streetcars, and then the game crashed. I would really like to add a streetcar network to my cities, but they keep causing CtD's. I have not had any problems building the network, only running it. Is this a major bug or simply an install issue? Also, a query of the Tram-on-road to Subway conversion caused an immediate crash as soon as the query box was closed. Please help!

 

P.S. NAM 30 worked perfectly fine for me on an old laptop. NAM 31 worked as well on the laptop I currently use, but its Network Configuration Tool didn't. The only mods I use are CAM, a few extra large heavy rail train stations, and a few hundred infill buildings. As far as I know, CAM doesn't cause conflicts with the trams or light rail, only network multipliers. I have a store bought CD of the US Deluxe Edition and it is updated to 1.1.640

 

2nd Edit. I went into that city and removed the tram network and ran the simulation. It worked continuously without issue. I then tried a ground light rail system instead and it crashed again. I re-updated the game to 1.1.640 and downloaded the patch "BAT_Update2" as well as the NAM essentials (I think everything is covered anyway.) I created another test city and the streetcar system worked, but without a tram, for about 5 minutes, then crashed.

[Sims firehouse 198]

Certain rotations of the FAOWR straight puzzle piece has the reverse preview image. In the attached picture (North up) are the rotations in question. Note the reverse of these also display the wrong preview image.

Col 1: preview image

Col 2: path

Col 3: underlying base network after the puzzle piece is demolished

Hope this issue gets fixed. Thanks in advance!

P.S. I'm running NAM 32 package.

[michaeldcannaday 42]

RHW Bridges Over Water I just can't seem to make it happen.... is there a trick or is it just so simple that I'm overlooking it? Do you drag the roadway over water, or do you build the highrise and drag it from there? whenever I do drag the roadway ( 4 lane roadways or larger) the bridges that come up are just 2 lanes in each direction or single lane but I do have the NAM 32 uploaded with all the bridges from the custom download. (does anybody have simple instructions or possibly a video to show me?)

[APSMS 1,892]

RHW Bridges Over Water I just can't seem to make it happen.... is there a trick or is it just so simple that I'm overlooking it? Do you drag the roadway over water, or do you build the highrise and drag it from there? whenever I do drag the roadway ( 4 lane roadways or larger) the bridges that come up are just 2 lanes in each direction or single lane but I do have the NAM 32 uploaded with all the bridges from the custom download. (does anybody have simple instructions or possibly a video to show me?)

You need to use the MHW (Maxis Highway) tool. The RHW tool can only build bridges one-tile wide.

 

A consequence of the MHW tool is that all two-tile network bridges must be separated by one tile, and there are no three-tile network bridges. The appropriate RHW bridges will appear in the bridge menu popup. Simply drag the RHW in to the end of the MHW bridge to connect

<snip>

You mentioned using the CAM. Is there a folder called z_CAM in your plugins? If so, it needs to be deleted at once. Otherwise I am at a loss for explanation.

 

Also, have you searched the threads for fixing the various issues w/Windows 8.1? They might indirectly solve your problem.

[michaeldcannaday 42]

thanks!  I will try that

[yourcatch22 2]

 

I don't use the default folder because I have multiple folders setup for different versions of the game I run. I install it to the plugins folder in each designated game though...

 

This sounds like the most probable source for your trouble.  Could you please give an example of your NAM folder's full path?

 

and up until this point the auto-install has never had a problem.

What was the previous NAM version you were using?  I don't believe the installer has changed the location of the z___NAM folder since that folder was introduced.

 

 

Also I am having additional problems with L3 ramps not appearing and other glitches like that. I think they might all be connected.

 

That's actually rather unlikely.

 

In your main NAM folder, you'll find a file called "install.log".  Open it up in your favorite editor and search for "z___NAM".  That should tell you immediately where that folder is.

 

Thanks for your help. Turns out that because I wasn't installing it in my default plugins folder, some of the sub folders were not being created properly, but now I got it working and z__Nam is found. Still having trouble with L3 starters and pieces not appearing though, I can post a picture if needed.

[Tarkus 6,932]

Thanks for your help. Turns out that because I wasn't installing it in my default plugins folder, some of the sub folders were not being created properly, but now I got it working and z__Nam is found. Still having trouble with L3 starters and pieces not appearing though, I can post a picture if needed.

 

 

The L3 and L4 stuff on the RHW side isn't installed by default, mainly out of controller file size concerns.  I believe there's a checkbox for it on the custom install option.

 

-Tarkus

[Jimmyson 1]

I seem to have an issue with the NAM 32 installation and the RHW textures. I have to install the RHD-version of NAM, but ideally I would like to see Euro road textures for Roads and RealHighway.
The roads weren't an issue, but the RealHighway has given me US style, and the RHW/Road stud follows suit.