NAM Questions About Differences in MGB Tutorials

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

Hi Experts of NAM,

I'm having some questions when I followed @Naomi57's tips to learn NAM, I installed NAM 36, and i study the MGB's NAM Tutorials Series on YouTube.

It's a excellent tutorial for a newbie, I start the game with a new blank city, I just followed the video step by step. But i found some differences between MGB's NAM and mine.

Q1. Maybe the texture differences on plugins or installation

[MGN Version]

 

[My NAM]

 

I found that there are some differences, and i highlighted them on the MGB's picture. Then i thought maybe it's the install option variations of this. So i installed the NAM again with other option reselected, such as European Texture.

After that i found that there are still some differences, It's just changed the road and street's textures(still difference in street)

Q2. I change the install option from Standard TuLEP to Dexter UK Style, But i found that my TuLEP still looked like the Standard Version.

 

[NAM Document]

 

 

[My NAM]

 

Q3. Zoom in/out's Problem

When i followed the tutorial step by step, I ploped a Street tunnel connecting to underground road, i found out some abnormal problems when i zoom in/out.

 

Q4 Maybe it's not a problem, I just happen to see some Tanks between my freight rail.

 

Is this a bug or am I missing something? I hope that i publish these question in the right place with the right way, if doesn't, please correct me, And i appreciate and look forward your reply. Thank you very much.

Best Regards,

-- Raymond

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

Below i add my latest NAM installation's log, and I hope it's useful.
 

Spoiler

Main Installation Location:
  C:\Program Files\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Plugins\Network Addon Mod
Documentation Location:
  C:\Users\Raymond\Documents\SimCity 4\NAM Auxiliary Files\Documentation

Network Controller:  Custom Installation
Traffic Driving Side:  Right side of road
Traffic simulator type:  Medium capacity
Zones Data View: New (NAM)
Automata controller type:  Standard

The following networks and/or network expansions will be installed:
- Bullet Train Mod (BTM) by Moonlight
    - Ground Texture
    - Alternate Concrete Texture
    - Fence Prop
    - N700 Series Shinkansen Train
- Canal Addon Mod (CAN-AM) - SimGoober's Canals
- Diagonal Streets
- Double-Height Monorail / Bullet Train Mod
- El Rail
    - El Rail Alternate Implementation
        - Core El Rail Network
        - El Rail Catenaries
        - El Rail Fence Props
        - El Rail Ground Texture
        - El Rail Cool Color Concrete Texture
    - El Rail over Avenue Networks
    - El Rail over Road Networks
    - Double-Height Elevated Rail
- Elevated Road Networks
    - Draggable Elevated Road Networks
    - Modular Elevated Road Networks
- Flexible Underpasses (FLUPs)
- Fractionally Angled Networks (FANs)
    - Fractionally Angled Road Networks (FARs)
    - Fractionally Angled Railroads (FARRs)
    - Draggable FAR
- Ground Light Rail / Tram
    - Ground Light Rail
    - Tram in Avenue
    - Tram in Road
    - Tram in Street
    - Extended Draggable Ground Light Rail
- High Speed Rail Project (HSRP)
- Maxis Highway Override
- Network Widening Mod (NWM)
    - Network Widening Mod
        - NWM TLA-3
        - NWM AVE-2
        - NWM ARD-3
        - NWM OWR-1
        - NWM OWR-3
        - NWM NRD-4
        - NWM TLA-5
        - NWM OWR-4
        - NWM OWR-5
        - NWM RD-4
        - NWM RD-6
        - NWM Triple-Tile Networks
    - Legacy Transition Piece Wealthification
- Ped Malls
- Rail
    - RealRailway (RRW)
    - Single Track Rail (STR)
    - Underground Rail
    - Viaduct Rail
- Real Highway Mod (RHW)
    - RHW L0 Networks
        - RHW L0 RHW-2
        - RHW L0 RHW-3
        - RHW L0 MIS
        - RHW L0 RHW-4
        - RHW L0 RHW-6S
        - RHW L0 RHW-8S
        - RHW L0 RHW-10S
        - RHW L0 RHW-6C
        - RHW L0 RHW-8C
    - RHW L1 Networks
        - RHW L1 RHW-2
        - RHW L1 RHW-3
        - RHW L1 MIS
        - RHW L1 RHW-4
        - RHW L1 RHW-6S
        - RHW L1 RHW-8S
        - RHW L1 RHW-10S
        - RHW L1 RHW-6C
        - RHW L1 RHW-8C
    - RHW L2 Networks
        - RHW L2 RHW-2
        - RHW L2 RHW-3
        - RHW L2 MIS
        - RHW L2 RHW-4
        - RHW L2 RHW-6S
        - RHW L2 RHW-8S
        - RHW L2 RHW-10S
        - RHW L2 RHW-6C
        - RHW L2 RHW-8C
    - RHW L3 Networks
        - RHW L3 MIS
        - RHW L3 RHW-4
        - RHW L3 RHW-6S
    - RHW L4 Networks
        - RHW L4 MIS
        - RHW L4 RHW-4
        - RHW L4 RHW-6S
    - DDRHW Networks
        - RHW DDRHW-4
    - FARHW
- Rural Roads Plugin
- Street Addon Mod (SAM)
    - SAM Set 1 - Parking Lots
    - SAM Set 2 - Herringbone Brick Streets
    - SAM Set 3 - PEG Dirt Streets
    - SAM Set 4 - PEG Gravel Streets
    - SAM Set 5 - Trolca Dirt Streets
    - SAM Set 6 - Klinker Streets
    - SAM Set 7 - Asphalt Streets
    - SAM Set 8 - Cobblestone Streets
    - SAM Set 9 - Brick Streets
    - SAM Set 10 - Japanese Streets
    - SAM Set 11 - IndustrieSAM

The following stations, ports, and network transitions will be installed:
- Upgraded Maxis Transit Lots
- Airport Capacity:  Medium (4x Maxis)
- Bus Rapid Transit Stations
    - BriPizza Elevated Roadway Station
    - Overhanging Bus Rapid Transit Station
    - Bus Rapid Transit Filter Lots
        - Bus Rapid Transit Filter for L0 RHW-2
        - Bus Rapid Transit Filter for L1 RHW-2
        - Bus Rapid Transit Filter for L2 RHW-2
- El Rail Stations
    - El Rail Station with Bus and Subway
    - Victorian El Rail Station (Orthogonal)
    - Victorian El Rail Station (Diagonal)
    - Modern El Train Station
    - Overhanging El Rail Station
    - Diagonal El Rail Station
    - Morifari Straight El Rail Station
    - Morifari Diagonal El Rail Station
    - Double-Height Elevated Rail Station
    - El Rail over Avenue Stations
        - Morgan-Lake Station
    - El Rail over Road Stations
        - CTA Madison and Wells Station
        - CTA Ashland Station
        - Overhanging El Rail over Road Station
- GLR and Tram Stations
    - GLR Stations
        - SFBT Dentei GLR Station (Orthogonal)
        - SFBT Dentei GLR Station (Diagonal)
        - Modern GLR Station
    - Tram Stations
        - SFBT Dentei Tram-in-Avenue Station (Orthogonal)
        - SFBT Dentei Tram-in-Avenue Station (Diagonal)
        - SFBT Tram-in-Road Station (Single Length)
        - SFBT Tram-in-Road Station (Double Length)
        - SFBT Tram-in-Road Station (Triple Length)
        - SFBT Tram-on-Street Stop
- High Speed Rail Stations
    - Modern Arched HSR Station
    - Modern Arched GHSR Station
    - Diagonal HSR Station
    - Overhanging HSR Station
    - Morifari Straight HSR Station
    - HSRP Transit Hub
- Monorail and Bullet Train Stations
    - Modern Monorail and Bullet Train Station
    - Overhanging Monorail / Bullet Train Station
    - Diagonal Monorail / Bullet Train Station
    - Double-Height Monorail / Bullet Train Station
    - Japanese Bullet Train Station
    - Morifari Straight Monorail / Bullet Train Station
    - Morifari Diagonal Monorail / Bullet Train / HSR Station
- Multi-Purpose Stations
    - BriPizza 15m Multi-Purpose Station
    - BriPizza 15m Multi-Purpose Station with Parking
    - BriPizza Arched Station
    - BriPizza 0m-15m Multi-Purpose Station
    - BriPizza 15m-30m Multi-Purpose Station
    - BriPizza Norikae Station
    - Ninja Boulevard Kiosk
    - Ninja Boulevard Station
- Network Transitions and Connectors
    - SFBT GLR to Subway Transition
    - Tram to Subway Transitions
    - Subway to Underground Rail Connectors (ESURE)
- Rail Stations
    - Modern Arched Rail Station
    - Viaduct Rail Stations
    - Modern Viaduct Rail Station
        - Overhanging Viaduct Rail Station
        - Diagonal Viaduct Rail Station
        - Victorian Viaduct Rail Station (Orthogonal)
        - Victorian Viaduct Rail Station (Diagonal)
        - Morifari Straight Viaduct Rail Station
        - Morifari Diagonal Viaduct Rail Station

The following additional features and customizations will be installed:
- Additional Bridges
- Bridge Height Mod
- Custom Menu Icon Layouts
    - Custom Highway Menu
    - Custom Rail Menu
    - Custom Misc. Transportation Menu
- Enable Decoupling of Networks and Rules
- Extended Station Queries
    - Standard Hole Diggers and Ground Raisers
    - Auto-Destruct Hole Diggers and Ground Raisers
- Maxis Highway Interchange & Ramp Additions
- Rail Viaduct Style:  Red Bricks
- Real Highway Options
    - Real Highway Mod Regional Transport View
    - Single Median Barriers for Compact RHW Networks
- Road Textures and Markings
    - Standard Euro Road Textures
    - Options for Euro Road Textures
        - Alternative Euro TuLEP Textures
            - Dexter's UK Euro TuLEP Textures
        - Additional UK Texture Replacements
    - Alternate Arrow Textures
        - Arrow Textures for the United States
    - Cul-de-Sacs
    - Asphalt Textures for Maxis Highways
- Roundabouts and Other Interchanges
    - Street Roundabouts
    - Road Roundabouts
    - Oneway Roundabouts
    - Avenue Roundabouts and Interch

 

[rsc204 21,863]

11 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

But i found some differences between MGB's NAM and mine.

I'm using A LOT of mods .

The overpass mod is one part of the Japanese NAM Facelift Mod:

The Streets are a mod by Rivit:

Some textures come from my TGN & SWN mods.

11 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

My NAM]

Bear in mind that these are the ATL or Auto Turn Lanes, not TuLEPs. Each of the EU TuLEP options does change the look of the bulk of the pieces. But I only know of one that changes the ATL textures. Likewise, the newer FTL (Flex-Turn Lanes) / QuickTurn pieces only have one default texture set currently.

11 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

When i followed the tutorial step by step, I ploped a Street tunnel connecting to underground road, i found out some abnormal problems when i zoom in/out.

I suppose you could call it a Bug. It's very difficult to make models like this without something called z-fighting occurring. Basically that means, two textures are at the same point and the game doesn't know which to display. It's more of a limitation than anything, I think that piece is too useful to ignore, even with the problems.

11 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

Q4 Maybe it's not a problem, I just happen to see some Tanks between my freight rail.

Probably a mod running amok. To be on the rails, the tank would either be Automata or using the same ID as one of the original models. You'll need to try and find the problem file in your Plugins folder.

One last thing to note, I use a heavily customised setup for my game textures. I have released them in the form of the TGN/SWN mods, but not everything you might see in one of my screenshots, may have made it to those mods. Although the plan is absolutely to do so at some point.

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

oh My Goodness, Correct me if I'm wrong, Let me guess, Am i watching and learning your tutorials on Youtube? If the answer is yes, Such a pleasure. I am so honored to be one of your student.

Thank you very much @rsc204. You help me a lot, I understand your reply quite a well. All of my questions had been solved. Thanks again.

Best Regards,

-- Raymond

[Naomi57 2,985]

16 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

I'm having some questions when I followed @Naomi57's tips to learn NAM, I installed NAM 36, and i study the MGB's NAM Tutorials Series on YouTube.

I'm so glad you went on to watch the MGB NAM video tutorials.  While my tutorials can be a useful starting place, I'm only a little bit more than NAM newbie myself.  I just happen to have some handy tech writing skills that I'm putting to use.  If you want a preview of some of my future tutorials coming up, this thread documents my journey to understanding some of the trickier parts of the NAM.

https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/758458-taking-NAM-for-my-very-first-test-drive-in-east-new-york/?page=2

4 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

oh My Goodness, Correct me if I'm wrong, Let me guess, Am i watching and learning your tutorials on Youtube? If the answer is yes, Such a pleasure. I am so honored to be one of your student.

Yea, I got a similar feeling when I made that connection.  

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

3 hours ago, Naomi57 said:

this thread documents my journey to understanding some of the trickier parts of the NAM.

Thanks for sharing this, however i have added it to my collection not long ago. Don't you know i am one of your followers?

I installed NAM many years ago, recently i just noticed how powerful and amazing it is. Frankly, i have seen many videos about NAM's tutorial even in China. But the MGB's version is the best one to me although there is a little problem with the audio. I know i could not have done this without your tips. Thank you very much.

3 hours ago, Naomi57 said:

I'm only a little bit more than NAM newbie myself.

My English comprehension is not very well, but if your meaning is you are just a newbie, then i wish i could be a newbie as well as you someday.

Best,

-- Raymond

[Naomi57 2,985]

1 hour ago, Raymond7cn said:

Don't you know i am one of your followers?

I didn't know any of my followers until just now.  Your question prompted me to look a bit more carefully, and I just spotted the FOLLOWERS section on my ST profile page.  See, that's what I mean when I say I'm still a newbie!  

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

Dear All, I come by to give you an update of my problems, I hope it will be helpful to who has the similar problems as me.

Q1: Those questions sloved by the rsc204's tips quite a well. Those mods are exactly what i need and very beautiful. You just need to pay more attention to the instructions of installation.

Q3: I deleted all my plugins except the NAM and z___NAM directories, However, The same problem is still there. so I speculated that this might be a problem of my environment or hardware related issue. Never mind, I just let it be there.

Q4:

On 2019/12/4 at 9:36 AM, rsc204 said:

You'll need to try and find the problem file in your Plugins folder.

It's just like rsc204 said, After i delete one conflicting model made by myself, The problem solved.

Thank you very much! @rsc204 You help me again.

Best,

-- Raymond

[rsc204 21,863]

3 hours ago, Raymond7cn said:

Q3: I deleted all my plugins except the NAM and z___NAM directories, However, The same problem is still there. so I speculated that this might be a problem of my environment or hardware related issue. Never mind, I just let it be there.

It could well be related to your GPU/Graphics. In short, SC4 is based on DirectX 7 and fully compatible with up to version 9.0c. The world has changed big time since those versions and the z-fighting problem comes from changes in how both DirectX/GPUs work. Those with older hardware, may find such z-fighting issues do not affect them. But the trade off there is not worth it to maybe fix a minor issue. Not to mention, if you play other games, an older GPU is almost certainly not going to be good for you.

Of course it could also be the modelling or simply something that can't be avoided. Either way, since z-fighting is not a huge issue, it's a minor annoyance at worst.

Glad you managed to get things going. I can't play without mods, once you've seen the pretties, it's hard to go back .

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

On 2019/12/6 at 6:32 PM, rsc204 said:

once you've seen the pretties, it's hard to go back

I must write down that sentence in my notebook.@rsc204

I download your NMG(no maxis grass) mod and rivit's street Urban Tarsealed Street Modd, then I found that the no grass function became operative on most of network except the street, then I changed the load sequence of them, After that there is no rivit's street style(maxis or NAM style). And I used reader to open them, So many FSHs are there and found that rivit's mod had the grass whilst your mod use the original street(of course).

So I wonder if there is a MOD about no grass of rivit's street, or I need to mix them by myself, I can do it by myself, nevertheless, It means a mass of work there.

As always, Thanks for any help or tips you can give!

Sincerely,

-- Raymond

[rsc204 21,863]

1 hour ago, Raymond7cn said:

I download your NMG(no maxis grass) mod

Just for clarity, mine is named NGN or No Grass NAM, there are others out there so I just want to be sure we're talking about the same mod.

The NGN mod has only support for the original Maxis Streets, however if you are not using them, untick the Maxis Streets option during installation to prevent conflicts. Doing so ensures whatever street mod you might be using, will not be interfered with. But, by the same token, said mod will not be altered to remove the grass, unless it was designed to work that way, which in this case it wasn't.

See here:

Rivit has released the tools to make a custom version of the TarSealed streets. I've then offered an "NGN Patch", which when applied before running the scripts, will create a NGN-compatible variant of TSR. So without too much effort, you should be able to get what you want .

[Raymond7cn 6,775]

Thank you Robin, I'm very sorry about make a mistake with your mod's name, Your reply is very helpful and exactly what I want. It must have been a lot of work, so I wanted to say a big THANK YOU!

-- Raymond