Game crash when plopping PEG seaport

[nickvon 161]

Hello,

Just getting into SC4.  Its pretty awesome.  Im totally addicted.  Anyway, took me awhile to figure out how to get to where I'm at with the game now.  Having a macbook air with high sierra and no knowledge of computer tech stuff workings made things difficult, but I've figured some things out.  Finally have gotten the NAM working, havn't had a problem yet installing dependencies and making various lots and bats work.  But I am stumped by this new problem, and perhaps someone here could offer some insight.  

I downloaded the PEG CDK3 SP Container Seaport and all of the dependencies listed with it and put all the files into my plugins folder.   Game works fine until I plop the seaport down and then the game crashes, however, only crashes when the speed is turned on, which I found peculiar.  Anyway, I've tried doing a ton of research I can't find a solution to my problem.  Any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated.  Also, I can answer any questions if needed.  Thanks!

 

Longtime lurker here, first post.  I plan on giving back and trying to help people with technical solutions in the future.

[xxdita 1,097]

Problems with seaports can be tricky to diagnose. It doesn't help that we don't have many people in the community that can provide advanced tech support for MACs. When following the install directions and avoiding any other Seaports in the Plugins folder, PEG's Seaport works as intended on Windows. That doesn't mean much for MAC players though. 

Let's start with a few questions. Are you using the 32 or 64bit version of the game? What version of NAM? 

The best way to get to the heart of the problem would be to clear out all of your Plugins that aren't related to the PEG Seaport and make a test city, in order to determine whether the problem is with your MAC version of the game, or if there is a conflict happening. Don't even keep NAM in your Plugins folder for now. Only the Container Seaport and any dependencies. It is important to be sure that you do not have any other Seaport files installed, even other PEG seaports. 

Start a test city and see how it goes. Post your results here when you're able. 

I'm not seeing the errors that would lead to CTD in the 64bit version, but I do see the more common Transit Switch errors. These will need to be fixed before the lots can function properly on MACs, but this error has never been reported to cause a CTD on MACs before. Of course, with the latest 64bit release, who knows. 

I don't have Reader working at the moment, so can't really make the necessary changes to the traffic switch properties. But i see that a couple of staff members are following the thread, so hopefully one of them can be of assistance with that. 

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

On 5/11/2020 at 12:21 PM, nickvon said:

downloaded the PEG CDK3 SP Container Seaport and all of the dependencies listed with it and put all the files into my plugins folder.   Game works fine until I plop

Do you happen to also have any other ports? They may compete for the port controller.

[nickvon 161]

OK!

 

I've tried removing all plugins, even the NAM, and this port still crashes the game.  I believe I'm using the 32 bit version but I'm kind of unsure.  I bought it from the mac game store.  When I locate the plugins folder I end up finding it in an asypr container.  I DO have the stock port that comes with the game.  But Pegs Seaport plugin explains that this one goes over it.  Not to worry.

[rsc204 21,859]

15 hours ago, nickvon said:

I believe I'm using the 32 bit version but I'm kind of unsure.  I bought it from the mac game store

That was recently updated to a new 64-bit version, necessary for those using Catalina, since it removes 32-bit support.

15 hours ago, nickvon said:

I've tried removing all plugins, even the NAM, and this port still crashes the game

Maybe then this is related to the 64-bit changes, which have caused problems with content that previously worked fine.

[xxdita 1,097]

On 5/13/2020 at 6:35 PM, nickvon said:

OK!

 

I've tried removing all plugins, even the NAM, and this port still crashes the game.  I believe I'm using the 32 bit version but I'm kind of unsure.  I bought it from the mac game store.  When I locate the plugins folder I end up finding it in an asypr container.  I DO have the stock port that comes with the game.  But Pegs Seaport plugin explains that this one goes over it.  Not to worry.

I'm not sure I'm following you. But ports can be fairly tricky. 

Are you saying you already have standard Maxis Seaports in the cities you're experiencing CTD's when trying to use PEG's seaport? This actually makes much more sense now. 

The Seaport Controller is added to a city's save file if a seaport is placed. So if you've placed Maxis Seaports before installing PEG's files, then you've pretty much locked the seaport controller in for each city you've done this. So trying to use a seaport that doesn't exist according to your game's save data will cause CTD. 

I'm not 100% confident with these directions on MAC, but they work on Windows. So please back up your region(s) before trying this. And follow these instructions exactly, otherwise you risk losing your cities. 

Remove PEG's seaports from your Plugins. Open a city where you've placed a Maxis Seaport, demolish each and every one. Save city. Exit to region. Repeat as needed. Once that is complete, you should be able to safely reinstall and use PEG's seaport files. If this works, then you can go back to running your full Plugins folder. 

In theory, this will clear out the Seaport Controller used by these cities and allow you to use PEG's, barring the transit errors I mentioned. But try it out and let me know your results. 
 

21 hours ago, rsc204 said:

Maybe then this is related to the 64-bit changes, which have caused problems with content that previously worked fine.

Nope. PEG's Seaports do suffer from the common MAC transit errors, but not any of the known 64bit CTD errors.

[nickvon 161]

17 hours ago, xxdita said:

I'm not sure I'm following you. But ports can be fairly tricky. 

Are you saying you already have standard Maxis Seaports in the cities you're experiencing CTD's when trying to use PEG's seaport? This actually makes much more sense now. 

The Seaport Controller is added to a city's save file if a seaport is placed. So if you've placed Maxis Seaports before installing PEG's files, then you've pretty much locked the seaport controller in for each city you've done this. So trying to use a seaport that doesn't exist according to your game's save data will cause CTD. 

I'm not 100% confident with these directions on MAC, but they work on Windows. So please back up your region(s) before trying this. And follow these instructions exactly, otherwise you risk losing your cities. 

Remove PEG's seaports from your Plugins. Open a city where you've placed a Maxis Seaport, demolish each and every one. Save city. Exit to region. Repeat as needed. Once that is complete, you should be able to safely reinstall and use PEG's seaport files. If this works, then you can go back to running your full Plugins folder. 

In theory, this will clear out the Seaport Controller used by these cities and allow you to use PEG's, barring the transit errors I mentioned. But try it out and let me know your results. 
 

Nope. PEG's Seaports do suffer from the common MAC transit errors, but not any of the 64bit CTD errors.

When removed every plugin with the exception of Seaport and related dependencies, I tried to place the new seaport in a city/region with no placed seaports.  Nothing changed with my predicament. 

I also have an update of some info which may help:  The game crashed again when I tried to place a locomotion refueling station.  I believe it is designed so that trains on a rail spur will actually travel through this station.  Perhaps my game does not like to interact with any other transit controllers?  I don't know.  I'm awful with this stuff.  Thanks to everyone with responding and thinking about this.

[Tyberius06 12,237]

16 minutes ago, nickvon said:

The game crashed again when I tried to place a locomotion refueling station.  I believe it is designed so that trains on a rail spur will actually travel through this station.  Perhaps my game does not like to interact with any other transit controllers?  I don't know.  I'm awful with this stuff.  Thanks to everyone with responding and thinking about this.

Ok, well that's helped actually. 

2 hours ago, xxdita said:

PEG's Seaports do suffer from the common MAC transit errors

So does the SM2 Locomotive Refueling Station too. I checked it, and it has the MAC transit switch bug. So if both of them is causing CTD upon plopping, then probably this can be the guilty one.I can not be sure, but I think this is causing the issue.
Although @nickvon can you confirm that the locomotive refueling sations is this one: SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station.
On other thing. Which game settings do you have. Software render or Hardware render? SM2 using mostly HD props, which requires Hardware render mode game settings.

- Tyberius

 

[xxdita 1,097]

2 hours ago, Tyberius06 said:

Ok, well that's helped actually. 

So does the SM2 Locomotive Refueling Station too. I checked it, and it has the MAC transit switch bug. So if both of them is causing CTD upon plopping, then probably this can be the guilty one.I can not be sure, but I think this is causing the issue.
Although @nickvon can you confirm that the locomotive refueling sations is this one: SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station.
On other thing. Which game settings do you have. Software render or Hardware render? SM2 using mostly HD props, which requires Hardware render mode game settings.

- Tyberius

 

This is quite disturbing, on a couple levels. 

@mmprog Tagging you in here. Would you mind testing the SM2 station linked by Tibi in this post, to confirm a CTD please? 

I would also implore all MAC users to contact support via whatever manner you've purchased the game, to demand a properly patched game. Post on their forums, post reviews, whatever you need to do. 

[mmprog 104]

2 hours ago, xxdita said:

Would you mind testing the SM2 station linked by Tibi in this post, to confirm a CTD please? 

Yes, I get a CTD. Looks like it's caused by the Mac transit capacity bug; fixing the capacity bug prevents the crash for me. I'm attaching a copy of the SC4Lot file with the capacity bug fixed. However, after applying the fix, the station abandons and doesn't allow rail traffic to flow through. I'm not sure how exactly to fix that; nothing else stands out to me looking at the file (with my limited experience).

SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station - Mac capacity fix.zip

[Tyberius06 12,237]

6 minutes ago, mmprog said:

Yes, I get a CTD. Looks like it's caused by the Mac transit capacity bug; fixing the capacity bug prevents the crash for me. I'm attaching a copy of the SC4Lot file with the capacity bug fixed. However, after applying the fix, the station abandons and doesn't allow rail traffic to flow through. I'm not sure how exactly to fix that; nothing else stands out to me looking at the file (with my limited experience).

SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station - Mac capacity fix.zip

Hm... I think I know why it's buggy for you. Try this one please. Whether it is causing CTD and about the other issue what you've experienced. 
Thanks in advance. 

SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station - Mac capacity fix-tyb.zip

[mmprog 104]

17 minutes ago, Tyberius06 said:

Hm... I think I know why it's buggy for you. Try this one please

Nice, that fixes everything! No CTD, capacity seems fine, train traffic can flow through the station, no abandonment.

[nickvon 161]

5 hours ago, Tyberius06 said:

Ok, well that's helped actually. 

So does the SM2 Locomotive Refueling Station too. I checked it, and it has the MAC transit switch bug. So if both of them is causing CTD upon plopping, then probably this can be the guilty one.I can not be sure, but I think this is causing the issue.
Although @nickvon can you confirm that the locomotive refueling sations is this one: SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station.
On other thing. Which game settings do you have. Software render or Hardware render? SM2 using mostly HD props, which requires Hardware render mode game settings.

- Tyberius

 

Indeed that is the station I was trying to use from simmer2.  I will now try to use that the fix that was posted.  Wow! you guys are awesome!  As for the question regarding software/hardware render.  I have been on hardware render.

[nickvon 161]

56 minutes ago, Tyberius06 said:

Hm... I think I know why it's buggy for you. Try this one please. Whether it is causing CTD and about the other issue what you've experienced. 
Thanks in advance. 

SM2 Locomotives Refueling Station - Mac capacity fix-tyb.zip

Hello,

Tried both of these fixes and neither of them changed my situation.  Thanks for reading and thinking!

[Tyberius06 12,237]

8 hours ago, nickvon said:

Hello,

Tried both of these fixes and neither of them changed my situation.  Thanks for reading and thinking!

Have you removed the original lot from the relevant SM2 folder? You need to put the fix into the very same folder where the original can be found and let the new file to overwrite the old one.

[nickvon 161]

5 hours ago, Tyberius06 said:

Have you removed the original lot from the relevant SM2 folder? You need to put the fix into the very same folder where the original can be found and let the new file to overwrite the old one.

You were right.  I didn't do it correctly.  But now I have, and it works!  I'm impressed.  How did you do this?  Is it possible to do this for the seaport as well?

 

Thanks so much!

[Don'tPoketheBear 46]

On 5/11/2020 at 3:21 PM, nickvon said:

Hello,

Just getting into SC4.  Its pretty awesome.  Im totally addicted.  Anyway, took me awhile to figure out how to get to where I'm at with the game now.  Having a macbook air with high sierra and no knowledge of computer tech stuff workings made things difficult, but I've figured some things out.  Finally have gotten the NAM working, havn't had a problem yet installing dependencies and making various lots and bats work.  But I am stumped by this new problem, and perhaps someone here could offer some insight.  

I downloaded the PEG CDK3 SP Container Seaport and all of the dependencies listed with it and put all the files into my plugins folder.   Game works fine until I plop the seaport down and then the game crashes, however, only crashes when the speed is turned on, which I found peculiar.  Anyway, I've tried doing a ton of research I can't find a solution to my problem.  Any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated.  Also, I can answer any questions if needed.  Thanks!

 

Longtime lurker here, first post.  I plan on giving back and trying to help people with technical solutions in the future.

i recently had the same problem and came across this thread in trying to figure out why it kept crashing.  After reading i went back and check the last few Mods i added and and i had installed 3 PEG seaports.  I moved them out of the Plugin folder and restarted the game and it seems to be working fine.

I wanted to thank everyone who contributed to these threads.  I know i never would have figured it out by myself.

Bear.

[xxdita 1,097]

5 hours ago, Don'tPoketheBear said:

i recently had the same problem and came across this thread in trying to figure out why it kept crashing.  After reading i went back and check the last few Mods i added and and i had installed 3 PEG seaports.  I moved them out of the Plugin folder and restarted the game and it seems to be working fine.

I have recently updated BSC Functional Seaports to be fully MAC compatible, as well as the files attached to this post at SC4D. So you can use a version of PEG's seaports safely. 

[Don'tPoketheBear 46]

Thanks 

[nickvon 161]

On 6/4/2020 at 1:11 AM, xxdita said:

I have recently updated BSC Functional Seaports to be fully MAC compatible, as well as the files attached to this post at SC4D. So you can use a version of PEG's seaports safely. 

Wow, this is awesome!  Thanks so much.  I can't wait to build.  Someday I'll become confident enough to post pics of my city.

[xxdita 1,097]

Make sure you remove the original PEG Seaports from Plugins when trying to use the BSC seaports, but you will need all of the dependencies still. 

[imbearclaw 6]

On 6/5/2020 at 5:56 PM, xxdita said:

Make sure you remove the original PEG Seaports from Plugins when trying to use the BSC seaports, but you will need all of the dependencies still. 

It's not clear which dependencies I need as a mac user. When I download them as listed in the readme I get 404's and exe files.

[rsc204 21,859]

If you have broken links, that’s mostly because SimPeg.com has since gone offline. But if you do an internet search for the mod or file names, or otherwise look through the PLEX on the STEX category here, they are all in ST now.

As for .exe files, yes not every download came with any alternative. So you’ll need something like File Juicer or Keka which can extract files from such on a Mac, or otherwise have access to a Windows environment somehow. For example, setting up a WinXP VM with Virtual Box is not too hard, it allows me to use all the Windows-only modding tools. But that’s probably overkill for most. 

[imbearclaw 6]

2 minutes ago, rsc204 said:

If you have broken links, that’s mostly because SimPeg.com has since gone offline. But if you do an internet search for the mod or file names, or otherwise look through the PLEX on the STEX category here, they are all in ST now.

As for .exe files, yes not every download came with any alternative. So you’ll need something like File Juicer or Keka which can extract files from such on a Mac, or otherwise have access to a Windows environment somehow. For example, setting up a WinXP VM with Virtual Box is not too hard, it allows me to use all the Windows-only modding tools. But that’s probably overkill for most. 

I have a PC and I could unpack there and copy all the files over, right?

[rsc204 21,859]

If that works for you, sure. Just install as normal and copy the files from the ‘plugins’ folder. The actual files used don’t differ between PC and Mac, but you might want to take a look here and here, since Macs have problems with content that doesn’t affect PC users, you might need similar patches for some of PEG’s content, like the one for the Seaport above. 

[imbearclaw 6]

21 minutes ago, rsc204 said:

If that works for you, sure. Just install as normal and copy the files from the ‘plugins’ folder. The actual files used don’t differ between PC and Mac, but you might want to take a look here and here, since Macs have problems with content that doesn’t affect PC users, you might need similar patches for some of PEG’s content, like the one for the Seaport above. 

Ok because Keka is failing to extract. I wonder if the issue I was having with PEG is related to this because originally I just tried to install that since it has much fewer dependencies but keep getting CTD every time I place the container seaport

[rsc204 21,859]

Most likely it's got the faulty values then... give me a mo I'll come back with some fixes, essentially changing a 1 to a 0.

[rsc204 21,859]

I've just added the patches to the others with the PEG files. Three of the functional Seaport lots indeed suffer these problems.

[imbearclaw 6]

7 minutes ago, rsc204 said:

I've just added the patches to the others with the PEG files. Three of the functional Seaport lots indeed suffer these problems.

You mean you added the fix to the PEG container seaport or its dependencies or for BTS? If I can just setup PEG with it's 3 dependencies that would work for me. I imagine the main benefit of BTS are all the additional options? Thanks for your help with this it's really cool how active the community is for my all time fav game

[rsc204 21,859]

Why shirk around reality, someone uploaded a modified copy of Pegasus' Seaports for use with the BSC Seaports, which is totally verboten. To be clear, I'm not questioning that, simply pointing out that it is the case so I can clarify something. So the other fix mentioned here, patched those copies, but that's only going to work for those who are using the BSC Seaports.

Whereas, if you prefer to use the PEG Seaports Standalone, you should instead use the patches I just uploaded instead.

Generally speaking, you can not use two different Seaport Controllers, which conflict with each other, so you have to decide on one of the other. To more directly answer your question, yes you can just setup the PEG ones, it's dependencies and replace those files you need with the patched versions.

Sorry if some of this seems a little weird, but there is a lot of 'politics' and history here, so I have to be careful what I post.