The TAB key for SAM isn't working for me

[NeedHelp 0]

The TAB key for SAM isn't working for me. I've tried everything but the cursor remains red. What is going on? What am I supposed to do? 

[rsc204 21,808]

Usually a sign of missing RUL code or conflicting NAM controller files.

Can you tell us which version of NAM you are using?

[NeedHelp 0]

@rsc204

I'm not using NAM.

[rsc204 21,808]

Well it sounds to me like you've managed to find a very outdated plugin, SAM then. A long time ago SAM was integrated into the Network Addon Mod, although strictly speaking it was always a part of it. Many years ago, you could separately install modular NAM features, along with their respective Controllers, that last part provides the functioning code needed for all such features to work. Without it, all you'll get is a menu item that you can't actually use.

If you want to use SAM, you will need to install the NAM, but you can choose a light install with little more than SAM as part of that process. If you are able to figure out the outdated mod, you are of course free to use it standalone, but we don't support old NAM versions, let alone archaic ones. Honestly, I only know the history here, I've not been around long enough to have used any of the modular NAM releases myself.

[NeedHelp 0]

@rsc204

I used this:

Is this old?

[rsc204 21,808]

Well if you look at the bottom of the download:

Quote

In order to get the new functionality of diagonal SAM streets, you must install the newest NAM version (April 2008).
Note: Due to the size, the NAM Team cannot upload the new NAM to the STEX - Dirk has been provided with the files and will update the download at the "Modds & Downloads" section as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you can check out SC4Devotion's LEX for the new version:

That should give you a hint. As mentioned, you need NAM to use this mod. Sometime around 2010/2011, the way the NAM was packaged was changed. As I said, previously you could download packaged like the one you linked, then the "NAM", which was the controller essentially. But as the NAM got ever larger, everything was packaged into a single mod, it contains all NAM features and the Controller needed to make it work. I don't know why that file isn't locked, it's hopelessly out of date at this point. Note too, SAM in the NAM contains 3 additional SAM sets including SAM 10 (Moonlight's Japanese Streets) and SAM 11 (My own Industrial SAM mod), not to mention more supported features. So that's really the best advice I can give, to install the latest NAM, version 39. We don't distribute old NAM versions either, so there is no way to get hold of the Controller from that version.

[NeedHelp 0]

@rsc204

Ok so if I download NAM, I should get everything in SAM and more?

Also, another question, is there any mod for narrow streets like those carfree cities in Europe? And is there a mod for mixed-use development?

[Propfam 2,288]

6 hours ago, NeedHelp said:

The TAB key for SAM isn't working for me. I've tried everything but the cursor remains red. What is going on? What am I supposed to do? 

 

5 hours ago, NeedHelp said:

@rsc204

I'm not using NAM.

Of course, you certainly need NAM! SAM is a part of NAM complex: basic network improvement, RealRailway, HSRP, HybridRailway, El-Rail reskin, Tram-in-Road, Tram-on-Road/Street/Avenue, Maxis Highway Override (Project Symphony, or just Symphony), FLUPs, Underground Rail, and most importantly, traffic simulator. Without NAM, they can't function because the NAM has the network controller which controls them. More specifically, the network controller consist of RUL files which controls the item placement and to even TAB rings.

Sorry for my rant. Thanks.

[Tarkus 6,932]

That file shouldn't even be available anymore.  The NAM used to have things like the SAM, RHW, etc. as separate downloads, but rolled everything in with the NAM 31 release in 2013.  We got rid of, or locked (in the case of the LEX) the old versions of these former separate download NAM plugins, but this one likely escaped since it was uploaded by the main developer (jplumbley) rather than by the NAM Team, and because in the 5 years between NAM 23 (the release concurrent with SAM Version 3) and NAM 31, there were no updates to the SAM.

I'll also note, recent NAM updates have actually brought some long-awaited additional functionality to the SAM--since NAM 38, it's possible to transition between different SAM Sets (and to plain Maxis Streets without them overriding into a SAM Set), and NAM 40 has some rather exciting additions in terms of supported crossing types.

If you are looking to add pretty much just the SAM with a NAM installation, doing so should be possible.  Make sure you install the Base Features and Street Addon Mod under the "Street" section of "2_Additional Network Features", and that should give you what you need.  I'd also recommend in that case to manually compile a new NAM Controller with the included Controller Compiler utility (see here for instructions).  Make sure the "Street Addon Mod" box in the Compiler is checked--if you haven't installed any of the other items listed there, you can uncheck them, and that'll reduce the overhead of everything.

-Tarkus

[Propfam 2,288]

50 minutes ago, Tarkus said:

That file shouldn't even be available anymore.  The NAM used to have things like the SAM, RHW, etc. as separate downloads, but rolled everything in with the NAM 31 release in 2013.  We got rid of, or locked (in the case of the LEX) the old versions of these former separate download NAM plugins, but this one likely escaped since it was uploaded by the main developer (jplumbley) rather than by the NAM Team, and because in the 5 years between NAM 23 (the release concurrent with SAM Version 3) and NAM 31, there were no updates to the SAM.

I'll also note, recent NAM updates have actually brought some long-awaited additional functionality to the SAM--since NAM 38, it's possible to transition between different SAM Sets (and to plain Maxis Streets without them overriding into a SAM Set), and NAM 40 has some rather exciting additions in terms of supported crossing types.

If you are looking to add pretty much just the SAM with a NAM installation, doing so should be possible.  Make sure you install the Base Features and Street Addon Mod under the "Street" section of "2_Additional Network Features", and that should give you what you need.  I'd also recommend in that case to manually compile a new NAM Controller with the included Controller Compiler utility (see here for instructions).  Make sure the "Street Addon Mod" box in the Compiler is checked--if you haven't installed any of the other items listed there, you can uncheck them, and that'll reduce the overhead of everything.

-Tarkus

2nd paragraph: So, we can cross different SAM streets? Oh very neat addition!

[Tarkus 6,932]

1 hour ago, chfzdn said:

2nd paragraph: So, we can cross different SAM streets? Oh very neat addition!

You can transition between them on just a regular ortho stretch, using a new FLEX piece.  Trying to intersect one SAM with another still results in a mess of override soup. 

The SAM was initially created when override networks were literally brand new--Draggable GLR was introduced in June 2007 with NAM 21, while SAM Version 1 actually came out in September 2007, in between NAM 21 and NAM 22.  Back in those days, the idea of having an override network (actually--and confusingly--called a "draggable puzzle piece" or a "puzzle drag" back in those days) be able to cross an non-overridden base network or another override network was considered unworkable.  It was thought that such crossings needed to be the exception to the rule--and implemented via standard puzzle piece (Draggable GLR still requires a puzzle piece to pass under Elevated Rail, for instance). 

That's something we take for granted today, since there's thousands of examples of it in the NAM now.  It wasn't RHW 3.0 (released alongside NAM 24 in January 2009) that both of those notions were disproven.  When I took over the RHW in 2007, I designed its expansion such that it didn't preclude the possibility of such crossings, but with Draggable GLR and the SAM, any crossing with the base network was designed to also override it into GLR or the same SAM Set, respectively, and it would take a fundamental rework of their override logic (or more FLEX pieces) in order to remove that.  GLR is a small enough system that doing so wouldn't be prohibitive, and being a closed, Rail-type network, there's a lot fewer crossing possibilities for which to account.  The SAM, however, is a completely different story. 

-Tarkus

[rsc204 21,808]

9 hours ago, Tarkus said:

We got rid of, or locked (in the case of the LEX) the old versions of these former separate download NAM plugins, but this one likely escaped since it was uploaded by the main developer (jplumbley) rather than by the NAM Team, and because in the 5 years between NAM 23 (the release concurrent with SAM Version 3) and NAM 31, there were no updates to the SAM.

Resolved, file is now hidden here too, I'll see if I can find any others.

[Propfam 2,288]

11 minutes ago, rsc204 said:

Resolved, file is now hidden here too, I'll see if I can find any others.

Hidden as obsolete things as should be.

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

15 hours ago, NeedHelp said:

Also, another question, is there any mod for narrow streets like those carfree cities in Europe? And is there a mod for mixed-use development?

Narrow Streets? Best bet is probably using the pedestrian mall tiles and a lot of slightly overhanging buildings. There are a few lots around that have alley/streets 'baked-in' so to speak but the lack of flexibility in this approach kinda nerfs it for any other use. Years ago i made a pedestrian mall area using overhanging diagonal, curved and corner buildings, looked kinda cool once I got the textures on the pedmall tiles sorted.

Mixed-Use Development? Seriously unlikely to ever happen thanks to the way the underlying simulation functions. I may be wrong here, but as i understand it a lot can only have one zone type attached to it. Only Residential can act as a residence and only commercial and industrial (and a few civic buildings) have jobs. Commercial and Industrial differ in their usage/generation of freight.