MSTS Activity Analysis - How to install an activity

For any downloaded activity, you should first review the zip file to see what files it contains. The primary file is the APK file which requires you to unpack it with the MSTS “TSUNPACK” program. The APK file is a packed assortment of files, which has been created by the Activity Editor. However, there may also be an ACT file in there. The ACT file is the one that results from unpacking an APK file, and is the one that will appear in your MSTS Consists Directory. If there is only an ACT file in the download and no APK file, you must copy the ACT file directly to the Activity directory. However, the safest and most secure thing to do is to not run that activity, rather, look for another activity that does have an APK file.

*.ACT	The main activity file with all definitions AND the positions and models of static locos and wagons on the track.
*.ASV	A compiled version of the ACT file. It is not necessary but it helps to load the activity faster in MSTS.
*.PAT	The path-file of your train and any traffic trains. More than one set of traffic trains are possible.
*.SRV	Service files include the names of the consists for the player and for the traffic. More then one set of traffic trains are possible.
*.TRF	Traffic definition files includes the names of the used services and paths and the timetable for all traffic trains.
*.CON	Consist files are all the combinations of trains used in the activity. There can be several CON files including the player train and all traffic trains. These files are NOT in the routes folder. They are in the trains/consists folder.

The misplacement or missing model or consist files are why many new routes will not run properly. A new route will have activities with all the files, but the con files are either not there or in the wrong directory. With the Activity-Analysis Program, you can figure out which con files are missing and you can go to the trouble of creating them in the activity editor. Conversely, the Activity-Analysis Program makes it easier to create/replace a new CON based on a consist that exists on your system.

As previously mentioned, the best way to install an activity is with an APK file. You can have greater certainty that an APK file will include all necessary files. A double-click on this APK file installs the activity automatically and you can be sure that all files will go to the right place (normally). However, there is a bug in the MSTS installation. If you get an error message when you open an APK file the first time, then the Activity-Analysis Program will correct this error on the first session. After the first session, opening the APK files should work correctly.

Now you will have all files at the right place but BE VERY CAREFUL. You should not start MSTS without checking the activity first. The problem is, that you will get a lot of error messages from MSTS if there are missing models or consists in the activity. And, if there are too many missing models, you will get a database crash and may have to reinstall MSTS. The big problem occurs if models used in the activity are not included in the APK file. You have to look for yourself to see if you have all of them. But how can you check to be sure that all the models and consists are there?

That is one of the major features of the Activity-Analysis Program. With the Activity-Analysis, you can look at a given activity BEFORE you open MSTS. You can check the models and consists to be sure that they are on your computer. And if not, you can replace them with existing ones that are on your computer. Another option is to download and install all of the missing Models. If you have your own folder structure, you can replace the folder names in the activity automatically with your existing model folders. (As a side note, there is a program called MSTS Buddy which is a great program for changing consists.) My program looks for a filename in any folder and if one is found, you are asked if you want to replace the folder name in the activity.

Without the Activity-Analysis Program, you would have to analyze all of the files manually. Worse, you cannot see what is in the APK file. If you try to do it manually, you will find that it is very difficult and very dangerous because it is easy to make a mistake and corrupt the database.

If you don't see red highlights in the Activity-Analysis Program, you can be sure that the activity is OK and can run in MSTS without any risk.