Support

One user reported an app crash on startup. He researched and came up with this solution:

Open Windows Control Panel
select SYSTEM
Select Advanced System Settings in left hand sidebar
System Properties window will open
Select ADVANCED Tab middle of top bar
Then select Perfomance SETTINGS
Perfomance Options window will open
Select Data Execution Prevention tab at top right
Click button 'Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select.
Then click Add... button
Browse to find Trainplayer folder and then the Trainplayer exe file.
Select it and press apply.

Thanks to David Reid for this information.

A. We plan a small upgrade for Mac by spring 2008. This is not likely to include all of what 3.0 has.

A. You can download layouts from the user layout page, but must unpack the self-extracting exe file using Stuffit Expander or equivalent program. The same is true of car collections. Files unpacked must then be copied to the right locations. If you need help with this, send e-mail.

Q. My license code doesn't work. I enter it and get "the name/key you entered does not appear to be valid."

A. You must enter both the name and the key exactly as given to you -- spacing, capitalization, and all. The best way is to copy and paste -- as a shortcut, copy both name and key from the e-mail and paste both lines into the Name box of the Reminder dialog.

If you are entering the key by hand, round characters are usually zero, not capital-O, and you must enter all the dashes.

If you have a license key but are not prompted to enter it, use Upgrade License from the Help menu.

A. Sometimes there is a background process which interferes with the installer. The usual remedy is to reboot your machine (or log off and on) and then try the install again. Choose Save instead of Run when you download, so you won't have to download again.

In some cases, a dialog window may be popped up behind the main window, waiting for input where you can't see it. Try minimizing the frontmost window.

Finally, on some machines the self-extraction mechanism fails to operate. If this happens, we can provide a pre-extracted installer. Write for assistance.

Q. Are there any diesel engine sounds? The chuff sounds are for steam locos.

A. We are in the process of acquiring diesel sounds and fitting them into the program. Watch for availability in 3.1.

Q. Why don't all the layouts show up in the Open Layouts dialog? I just downloaded TrainPlayer Deluxe but I still see only a few layouts in the dialog.

A. Are you sure you downloaded the right file? The Deluxe downloads are over 110MB.

It's possible you installed a new version in a different directory where you had an older version, and the Open Layout dialog is still pointing to your previous layout collection. Use File Open Layout to bring up the dialog, click the Browse button, and navigate to the Layouts folder under the directory where you installed Deluxe.

Q. I just upgraded to a new version and I don't see all the commands on the menu Toolbar buttons are fouled up.

A. When you upgrade without running an installer, sometimes you need to reset your menus and toolbars as follows:

This does not apply to most users. If you run the installer, it takes care of this reset.

Q. Why doesn't the layout open when I double-click the rrw file? The program starts but the layout doesn't come up. I have to use File Open to open it.

A. TrainPlayer runs on Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT4, 98, and ME. The program operates with minimum memory (256MB), but more is better -- the more memory you have, the closer you can zoom in on a large layout. Not all features are available in 98/ME, most notably, cartops

Q. Why does the train jump the track in some places? Sometimes it doesn't move where the tracks do, or splits up at a junction, or does something else odd.

A. There are some bugs in the trackwork. If you encounter one, please report it.

Q. Why doesn't the turntable stop rotating when it comes to a connecting track? Sometimes it just keeps rotating.

A. This can happen due to faulty trackwork. If you encounter a faulty turntable, please report it.

A. Try View > Zoom In (+ on the toolbar). If you have Auto-Follow checked in the layout context menu, the zoomed-in view follows the train around.

Or try this: zoom in, then use Window > New Window to create a second window which you can zoom out to see the whole layout. Tile these side-by-side and you get the overview and the detail at the same time. But note: only the main (first) window can do Auto-Follow of the train.

Q. Why can't I get these cars to uncouple? The tool is dimmed for no apparent reason.

A. There are reasons you might not be able to uncouple, having to do with physics and common sense. You can't uncouple if the train is backing up, unless you're uncoupling a car which sits ahead of the engine, because if you did, the next movement of the train would cause it to recouple.

Also, to couple you must not be going too fast. The default coupling speed is 15 MPH. You can change this in the Preferences dialog.

Also, you are prevented from uncoupling when cars sit atop a junction point (usually at the frog of a switch). If the uncouple button is dim, try moving a little forward or backward.

Q. How come the sounds are very faint, even with the computer volume control all the way up? The chuff sounds turn into putt-putt above 20 mph, and disappears over 35 mph.

Q. Why do I get this message? "Trainplayer.exe - Unable to Locate DLL. The dynamic link library gdiplus.dll could not be found in the specified path."

A. Gdiplus.dll is a library of graphics enhancements which is included with Windows XP but not with Win98, NT, or 2000. If you don't have it, it means you haven't yet installed a program which needs it. Please download it as follows:

An alternative method of getting this dll is directly from Microsoft. Click here to download their version.