Japanese Signals Readme

Japanese Signals

A newgrf for TTDPatch and OpenTTD

Developed by TT-Forums members

Version 0.4a - April 2008

What is the Japanese Signal Set?

It is a set of signal graphics for Transport Tycoon Deluxe with TTDPatch or OpenTTD that provides both semaphores and light signals.

The Japanese Signals are part of the Japan Set which consists of the following GRF files, available from the Japan Set homepage:

Japanese Trains
Japanese Stations
Japanese Buildings
Japanese Landscape
Japanese Town Names
Japanese Trees
Japanese Faces
Japanese Trams

How to install the Japanese Signals

TTD Patch

The Japanese Signals GRF is available in a DOS version ("jpsignalsd.grf") and a Windows version ("jpsignalsw.grf"). Simply copy the grf file into the "newgrf" folder inside your TTD main folder and add the entry "newgrf/jpsignals[d/w].grf" (with the "d" or "w" depending on whether you are using the DOS or Windows version of TTD) to your "newgrf[w].cfg" file.

Open TTD

The Japanese Signals GRF is available in a DOS version ("jpsignalsd.grf") and a Windows version ("jpsignalsw.grf"). Which version you need depends on the original TTD files you are using. Simply copy the grf file into the "data" folder inside your OpenTTD folder. To use the Japanese Signals in a new game, you only have to add the GRF under NewGRF Settings on the title screen. To use them in an existing savegame, activate the Japanese Signals GRF under NewGRF Settings in the Options menu.

If you have an older version of the Japanese Train Set installed, replacing the old file with the new one will make all your old savegames use the new version. (OpenTTD will display a warning upon opening such savegames though).

You will need OpenTTD 0.5.3 (or higher).

Parameters

If the first parameter is set to 1, you will get light signals only and no semaphores. In TTDPatch, change the above entry in "newgrf[w].cfg" to "newgrf/jpsignals[d/w].grf 1". In OpenTTD, select the Japanese Signals GRF in the NewGRF settings window, click "Set parameters" and enter the value "1".

Compatibility with other GRF files

The Japanese Signals GRF is designed to be used together with the other GRF files in the Japan Set listed above. Since it overrides all signal graphics, it should obviously not be used together with any other GRF that replaces the same sprites. The only other potential source for incompatibilities lies in the fact that the Japanese Signals require left-handed traffic, so they will not work well with any GRF that requires right-handed traffic.

Recommended settings for TTDPatch

You should include the line signalsontrafficside on in your ttdpatch.cfg file. You should also play with left-handed traffic, i.e. choose the game option "Vehicles: Drive on left" when starting a new game.

Recommended settings for OpenTTD

You should choose the setting Construction: Show signals on the drive side: On under Configure Patches on the title screen. You should also play with left-handed traffic, i.e. choose the game option "Vehicles: Drive on left" when starting a new game. You might also want to change the value of "Construction: Automatically build semaphores before: Year" to an earlier year (default is 1975) in order to get light signals as the default signal type once you start building Shinkansen tracks around 1965.

Playing the Japanese Signal Set

The Japanese Signal Set provides new graphics for all types of signals (including PBS signals). For general information on how to use these different types in TTDPatch and OpenTTD, you should consult the official documentation. To learn about PBS signals in TTDPatch, you may also want to consult Uwe's Signalling Guide.

Another question is when to use semaphores and when to use light signals. Before 1975 (or, in OpenTTD, the year you specified; see above), semaphores are the default signal type. To build light signals in that period, just hold the CTRL-key while building signals. After 1975, light signals become the default and you have to hold CTRL to build semaphores. Some notes on historic usage:

The first light signals were built in Japan in the 1950s.
By the late 1960s, light signals had become the standard on main lines, and most electrified branch lines followed quickly.
Non-electrified branch lines stayed with semaphores until the mid-1980s.
Semaphores did not completely disappear from main lines until 2005 and are still used on some small private lines.
The Shinkansen system mostly does not use common signalling at all. But within the limits of the game, it is suggested that you build only light signals on Shinkansen tracks.

Bugs

Please report any bugs in the release thread. There are currently no known bugs.

Licensing

This set is licensed under the GNU Public Licence. As such, it may be freely distributed and modified as long as it remains under this license.
If you wish to use any part of this set in another set, you may of course do so, but we would be very grateful if you asked the artist concerned for permission, which will probably be granted. However, the individual elements remain the property of their respective artists, and they have the final word in this regard.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.

If you wish to contact the developers, please use the TT-Forums.

Credits

Graphics by Sanchimaru, Uzurpator, and Onodera.
Coded by Dandan.

The names given are forum usernames, in use by the named people on http://www.tt-forums.net/ on 26 April 2008.

This readme document was based on the style of that generated by Michael Blunck for his DBXL set but created independently.

Co-ordination and administration was handled by krtaylor.
Development hosting space was provided by Advanced Systems & Software Technologies.

If you believe your work has been used and you are not properly credited, please post your concern in the development thread for immediate attention. Second-hand complaints will be disregarded; specific complaints with evidence will be rectified as soon as possible. Please bear in mind that the TTD sprites are very small, and as such there are unavoidable similarities. This set is entirely nonprofit, and permission is given to reproduce or redistribute it in its entirety according to the terms of the GNU Public Licence (full text included with the set).