ReadMe for Trainz 3D Importer.
------------------------------

What is this?
-------------
This utility allows data from any source to be imported into Trainz as Meshes with Animations and Attachments. 

Please run TrainzMeshImporter.exe with argument '-?' or no arguments for command line help.
Look at the examples folders for usage and sample data. 


Files (*):
----------
TrainzMeshImporter.exe - Command line utility to convert Trainz Import XML format into .IM and .KIN files.
TrainzMeshImportFormat.txt - XML file specification
ReadMe.txt - This file
Example1\ - Example hand coded animating polygon
Example2\ - Example import from another data source


(*) You will also need up-to-date Microsoft Run Time Libraries for the exporter to load and run correctly.
Although run time libraries ship with your operating system, they are usually out of date.  There is never
any harm in updating your libraries, as the installer will simply add the files you are missing.  If you
don't have a compatible library version installed, the software will not run and you will likely see an
ambiguous message like "This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect."  

What are Run Time Libraries?
Have you noticed that when you run different Windows applications, they often look similar, with familiar
buttons, menus and dialog boxes?  That is because they share bits of program in libraries, usually packaged
as .DLL files.  As time passes, newer versions of these shared libraries are distributed, with the latest
version shipping with your operating system at that time.  Anyway, you need them, and if you don't have them
they are freely available for download from Microsoft:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) (~2.6 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=200B2FD9-AE1A-4A14-984D-389C36F85647&displaylang=en

Follow the instructions on the web page, but you typically just download the .exe file and run it to update your system.

