AWS Detection Script

Script versions & Download links:

For 1680x1050 screen resolution (With TSX on):
http://www.rryard.com/files/AWS_script_beta14.zip
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For 1366x768 screen resolution (With TSX on):
http://www.rryard.com/files/AWS_1366x768_beta015.zip
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If driving trains in RailWorks using the Expert-controls, and if using other views other than the interior cab-view, while watching the scenery and such it can be easy to miss the AWS warning-light coming on the HUD, and in views outside the cab, then you can't hear the AWS alarm sound.

So, I've wrote a little script that will detect when the AWS warning-light comes on and then will play an alarm sound, and guess what, it works for all camera views.

This is an experimental script, it runs independent of RailWorks and it works with good success for me on my computer as well as several other RailWorks Users reporting back that it works good for them as well. It may or may not work for you and on your computer, but it could be worth trying if it's something you think could be useful.

Here's what you need to do if you want to try it;
Download the version you'd like to try (see top of this post for the download links).

I've tested it on my computer now running Windows 7, 64 bit. It works fine for me on my computer but a couple of things you have to do to get it working properly.
Like my earlier versions of this script, I've made this first script for a resolution of 1680x1050 in full-screen mode (I may be able to make versions for some different screen-resolutions if there's enough interest).

Windows 7 does something strange (I guess it's a part of the Aero), where even if you're running a full-screen game, it seems to keep some kind of focus on the Windows Desktop (if you ever tried to take a screen-shot of a game playing Windows 7 using your PrtScr key, then wondered why when you go to paste the image into some graphic editing program why you see an image of the Windows Desktop instead of the game). This was also messing up my little script.

But, there's a work-around for that.
Go to your folder where you have your RailWorks (RW3 / Train-Simulator 2012) installed.
Right-click on the "RailWorksProc2.exe" file there, Compatibility tab, and check the "Disable Desktop composition" option there, Apply and OK.

* Note: For explaining things below, I'll be making reference to the 1680x1050 resolution version of my script, but the other versions should work the same, just you'd need to change your RailWorks screen-resolution to the matching resolution for the script accordingly.
 
Un-zip the downloaded file, and you should have a folder, named "AWS_script_beta14", containing two files:
"AWS_Alarm_1680x1050_beta014.exe" and "Alarm01.wav".
Keep both files together in the same folder, and have folder in a place at your convenience (such as your Desktop or other easy to find location).

Next, from that folder, double click the "AWS_Alarm_1680x1050_beta014.exe" to run the self-contained executable script.
An icon should appear in your Windows system-try to indicate it's running. This script uses very little memory and resources to run, so it should not cause any problems in that regards.

Now, have RailWorks set to run in Fullscreen mode and with a Resolution setting of 1680x1050 (currently that's what I'm using).
When you have those settings in place, Start RailWorks normally.

Next, use Expert-Controls (Uncheck the "Simple Controls" Option from within RailWorks).

For this script to work, it requires that the default F4 Driver's HUD be on. If that HUD is off, it won't detect when the AWS warning-light comes on.
Now, choose to drive a route / scenario / train of your choice that you expect the AWS warning to come on sometimes.

Drive the train as normal, (but remember to leave the default F4 Driver's HUD on for the script to detect the AWS warning light), and you can choose an external camera view now if you like.

When the AWS warning-light comes on, regardless of what camera-view you have selected, you should now hear a "ringing" alarm-sound to alert you that the AWS warning light has come on. Acknowledge the AWS warning as you normally would (example; a click on the AWS button), and the ringing alarm-sound should shut-off as well.

Once you finish playing RailWorks, right-click on the script-icon in your system-tray and select "Exit".
And, that's it folks! :)