Linux OpenBVE: How to use .EXE installers for routes and trains

[sharpzq]

Hi,

I'm new to OpenBVE but I am an experienced user of desktop Linux operating systems.  On an app centre called "Ubuntu Software Center" under the page for
OpenBVE, one or two of the feedback comments complained that many add-ons for routes and trains were unusable .EXE files for Windows, and couldn't be used
in Linux.

While these .EXE files were intended for Windows users, they can be opened by Linux users, because only the first segment of the file is an .EXE, the rest is the
Zip file.  It won't be an automated process like it was supposed to be, but at least the files will be extractable by the user.

To open the .EXE in Linux, download the file, then right-click on the file and select "Open with Archive Manager."  If the Archive Manager produces an error, then
that particular .EXE does not contain a standard Zip file inside it.  But I have tried some, and most of the time it will work.

Just in case anybody comes asking...

[Allen Knight]

The easiest way is to install the routes and trains under Windows, and then
in Linux create a Short Cut to these folders.

Earlier versions of Linux do not support short cuts, in which case you have to
drag the "Train" and "Railway" folders across.

To make this work, you have to set your computer up as a dual Windows/Ubuntu boot,
using the "WUBI" method.

If you have both the Windows and Linux version of OpenBVE, then the Linux version can
access the \UserData\LegacyContent folder.

I have discussed this project in more detail on my blog
http://hornbyrailway.wordpress.com/

[Bombardier01800]

The easiest way is to install the routes and trains under Windows, and then
in Linux create a Short Cut to these folders.

Earlier versions of Linux do not support short cuts, in which case you have to
drag the "Train" and "Railway" folders across.

To make this work, you have to set your computer up as a dual Windows/Ubuntu boot,
using the "WUBI" method.

If you have both the Windows and Linux version of OpenBVE, then the Linux version can
access the \UserData\LegacyContent folder.

I have discussed this project in more detail on my blog
http://hornbyrailway.wordpress.com/

This only works on WUBI, right? What if your main OS is Ubuntu, like me?

[CrazyMarty]

The easiest way is to install the routes and trains under Windows, and then
in Linux create a Short Cut to these folders.

Earlier versions of Linux do not support short cuts, in which case you have to
drag the "Train" and "Railway" folders across.

To make this work, you have to set your computer up as a dual Windows/Ubuntu boot,
using the "WUBI" method.

If you have both the Windows and Linux version of OpenBVE, then the Linux version can
access the \UserData\LegacyContent folder.

I have discussed this project in more detail on my blog
http://hornbyrailway.wordpress.com/

Or what if I have a Dell that was built only to run Linux?  I did this to avoid the Microsoft tax on most PCs.

The shame of it is, if every Railway or Train was a simple zip or 7zip archive with only the files that belong under the bve/openbve data root (/usr/share/games/bve on my machine), then nobody gets excluded!