Yes. Bitmaps are stored on disk differently depending on the type of bitmap. 24-bit color bitmaps use 3 bytes per pixel, 256 color bitmaps use 1 byte per pixel, 16 color bitmaps use 2 pixels per byte, and black and white bitmaps use 8 pixels per byte. So the size of the file can change dramatically based on the type of bitmap. Depending on the image that is trying to be loaded and the purpose of the image, reducing a 24-bit color image to a 256 color image could buy a lot better resolution. Orienting the image so the longer direction is vertical could allow a bigger bitmap than orienting it horizontally. You can use Microsoft Paint, or other graphics programs, to reduce the amount of colors in the bitmap (by using File > Save As). TRAFED can handle both JPG and BMP, but the current version of TRAFVU can only handle BMP files. You can use graphics programs to save JPG files as BMP files, if needed.
This is usually caused by a bitmap filepath that exists in the TRF file, but does not exist on the target computer. The problem can usually be solved by deleting the bitmap background path data at the bottom of the TRF file, or by deleting the filepath (in which case the bitmap background file must reside in same folder as the TRF file), or by fixing the bitmap background filepath. In other more rare cases, where a TRAFVU crash is unrelated to the bitmap background filepath, it may be best to send your TRF file to McTrans for further testing.
This usually indicates a mismatch between the link length input to CORSIM (which is the distance from the upstream stopbar to the downstream stopbar) and the link length calculated by TRAFVU (which uses node coordinates and the location of other links to determine where the stopbars are located). That mismatch forces TRAFVU to stretch or compress the link, in order to be consistent with the node coordinates. Since it draws vehicles the same size (for each vehicle type) it sometimes appears that the vehicles are farther apart, and it sometimes appears that they are overlapping each other.
The solution is to enter consistent link lengths and node coordinates. TRAFVU locates the node at the point where the left curbs intersect. The location of the stopbars is then determined by the way the links connect and the number of lanes on the links. Read section 3.3.2 in the TRAFVU User’s Guide for more details.
The node to node distance is not necessarily equal to the link length. The link length is the stopbar to stopbar distance. The intersection width needs to be added to the node to node distance. Select the link in TRAFVU and right click the mouse. Select Geometric Data, and compare “TRAFVU calculated length” to “Length”. Those numbers should be the same, or nearly the same. If they are different, take the TRAFVU calculated length and use it as the link length.
