View source for Asset Categorization

Assets are the configurable components available in the Trainz world.
There are many ways that assets are categorized (classified, grouped).


== Driver ==

A player does not directly interact with assets (in the sense described above).
One exception is in [[Quick Drive]] mode, where the player may select assets of type "Train" or "Consist".

* Train - similar to "Rolling Stock" in [[Content Manager]].
* Consist - similar to "Consist" in Content Manager.


== Surveyor ==

In [[Surveyor]], assets are grouped into the following human-friendly categories:

* Topology - mostly tools, rather than assets.
* Paint - mostly textures.
* Objects - many types of object that are placed into the scenery. Subdivided into single objects and object splines.
* Tracks - subdivided into "Track", "Trackside" and "Markers".
* Tools - mostly tools, rather than assets.
* Layers - no assets in this group.
* Trains - subdivided into " Rolling Stock" (engines and wagons) and "Consists".


== Content Manager ==

[[Content Manager]] provides a "Category" filter, with a list of about 40 categories.
The Content Manager categories provide a human friendly grouping of assets, similar but more refined than the grouping in [[Surveyor]].
The mapping to actual asset properties still needs to be determined.

Examples: Locomotive, Scenery, Track Object, etc.


== Kind ==

The kind of an asset is defined in the config.txt file of the asset.
It is a formal definition, and it determines what attributes are valid in the asset's config.txt.

The [[KIND TrainzBaseSpec|Kind]] classification supports a hierarchy, with a sub-type (child) inheriting all of the attributes of its super-type (parent).

Examples: engine, mesh, mojunction, mosignal, etc.


== Category ==

The category of an asset is defined by ??? (possibly in [[Class AssetCategory]].
It is another formal specification of the type of the object. 

The [[Category List|Category]] classification is hierarchical, with sub-categories refining a category.

The TrainzUtil '''searchbycategory''' command supports filtering by category.

Examples: BD (building), RT (route), TR (track), etc.


== Category Class ==

[[Category Class]] is a tag in the config.txt file of an asset. 
It is a set of characters, with each character refining the class of the preceding one.

Examples: AL (motive-power -> diesel), BI (building -> industry), FT (foliage -> trees), etc


== Scripting Class ==

Assets use object oriented programming to provide and customize behavior.
Assets types are represented by a class, and these classes are hierarchical.

The classes and their hierarchy are defined in the [[TrainzScript Library Reference|TrainzScript Library]].

Examples: GameObject, Signal, Vehicle, etc.