CCG/Fixed-Track

Latest revision as of 04:21, 7 November 2012

[edit] KIND: FIXEDTRACK

[edit] Description

A fixedtrack asset can be likened to a model trains sectional track system. The models may be straight or curved and snap into position when moved on to another track in Surveyor.

[edit] Container Structure

A well formed fixedtrack kind has the following container structure:

See Chapter 7 for an example asset of this kind.

A TYPICAL ASSET OF THIS KIND MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING TAGS:

kind                       "fixedtrack"
username                   data
kuid                       kuid
preview-mesh-kuid          kuid
trainz-build               data
category-class             data
category-region            data
category-era               data
mesh-table
default
mesh                       file
auto-create                data
effects
arrow0
att                        data
default-mesh               kuid
surveyor-only              data
kind                       data
arrow1
att                        data
default-mesh               kuid
surveyor-only              data
kind                       data
attached-track
track0
track                      kuid
vertices
0                          data
1                          data
2                          data
thumbnails
0
image                      file
width                      data
height                     data

[edit] TAGS AND CONTAINERS

The following tags are further defined in Chapter 5:

kuid

Generated automatically by Content Manager.

trainz-build

Automatically set to 2.9 for 2009 assets.

category-class

Should be "TF" - Fixed Track. See the "Track" section of Category Class.

'category-region

See Category Region for a list of valid category-region values.

category-era

See Category Era for a list of valid category-era values.

username

Asset username. This will be the name that appears in the surveyor menu.

kind

Must be "fixedtrack".

preview-mesh-kuid

The mesh to be used in the surveyor preview area. This is useful when an asset has a large bounding box, i.e. the "Airport" with it's jet animation - also see below.

Mesh Table

Default - Contains the default mesh.

Effects

arrow0, arrow1 - These attachment effects place an arrow mesh at each end of the Default Mesh according to the attachmentpoints stored in the mesh file (and referenced in the vertices container). These arrows are used as guides and only shown in surveyor.

[edit] Additional Containers

As well as containing all of the common tags and containers detailed in Chapter 5 , the fixedtrack kind also contains additional containers and tags that are specialised to the requirements of the kind.

[edit] Attached Track Container

Auto-generated spline track. Generated through attachment points located within the default mesh. Attached-tracks update automatically to the spline track connected to it. You may over-ride this auto-update feature by adding useadjoiningtracktype 0

Note. Correct track end attachment orientation is essential. The Y axis must point `out' at the correct angle. The Z axis must point `up' - see Page 75 .

The Attached Track Container has the following tags and containers:

track

Kuid of the track to be used.

useadjoiningtracktype

Indicates whether the track type should change to match that of the first track joined to the object or not.

vertex

Attachment points at which to place track.

[edit] Junction-Vertices Container

The Junction-Vertices Container contains the tags needed to handle the lever portions of a fixed track.

The Junction-Vertices Container has the following tags:

junction-lever-mesh

The mesh (selected from the mesh table) to be used as a junction lever.

junction-vertex

The attachment point (located in mesh file) at which to place the lever.

[edit] Additional Tags

preview-mesh-kuid

Each fixedtrack asset needs a preview-mesh as spline tracks will not render in the Preview window.A preview-mesh can simply be setup as a kind mesh. This way the preview-mesh will never be selectable or seen in Surveyor.

use-gradient-track

Uses the spline gradient rather than following the ground height.

A fixedtrack comprises a mesh asset with an attached track (or tracks) and surveyor only rendered arrows so the user knows where the fixedtrack starts and ends.

The model has attachment points (using the a.name naming convention) set-up accurately in Max or Gmax, and a single invisible polygon to allow exporting, and for in-game asset selection. Note. Correct track end attachment orientation is essential. For the end attachment points, the axis must point `out' at the correct angle. The Z axis must point `up'. Mid points just need to be in the correct spline path. See diagram below. TRS2004 released fixedtracks comprise of only curved and straight sections.

Crossings and junctions are created in TC using the attached-track set-up. For crossings, create two attached-track fields. For junctions do the same but use one of the attachments twice as shown below (where a.track0b is used as the common connection point).

For example:

attached-track
track0
track                     <KUID:-1:15>
useadjoiningtracktype     0
vertices
0                         a.track0a
0                         a.track0b
0                         a.track0c
0                         a.track0d
0                         a.track0e
track1
track                     <KUID:-1:15>
useadjoiningtracktype     0
vertices
0                         a.track0b
0                         a.track0a
0                         a.track1b
junction-vertice
0
junction-lever-mesh       "lever0"
junction-vertex           "a.track0b"
1
junction-lever-mesh       "blades"
junction-vertex           "a.track0b"

See additional information on Page 383.

[edit] THIS KIND SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING:

CONTAINERS

Mesh Table, queues Container, Smoke Container, SoundScript Container, Attached Track Container, Attached Trigger Container, String Table, Chinese String Table, Czech String Table, Dutch String Table, French String Table, German String Table, Italian String Table, Polish String Table, Russian String Table, Spanish String Table, KUID Table, Obsolete Table, Thumbnails, Privileges, Extensions, Junction-Vertices Container.

TAGS

kuid, trainz-build, category-class, category-region, category-era, username, kind, alias, author, autoname, category-keyword, class, contact-email, contact-website, description, description-cn, description-cz, description-de, description-es, description-fr, description-it, description-pl, description-nl, description-ru, dighole, floating, height-range, icon-texture, icon0, icon1, icon2, icon3, license, light, nightmode, organisation, preview-mesh-kuid, preview-scale, rgb, rollstep, rotate, rotate-yz-range, rotstep, script, snapgrid, snapmode, surveyor-name-label, surveyor-only, user-gradient-track, username-cn, username-cz, username-de, username-es, username-fr, username-it, username-nl, username-pl, username-ru.

[edit] Return to CCG Index

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