How to Use Track Direction Markers
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A '''Direction Mark''' has no useful properties other than the direction it is pointing. This is the direction that all AI controlled trains will be forced to take. | A '''Direction Mark''' has no useful properties other than the direction it is pointing. This is the direction that all AI controlled trains will be forced to take. | ||
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+ | <td>[[image:PencilTips.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td><span style="font-weight: 700;">The name of a Direction Mark has NO EFFECT on its operation but can be useful for locating it in a route</span></td> | ||
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+ | <td>Immediately after the Direction Mark has been placed its properties window will appear. You can:- | ||
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+ | <td width=10>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>Enter a '''Name''' for the Direction Mark, and</td> | ||
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+ | <td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>if needed, select a '''Layer''' and a '''Bound Layer''' - see the '''Trainz Wiki Page''' [[image:WikiLink.PNG|link=]] '''[[How_to_Use_Layers|How to Use layers]]''' for the details</td> | ||
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− | ===Set the Marker Direction=== | + | ===Set the Marker Direction (S20)=== |
The direction that the marker points is its '''ONLY''' important property.<br> | The direction that the marker points is its '''ONLY''' important property.<br> | ||
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The name of the marker is only useful for finding it in the route. It is not needed for any operational purpose. | The name of the marker is only useful for finding it in the route. It is not needed for any operational purpose. | ||
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='''Direction Mark Operation'''= | ='''Direction Mark Operation'''= | ||
Revision as of 18:09, 27 September 2023
The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22.
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What are Track Direction Marks?
While Track Marks can be used to direct trains around a layout, they must be added to the Driver Commands in the form of Drive Via commands, and similar, to individual train drivers to work. Direction Marks can perform some of the same work without needing to be added to the command lists of the drivers. Their disadvantage is that Direction Marks will affect all AI controlled trains while Track Marks will only affect those AI trains where they appear in the driver command lists. Direction Marks force AI drivers to follow a particular path. They only work on AI controlled trains and have no effect on manually controlled trains. |
Route or Session?
Direction Marks can be placed in a Route Layer or in a Session Layer |
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Information on Route and Session layers can be found at:- |
Adding a Track Direction Mark
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In Surveyor Classic (S10)
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Immediately after the Direction Mark has been placed its properties window will appear. You can:-
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In Surveyor 2.0 (S20)
Surveyor 2.0 is currently only available in Trainz Plus and TRS22 Platinum.
Adding a Direction Mark (S20)
In the Asset Palette either:-
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OR |
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To narrow down the filter list, type "mark" (UPPER/lower case does not matter) in the Search Text Box
This will list all the Track Objects containing the text "mark" in the filter list.
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Place the Direction Mark on the track.
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Set the Marker Direction (S20)
The direction that the marker points is its ONLY important property.
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Change its Name (S20)
The name of the marker is only useful for finding it in the route. It is not needed for any operational purpose.
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Set its Trigger Radius (S20)
The Trigger Radius sets the green "effect radius" of the marker. It has no effect on its operation but allows you to keep its "visibility" clear of other track objects such as junctions and other markers. |
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Move the Direction Mark Along the Track(S20)
Direction Marks can be moved along the track or to other tracks.
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Move the Direction Mark Vertically (S20)
Direction Marks can be physically placed above (or below) the track. This feature allows them to be placed, for example, above the track so that they will not be hidden in Surveyor if a consist is parked on a marker. |
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Move the Direction Mark Horizontally (S20)
Direction Marks can be physically placed left or right alongside the track. This feature allows them to be placed, for example, beside the track so that they will not be hidden in Surveyor if a consist is parked on a marker. |
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Assign a Direction Mark to Another Layer (S20)
The Info Palette will show the layer assigned to the currently selected object. To the left of the layer name is a small arrowhead object. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Direction Mark Operation
Track Direction Marks only work on AI controlled trains. They have no effect on manually controlled trains | |
If the set path is blocked, then the AI will NOT attempt to find another path | |
A set path will be ignored if a shorter path is available |
Consider the situation represented in the diagrams below. An AI controlled train is moving left to right towards a junction and a loop line. A Direction Mark (yellow triangle) has been set on the main line which only allows AI trains traveling right-to-left to pass along that section of track. |
In Figure 1 below, The train approaches the junction at the start of the one way section. |
Figure 1
In Figure 2 below, the train has been forced to take the loop line to avoid the section controlled by the Direction Mark. |
Figure 2
In Figure 3 below, the loop line has been blocked by another train. The moving train will attempt to use the loop line but it will be halted and will not attempt to find another path. |
Figure 3
Direction Marks can be ignored by the AI In Figure 4 below, the marker has been placed on the loop line and is pointing in the same direction as the moving train. However, the mainline path represents the shorter route for the consist so the "preferred" direction, as indicated by the Direction Mark, is ignored. Placing a Direction Mark is no guarantee that the path will be followed if more suitable paths are available. |
Figure 4
Related Links
Trainz Wiki
More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz |