How to Use Track Triggers

The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19 and Trainz Plus.

What are Track Triggers?

Track triggers are track markers that are invisible in Driver Mode but visible in Surveyor Mode. They are used to activate Session Rules and some Driver Commands

Track triggers can be programmed to respond when a train (any train or a specific train) passes over them in Driver Mode. The response comes from executing a set of Session Rules that have been attached to a Trigger Check Rule (or a similar rule) or a Driver Command that is monitoring the track trigger.

Shown at left is a Track Trigger placed on a track in Surveyor Mode. It is NOT visible in Driver Mode. The "5.00m" shown below the trigger name is the trigger detection radius

Route or Session?

Track Triggers can be placed in a Route layer or in a Session layer

Notes: Placing Track Triggers in a Route layer (e.g. in the same layer as the track) means that they will be available in all Sessions created using that particular Route. Placing Track Triggers in a Session layer means that they will only be available in that Session. This can be useful if two or more Sessions are being created and you want to use different Track Triggers in each Session.

Information on Route and Session layers can be found at:- How to Use Layers

Adding a Track Trigger

Steps: A Track Trigger is placed on the track by:- clicking the Track tool, clicking the Trackmark Mode button, selecting the Trigger object from the list of installed objects, clicking the Add Object button, clicking the track position where the track trigger is to be placed.

Configuring a Track Trigger

As soon as a new track trigger has been placed, its properties window will open on the screen. It will be given a default name and assigned to the currently active layer.

Steps	Name the Trigger: To change the track trigger name click on the name box, delete the highlighted default name and enter a new name To change the assigned layer click on the layer box and select a new layer Leave the "Bound Layer" at <none>. (See the Trainz Wiki Page Using Layers for information on layers) To confirm the changes click on the icon on the bottom right of the window
	(Optional) Set the Trigger Detection Radius: Track triggers have a "detection radius" that controls how close a train has to approach to trigger the event. The default radius is 20 metres. The smaller the radius the closer the train has to be to the track trigger to be detected. This radius is set in the Advanced Properties section of the Tools window (shown below). Click the Advanced Tab to open its properties Enter a new radius value in metres Click the Set Trigger Radius button Click on the track trigger to assign its new radius A small radius should only be used for slower moving trains. Short fast trains may pass over a small radius track trigger without being detected.

Creating a Track Trigger Event

Track trigger events are handled by the Trigger Check Rule (or a similar rule) which is added to a Session in the Session Editor.

More information on the Trigger Check Rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Rules Page at:- Trigger Check Rule

Steps	Open the Session Editor: To add the Trigger Check Rule to a session:- Open the Surveyor Main Menu in TANE (shown below left) or the Surveyor Edit Menu in TRS19 and Trainz Plus (shown below right) Select the option Edit Session from the drop down menu list
	Add the Trigger Check Rule: In the Edit Session window (shown below left):- Click the Add button In the Rule Selection window (shown below right):- Scroll down the list to select the Trigger Check rule Click on the icon This will add the Trigger Check rule to the session.
	Open the Trigger Check Rule Properties: With the Trigger Check rule highlighted (shown below):- Click the Edit button. This will open the rule properties window
	Configure the Rule: For this example we will leave all settings unchanged and simply identify the track trigger to be used. In the Trigger Properties window (shown below):- Click the Add trigger link More information on the settings and options in this rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Rules Page at:- Trigger Check Rule
	Select the Trigger: The Trigger Selection Window will list all the Track Triggers in your layout. Select the trigger you have just added Click on the icon at the bottom of the selection window Once the trigger has been added to the rule, click on the icon in the Trigger Check properties window to accept the change. Adding an Instruction to the Trigger Event To test your trigger event you will need to add at least one rule. Adding a Child Rule Steps  Add A Message Popup Rule: When you are back in the Session Editor window:- Make sure that the new Trigger Check Rule is selected (highlighted) Click the Add button to add another new rule Scroll down the rule selection window to find and select the Message Popup rule Click on the icon The Message Popup Rule should now appear directly below the Trigger Check rule. It will display a red cross because it has not yet been configured.    Indent the Popup Message Rule: The Message Popup Rule has to be indented so that it becomes a Child of the Trigger Check Rule and is controlled by that rule. With the Message Popup Rule highlighted:- Click the Indent (right arrow) button. This should indent the Message Popup rule one level inwards (as shown below). This Message Popup Rule is now a Child Rule of the Trigger Check Rule and will only be executed after the track trigger has been activated by a train. Configuring the Message and Testing Steps  Open the Message Popup Rule for Editing: With the Message Popup Rule highlighted and indented (as shown above):- Click the Edit button. The Message Popup Rule properties window will appear (as shown below)    Configure the Message: Set the properties as shown:- Check ON Close previous message popup windows Select Option Button Custom text Enter a short text message (you are limited to about 6 lines of text) More information on this rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Page at:- How to Use Message Popup Rule    (Optional) Add a Message Icon: Click the link click here to set (shown left) and either Scroll down the Texture Asset Selection List (shown below) to find a suitable icon, or Simply type "icon stop" in the text box to use one of the builtin icons. Click on the icon click on the icon to exit the Message Popup Rule and return to the Session Editor The completed Message Popup Rule    Test the Trigger: Exit the Session Editor Add a consist to your layout a short distance from the track trigger (but further away than its radius), save the Surveyor Session, and then test in Driver Mode Another example of using the Trigger Check Rule can be found in the Trainz Wiki Page How to Use Message Popup Rule (Applications). Alternatives to the Trigger Check Rule There are other rules that can be used in place of the Trigger Check Rule and triggers. A few possibilities are listed below:- Directional Trigger Check Rule - identical to the Trigger Check Rule but adds the ability to test the train direction. Requires the use of a special Directional Trigger. For an example of its use see the Trainz Wiki Page Controlling Signals in Sessions. Trackside Check Rule - very similar to the Trigger Check Rule but provides some different options. Navigation Points (see the How to Guides link below) are more complex but provide more advanced controls and options. Multiple Resource Check Rule - monitors and acts on changes in multiple industry or multiple wagon resource (commodity) levels. Resource Verify Rule - monitors and acts on changes in a single industry or wagon resource (commodity) level. Timecheck Rule - triggers an event at a set time. There is a driver command that can be used in place of the Trigger Check Rule. Wait For Trigger - forces an AI controlled train to wait until a specified trigger has been activated by another train. Related Links How to Use Track Direction Markers How to Use Track Markers How to Use Track Priority Markers Trainz Wiki More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz How to Guides Driver Commands List Session Rules List (Alphabetical) with Parameters Session Rules List (Categories) With Parameters This page was created by Trainz user pware in May 2018 and was last updated as shown below.