How to Use the UDS Interface

The information in this Wiki Page applies to TRS19 Platinum Edition and Trainz Plus. Older versions of Trainz, including T:ANE and TRS19 (standard), do not have the UDS feature described in this document.

What is the UDS Interface?

	The UDS provides a means of quickly switching from Driver mode to Surveyor mode and back to Driver again without having to restart a running session after each switch. It is only available in TRS19 Platinum Edition and Trainz Plus
	The UDS replaces the QuickDrive Rule in TRS19 Platinum Edition and Trainz Plus

UDS stands for Universal Driver Surveyor and is an "interface' or option built into TRS19 Platinum Edition and Trainz Plus that allows you to jump seamlessly from Driver into Surveyor and then back into Driver again to resume a session at the point where you left it. There is no need to restart a Driver session from the very beginning.

The Scenario: You are in Driver mode testing out a route and session when you discover a problem.

Previously (before UDS) your only options would be to:- ignore the problem (if possible) to continue the session in Driver and fix the problem later, or immediately halt the session to fix it now In both cases you would have to:- load the route into Surveyor and try to recall exactly where the problem is located fix the problem restart the session in Driver from the beginning (a bit tough if you were 2 hrs or more into a 3 hr session)

The UDS interface allows you to halt the Driver session (press the  P  key) and then switch, via a menu option, to Surveyor without having to stop and exit Driver mode first.

The Scenario (continued): Using UDS you switch from Driver to Surveyor with the currently active Driver consist still as the focus and at the place it was located when you switched into Surveyor from Driver.

		All the Surveyor tools and options are available for you to use, including the Session Editor (more on that later).
		You use the Surveyor tools to fix the problem, such as deleting, moving or adding a scenery object (as shown left). You can then (if you wish) save the edited route and/or session (again there will be more on that later).
		You then switch back into Driver to continue driving the session with the problem fixed.

Switching Modes

	When in Driver Mode Switching to Surveyor
		Open the Tools Menu and select Surveyor Mode Warning: Trains that are moving in Driver mode when you switch to Surveyor Mode will continue to move in Surveyor. This can lead to derailments or other problems. It is recommended that you select the Pause option (at the top of the Tools menu) or hit the  P  key before switching to Surveyor
	When in Surveyor Mode Switching to Driver
		Open the Tools Menu and select Driver Mode If you had paused Driver before switching to Surveyor then the simulation will be paused and the Paused message will appear on the screen. Hit the  P  key to resume.

Saving

Warning:
	If you decide to save your Surveyor edits and select the option to then you will "overwrite" (a nicer way of saying destroy) your starting or original session

Most of the problems users seem to be experiencing with the UDS, judging from the posts in the Trainz Forums, is when saving their edited Driver session after switching to Surveyor mode.

	Using Driver Mode involves driving consists (either manually or through the AI) and activating rules. These will change the session parameters
	Overwriting the Session will save the consist locations and Session Rules in their new positions/conditions

Notes: An important change that has been introduced by the UDS is that train vehicle placement is now saved as part of the Session, even if those vehicles have been placed in Route Layers.

In TRS19 Platinum Edition and in Trainz Plus it is recommended that all consists should be placed into a Session Layer and become part of a Session instead of the Route

When you are in Driver Mode at least one of the consists will probably be moving. Some of the Session rules may have already been completed while others may still be running or waiting for events (e.g. triggers to be activated).

If you then choose to save using the Overwrite existing session option then you will be replacing your original starting Session with a new one with the consists saved in their new positions and the Session rules saved in their new states. So when you later load and restart the Session things will not be the same.

Unless you have a particular reason for overwriting the Session, then the recommended save options are:-

	Do not save session This will only save the Route using its existing name. Since most or all scenery and track objects should be in the Route Layers and not the Session Layers, this will save any scenery edits that you have made.
	Create new session This will save the Route using its existing name. It will also save the Session using a new name you enter in the text box below the option (Stage 3 in the example shown). The original Session will not be altered. This is useful when you want to test out changes to consists, industry settings, Rules, driver commands, etc but do not want to destroy the original Session.

Editing the Session Rules

As mentioned in the section above, when Driver Mode is running, when you switch from Driver Mode to Surveyor Mode, some of the Session rules may have been completed while others may still be running or waiting for events (e.g. triggers to be activated). When you restart Driver Mode these rules may not be in a predictable condition.

The Session Editor built into all Trainz versions allows you to add, delete and modify the rules that will operate during a Session.

To open the Session Editor open the Edit menu and select Edit Session

	At the bottom of the Session Editor is a new button, Reset All Rules. This will reset or restart ALL rules in the Session.
	Some rules, as shown in the screen shot above, have the label (Complete was-complete) after the rule name. This indicates that the rule has already been completed. These rules can be individually restarted by right mouse clicking on the rule and selecting the Reset option from the pop up menu. This will change the rule status to (Paused).
When the Driver Mode is selected again, all the reset or Paused rules will be restarted.

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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

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This page was created by Trainz user pware in June 2021 and was last updated as shown below.

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