How to Use Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool

What is the Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool?

The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool allows the replacement, deletion and modification of multiple instances of one or more different assets, including textures.

You will find the tool in the Surveyor Main Menu.

Notes: The tool automates the tedious process of deleting and replacing objects one at a time, as well as other tasks. It allow the mass:- deletion of scenery objects replacement of one or more scenery objects by another object random rotation of scenery objects movement of scenery objects from one layer to another These processes can be performed over the entire layout, a single baseboard or in a selected area only. Some processes can also be performed on a set percentage of the selected scenery objects. The replacement operation can be performed on textures.

When objects are being replaced they must be replaced by objects of the same general type - both must be spline objects, or both must be non-spline objects, or both must be textures, or both must be track objects, etc

If you attempt to replace one type of object with a different type you will receive an error message.

This indicates that at least one of the objects is not of the same type as the others. Clicking No will cancel the update Clicking Yes will proceed with the update but the mismatched objects will not be replaced

Things it Will NOT Do

The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool CANNOT be used on:- objects that are in a locked layer bridge splines tunnel splines multiple track splines consists/trains

Selecting and Adding the Assets

The large data box on the left of the tool window, the Assets to update list, is used to store the names of the objects that are going to be updated or replaced The smaller entry box on its right. the Asset to replace with list, is to store a single object that will replace the object or objects in the Assets to update list Steps: The quickest way of adding objects to the Assets to update list is to:- click on the Get Tool (shown below), then click on the object in the Surveyor screen. The object will be added to the list, as shown in the example above. This can be repeated for each object to be replaced, deleted, rotated or moved to another layer.

An alternative method is to Drag and Drop an object from the Object Tool Selection Window as shown below.

Once the Assets to update list has been completed, the Rotate, Move to layer and Delete options can be used.

To Replace the entered assets with another asset, the Asset to replace with list must be filled. The same method of Drag and Drop is used to add an object to the Asset to replace with list.

Only a single object can be added to the Asset to replace with list. If a second object is dragged into the list it will delete and replace the first object.

Deleting Assets

Use the Drag and Drop method to remove individual objects from the lists or click the x button in each data entry box to remove all its objects.

Setting the Scope

Select the region of the layout where the updates, replacements or deletions will occur:- Anywhere on the route - the entire layout In current section only - the current baseboard In selected area - a defined area

If the Selected area option is chosen, then...

Click the Red icon, and Draw out the area to be used

Setting the Options - for Non Texture Objects

Option 1: Random Rotation

The first option controls the rotation or orientation of the original OR the replacement scenery objects.

Notes: If no Replace with object is entered then the objects in the Assets to update list will be randomly rotated to new orientations If a Replace with object is entered then the replacement objects in the Replace with list will be randomly rotated to new orientations

Tick the check box to randomly rotate each replacement (or original) object Untick the check box to keep the original orientation of each object as it is replaced (this will have no effect if there is no Replace with object) Click the Begin button to complete the process

Option 2: Move to Another Layer

The second option allows the original OR replacement scenery objects to be moved to another layer.

Notes: If no Replace with object is entered then the selected percentage of the objects in the Assets to update list will be moved to the selected layer If a Replace with object is entered then the selected percentage of the replacement objects in the Replace with list will be moved to the selected layer All the layers involved must be unlocked.

Steps: Tick the check box to randomly move a % of the replacement (or original) scenery objects to another layer Select a percent figure from 0% to 100% in steps of 5%. Values other than 0% and 100% will be approximate, not exact. Selecting 0% will move none of the objects, 100% will move them all You must select the layer to move the objects to Untick the check box to keep all the replacement scenery objects in the same layer as the original scenery objects

• Click the Begin button to complete the process
  

The scenery objects do not all have to start in the same layer BUT both the original and destination layers must be UNLOCKED.

Option 1 and Option 2 CAN both be checked ON at the same time to produce a combined effect

Option 3: Delete Scenery Objects

The third option allows the deletion of scenery objects from the layout.

Steps: Tick the check box to randomly delete a % of the objects Select a percent figure from 0% to 100% in steps of 5%. Values other than 0% and 100% will be approximate, not exact, Selecting 0% will delete none of the scenery objects, 100% will delete them all Click the Begin button to complete the process

	Option 2 and Option 3 CANNOT both be checked ON at the same time.
	Option 1 and Option 3 CAN both be checked ON at the same time to rotate all the scenery objects before deleting a set percentage of them.

Setting the Options - for Texture Objects

One texture can be replaced with another. The only setting controls the scale and rotation of the replacement texture.

The image below shows a region textured with one texture asset but with different scaling and rotation settings when the texture was laid down.

With the check box ticked, the following is the result after clicking the Begin button.		With the check box unticked, the following is the result after clicking the Begin button.
The scale and rotation settings that were used in the original have been replaced with the default scale and rotation settings of the replacement texture.		The same scale and rotation settings that were used in the original have been used with the replacement texture.

Sample Application

The Problem:
A forest has been created using three different trees. A number (30%) of the two smaller tree types are to be replaced with a larger tree of a different type.

The Solution:
The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool does not have a feature that will allow the replacement of only some assets (it is all or none), so a slightly more indirect approach is needed.

A new layer, named Trees is created The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool is used to move 30% of the two smaller tree types to the new layer

The original layer is then locked The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool is used to replace the two smaller tree types with the new tree type Since most of the smaller trees are located in a locked layer, they will not be replaced (note the warning about the locked layer)

The final result.

To complete the process:- The original layer is unlocked The Trees layer is merged with the original layer

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Trainz Wiki

• How to Guides
• Session Rules List (Alphabetical) with Parameters
• Session Rules List (Categories) With Parameters

Route Creation Tutorials:

• Merging Routes
• Using Layers

Session Creation Tutorials:

• Adding Message Popups
• Adding Message Popups - Applications
• Adding Navigation Points
• Adding Navigation Points - Applications
• Configuring the Driver Setup Rule
• Controlling Junctions in Sessions
• Controlling Signals in Sessions
• Creating a HTML Asset (Session Introduction Page and In Game Messages)
• List of Parent Rules
• Parent and Child Rules
• Using Track Triggers
• Using Variables in Sessions - Examples