How to Use S20 Palettes

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The information in this Wiki Page applies to Surveyor 2.0 (S20) as found in Trainz Plus. The original refernce material for this document can be found at WikiLink.PNG Surveyor 2.0 Overview

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Contents

S20 Palettes.png


The Surveyor 2.0 World

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When you start Trainz in Surveyor 2.0 the world presented will look something like the following image, but what you actually see can be highly customised to your own preferences.


S20 SurveyorScreen.png

The dark grey strips on the left and right of the screen contain Palettes that have been Docked into the positions shown. Palettes are where selections can be made, information displayed and controls set.


Shown in the image above are 5 Palettes from top left to bottom right:-
DotPoint.JPG Assets
DotPoint.JPG Layers
DotPoint.JPG Info
DotPoint.JPG Tools
DotPoint.JPG Tool Options
Not shown are 3 more Palettes that have been hidden from view:-
DotPointBlueSquare.png Scrapbook
DotPointBlueSquare.png Asset Preview
DotPointBlueSquare.png Content Packages


Hiding and Showing Palettes

BlueDot10x10.png Palettes are hidden and revealed using the Surveyor Window Menu.


PencilTips.PNG Trainz will save the visible/hidden state of each palette when you close the program. When you restart each palette will be returned to that last saved state.


The 5 visible and 3 hidden Palettes in the screenshot shown above have had their visibility set by:-

Windows Menu
Steps: To Hide or Show a palette:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the SurveyorWindowIcon.png Surveyor Window Menu
 
  The popup menu will show:-
BulletTick.png visible palettes have ticks next to their names - this includes palettes that are visible but minimised
BulletNoTick.png invisible (hidden) palettes have no ticks next to their names
  minimised palettes and other windows (e.g. the Mini Map) are also listed below the bottom dividing line
DotPoint2.JPG To hide a visible palette or to reveal an invisible one simply Left Click on its name OR on the BulletTick.png BulletNoTick.png icon next to its name
DotPoint3.JPG To show a minimised palette or window (e.g. the Mini Map as shown in the image on the left) Left Click on its name


See also PageLink.PNG Minimise Maximise Close below.


Docking and Undocking Palettes

BlueDot10x10.png Palettes are normally Docked, locked into fixed positions on both sides of the Surveyor Screen. They can be Undocked and freed to move anywhere on the screen.


PencilTips.PNG Trainz will save the docked/undocked state of each palette when you close the program. When you restart each palette will be returned to that last saved state.


Undocking a Palette

PalettesUndocking1 S20.png
Steps: To Undock a palette from its docked position on either side of the screen:-
DotPoint1.JPG Move the mouse pointer onto the Title Bar of the palette to be undocked. The pointer will take the shape of a 4 headed arrow
PalettesUndocking2 S20.png DotPoint2.JPG Left Click and Drag the palette to any position on the screen
DotPoint3.JPG Release the mouse button
NotePad.PNG If an Undocked palette is Hidden and then made Visible again, it will be returned to its original Docked position.


PencilTips.PNG To hide an Undocked palette and later return it to the same Undocked state, Left Click on its Minimise  -  icon on its top menu bar. To restore it to the screen see PageLink.PNG Minimise Maximise Close below.


Docking a Palette

PalettesDocking S20.png
Steps: To reverse the process and dock a palette:-
DotPoint1.JPG Move the mouse pointer onto the Title Bar of the free palette that is to be docked
 
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click and Drag the palette to the desired position in a docking area. A light grey area will show the palettes docking position
 
DotPoint3.JPG Release the mouse button and the palette
 
The palette does not have to be returned to its original position.


PencilTips.PNG Free floating (Undocked) palettes can be docked together to form a docked group that is still free floating


Resizing Palettes

BlueDot10x10.png Only palettes that are Undocked can be resized. Some palettes have to be resized to display all their available information.


PencilTips.PNG Trainz will save the size and screen position of each palette when you close the program. When you restart each palette will be returned to that last saved state.


PalettesResizing S20.png
Steps: To resize a palette:-
DotPoint1.JPG Move the mouse pointer onto any corner or onto an edge (left, right or bottom) of the palette. When it is in the correct position the pointer "mouse" arrow will change to a "two headed" arrow
 
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click and Drag the pointer to expand or reduce the size of the palette
 
DotPoint3.JPG Release the mouse button when the palette has reached the required size


NotePad.PNG If a resized palette is returned to a docking area, or is hidden and then made visible again, its dimensions will return to its default (original) values


PencilTips.PNG To hide an Resized palette and later return it to the same Undocked and Resized state, Left Click on its Minimise  -  icon on its top menu bar. To restore it to the screen see the next section PageLink.PNG Minimise Maximise Close.


Minimise Maximise Close

BlueDot10x10.png Minimising will hide a palette or window but retain its size and position data.
BlueDot10x10.png Maximising will return it to the screen using its last size and position data.
BlueDot10x10.png Closing will hide it but its size and position data will be lost. When next displayed it will be shown docked to the side of the screen.

The image below shows a Surveyor 2.0 screen with an open window box (the Find Object Tool) and two Undocked palettes (Info and Layers)

PalettesWindowsOpen S20.png
Each of the windows and palettes shown can be:-
Options:
Ablue.png individually Minimised by a Left Click on the  -  icon in each of their top menu bars
Bblue.png individually Closed by a Left Click on the  x  icon in each of their top menu bars
WindowsMenuMinimise S20.png Cblue.png simultaneously Minimised in a single action from the SurveyorWindowIcon.png Surveyor Window Menu by selecting  Minimise All Windows 
NotePad.PNG Minimising will "remember" the size and position of the palette or window while Closing will not
PalettesWindowsMenu S20.png
NotePad.PNG Notes:

A Left Click on the SurveyorWindowIcon.png Surveyor Window Menu will list all the palettes, visible and hidden, plus any minimised palettes and windows.
DotPoint.JPG In the image shown on the left the minimised windows are listed at the bottom of the menu list in the Minimised Windows Area as Find Object, Info and Layers. Layers is also shown with the name of the currently selected layer.
DotPoint.JPG Note that the Layers and Info palettes are listed twice - once with a BulletTick.png icon in the Palette Area, which indicates that they are "active", and again in the Minimised Windows Area at the bottom, which indicates that they are "active" but "minimised".
Steps: To Maximise a palette or window:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on its name or title in the Minimised Windows Area at the bottom of the list.
 
Stop.PNG Warning:
DO NOT click on the name of the palette shown with the BulletTick.png icon in the upper Palettes section - this will reset it so it will become hidden (not just minimised) and it will lose its size and position data.


The Info Palette

SkipDown.png   Top Next Up Next Down Bottom
If the Info Palette is not visible on the screen then refer to PageLink.PNG Hiding and Showing Palettes at the top of this document. Some Info Palette functions will also require the Assets Palette and the Tool Options Palette.


This palette can be easily overlooked but it has some very useful features:-
BlueDot10x10.png naming objects
BlueDot10x10.png providing precise data and control over the "focus" - the position of the cursor
BlueDot10x10.png providing precise data and control over the position and orientation of objects (it can be used instead of the Free Move Tool and the Fine Adjustment Tool)
BlueDot10x10.png identifying and setting the "home" layer and binding layer of a selected object
BlueDot10x10.png used for locking and unlocking a selected objects layer


The components of the Info Palette are identified in the image below.

InfoPalette S20.png Every item in the palette can be edited.

Each of the small arrowhead icons in the palette will open to display more information and controls or a drop down menu of options.


Palette Coordinates

NotePad.PNG Notes:

All the positional data and controls in the Info Palette are defined in the following ways:-

 x  is ALWAYS the  North-South  compass direction regardless of the direction that an object is facing
 y  is ALWAYS the  East-West  compass direction regardless of the direction that an object is facing
 z  is ALWAYS the  Vertical  direction (perpendicular to the compass directions) regardless of how an object has been rolled or tilted

DotPoint.JPG distances are measured in metres from the North-West corner of the first baseboard. If that baseboard is later deleted then distances will still be measured from its original and now "virtual" North-West corner.
DotPoint.JPG  +  positive distances are in the  South  and  East  directions
DotPoint.JPG  -  negative distances are in the  North  and  West  directions
DotPoint.JPG New boards added to the North of the first baseboard will have negative x coordinates and new boards added to the West of the first baseboard will have negative y coordinates.


Info Settings Menu

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

All the Focus, Position and Rotation settings have drop down menus that allow values to be transferred to and from other settings and other tools.

InfoPaletteSettingDropMenu1 S20.png

InfoPaletteSettingDropMenu2 S20.png
Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG Right Click inside an Info Palette setting box
The first time the popup menu is opened it will only show two active options - Paste and Select All.
 Paste  will paste the contents of your Operating System (Windows, MacOS) clipboard into the setting. If data is already present then the new data will be added to it, not replace it
 Select All  will highlight the contents of the selected setting. You can also achieve this with a Left Click and Drag across the contents of the setting
DotPoint2.JPG Right Click inside the same Info Palette setting box
Once the value in a setting has been selected (highlighted) the popup menu will show all options as active.
 Cut  will copy the contents of the selected setting into your Operating System clipboard. The contents will then be deleted from the setting
 Copy  will copy the contents of the selected setting into your Operating System clipboard without deleting it
 Delete  will delete the contents of the selected setting. You can also achieve this with a Left Click and Drag across the contents and then press the  Delete  key


Next to the z co-ordinate in both the Focus and Position is a small white down arrowhead. Left Click on the arrowhead to open its menu.

InfoPaletteFocusMenu S20.png There is only one option in the sub-menu.
Left Click on the  Use Height for Brush  option to copy the current z value to the Tool Options Palette  Height  setting.


Focus Info and Controls

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png The Focus shows the current position and height of the Cursor object.

Open up the Focus by a Left Click on its arrowhead icon.

PencilTips.PNGBefore changing the cursor position with the Focus controls, set a Bookmark at its current position.


InfoPaletteFocus S20.png


The current cursor position is shown in the x, y and z text boxes. These values can be edited to move the cursor to a new position but CARE will be needed.

PencilTips.PNG On the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the position in smaller increments down to centimetres


NotePad.PNG Notes:

If you enter an x or y value that is "out in empty space" (beyond the edge of a boundary baseboard) then the cursor will be refocused at a point on the baseboard edge that is the closest to the entered co-ordinates.


PencilTips.PNGIf it has not been deleted you can identify the original (first) baseboard by entering 0 as the Focus  x  and  y  co-ordinates


Asset Name Menu

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png "Asset Name" refers to the name of the asset as displayed in the Assets Palette and in Content Manager. This is not the same as the Object Name (see the next section)


You must have an object (or objects) selected for an Asset Name to be shown and for this menu to be available.

InfoPaletteMulti S20.png If more than one object has been selected then the name and position data shown will be for the last selected object. If different objects (with different kuid codes) have been selected then a count of the additional objects will be added. The (+2) shown in the object name in the image on the left indicates that 2 additional different objects are in the group of selected objects.


Next to the Asset Name is a small white Down Arrowhead. Left Click on the arrowhead to open its menu.

InfoPaletteMenu S20.png
Asset Name Menu Options
 Copy   NOT WORKING  (a known bug) - copies the assets text details into your Operating System Clipboard for pasting, for example, into a text editor
 Show Asset Details  opens a new window showing the image and description of the selected object
 List Assets in New Window  opens up Content Manager and lists all the selected objects
 Add to Picklist  adds selected objects to a Picklist
 Remove from Picklist  removes selected objects from a Picklist (objects must already be in a Picklist)
 Select in Assets Palette  selects and highlights the selected object in the Assets Palette


Object Name

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png "Object Name" refers to the name that you give to an object


You can give any object in your Trainz World an identifying name. In some cases a name is vital for AI and session operations, in other cases it will be needed as a display feature - for example: to be shown on a station nameboard. You must have the object (or objects) selected for this option to be available. If more than one object has been selected then only the last object (the one with the Context Icon) will be affected
InfoPaletteObjectName S20.png
Steps: To name (or rename) an object:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click inside the Name text entry box
DotPoint2.JPG Enter a name
DotPoint3.JPG Press the  Enter  key


Position Info and Controls

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

You must have an object (or objects) selected for the position data to be shown and edited. Open up the position data by a Left Click on its Pos: arrowhead icon.

InfoPalettePos S20.png The position of the selected object (or the last object if more than one is selected) is shown in the x, y and z text boxes. These values can be edited to move the object or objects to a new position but CARE will be needed.


PencilTips.PNGOn the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the position in smaller increments down to centimetres


NotePad.PNG Notes:

If you enter an x or y value that is "out in empty space" (beyond the edge of a boundary baseboard) then the objects will be moved to that position and may vanish from view. The Undo command can be used to reverse the move or the Marquee Tool can be used to add a baseboard under the "floating" objects.


Rotation Info and Controls

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

You must have an object (or objects) selected for the rotation data to be shown and edited. Open up the rotation data by a Left Click on its Rot: arrowhead icon.

InfoPaletteRot S20.png The rotational orientation of the selected object (or the last object if more than one is selected) is shown in the r, p and y text boxes (the letters stand for Roll, Pitch and Yaw). These values can be edited to rotate the object or objects in 3D space BUT not all objects can be rotated in certain directions.
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG If several objects have been selected then the last selected object, the one with the Context Icon, will be the centre of all rotations.
DotPoint.JPG Not all objects will allow rotations. For example, SpeedTree objects can only be rotated using the  y  value ( r  and  p  entries will be ignored) while Spline objects cannot be rotated at all


PencilTips.PNGOn the right of each box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the rotation angle in increments of 1°.


NotePad.PNG Notes:

The rotation data and controls are defined in the following ways:-

 r  ALWAYS rotates in the vertical plane around the selected objects Y axis (which was defined when it was created).
This is the same as the  Red  Rotational Anchor in the Fine Adjustment Tool
 p  ALWAYS rotates in the vertical plane around the selected objects Y axis PLUS 90°.
This is the same as the  Green  Rotational Anchor in the Fine Adjustment Tool
 y  ALWAYS rotates in the horizontal plane around the compass Z or Vertical axis regardless of how the object has been rolled or pitched.

This is similar to but NOT exactly the same as the  Blue  Rotational Anchor in the Fine Adjustment Tool

 Rot:   y  = East 90° North 180° West 270° South
Original
RotationAxis S20.png
Roll:  r = 45 
RotationAxisRoll S20.png
Pitch:  p = 45 
RotationAxisPitch S20.png
Yaw:  y = 45 
RotationAxisYaw S20.png
 

DotPoint.JPG Some objects (for example: SpeedTrees) will NOT allow Roll or Pitch rotations
DotPoint.JPG all angles are measured in degrees
DotPoint.JPG  +  positive angles are anticlockwise when viewed facing the rotation axis direction
DotPoint.JPG  -  negative angles are clockwise when viewed facing the rotation axis direction
DotPoint.JPG angles greater than 360° can be entered but will give the same result as the angle minus 360°. For example: 450° is exactly the same angle as 90° (450°-360°=90°)
DotPoint.JPG clockwise and anti-clockwise angles are complementary. For example: entering -270° (clockwise) will give the same angle as entering +90° (anticlockwise)


Layer Info and Controls

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

You must have an object (or objects) selected for the layer data to be shown and edited. Open up the layer data by a Left Click on its Layer: arrowhead icon.

NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG the Info Palette is best used to show and edit the layer and binding layer assignments of individual selected objects
DotPoint.JPG operations such as creating, deleting, merging, renaming, moving and hiding layers are performed using the Layers Palette
DotPoint.JPG layers can be Locked and Unlocked using the Info Palette or the Layers Palette but the Layers Palette is often the better choice for these tasks


InfoPaletteLayer S20.png This will show the:-
DotPoint.JPG current layer assigned to the selected object
DotPoint.JPG its assigned Binding Layer (if any)
DotPoint.JPG the Locked or Unlocked state of the assigned layer
  InfoPaletteLockedLayerBtn S20.png Layer is currently Unlocked. Click this button to Lock the layer
  InfoPaletteUnlockedLayerBtn S20.png Layer is currently Locked. Click this button to Unlock the layer
  Using this button will also change the Locked or Unlocked padlock icon shown next to the layer name in the Layers Palette
AssetsPaletteLockedUnlockedLayers S20.png
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Objects in a Locked Layer cannot be deleted or moved
DotPoint.JPG Locked Layers can be deleted, moved and merged with other layers


InfoPaletteLayersMulti S20.png If multiple objects from different layers have been selected then no layer name will be shown in the Layer and Binding boxes. Instead they will be left "blank" as shown in the image on the left.

Both boxes can still be opened to assign layers to objects.

Stop.PNG WARNING:
DotPoint.JPG Setting a layer for multiple objects that are in different layers will move ALL those objects to that layer
DotPoint.JPG If objects are moved from one layer group to another (such as from the Route Layers to the Session Layers) then it will change where those objects are saved (in the Route or in the Session)


Assigning Objects to a Different Layer

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

A selected object or group of selected objects can be assigned to a different layer. If multiple objects have been selected then they do not have to all be in the same layer.

InfoPaletteLayerDropBoxList S20.png
Steps: To change the assigned layer of an object or group of objects:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the Layer drop down box. The layer containing the object (for a single selected object only) will be shown with a BulletTick.png in front of its name
DotPoint2.JPG Select the destination layer name from the drop down list. See Warning above
The layer reassignment will start the instant the destination layer is selected
DotPoint3.JPG If you see a Debugging Window on the screen as the task is processed, it will inform you when the task has been completed. You can then close the window


NotePad.PNG Once a target layer has been selected then the  Select Layer  button, which sets the Active Layer, will become active IF the target layer is not the Active Layer. A Left Click on this button will set it as the Active Layer.


BlueDot10x10.png The Active Layer is the layer used by the Placement Tool when objects are added to your Trainz World. This button gives you the opportunity to set the Active Layer to the same layer that you just used to assign to an object. Its use is optional.


PencilTips.PNGYou can also set the Active Layer by selecting its name from the list in the Layers Palette.


Options: To set current layer to the Active Layer:-
Ablue.png If the  Select Layer  button is greyed out
InfoPaletteLayerSelectBtnOff S20.png then the selected object is now assigned to the current Active Layer so there is no need to use this option
Bblue.png If it is NOT greyed out
InfoPaletteLayerSelectBtnOn S20.png then the selected object is now assigned to a layer that is not the current Active Layer. Left Click on the  Select Layer  button to switch the Active Layer to the same layer as the object


Assigning Objects to a Binding Layer

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png The Binding Layer, or Bound Layer as it is also called, is a tool used in the development of your Trainz World. It allows you to temporarily assign an object to a second layer while it is still in its original layer. The object will then take on the properties (Locked or Unlocked, Hidden or Visible) of both layers.
Assigned
Layer
Binding
Layer
Object
Status
LayerUnLocked S20.png Unlocked LayerUnLocked S20.png or None LayerUnLocked S20.png Unlocked
LayerLocked S20.png LOCKED LayerLocked S20.png or LayerUnLocked S20.png or None LayerLocked S20.png LOCKED
LayerUnLocked S20.png Unlocked LayerLocked S20.png LOCKED LayerLocked S20.png LOCKED
LayerEyeOpen S20.png Visible LayerEyeOpen S20.png or None LayerEyeOpen S20.png Visible
LayerEyeClosed S20.png HIDDEN LayerEyeOpen S20.png or LayerEyeClosed S20.png or None LayerEyeClosed S20.png HIDDEN
LayerEyeOpen S20.png Visible LayerEyeClosed S20.png HIDDEN LayerEyeClosed S20.png HIDDEN
In Summary:-
DotPoint.JPG If the Assigned Layer or the Binding Layer of an object is Locked then the object will be Locked
DotPoint.JPG If the Assigned Layer or the Binding Layer of an object is Hidden then the object will be Hidden
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Objects in a Hidden Layer cannot be seen and therefore, cannot be selected, deleted or moved
DotPoint.JPG The Layers Palette is the ONLY way to create, delete, name and hide layers


Some examples of using the Binding Layer:-
 Example 1: 
The problem: You need to stop an object from being selected so that you can you move other objects on or around it
The solution: Use the Layers Palette to create a new empty layer and lock it. Set the Binding Layer of the object to the new locked layer. The object will then be locked so it cannot be selected or moved even though its original layer is unlocked. When the edit has been completed delete the empty locked layer you just created to unlock all its bound objects and remove all their bindings
 Example 2: 
The problem: A group of objects (e.g trees) are blocking access to another object.
The solution: Use the Layers Palette to create a new empty layer and hide it. Set the Binding Layer of the blocking objects to the new hidden layer. The blocking objects will no longer be visible and cannot be selected even though their original layer is still visible. When the edit has been completed delete the empty hidden layer you just created to make all its bound objects visible and remove all their bindings


InfoPaletteBindingDropBox S20.png
Steps: To change the assigned binding layer of an object or group of objects:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the Binding drop down box. If the object is already bound to a layer (for a single selected object only) the binding layer will be shown with a BulletTick.png in front of its name
DotPoint2.JPG Select the Binding layer name from the drop down list. Note: the objects assigned layer will not appear in the list because an object cannot be bound to its own layer
The layer reassignment will start the instant the layer is selected
DotPoint3.JPG If you see a Debugging Window on the screen as the task is processed, it will inform you when the task has been completed. You can then close the window


As an example, the image below shows what you will see for a single object that has had:-
InfoPaletteLayerSetBindingSet S20.png
DotPoint.JPG its assigned layer changed (in the example from "route-layer" to "Station Industries")
DotPoint.JPG its binding layer set (in the example to "Multi Industries")
DotPoint.JPG the newly assigned layer is not locked so you have the option to lock it
DotPoint.JPG the newly assigned layer is not the Active Layer so you have the option to make it the Active Layer


LinkWiki.PNG

More information on creating, editing and using Layers can be found on the Trainz Wiki at:-

How to Use Layers


The Tools Palette

  SkipUp.png Top Next Up Next Down Bottom
If the Tools Palette is not visible on the screen then refer to PageLink.PNG Hiding and Showing Palettes at the top of this document


S20 PaletteTools.png
BlueDot10x10.png The Tools Palette is at the core of the new interface and takes the place of all the Tool Flyouts that have been the standard for Trainz Surveyor for many years. Some of the tools are new while others have been given a makeover and new abilities. The tools manipulate the Surveyor World you see in many different ways.


Tools and keymap for S20 The  Context Tool  is attached as an icon to a selected or newly placed object. The icon and its Context menu will vary according to the type of object.


Various brush tools make use of the Tool Options Palette, the Assets Palette, the Info Palette, the Layers Palette and the Scrapbook Palette. If a palette required by one of the brush tools is not visible on the screen then refer to PageLink.PNG Hiding and Showing Palettes at the top of this document.


The Brush Tool

S20 BrushToolIcon.png Keyboard Shortcut:  W  The  Brush Tool  "paints" the ground height, ground textures, effect layers and scrapbook scenes in a Trainz World
Brush Tools
The Brush Tool has two drop down menu lists.

The first drop down menu will set the "Brush Target" which is the type of brush.

The Targets are:-
BulletTick.png Ground Height
BulletTick.png Ground Texture
BulletTick.png Scrapbook Data
BulletTick.png <List of Effect Layers>
BulletTick.png Edit Effect Layers
BrushToolsGroundOptions S20.png
NotePad.PNG If you have any Effect Layers then they will appear as Targets in this drop down list. Select an Effect Layer to use the brush to paint with that layer.
The Brush Targets  Ground Height ,  Scrapbook Data  and  Effect Layers  have a second drop down menu that controls the Brush Action.
For more detailed information on using the Brush Tool see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


The Placement Tool

S20 PlacementToolIcon.png Keyboard Shortcut:  E  The  Placement Tool  adds objects to a Trainz World
Placement Tools
The Placement Tool places all types of objects except ground textures and effect layers. Use the Brush Tool to add ground textures and effect layers.
SceneryMeshFilter S20.png all non-spline scenery assets   ScenerySplineFilter S20.png all spline scenery assets
TrackSplineFilter S20.png all track spline assets   TrackMeshFilter S20.png all track (non spline) assets (signals, etc)
TrainFilter S20.png all rolling stock assets  


For more detailed information on using the Placement Tool see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


The Eyedropper Tool

S20 DropperToolIcon.png Keyboard Shortcut:  R  The  Eyedropper Tool  identifies and selects objects in a Trainz World
EyedropperTools S20.png
PencilTips.PNG The Eyedropper is also inside all the tools in this palette so you can quickly identify any object without having to switch to the Eyedropper Tool and back again. Hold down the  Alt  key to activate this feature in other tools


For more detailed information on using the Eyedropper Tool see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


The Free Move Tool

S20 FreeMoveToolIcon.png Keyboard Shortcut:  S  The  Free Move Tool  moves objects around a Trainz World
FreeMoveTools S20.png
NotePad.PNG Notes:

The Free Move Tool can move any selected object or objects (except Ground Textures and Effect Layers) in any direction horizontally. Vertical movements can be achieved by using the Height control in the Tool Options Palette.


For more detailed information on using the Free Move Tool see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


The Fine Adjustment Tool

S20 FineAdjustmentToolIcon.png Keyboard Shortcut:  D  The  Fine Adjustment Tool  makes 3D adjustments (XYZ position and rotations) to objects in a Trainz World
Fine Adjustment Tools
NotePad.PNG Notes:

The Fine Adjustment Tool can move any selected object or objects (except Ground Textures and Effect Layers) in any direction horizontally and vertically. It can also rotate those objects through 3 different axes of rotation.

The most obvious feature of the Fine Adjustment Tool is the 3D Anchor Frame it adds to a selected object. The frame is made of 3 straight and 3 curved coloured lines, called Anchors, which control position and orientation.
FineAdjust3DFrame S20.png The Anchor controls are:-
 The Horizontal and Vertical Anchors 
 Red   Green   Blue  move the object (forward and back, or up and down) in the direction of the Anchor line
 The Rotational Anchors 
 Red   Green   Blue  rotate the object (clockwise and anti-clockwise) along the Anchor arc line
 The Object Anchor 
     (black central dot) moves the object in any horizontal direction


For more detailed information on using the Fine Adjustment Tool see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


The Marquee Tool

S20 MarqueeToolIcon.png Keyboard Shortcut:  F  The  Marquee Tool  selects the content in areas of a Trainz World, creates and deletes baseboards and sets their properties. It can also be used in creating Scrapbooks
MarqueeTools S20.png
The Marquee Tool draws out a rectangular area, the Marquee Selection Area, in the Trainz World. Any objects (including Ground Heights, Ground Textures and Effect Layers) that are inside the Marquee Selection Area or touched by its boundary will be selected. The contents of the area can then be moved, rotated, deleted or copied to a Scrapbook.

BlueDot10x10.png The Marquee Tool can also draw an area outside the boundaries of a Trainz World to add new baseboards.


For more detailed information on using the Marquee Tool see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


The Tool Options Palette

SkipDown.png   Top Next Up Next Down Bottom
BlueDot10x10.png This palette is used by various tools to set controls and parameters. For a detailed description of all the options presented by the Tools Palette for the different tools, see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools


All the Tool Options controls and settings are shown in the image below. The controls are shown in the image as being "inactive". An "active" control will have its icon (to the left of the control name) shown in  Gold . Different Brush Types and Brush Actions will activate different controls.
ToolOptionsPaletteNone S20.png

PencilTips.PNG On the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the value in smaller increments
 Radius   All Brushes  the brush radius (metres)
Range:  5m and above for 5m and 10m grid resolutions

0.125m and above for HD Terrain

For Effect Layers the minimum brush size will vary. See Notes: below
 Height   Set Ground Height   Water Effect Layer   Object Placement  the brush or object height (metres)
Range:  -3000m to 3000m
 Sensitivity   All Ground Heights   Ground Textures   Scrapbook Data   Water Effect Layers  the rate at which the ground height/water layer is raised/lowered or the texture being "painted" becomes visible
Range:  1% (very slowly) to
100% (very quickly)
 Grade   Ground Height Grade   Water Effect Layer   Spline Object Placement  the slope of the ground, spline or water effect layer
Range:  0% (flat) to
±100% (steep but not vertical)
 Angle     Ground Height Grade   Water Effect Layer  grade direction (compass degrees)
Range:  (North) to ±359°
a negative value reverses the grade direction
 Rotation   Ground Textures   Scrapbook Data  initial rotation angle (degrees)
Range:  to ±360°
 Scale   Ground Textures   Scrapbook Data (Clone Brush)  the brush scaling factor
Range:  0.01% = smallest to

100% = full size to

>100% larger than full size
 Intensity   TurfFX & Clutter Effect Layers  the effect layer density within the brush area
Range:  1% (almost none) to
100% (maximum)
 Condition   Track Spline Object Placement  sets the track condition (or "ride comfort") for each segment
Range:  1% (terrible track condition) to

50% (average track condition) to
100% (perfect track condition)

 Shape   Scrapbook Data  brush shape
Options:  BrushToolsScrapShapes S20.png Circle and Square will set the brush to the selected shape
Natural will set the brush to the same shape as the Marquee that created the scrapbook, which may be rectangular


NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Unlike Surveyor Classic, there is no upper limit to the brush  Radius . Brushes of hundreds of metres (even kilometres) in size are possible. However, the program performance will decrease as the brush radius increases. If you are using the brush to set an entire baseboard, or many baseboards, to a specific height then the Marquee Tool would be a better choice.
DotPoint.JPG The  Grade  is defined as vertical rise divided by horizontal distance converted to a percentage figure. So a grade of 100% (the maximum allowed) would mean a slope formed by the height and distance both being the same value (e.g. a height increase of 50m over a distance of 50m). A vertical slope (e.g. a cliff) would have an infinite grade which is currently impossible in Surveyor.
DotPoint.JPG The  Rotation  controls the starting angle for placing a scrapbook or a texture when painting and is often used to avoid pattern repetition. As in Surveyor Classic, holding down the  [  or  ]  keys while painting a texture will continuously change the rotation angle
DotPoint.JPG For TurfFX and Clutter effect layers the minimum brush  Radius  will depend on the configuration settings (asset density, resources used, etc) of the layer that is being painted. If the  Radius  setting is below the minimum for the selected layer then the brush circle will turn red and it will not paint
DotPoint.JPG
Stop.PNG Warning:
Setting extreme values for the  Scale  and the  Radius  when using the  Scrapbook Data Clone Brush  can cause performance issues (i.e. long delays) while the program attempts to scale and clone the scrapbook contents


Tool Options Popups

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png Most of the data entry boxes in the Tool Options Palette have a Popup Menu. Right Click inside a box to bring up its menu


ToolOptionsPopup.png
Tool Popup Common Options for  Radius   Angle   Sensitivity   Rotation   Scale   Intensity 
 Cut  copies and deletes the highlighted value in the data entry box into your Operating System (Windows, MacOS) clipboard
 Copy  copies the highlighted value in the data entry box to your Operating System clipboard
 Paste  copies the value from your Operating System clipboard into the data entry box
 Delete  deletes the highlighted value in the data entry box
 Select All  selects (highlights) the current value in the data entry box


PencilTips.PNG Highlight the value in the text box (use a Left Click and Drag over the data entry or Left Click the  Select All  option first) before choosing the  Cut ,  Copy  or  Delete  options above


ToolOptionsPopupHeight.png
Tool Popup Options for  Height 
All of the Tool Popup Common Options above plus ...
 Get Height from Selection  copies the Height value of the Selected Object and places it into the data entry box
 Get Height at Compass  copies the Height value of the Compass Rose and places it into the data entry box. This is the Focus z value from the Info Palette
 Set Height to Selection  applies the Height value to the Selected Object


ToolOptionsPopupGrade.png
Tool Popup Options for  Grade 
All of the Tool Popup Common Options above plus ...
 Get Grade from Selection  copies the Grade value of the Selected Object and places it into the data entry box
 Set Grade to Selection  applies the Grade value to the Selected Object


NotePad.PNG

The Grade setting only applies to Spline Objects, Ground Heights (Grade) and Water Effect Layers


ToolOptionsPopupCondition.png
Tool Popup Options for  Condition 
All of the Tool Popup Common Options above plus ...
 Get Condition from Selection  copies the Condition value of the Selected Track Spline and places it into the data entry box
 Set Condition to Selection  applies the Condition value to the Selected Track Spline


NotePad.PNG

The Condition setting only applies to Track Spline Objects


Tool Options Active Controls

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png Different Tool Palette and Brush Type selections will activate different option controls


Some examples of when the controls will become active are:-

Ablue.png If a Brush Tool is selected then the exact controls that will be active will vary between the different brushes and brush actions. For example, selecting the  Ground Height Brush  and the  Set Height  brush action will active the following Tool Options.
BrushToolsHeightSet S20.png
 Radius  the brush radius (metres)
Range:  5m and above for 5m and 10m grid resolutions
0.125m and above for HD Terrain
 Height  the exact height, in metres, that the ground will be raised (or lowered) to
Range:  -3000m to +3000m
 Sensitivity  the speed at which the ground height will be changed
Range:  1% (very slowly) to
100% (very quickly)
PencilTips.PNG On the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the value in smaller increments


Bblue.png If a Track Spline Object is selected with the Free Move Tool or the Fine Adjustment Tool then the following Tool Options will become active.
PlacementSplineTools S20.png
 Grade  the track gradient. A positive grade will set the 2nd endpoint higher than the 1st. A negative grade will set the 2nd endpoint lower than the 1st.
Range:  0% = flat ("Plateau" in Classic) to
±100% = steep (but not vertical)
 Condition  the track condition of each track segment
Range:  1% (terrible track condition) to

50% (average track condition) to
100% (perfect track condition)

PencilTips.PNG
DotPoint.JPG Use the Free Move Tool or the Fine Adjustment Tool to select multiple track segments and set their track condition simultaneously
DotPoint.JPG The Track Condition can also be set for each individal track segment in its Context Menu  Edit Properties  option
DotPoint.JPG On the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the value in smaller increments


Cblue.png If the Scrapbook Data Brush is selected to paint the current Scrapbook into the Trainz World then certain controls that will affect the painting of the Scrapbook will, depending on the brush action selected, become active.
 Scrapbook Brush 
Brush options
 Scrapbook Clone 
Clone options
 Radius  the brush radius (metres)
Range:  5m and above for 5m and 10m grid resolutions
0.125m and above for HD Terrain
 Sensitivity  if the  Ground Height  option has been enabled in the Scrapbook Palette filter settings, then this will set the rate or speed at which the ground height will change
Range:  1% (very slowly) to
100% (very quickly)
 Rotation  the starting angle (or orientation) of the scrapbook
Range:  to ±360° (larger angles can be entered)
 Scale  the scaling factor as a % used by the  Scrapbook Clone  action
Range:  0.01% = smallest to

100% = full size to

>100% larger than full size
 Shape  the physical shape of the scrapbook brush
Options:  BrushToolsScrapShapes S20.png  Circle  and  Square  will set the brush to the selected shape with the  Radius  setting the brush size
   Natural  will set the brush to the same shape as the Marquee that created the scrapbook, which may be rectangular. The  Radius  setting will scale the brush size
PencilTips.PNG On the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the value in smaller increments


Stop.PNG Warning:
Setting both a large  Radius  and a small  Scale  will cause performance issues


LinkWiki.PNG More examples and more detailed descriptions of the Tool Options Palette Active Controls can be found on the Trainz Wiki at:-
How to Use S20 Tools: The Brush Tool


The Assets Palette

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png Top Next Up Next Down Bottom
BlueDot10x10.png This palette is used by various tools and other palettes to select and identify assets and objects. It includes a filter function to narrow down the search and selection process.


Using the Asset Filters

BlueDot10x10.png The Assets Palette provides filter options that can be used with the Placement Tool, Free Move Tool, Fine Adjustment Tool, Marquee Tool and the Eyedropper Tool.


PencilTips.PNG When used with the Eyedropper - either the Eyedropper Tool (press  R ) or the Eyedropper Icon (press and hold down  Alt ) - the filters can be used to restrict the eyedropper to only "seeing" and selecting certain objects or types of objects.


Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG The first filter option controls where the filters are applied.

S20 PaletteAssets.png
The top drop down box will provide three actions:-
BulletTick.png Filter List
BulletTick.png Filter Selection
BulletTick.png Filter Visibility
AssetsPaletteFilterOptions S20.png
These actions can affect the display and selection of objects in the Trainz World
Asset Filter Options:
 Filter List  this action will have no effect on the operation of the tool selected in the Tool Palette or on the objects displayed on the screen in the Trainz World. It is the default setting and the search results of the entered filters will be shown in the Assets Palette asset name list below the filters.
 Filter Selection  this action will restrict the selected tool (e.g. The Placement Tool) to only working on those objects that are in the filtered list. Objects that are not in the filtered list will still be visible in the Trainz World but cannot be selected.
 Filter Visibility  this action will hide all objects in the Trainz World that are not in the filtered list. The only exceptions are Ground Textures and Effect Layers which will be visible but, unless they are also in the filtered list, cannot be selected.


BlueDot10x10.png It is recommended that you also make use of either Step DotPoint2.JPG or Step DotPoint3.JPG or BOTH DotPoint2.JPG and DotPoint3.JPG as described below.


DotPoint2.JPG The second filter is optional and identifies the type of asset that will be selected by the filter.
This option can be selected by a Left Click on a icon that represents the different types of assets or selecting the type of asset from a drop down list.


Options: Choose from:-

Ablue.png Left Click on an asset selection icon
Filter Icons
GroundTextureFilter S20.png all ground textures
SceneryMeshFilter S20.png all non-spline scenery assets
ScenerySplineFilter S20.png all spline scenery assets
TrackSplineFilter S20.png all track spline assets
TrackMeshFilter S20.png all track (non spline) assets (signals, etc)
TrainFilter S20.png all rolling stock assets
PresetFilter S20.png all Effect Layer presets
OR
Bblue.png Left Click the Content Drop-down Box

Filter List
Then select the asset type you want
Scenery Objects


DotPoint3.JPG The third filter is also optional. You can enter a string of text characters that will be used to search the asset names and their descriptions for a match. Those assets that return a positive match, together with a positive asset type, will be shown in the filter name list.
PencilTips.PNG The String Search will accept a list of <kuid> codes seperated by commas. This list can be created by Content Manager by selecting the assets followed by the List Assets in New Window option. Copy the assets list into your clipboard and paste it into the Assets Palette search box


An example: To search for all Scenery Objects that have the text string "barn" in their name or description:-

Text search
Filtered list
Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click the SceneryMeshFilter S20.png icon OR select the  Scenery Objects  option from the  Content  drop down box


DotPoint2.JPG Type the text barn (UPPER/lower case is not important) in the  Search  text box and press the  Enter  key.
This will list all the Scenery Objects containing the text "barn" in their name or description.


DotPoint3.JPG Left Click on the required item in the list (e.g. "wooden barn").


BlueDot10x10.png When selected the asset will be highlighted on a blue background and its name will appear in the Assets Palette title bar.


PencilTips.PNG
If you are not certain that a selected asset is the right one then try the following:-
Options:
Ablue.png Double Left Click on the name in the Asset List to bring up its image and description, OR
Bblue.png view its rotating and resizeable 3D image in the Preview Palette, OR
Cblue.png switch the asset list to Thumbnail View (best used when the palette is undocked and enlarged).
See the PageLink.PNG Thumbnail View below

Left Click on an asset in the Assets Palette filter list to automatically activate the Placement Tool so the next Left Click in the Trainz World will place that object in that world.


PencilTips.PNG You can enter a search text string without selecting an asset type. The filter will search through all assets types to find matches with your entered search string.
In the Content Drop Down box select the option  All Content  then enter your search text string and press the  Enter  key.


Expanding the Assets Name List View

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

The list of asset names shown below the filter controls can be expanded to provide more information about each asset.

AssetsPaletteListExtended S20.png

Steps: To move and resize columns:-
DotPoint1.JPG To Move: Left Click and Drag the column heading left or right to a new position
DotPoint2.JPG To Resize: Left Click and Drag the dividing line between two column headings left or right to a reduce or increase the column width
Steps: To sort the data in a column:-
DotPoint1.JPG undock the palette and move it away from the edges of the screen
DotPoint2.JPG resize the palette by dragging its right edge further out to the right. This will reveal additional columns of information in an identical display to what you would see in Content Manager
DotPoint3.JPG to sort the data in a column, Left Click on the column heading. Each Left Click will cycle through different sorting options

Just like in Content Manager, additional columns can be added, removed, resized and moved to a different position.

Steps: To add new columns
DotPoint1.JPG Right Click on a column heading where you want to insert a new column
AssetsPaletteListAddColumn S20.png
DotPoint2.JPG Select the option  Insert Column  and then select the column to be added
DotPoint3.JPG To remove a column, Right Click on its column heading and select the option  Remove Column 


PencilTips.PNG If you hide or dock the Assets Palette after resizing, then it will return to its original dimensions. To hide the palette so that its new size and position will be restored when it is made visible again, Left Click on its Minimise  -  icon on its top menu bar. See PageLink.PNG Minimise Maximise Close at the top of this document.


Thumbnail View

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

As an alternative to the list view of filtered assets, there is a 3D thumbnail view option. Again this works best when the Assets Palette has been undocked.

NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG the 3D thumbnails are created from the 3D mesh data in each asset. The thumbnail.jpg image, which may be a generic image for a large number of similar assets or give a very uninformative view, is not used.
DotPoint.JPG If the asset is animated then its animation will play in the thumbnail.


AssetsPaletteThumbnailsExtended S20.png
Steps: To switch to the thumbnail view:-
DotPoint1.JPG undock and resize the Assets Palette as described in PageLink.PNG Docking and Undocking Palettes and Resizing Palettes above.
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click the Thumbnail icon AssetsPaletteListToggleViewIcon S20.png at the end of the  Name Search  box
DotPoint3.JPG Left Click on a Thumbnail to select the asset. It will be displayed with a blue background
To switch back to the list view:-
DotPoint4.JPG Left Click the Thumbnail icon AssetsPaletteListToggleViewIcon S20.png at the end of the  Name Search  box


PencilTips.PNG To get a better view or more details about an asset, choose one of the following:-
Options:
Ablue.png Double Left Click on a thumbnail to open its Asset Properties window, OR
Bblue.png Left Click on a thumbnail to view a rotating image of the asset in the Preview Palette. The Preview Palette can be resized and enlarged.


The Layers Palette

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png Top Next Up Next Down Bottom
BlueDot10x10.png This palette is used to manage layers, both object (route and session) and effect (TurfFX, clutter and water) layers
BlueDot10x10.png It can create, rename, merge, delete, move, hide/show and lock/unlock layers and set the Active Layer
Layers Palette in S20 The Layers Palette will show all the layers in their groups (Effect, Route and Session) plus the Ground Height and Ground Textures special "layers". In the image on the left all the layer groups have been minimised (the arrowhead symbol to the left of each group name is pointing to the right).
DotPoint.JPG The  Route Layers  group, along with the Ground Height, Ground Textures and Effect Layers, are saved and loaded with the Route
DotPoint.JPG The  Session Layers  group, along with any Session Rules and commodity settings, is saved and loaded with the Session. A Session Layers group, but one without any stored objects and using the Session default settings, will always be present when a Route is loaded without a Session


Lock the Route Layer Group

BlueDot10x10.png All the Route Layers can be locked against accidental alteration.

The Route Layers group has a open padlock icon next to its name - shown as LayerUnLocked S20.png (unlocked).

Steps: To lock/unlock all the Route Layers:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the unlocked (open padlock) icon to lock ALL the Route Layers
The icon will change to LayerLocked S20.png (locked)
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click on the locked (closed padlock) icon to unlock ALL the route layers
The icon will change to LayerUnLocked S20.png (unlocked)


Open a Layer Group

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        

To the left of each group name is a small arrowhead pointing to the right. Left Click on the arrowhead to open up the group.

Layers palette with session layers open The image on the left shows that the Session Layers is open and its individual layers are now displayed. To close or minimise the group Left Click on the arrowhead again.

The image shows that the Session Layers contains 3 individual layers:-

DotPoint.JPG the top layer in the Session Layers group is always named session-layer. It is possible to rename this layer and move it to a new position but those actions are NOT recommended for the session-layer.
DotPoint.JPG likewise, the top layer in the Route Layers group is always named route-layer. It is also possible to rename this layer and move it to a new position but again those actions are NOT recommended for the route-layer.
DotPoint.JPG there are two additional user created layers in the Session Layers group. They are named Track Markers and Rail Workers - layer names are chosen by the creator and do not necessarily indicate their contents or purpose
DotPoint.JPG the Rail Workers layer is highlighted in blue which means that it has been selected by a Left Click and is now the Active Layer where any newly placed assets will be added


Add a New Layer

BlueDot10x10.png You cannot create new layer groups but you can add new layers to a existing group.
Each layer group has a LayerAdd S20.png icon next to its name. Left Click on the icon to add and name a new layer to that group. If you are adding a new Effect Layer then you will also have to identify the type of effect - TurfFX, Clutter or Water.


Renaming a Layer

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
LayerRename S20.png
Steps: To rename a layer:-
DotPoint1.JPG Right Click on a layer name and select  Rename Layer..  from the popup menu. You cannot rename a Layer Group.
DotPoint2.JPG You will be asked to enter a new name for the layer.


PencilTips.PNG While you are free to rename any layers (but not the Layer Group names), it is recommended that you DO NOT rename two specific layers:-

DotPoint.JPG route-layer
DotPoint.JPG session-layer
These layers are used to store critical objects (track and track objects in the case of the route-layer and (optionally) rolling stock in the case of the session-layer). Using these two layer names in every Trainz World can make it easier (and less confusing) to manage those assets. But this is a recommendation only.


Deleting a Layer

Stop.PNG Warning: Deleting a Layer will delete every object that has been assigned to that layer


LayerDelete S20.png
Steps: To delete a layer:-
DotPoint1.JPG Right Click on a layer name and select  Delete Layer  from the popup menu. You cannot select a Layer Group name to be deleted.
You will be given a warning that you are about to delete a layer.
DotPoint2.JPG if you confirm the delete order then the layer and  ALL OF ITS CONTENTS  will be deleted
DotPoint3.JPG depending on the contents of the layer and the size of the Trainz World, the process may take some time. You will be shown a progress bar in a message window during the delete operation
  LayersDelete S20.png
DotPoint4.JPG when the message  Operation complete, layers updated successfully  appears close the message window
The deleted layer and its contents can be restored (after the delete has completed) using the  Ctrl  +  Z  keys


Moving a Layer

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png Layers can be individually moved up and down within the same layer group or between the Route Layers and the Session Layers groups.


NotePad.PNG Notes:

Stop.PNG Warning: Moving layers between the Session Layers and the Route Layers groups will move the contents of those layers from one group to the other. This will change where the layers and their contents are saved (in the Route or in the Session)
DotPoint.JPG there is no advantage in moving a layer within the same layer group except if you are preparing for a layer merge operation (see Merging a Layer below)
DotPoint.JPG layers in the Effect Layers group cannot be moved
DotPoint.JPG layers from the other groups cannot be moved into the Effect Layers group
DotPoint.JPG the Ground Height and Texture layers are special "single layer" groups, not groups of layers, and cannot be moved or have other layers added to them


LayersMove1 S20.png
Moving the Rail Workers layer up one level
Steps: To move a layer:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click and Drag the layer name up or down to its new position. Note: You cannot move a Layer Group.
DotPoint2.JPG release the layer in its new position.
DotPoint3.JPG depending on the contents of the layer and the size of the Trainz World, the process may take some time. You will be shown a progress bar in a message window during the move operation
DotPoint4.JPG at the conclusion, hopefully, you will be shown a message "Operation complete"
LayersMoveSuccess S20.png
DotPoint5.JPG close the progress message window
The move can be reversed (after it has completed) by using the  Ctrl  +  Z  keys


NotePad.PNG Notes: Moving Layers - What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 😀

Well, a great deal it seems. You may get a different message during the layer move operation.
LayersMoveFailure S20.png
The most common error when moving layers is, as the message above states, an invalid hierarchy. This occurs when a layer is moved to an incorrect level for the type of objects it contains. It is Track Splines and Track Objects (e.g. signals, switches, speed signs, etc) that cause this problem.
The situation that created the error messages shown above is shown in the image below left:-
LayersMoveFail S20.png
DotPoint.JPG all the track splines, the  parent track  identified in the error messages, are in the route-layer
DotPoint.JPG track objects, in this case signals but any track objects could have been used, have been placed in the Signals layer. This layer, according to the order of the layers from the top to the bottom, is one layer below the route-layer that contains the track where the signals are attached. In this position, physically below the route-layer, the Signals layer and the track objects it contains will cause no problems
DotPoint.JPG the Signals layer is being moved up to a position shown by the dashed red line. The new position, again according to the order of the layers from the top to the bottom, is one layer above the route-layer.
PencilTips.PNG The final error message shown is confusing and, from a commonsense point of view, incorrect.

 Trackside objects cannot be in a layer below the layer their track is in. 
Best Advice: Ignore the word below and replace it with the word above so the message reads
 Trackside objects cannot be in a layer above the layer their track is in. 

Solutions to This Problem:

Options:
Ablue.png use the route-layer to hold the track splines and never move any layer containing track objects, or any layer at all to be absolutely safe, above this layer OR
Bblue.png use the route-layer to hold the track splines and ALL track objects
Track objects such as Trackmarks and Triggers that are needed for a Session but not the Route can still be placed in the Session Layers group as long as the layer used remains in the Session Layers group


Merging a Layer

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png A layer can be merged with the layer immediately above it


LayerMerge S20.png
Steps: To merge two layers:-
DotPoint1.JPG Right Click on a layer name in the Layers Palette
DotPoint2.JPG select the  Merge Layer Up  option from the popup menu


NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG the selected layer will be merged with the layer immediately above it
DotPoint.JPG you may need to move the layer being merged into the correct position before the merge (see Moving a Layer above)
DotPoint.JPG depending on the contents of the layer, the process may take some time. You will be shown a progress bar in a message window during the merge operation
DotPoint.JPG the merged layers and their contents can be restored (after the merge has completed) back into two separate layers by using the  Ctrl  +  Z  keys
DotPoint.JPG layers in the Effect Layers Group cannot be merged. In place of  Merge Layer Up  the popup menu for an Effect Layer will have an  Edit Layer  option


Hiding Layers

BlueDot10x10.png Each individual layer has an Eye icon that controls the state (visible or hidden) of that layer


Left Click on the Eye icon to toggle its state between visible and hidden.
If the Eye icon is:-
LayerEyeOpen S20.png Open then layer is visible in both Surveyor and Driver
LayerEyeClosed S20.png Closed then layer is hidden in both Surveyor and Driver
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Hiding a layer will protect its objects from being selected, deleted and moved
DotPoint.JPG New assets can be added to a hidden layer by confirming the action in a dialogue window which will make the layer visible
DotPoint.JPG Objects can be assigned to a hidden layer using the Info Palette
DotPoint.JPG Hidden layers can still be deleted, renamed, moved and merged


Locking Layers

SkipDown.png SkipUp.png        
BlueDot10x10.png Each individual layer has a Padlock icon that controls the state (locked or unlocked) of that layer
BlueDot10x10.png The Route Layers Group has a Padlock icon that controls the state (locked or unlocked) of ALL the Route Layers


Left Click on the Padlock icon to toggle its state between locked and unlocked
If the Padlock icon is:-
LayerUnLocked S20.png Open then layer is unlocked
LayerLocked S20.png Closed then layer is locked
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Locking a layer will protect its objects from being deleted and moved
DotPoint.JPG New assets can be added to a locked layer by confirming the action in a dialogue window which will unlock the layer
DotPoint.JPG Objects can be assigned to a locked layer using the Info Palette
DotPoint.JPG Locked layers can still be deleted, renamed, moved and merged


Setting the Active Layer

BlueDot10x10.png The Active Layer is the layer where new objects will be automatically added when using the Placement Tool
BlueDot10x10.png Only Route and Session layers can be selected as the Active Layer
The active layer is shown in the palette with its name on a  Blue  or  Light Grey  background. The name of the current Active Layer is also shown in the Layer Palette Title Bar. In the images below the Rail Workers layer from the Session Layers Group is the current Active Layer.
LayersPalette S20 ActiveLayer.png   LayersPalette S20 ActiveLayer2.png
Steps: To set a new Active Layer:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the layer name.


PencilTips.PNG You can also use the Info Palette to set the layer occupied by a selected object as the Active Layer


Move an Object to Another Layer

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BlueDot10x10.png Use the Info Palette to move objects to another layer.
The Info Palette will show the layer assigned to the currently selected object. An object is selected by using the Free Move Tool (the  S  key) or the Fine Adjustment Tool (the  D  key) found in the Tools Palette.

Info palette

Layer control

Steps: To assign a selected object to a layer:-
DotPoint1.JPG Switch to the Info Palette. If this palette is not visible then refer to PageLink.PNG Hiding and Showing Palettes at the top of this document
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click on the small arrowhead next to the layer name. This will open the layer properties for the selected object
DotPoint3.JPG Left Click the Layer drop down box to select a new layer for the object
DotPoint4.JPG if required, Left Click the Binding drop down box to select a new binding layer for the object. See the section PageLink.PNG Assigning Objects to a Binding Layer for more information on Binding objects to layers
DotPoint5.JPG if required, Left Click the  Lock Layer  button to lock the selected layer. If the layer is already locked then this will be shown as an  Unlock Layer  button


PencilTips.PNG Multiple objects from the same layer or from different layers can be selected and assigned to a layer


Stop.PNG Warning: Setting a layer for multiple objects that are in different layers will move ALL those objects to that layer. If this moves any of them from one layer group to another (such as from the Route Layers to the Session Layers) then it will change where those objects are saved (in the Route or in the Session)


The Scrapbook Palette

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Some of the functions of this palette will need the Tool Options Palette. If the Scrapbook Palette or the Tool Options Palette are not visible on the screen then refer to PageLink.PNG Hiding and Showing Palettes at the top of this document.


BlueDot10x10.png This palette manages the Scrapbooks that you have created yourself, installed from other sources (such as the DLS) or came installed with Trainz. It also controls which parts of a scrapbook are pasted or painted into the Trainz World.
NotePad.PNG Notes:

Scrapbooks, when created, will contain:-
DotPoint.JPG Ground Heights
DotPoint.JPG Ground Textures
DotPoint.JPG Effect Layers - if present
DotPoint.JPG Selected Objects - scenery items, splines, track, signals, etc
DotPoint.JPG But  NOT Rolling Stock (Trains) 
Ground heights, textures and effect layers are always included in a scrapbook but you can control which scenery objects are added by manually selecting them or using the filter controls in the Assets Palette
NotePad.PNG Notes:

Scrapbooks, when painted or pasted, can contain any combinations of:-
DotPoint.JPG Ground Heights
DotPoint.JPG Ground Textures
DotPoint.JPG Effect Layers
DotPoint.JPG Scenery Objects (Meshes) - individual buildings, trees, signals, etc
DotPoint.JPG Scenery Splines - roads, track, fences, etc
You have options that will control which of these data categories are transferred and how they are transferred from the scrapbook into the Trainz World.


ScrapbookToolsTop S20.png
ScrapbookPinnedIcon S20.pngScrapbookUnPinnedIcon S20.png Left Click on the pin icon to Lock (blue pin) and Unlock (white pin) the scrapbook. Locked scrapbooks are permanent (but can still be deleted). Unlocked scrapbooks will "expire" (self delete) after 5 days
DeleteIcon S20.png Left Click on the delete icon to delete the current scrapbook - most scrapbooks can be deleted (see Notes: Deleting Built-in Scrapbooks below for the exceptions to this)
ScrapbookThumbnail S20.png The thumbnail of the currently displayed scrapbook and the one that will be painted or pasted into the Trainz World
ScrapbookCounter S20.png Identifies the currently displayed scrapbook (the first number) and the total number of stored scrapbooks (the second number)
ScrapbookLeftRight S20.png Left Click on the  <  or  >  to move forwards or backwards through the stored scrapbooks to select the scrapbook that will be added to the Trainz World
  The scrapbook name can be edited. Simply Left Click inside the name box to edit or replace the current name. Left Click on the image to make the name change permanent and pin (lock) the scrapbook


NotePad.PNG Notes: Deleting Built-in Scrapbooks

Some scrapbooks are installed with Trainz and cannot be deleted. These scrapbooks have the label Prefab at the front of their names (you may have to scroll to the front of the name to see it). While they cannot be deleted they can be "disabled" so that they won't appear as an installed scrapbook. Unlocking them will not cause them to "expire" - after 5 days they will just become locked again.
Steps: To disable built-in scrapbooks
DotPoint1.JPG Open Content Manager and locate the "permanent" scrapbook or scrapbooks.
Search Tips: Name: starts with "Prefab"; Status: is Built-in; Type: is Misc
DotPoint2.JPG Highlight (select) the scrapbook assets individually or as a group
DotPoint3.JPG Open the Content menu and select the  Disable  option
You can reverse this and enable any or all of these scrapbooks at any time if you need them.


Creating a New Scrapbook

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A new scrapbook can be created by either:-
Options:
Ablue.png Individually selecting one or more objects OR
Bblue.png Drawing a Marquee Selection Area around one or more objects and:-
Then choose one of the following:-
Ablue.png press  Ctrl  +  C  to copy the selection to a new scrapbook OR
Bblue.png press  Ctrl  +  X  to cut the selection to a new scrapbook - the object or objects will be removed from the Trainz World OR
Cblue.png open the SurveyorEditIcon.png Surveyor Edit Menu and select  Cut  or  Copy 
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Rolling Stock Objects cannot be added to a Scrapbook
DotPoint.JPG Regardless of how it is created, the ground height, ground textures and, if present, effect layers under the selected objects will always be added to the scrapbook.


PencilTips.PNG You don't have to use the Marquee Tool to create a new Scrapbook. You can use the Free Move Tool or the Fine Adjustment Tool to select any number of objects and then press  Ctrl  +  C . The selected objects, along with the ground height, ground textures, and any effect layers, will be copied into a new Scrapbook


When a new Scrapbook is created by a  Cut  or  Copy , it will appear in the Scrapbook palette with some basic details.

ScrapbookNew S20.png
The newly created scrapbook will be given:-
DotPoint.JPG a name consisting of the date and time of its creation
DotPoint.JPG a thumbnail
PencilTips.PNG The thumbnail image will be taken using the current camera POV (point of view). Move the cursor position and zoom in/out to get the best possible shot of the Scrapbook objects before giving the  Cut  or  Copy  options
DotPoint.JPG a scrapbook number (it will be inserted as №1 scrapbook)
DotPoint.JPG an expiry date which will be set 5 days after its creation - this will countdown each day until 0 when the new scrapbook will be deleted


NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Scrapbooks use very little memory so there is no real limit to how many you can store in the palette but finding the one you want will be more difficult as the list grows longer
DotPoint.JPG Rolling Stock Objects cannot be added to a Scrapbook


PencilTips.PNG
DotPoint.JPG Most scrapbooks, old and new, can be deleted at any time by a Left Click on the Delete DeleteIcon S20.png icon. See Notes: Deleting Built-in Scrapbooks in the section above for the exceptions
DotPoint.JPG Deleting a Scrapbook after it has been pasted does not delete the objects that it has added to the Trainz World


There are two changes that can be made to the new scrapbook:-
DotPoint.JPG Give it a name - Left Click inside the Name Text Box and type a new name. To set its new name Left Click on the image (pressing  Enter  does not work - a known bug)
DotPoint.JPG Make it permanent - Left Click the white Pin icon (ScrapbookUnPinnedIcon S20.png) to change it to blue. The scrapbook will no longer expire but it can still be deleted at any time
Pinned scrapbooks are always shown with a blue pin icon ScrapbookPinnedIcon S20.png and the words "pinned, no expiry" displayed next to their scrapbook №
PencilTips.PNG The Pinning of any scrapbook can be reversed so that it will expire in 5 days time. Simply Left Click the blue pin icon to change it back to white.
ScrapbookNewNamedPinned S20.png


BlueDot10x10.png Once a scrapbook has been Pinned it becomes an asset and will appear in Content Manager


ScrapbookEntryCM S20.png
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG If a Pinned scrapbook is deleted from the Scrapbook Palette then it will also be deleted as an asset from Content Manager
DotPoint.JPG If a scrapbook asset is deleted (or disabled) in Content Manager then it will also be deleted from the Scrapbook Palette


The scrapbook asset can be saved as a CDP file and uploaded to the DLS.

PencilTips.PNG You can archive your scrapbooks as CDP files to keep the number of installed scrapbooks to a minimum. If an archived scrapbook is needed then you can use the Import Content Files option in Content Manager to add it to the Scrapbook Palette. It can be deleted from the palette later, when no longer needed.


Painting or Pasting a Scrapbook

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Painting a Scrapbook

Existing Scrapbooks can be painted into the Trainz World using the Brush Tool (see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools) or Pasted into the Trainz World.
When the  Scrapbook Data  Target is selected in the Brush Tool, a second drop down box will give a choice of two brush Actions that control how the scrapbook will be applied.
The actions are:-
BulletTick.png Scrapbook Brush
BulletTick.png Scrapbook Clone
BrushToolsScrapbookOptions S20.png
Scrapbook Brush Actions:
 Scrapbook Brush  will resize the scrapbook contents to fit the selected brush shape and size

 Scrapbook Clone  will paint the scrapbook sized according to the Tool Options Palette  Scale  setting. See Notes below


NotePad.PNG Notes:

 Scrapbook Brush  will resize the scrapbook contents to fit the selected brush shape and size.
DotPoint.JPG If the brush is small then the scrapbook contents will be compressed closer together
DotPoint.JPG If the brush is large then the contents will be spaced further apart
DotPoint.JPG Every Left Click will paste another complete scrapbook copy
DotPoint.JPG The  Scale  setting in the Tool Options Palette is ignored.
 Scrapbook Clone  will paste the scrapbook sized according to the  Scale  setting (100% = original size)
DotPoint.JPG If the brush is the same size as the scaled scrapbook then a single exact copy will be pasted
DotPoint.JPG If the brush is smaller than the scaled scrapbook in size then only the central part of the scrapbook will be revealed and more will be added when the brush is moved around until the "painted" area covers the same area as the scaled scrapbook. Further painting will clone or tile the scrapbook contents
DotPoint.JPG If the brush is larger than the scaled scrapbook in size then the contents will be cloned or tiled to fill the set brush radius
 
Stop.PNG WARNING:

Take care if setting both the  Scale  and the  Radius . Using extreme values for both, such as a very large brush radius and a very small scale value, can cause performance issues (i.e. long delays) while the program attempts to scale and clone the scrapbook contents


PencilTips.PNG Tool Options Palette Controls
DotPoint.JPG The active scrapbook brush options for each action are shown in the Tool Options Palette with a  Gold  coloured icon next to their names. Those options that have their icon greyed out will be ignored by the selected action, but they can still be edited.
DotPoint.JPG Most of the data entry boxes in the Tool Options Palette have a Popup Menu (Right Click inside the box) that can be used to collect and distribute data - see the Wiki Page WikiLink.PNG How to Use the Surveyor 2.0 Palettes for more details.


 Scrapbook Brush 
Brush options
 Scrapbook Clone 
Clone options


 Radius  the brush radius (metres) - see Notes: below
Range:  5m and above for 5m and 10m grid resolutions
0.125m and above for HD Terrain
 Sensitivity  if the  Ground Height  option has been enabled in the Scrapbook Palette filter settings, then this will set the rate or speed at which the ground height will change
Range:  1% = slowest to
100% = fastest
 Rotation  initial rotation angle (degrees) - see Notes: below
Range:  0° to ±360° (larger angles can be entered)
 Scale  the scrapbook scaling factor - see Notes: below
Range:  0.01% = smallest to

100% = full size to

>100% larger than full size
 Shape  brush shape
Options:  BrushToolsScrapShapes S20.png  Circle  and  Square  will set the brush to the selected shape with the  Radius  setting the brush size
   Natural  will set the brush to the same shape as the Marquee that created the scrapbook, which may be rectangular. The  Radius  setting will scale the brush size
NotePad.PNG The  Height  setting has no effect on the Scrapbook. This feature is controlled by the Scrapbook Palette Filter  Ground Height  options.
PencilTips.PNG On the right of each data entry box is a pair of Up/Down arrow controls. Left Click and Drag up or down on these to adjust the value in smaller increments


NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Unlike Surveyor Classic, there is no upper limit to the brush  Radius . Brushes of hundreds of metres (even kilometres) in size are possible. However, the performance will decrease as the brush radius increases.
DotPoint.JPG The  Rotation  controls the starting angle for pasting the scrapbook objects. In Surveyor Classic you could only rotate and paste in 90° increments. In S20 you can rotate and paste at any angle.
DotPoint.JPG The  Ground Height  options in the Scrapbook Filters control how the terrain heights in the Scrapbook are applied
DotPoint.JPG Take care if setting both the  Scale  and the  Radius . Using extreme values for both, such as a very large brush radius and a very small scale value, can cause performance issues (i.e. long delays) while the program attempts to scale and clone the scrapbook contents


Pasting a Scrapbook

The current Scrapbook can be Pasted into the Trainz World at the cursor (the Compass Rose) position by either:-
Options:
Ablue.png pressing  Ctrl  +  V , OR
Bblue.png selecting  Paste  from the Context Menu of a selected object
In both cases the scrapbook contents will be pasted using the original scrapbooks size. It will be pasted inside a Marquee Selection Area that can be moved and resized. The objects that are pasted and how they are pasted is controlled by the current Scrapbook Palette filter settings


Setting the Filters

PencilTips.PNG You will probably need to undock and resize the Scrapbook palette to make full use of its filters. Refer to PageLink.PNG Hiding and Showing Palettes at the top of this document for undocking and resizing instructions


Steps: To Open the Scrapbook Filters
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the arrowhead next to the  Filters:  label below the scrapbook image to open the scrapbook filters.
These filters control which elements in the scrapbook are added to the Trainz World and how they are added.


ScrapbookToolsBottom S20.png


PencilTips.PNG Sample Filter Settings:-
You can vary the appearance of the scrapbook when added to the Trainz World by painting or pasting it with different filter combinations
 Ground Height:   None  ground height data will not be pasted and the ground heights already in the target area will be used
 Ground Texture:  Overwrite  textures present in the scrapbook will replace those already in the target area
 Meshes:  Add  scenery objects in the scrapbook will be added to those already in the target area
 Splines:  Add  scenery splines in the scrapbook will be added to those already in the target area
 Effect Layers:   None  effect layers in the scrapbook will not be pasted and any already in the target area will be used
PencilTips.PNG You can also add more variety when painting a Scrapbook by changing its Tool Options Palette  Scale  and  Rotation  settings in combination with different Filter selections (as shown above)
 Scrapbook Painting/Pasting Options 
 What Data to Transfer 
    Ground Height  terrain height(s) used in the scrapbook
    Texture  textures used in the scrapbook
    Meshes  scenery objects (e.g. trees, buildings) used in the scrapbook
    Splines  spline objects used in the scrapbook
    Effect Layers  effect layers (TurfFX, Clutter, Water Layer) used in the scrapbook
 How to Transfer the Data
    None  do not paste/paint this feature
    Add  add this feature to those already present
    Overwrite  use this feature to replace those already present
For the Ground Height:-
    None  do not paste/paint the scrapbook ground heights, use the existing ground heights instead
    Absolute  use the ground heights in the scrapbook to replace the existing ground heights
    Relative  use the difference between the existing ground heights and those used in the scrapbook


The Asset Preview Palette

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BlueDot10x10.png This palette gives a rotating 3D view of an asset that has been selected in the Assets Palette. It works with all assets except effect layers.
AssetPreviewPalette S20.png The Asset Preview Palette can be enlarged once it has been undocked.

The current Surveyor 2.0 version has no display or control options and lacks the "zoom" and other features found in the Preview function of Content Manager.


The Content Packages Palette

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BlueDot10x10.png This palette is mainly intended for content creators, particularly MPS (Multi Player Surveyor) content. It helps manage, prepare and upload to the MPS Server a user created "Content Package". The web site for the TCCP (Trainz Content Creation Program), which is not MPS specific, can be found at info.trainzsimulator.com/tccp


For a more technical description of using the Content Packages Palette see the Trainz Wiki page WikiLink.PNG Content Packages


NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG The Content Packages Palette is intended for use by  Content Creators , particularly those creating  MPS (Multi Player Surveyor) routes . But it can be used by anyone to help manage installed packages and identify their details and contents.
DotPoint.JPG Its content creation function does not support session data - it is for routes only


The palette lists all the installed Content Packages that have assets available for use. Two special packages are included in the list:-

DotPoint1Blue.png All Installed Content which covers all offline (non-MPS) content, and
DotPoint2Blue.png multiplayersurveyor which includes all the default content on the live MPS Server
S20 PalettePackages.png
Each package in the list can be individually:-
DotPoint.JPG Enabled - which means its assets will be available for use in a new user created package OR
DotPoint.JPG Disabled - which means its assets will NOT be available for use in a new user created package
The top package. All Installed Content is enabled by default but it can be disabled


Steps: To Enable a package:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the S20 PalettePackagesDisabled.png (Disabled icon) after the name of the package
To Disable a package:-
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click on the S20 PalettePackagesEnabled.png (Enabled icon) after the name of the package


PencilTips.PNG Once you have enabled a package, the  Revert  button will become active. Click it to Disable all enabled packages except the All Installed Content package (which can be disabled manually).


NotePad.PNG Enabling packages in an MPS Route will prompt other users who download the Route to install the same packages


Content Package Details

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S20 PalettePackagesViewDetails.png
Steps: To view the details of a package:-
DotPoint1.JPG Right Click on the package name
DotPoint2.JPG Select the option  View Details 


Some packages will display the message S20 PalettePackagesNoDetails.png

If details are available then something like the following example will be shown.

S20 PalettePackagesDetailWindow.png
Details:
DotPoint.JPG description
DotPoint.JPG status e.g. Purchased (installed), Purchased (update available)
DotPoint.JPG ID code
DotPoint.JPG version - packages that have been Uninstalled will show (not installed)


Options:
S20 PalettePackagesUninstall.png
Left Click to uninstall the package but first read the Warning below
S20 PalettePackagesListFeatured.png
Left Click to open a Content Manager window listing the contents of this package


NotePad.PNG If you  Uninstall  a package it will still appear in the palette content package list until the palette is either Hidden or Closed. Uninstalled packages can be reinstalled later using the Content Store


Stop.PNG Warning:

If you Uninstall a package you will also delete any Packaged assets it contains that may be needed by other assets on your system, such as routes. Packaged assets may (or may not) be found on the DLS - that is a decision made by the creator of the package. They are not Payware but come as part of an installed DLC package. Trainz has no way of knowing if a "packaged" asset it is about to delete had previously been "Installed from the DLS", and could therefore be needed elsewhere, or was only installed with the package.

Uninstalling a package can leave you with some (or many) "Missing dependency" error messages. The remedy is to use Content Manager to first perform a DBR (database repair) and then download the missing dependencies from the DLS BUT it is possible that some of the "missing dependencies" can only be found in the DLC Package you have just uninstalled.


Testing the Packages

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BlueDot10x10.png While you can manually select the packages to be enabled, an easier option may be to let the program perform that task.


With or without any packages enabled, Left Click on the icon showing 3 horizontal bars (bottom right) to open a menu.
S20 PalettePackagesMenu.png

 Automatically Enable Required Packages  attempts to automatically identify and enable the minimum number of packages required by the current route. This only affects the packages listed in the palette and nothing else
 List Assets Unsupported by Enabled Packages  this will either:-
Ablue.png open Content Manager with a window displaying all the assets (objects) used in the current route that are not found in the enabled packages, OR
Bblue.png give the preferred result as shown in the following message
S20 PalettePackagesAllSupported.png


Steps: To identify the assets that are required by the current route that are not supported by the enabled packages:-
DotPoint1.JPG Disable all packages - the  Revert  button will reset any enabled packages leaving only the top package enabled
DotPoint2.JPG Select the menu option  Automatically Enable Required Packages . There may be a delay of a few seconds.
DotPoint3.JPG Select the menu option  List Assets Unsupported by Enabled Packages 


Dealing with Unsupported Assets

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Ablue.png If you have manually selected and enabled the packages you want to include and have been shown a list of assets that are not supported by your selection, then you will need to identify the missing packages (if any) and add them manually.
Steps: To identify and add missing packages:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the first asset in the Content Manager window
DotPoint2.JPG open the Content Menu and select the option Report Containing Packages
DotPoint3.JPG note the ID of the package. If no ID is shown then the asset does not belong to an installed package (see option Bblue.png below for dealing with these assets)
DotPoint4.JPG repeat for each asset in the Content Manager list
DotPoint5.JPG Enable the identified missing packages. The IDs of all the installed packages can be found by using the steps described in PageLink.PNG Content Package Details above
Bblue.png If you have used the  Automatically Enable Required Packages  option then any unsupported assets found will not belong to any installed packages. In this case you will need to create a new package using TCCP and add them to that package - see the Trainz Wiki Page at WikiLink.PNG TCCP Content Creation. If that is not a suitable option then you will need to either remove the unsupported assets from the route or replace them with supported assets.


Apply and Upload

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Once you have enabled the required packages, you need to prepare the route for uploading to the live MPS Server

Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click the  Apply  button at the bottom of the palette window.
  You may be shown an error report which will list the assets, by their kuids, that have failed a compliance test. In this case the package creation will not proceed. You will need to identify each asset listed in the report and take any necessary action, such as replacing the assets or removing them from the route.
If there is no error report then you will be shown the following message:-
S20 PalettePackagesApplyConfirm.png
NotePad.PNG Note:

If you have NOT already saved this route then it will be saved using "New Route" as its name. Left Click  Cancel , save using your preferred route name and then return to the Content Packages Palette.

DotPoint2.JPG To accept the changes, Left Click  OK 


The next step is to upload the new package to the live MPS Server.

Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG Open the SurveyorSharingIcon.png Surveyor Sharing Menu from the Main Menu icons
SocialMenu.png
DotPoint2.JPG Select the option  Share Route . You will receive a warning that Session Data is not supported.
DotPoint3.JPG To proceed Left Click  OK 
To cancel the upload Left Click  Cancel 
DotPoint4.JPG Assuming that you selected  OK  then the route will be packaged and uploaded to the live MPS Server. A successful upload will be indicated by the final message as shown below:-
S20 PalettePackagesUploadCompleted.png A route that has been uploaded to the MPS Server will appear with a              colour band in the Surveyor Select a Route/Session window.


The Drivers Palette

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Stop.PNG WARNING:
The Driver Palette has been largely created for the Trainz Living Railroad (TLR) feature that is coming to Trainz Plus Surveyor 2.0. While some of its features can be used, to a limited extent, in the current release of Trainz Plus it is not compatible with existing Sessions and it is NOT a replacement for the Driver Setup Rule


BlueDot10x10.png The Drivers Palette provides a full list of available drivers, their assigned trains and the tools to manage them
BlueDot10x10.png The Drivers Palette is also available in Driver


DriverPalette S20.png
NotePad.PNG The driver with the current camera focus is shown on a blue background.
Next to the image of each driver is:-
DotPoint.JPG a thumbnail of their assigned locomotive (or No assigned location)
DotPoint.JPG the assigned locomotives Object Name. This can be set using either the PageLink.PNG Info Palette or the PageLink.PNG Driver Details Tool
DotPoint.JPG the current control state of the train - the next command in their Driver Command List (driver Bald shown left), Manual Control (driver Aldair), Not in a Train (driver Kenny) or Idle (driver Jane)
Above each drivers image is a Tool Bar for that driver DriverPaletteTools S20.png
DriverPalettePlayerControl S20.png Left Click to open a drop down menu to assign this driver to:-
  DriverPaletteAssign S20.png  Not Assigned  (driver Jane shown left) will make the driver unavailable for use but will still remain in the driver list
 Player Controlled  will return them to active duty in the driver list
DriverPaletteDeleteDriver S20.png Left Click to Delete the current driver
DriverPaletteGetOffTrain S20.png If a driver has been assigned to a train (drivers Adair and Bald) then Left Click this icon to Remove the driver from this train. See PageLink.PNG Switching Drivers below
  DriverPaletteNotActive S20.png This indicates that the driver is classified as Not Assigned and is not available for use (driver Jane)
DriverPaletteSwitchTo S20.png If a driver has NOT been assigned to a train (driver Kenny) then Left Click this icon to select a train to assign to this driver. See PageLink.PNG Assigning Drivers below
  DriverPaletteNotActive2 S20.png This indicates that the driver is classified as Not Assigned and is not available for use
DriverPaletteViewDriverDetails S20.png Left Click to view and edit the details for the current driver and train. It is intended for use with the coming TLR facility. See PageLink.PNG Driver Details below
DriverPaletteFocusOnDriver S20.png If a driver is assigned to a train Left Click this icon to change the camera focus and the blue background to this driver
DriverPaletteAddDriverIcon S20.png Located at the bottom of the driver list (you may have to scroll down) Left Click to Add a New Driver. See Adding a Driver below


PencilTips.PNG The Drivers Palette list can be scrolled up and down to reveal more available drivers.


Adding a Driver

BlueDot10x10.png New drivers can be added to the Drivers Palette


NotePad.PNG Notes:

A randomly selected driver will be automatically added to the Drivers Palette when a locomotive is added to your Trainz World. The driver will be assigned to the new locomotive


DriverPaletteAddDriverList S20.png
Steps: To add a new driver to the Drivers Palette:-
DotPoint1.JPG scroll down the driver list to the bottom to reveal the Add New Driver button DriverPaletteAddDriverIcon S20.png
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click on the button to open the Driver Selection Window shown on the left
DotPoint2.JPG select (Left Click on) a driver and then Left Click on the tick icon Tick.PNG
The selected driver will be added to the end of the driver list but will be not be assigned to a train


PencilTips.PNG A driver can be deleted from the list at any time using the DriverPaletteDeleteDriver S20.png tool in the driver tool bar


Assigning Drivers

BlueDot10x10.png A driver that has no currently assigned train can have one assigned to them


Steps: To assign a driver to a train:-
DotPoint1.JPG
DriverPaletteSwitchTo S20.png  Move to Destination 
Left Click on the icon to select a new train for the driver. The Drivers Palette will change to the image shown below right
PencilTips.PNG If this tool cannot be selected then check if the driver has been set to  Not Assigned . If necessary you can change the setting to  Player Controlled  but that may affect other operations such as the TLR


Then...

Choose one of the following:-

Options:

Ablue.png Left Click on a train in your Trainz World that does not already have an assigned driver. The selected driver will then be assigned to this train
Bblue.png Left Click on the DriverPaletteDeleteDriver S20.png icon OR press the  Esc  key to Cancel the selection operation and return to the normal Drivers Palette
Cblue.png Left Click on the Add New Driver button DriverPaletteAddDriverIcon S20.png to select and add a new unassigned driver to the palette as described in PageLink.PNG Adding a Driver above. Then repeat the process described from Step  1  above
DriverPaletteSelectDriverLoco S20.png


Switching Drivers

BlueDot10x10.png A driver that is currently assigned to a train can be reassigned to a different train


Steps: To switch a driver from one train to another:-
DotPoint1.JPG
DriverPaletteGetOffTrain S20.png  Get Off Train 
Left Click on the icon to leave the assigned train so that the driver can be assigned to another
Once the driver has left the train, the icon will change to a new design
DotPoint2.JPG
DriverPaletteSwitchTo S20.png  Move to Destination 
Left Click on the new icon to select a new train for the driver. The Drivers Palette will change to the image shown below right
PencilTips.PNG If this tool cannot be selected then check if the driver has been set to  Not Assigned . If necessary you can change the setting to  Player Controlled  but that may affect other operations such as the TLR

Then...

Choose one of the following:-

Options:

Ablue.png Left Click on a train in your Trainz World that does not already have an assigned driver. The selected driver will then be assigned to this train
Bblue.png Left Click on the DriverPaletteDeleteDriver S20.png icon OR press the  Esc  key to Cancel the selection operation and return to the normal Drivers Palette
Cblue.png Left Click on the Add New Driver button DriverPaletteAddDriverIcon S20.png to select and add a new unassigned driver to the palette as described in PageLink.PNG Adding a Driver above. Then continue the process described from Step  2  above
DriverPaletteSelectDriverLoco S20.png


Driver Details

NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG These features are intended for use in the upcoming Trainz Living Railroad (TLR)
DotPoint.JPG These features will have no effect in the running of normal (non-TLR) Sessions


After selecting the DriverPaletteViewDriverDetails S20.png Tool, the following Properties Window will open.

DriverPaletteEditCommands S20.png
 The Mini Map 
  shows the driver location in the Trainz World.
It can be zoomed in and out
 Driver Settings 
  display the currently assigned driver details:-
DotPoint.JPG location
DotPoint.JPG assigned user
DotPoint.JPG any waiting driver commands
All of these can be edited.
 Activity Log 
  logs the progress of the driver


When used in Driver Mode (in Driver open the Driver Icon on the bottom left of the screen, select the driver and Left Click on its Driver Details tool) the Driver Properties Window will add a green line above the track showing the path that will be set by the first Drive or Navigate command waiting in the command queue for that driver.

Note: the signals and switches along this path may not be correctly set until the train approaches them. The path will be visible as long as the Driver Properties Window is open (but it can be minimised).

DriverPaletteTrainPath S20.png


Driver Location

BlueDot10x10.png You can edit the Driver Details


DriverPaletteLocation S20.png
Steps: To edit the driver location:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the white Down Arrowhead following the name of the assigned locomotive
DotPoint2.JPG select an option from the drop down menu


Choose one of the following:-
Options:
Ablue.png  Move to Train...  performs the same task as shown in PageLink.PNG Switching Drivers above, OR
Bblue.png  Get off Train  the driver assignment to this train will be terminated, OR
Cblue.png  Show <name of loco>  this will open a new Properties Window showing details of the assigned train. Some of those details can be edited. See Train Details below


Left Click on the  Close  button to close the window and return to the Drivers Palette.


 Train Details 

The Show <name of loco> option will open the Train Details Window


DriverPaletteTrainDetailsWindow S20.png There are a number of control and display options built into this window.
Train Priority:
DriverPaletteShowPriority S20.png Left Click the white down arrowhead next to the label Priority and select a priority value  1 ,  2  or  3  to assign to this train
Classification:
DriverPaletteShowClassification S20.png Left Click the white down arrowhead and select a running classification for this train
Driver:
DriverPaletteShowDriver S20.png Left Click the white down arrowhead just below the Driver Image and select an option

 Show Driver <Name of Driver>  will re-open the Train Details window if it had been closed or minimised

 Move to Train...  and  get off Train  are the same as described above


Left Click on the  Close  button to close the window and return to the Driver Details window.


 Script Properties 

DriverPaletteScriptProperties S20.png
Steps: To display the legacy script properties of the locomotive:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the window icon DriverPaletteScriptPropertiesIcon S20.png to open the Script Properties Window
DotPoint2.JPG DriverPaletteScriptPropertiesWindow S20.png Left Click the Cross.PNG button to close the window


You can edit the Script Properties of a locomotive.
DriverPaletteScriptPropertiesEnableEditing S20.png

DriverPaletteScriptPropertiesWindowEdit S20.png
Steps: To edit the Script Properties:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the  Enable Editing  button
DotPoint2.JPG All the script controlled properties of that particular locomotive, as shown left, can be opened (Left Click on the link) and edited
DotPoint3.JPG To Save your edits Left Click on the  Save Changes  button, OR
To Cancel your edits Left Click on the  Cancel  button


Left Click on the  Save Changes  or the  Cancel  button to close the Train Details window and return you to the Driver Details window


Player Assignment

DriverPaletteAssign2 S20.png
Steps: To change a driver assignment:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the white Down Arrowhead following the name of the player
DotPoint2.JPG select an option from the drop down menu


Choose one of the following:-
Options:
Ablue.png  Not Assigned  makes the driver unavailable but keeps them in the driver list, OR
Bblue.png  Player Controlled  returns the driver to active duty in the driver list


Left Click on the  Close  button to close the window and return to the Drivers Palette.


Command Status

BlueDot10x10.png The Command Status displays the list of driver commands waiting for execution by the selected driver
BlueDot10x10.png New driver commands can be added and existing commands removed


DriverPaletteCommandStatusList S20.png A sample list of driver commands
DriverPaletteCommandStatusAdd S20.png
Steps: To add a command to the driver command list:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click on the Command Point identified by the red arrow in the image on the left
DotPoint2.JPG select the command from the pop up menu
DotPoint3.JPG repeat as needed for each new command


Steps: To remove a command from the driver command list:-
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click and Drag the command to be removed out of the Command Status area
DotPoint2.JPG release the mouse button once the command has been dragged out of the Command Status area


NotePad.PNG The changes you make to the command list in the Driver Palette will have no effect on any commands waiting in the Driver Setup Rule


Left Click on the  Close  button to close the window and return to the Drivers Palette.


Activity Log

DriverPaletteDriverActivityLog S20.png This gives a detailed list of every operation started and completed by the selected driver. In the example shown on the left this includes gaining and releasing "permits" (access or permission) for each junction switch along the drivers path


Left Click on the  Close  button to close the window and return to the Drivers Palette.


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Trainz Wiki

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More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz


This page was created by Trainz user pware in February 2023 and was last updated as shown below.


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