HowTo

This page lists available "How To" Guides which describe how to achieve certain tasks in Trainz. HowTo pages provide much detail on specific actions, whereas Help pages are intended to respond to in-game needs for help or as quick guides to specific actions. Help pages specifically for Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 or TRS19 can be found at Help:TRS19

Users are encouraged to add their own guides to this page in a similar fashion, or expand on existing guides. Please keep in mind that this site is dedicated to the current version of Trainz and that techniques used should relate to this version. Editors note: all pages here should fit the pattern "How to X", as in "How to place signals". Pages and topics which cannot be phrased in this manner do not belong on this page.

The Trainz Channel

To keep up-to-date with all streams and videos visit our Youtube Channel. There is also some older information under our legacy Tutorial Videos that might help you learn some of the legacy products and features.

Installing Trainz

• Installing Trainz portable: At external harddrive
• Installing Trainz at Linux: Debian based Distributions
• Logging into Trainz after Installing

Trainz Configuration Settings and First Class Tickets

• Trainz Settings Options and Controls
• How to Get and Activate an FCT

Content Creation: Routes

• Add Bumpy Track
• Add Thumbnail and Preview images to your route
• Configure an iPortal
• Configure An Interlocking Tower
• Configure An Interlocking Tower - Versión Español
• Create a PickList
• Create a Region Asset
• Create_your_first_Route
• Create a Route in 10 Minutes
• Make a Track Cutting (an Undercut)
• Make a Screen Shot
• Make Better Scenery
• Merge Routes
• Place Cameras along a Route
• Place Signals
• Place a Bridge in your Route
• Place a Tunnel in your Route
• Place a Crossing in your Route
• Place Catenary in your Route
• Route and Session Basics
• Use Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool
• Use Layers
• Use and Manage Filters and Picklists
• Use Multiplayer Surveyor
• Use Portals
• Use Procedural Track
• Use the UDS (Unified Driver Surveyor) Interface
• Use the Surveyor 2.0/Driver Palettes (a large file)
• Use the Surveyor 2.0 Tools (a very large file)
• Use Superelevation with Trainz 19 and T:ANE
• Use Superelevation with Trainz 22
• Use Trig Stations

Content Creation: Sessions

• Adding Message Popups
• Adding Message Popups - Sample Applications
• Adding Navigation Points
• Adding Navigation Points - Sample Applications
• Adding a Session Introduction Page and In Game Messages
• Configuring the Driver Setup Rule
• Configuring the Environment Tools
• Controlling Junctions in Sessions
• Controlling Signals in Sessions
• Create a Driver Character
• Creating a Message Popup Icon
• List of Parent Rules
• Parent and Child Rules (Session Editor)
• Route and Session Basics
• Using Portals
• Using Filters and Picklists
• Using the Session Editor
• Using the UDS (Unified Driver Surveyor) Interface
• Using Track Markers
• Using Track Direction Markers
• Using Track Priority Markers
• Using Track Triggers
• Using Variables in Sessions - Sample Applications

Using "Manage Content" in TANE or newer

• Download an Asset from the Download Station
• View by thumbnail images
• Fix Errors and Warnings
• Finding Missing Dependencies
• How to Backup a Picklist
• How to Create a Picklist
• How to Deal with Missing Dependencies
• How to Manage Backups
• How to Use and Manage Filters and Picklists
• How to Move a Picklist
• How to Rename a Picklist
• How to Perform Database Repairs
• How to Understand Content Manager Status Labels
• Using Content Manager to Update Assets

See also Help:Content_Manager

Asset Management

• How to Backup a Picklist
• How to Create a Clean Install and Additional User Data Folders
• How to Deal with Missing Dependencies
• How to Move a Picklist
• How to Move Your User Data Folder
• How to Perform Database Repairs
• How to Restore Deleted Assets
• How to Understand Content Manager Status Labels
• How to Use and Manage Filters and Picklists
• How to Use Content Manager to Update Assets

Content Creation: Assets

General

• Make your first Trainz Asset
• Build a Car for Traffic (stand-alone version)
• Build a Car for Traffic (mesh library version)
• Build a cab interior
• Build a drivable car
• Build Passenger Enabled Assets
• Build a tree with PlantFactory
• Build a tree
• Build a simple animated scenery asset in Blender
• Create a High Voltage Power Line Spline
• Create a Fence Spline Featuring LOD and Random Meshes
• Create a Driver Character
• Create a Message Popup Icon
• Create a Region Asset
• Create a Neon Font Effect with PhotoShop C4
• Build Procedural Track for T:ANE
• Update your auto-generated next KUID
• Create a HTML Asset (Session Introduction Page and In Game Messages)
• Updating_Steam_Locos_to_TC3_Standards
• How_to_add_collision_to_an_asset

Scripting and Config.txt

• Localize an Asset
• Build a scripted asset
• Example_Vehicle_Config.txt
• Example_Station_Script
• Configure a spline for collisions
• Adding the Native Automatic Running Numbers system to a traincar
• Add a config.txt syntax highlighter to Notepad++

3D Modelling

• Export from 3DS Max using FBX
• Export from Blender using FBX (Rocks with PBRMetal material)
• Export Blender FBX Animation (Rotating earth and four rotating cogs)
• Solve Blender Modelling Problems
• Scaling setup in Blender
• Build normal maps in Max
• Render to Texture
• Build a simple animated scenery asset in Blender (Jumping ball)
• Create transparent windows in Blender
• Build an animated Neon Sign
• Create a 3D Avatar (Driver Character)
• Create a PBRMetal parameters image in GIMP

Reskining

• Reskin an Asset
• Reskin an Asset using an alias

Content Manager

• Create a displacement map

Level Of Detail

• Level of Detail

Configurations Files

• General information for Configuration Files

• List of Tags and Containers
• [Content Types and Config Files]

Content Creation

• How to build procedural Track
• How to Create a Driver Character
• How to Create a HTML Asset
• How to Create a Message Popup Icon
• How to Create a Region Asset

Content Creation: Scripting

• Create your first Trainz script
• Hide- & Unhide Meshes
• Search for objects in the world
• Upgrade obsolete script functions
• Read string table or Config text
• Search for installed assets
• Debug Scripts
• Getting Started in TrainzScript: Engine Shed House
  (animate doors, hide a mesh, show text, play sound, replace texture ...)
  needs some small updates, added prequel Blender to Trainz

List of Driver Commands

• Driver Commands List

List of Session Rules

• Session Rules (Alphabetical Order)
• Session Rules (Category Order)

Creating and Configuring Content In-game

• Create an Interactive Session
• Add Carz Traffic to a Route
• Use Digholes to Create Tunnel entries
• Tune a Steam Locomotive Enginespec
• Tune a DCC EngineSpec
• Tune a Diesel EngineSpec
• Configure an Interactive Industry
• Implement a Destination Sign System
• Upload a new asset to the DownloadStation
• Update an existing asset on the DownloadStation

Documentation Suggestions

• Build normal maps in Blender
• Build a house - See discussion page
• Build a track
• Build a tunnel
• Build a hedge
• Build a fence
• Build a road
• Build a road intersection asset
• Build a road crossing
• Build a train car
• Build a bogey
• Build a ground texture
• Build an interactive industry
• Add attached track
• Register with Planet Auran
• Create an Achievement
• Use a map to create a baseboard

Trainz Wiki

• How to Create a Trainz Wiki page

See Also

• Content Configuration - A reference manual covering all content types.