How to Use Track Triggers

The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22.

In Summary: Track Triggers are track markers that are invisible in Driver Mode but visible in Surveyor Mode Track triggers are used to activate Session Rules and some Driver Commands Track Triggers can be placed in a Route layer or in a Session layer

What are Track Triggers?

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

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

Route or Session?

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

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

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

Adding a Track Trigger

Notes: A Track Trigger has two important properties:- its name which is needed for all commands and rules that use the Track Trigger, and its Trigger Radius (the green "wings" shown in the image above with the radius value, in metres, shown below the trigger name). This controls how closely an AI train has to approach the trigger to activate it (smaller radius = closer to the trigger) The direction that a Track Trigger is pointing has NO EFFECT on its operation

 In Surveyor Classic (S10) 

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

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

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

 In Surveyor 2.0 (S20) 

Surveyor 2.0 is currently only available for Trainz Plus Standard and Trainz Plus Gold subscription members.

 Adding a Track Trigger 

In the Asset Palette either:-

Left Click on the Track Mesh Filter icon

OR

Left Click on the Content Drop-down Box Then select Track Objects

Notes: If the Assets Palette is not shown on the screen, then:- 1. open the Window Menu from the menu icons at the top of the screen 2. Left Click on the Assets Palette name to add a tick and make it visible.

Shortcut  If you already have a Track Trigger placed in your route then:- move the tool pointer over the existing track trigger object and hold down the  Alt  key. The object name will appear in a ToolTip attached to the pointer  Alt  + Left Click (hold down the  Alt  key and Left Click) on the track trigger to identify it in the Assets Palette and to select the Placement Tool. Release the key. Jump to Step below.

To narrow down the filter list, type "trig" (UPPER/lower case does not matter) in the Search Text Box

This will list all the Track Objects containing the text "trig" in the filter list. Left Click on the item name Trigger. If you are not sure about an asset then Double Left Click on the name to bring up its image and description.

Place the Track Trigger on the track.

Notes: To delete a Track Trigger (or any asset):- select either the:- Free Move Tool (or press  S ) or Fine Adjustment Tool (or press  D ) Left Click on the Track Trigger press the  Delete  key If you need to rotate the Track Trigger to face the opposite direction then:- Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu select  Rotate Trackside  Note: the direction it faces has no effect on its operation.

Steps: Select the Placement Tool (or press the  E  key) from the Tools Palette Left Click on the track at the position where you want to place the Track Trigger The Track Trigger can be easily moved if needed - see below.

 Set the Track Trigger Properties 

Change Its Name Steps: Left Click on the Context Menu Icon ( in the image on the left or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) to open up the object property and control menu Left Click on the  Edit Properties  option in the popup menu enter a name for the Track Trigger Left Click on the to accept the change or on the to reject it

Set its Trigger Radius
The Trigger Radius controls how closely an AI train has to approach the trigger to activate it (smaller radius = closer to the trigger).

	Steps: Left Click and Drag the Green Dot next to the Track Trigger ( in the images above and below) Forward or Backward to increase or reduce the trigger radius

 Move the Track Trigger 

Move it Along the Track

	Steps: Left Click and Drag the Yellow Dot next to the Track Trigger ( in the images above and below) Forward or Backward to drag the Track Trigger along the track

Reposition it Up/Down This feature allows a Track Trigger to be physically placed above the track so that it will not be hidden if a consist is parked on the Track Trigger. Steps: Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key) Left Click and Drag on the Blue Vertical Axis Line above the Track Trigger ( in the image on the left) Forward or Backward to move the Track Trigger Up or Down If you need to return the Track Trigger to its original position then:- Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu select  Reattach to Track

Reposition it Left/Right
This feature allows a Track Trigger to be physically placed left or right alongside the track so that it will not be hidden if a consist is parked on the Track Trigger.

	Steps: Select the Fine Adjustment Tool (or press the  D  key) Left Click and Drag on the Red Horizontal Axis Line on the Track Trigger ( in the image above) Forward or Backward to move the Track Trigger Left or Right of the track
Notes: The Green Horizontal Axis Line shown as in the image above pointing forward from the Track Trigger will move the Track Trigger forward/backward regardless of whether it is on the track or not. It has the same effect as Move it Along the Track. However, by using this tool it is possible to move the Track Trigger beyond the end of the track if that is ever required.

If you need to return the Track Trigger to its original position then:- Left Click on its Context Menu Icon (or press the  T  key if the asset has already been selected) from the popup menu Left Clickthe option  Reattach to Track

 Assign a Track Trigger to a New Layer 

The Info Palette will show the layer assigned to the currently selected object. To the left of the layer name is a small arrow object.

Steps: Left Click on the small arrow next to the layer name. This will open the layer properties for the selected object Left Click on the Layer drop down box to select a new layer for the object if required, Left Click on the Binding drop down box to select a new binding layer for the object if required, Left Click on 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 WARNING: You will not be allowed to place a track object in a layer that is higher up the list than the layer containing the track. Information on layers can be found at:- How to Use Layers

Creating a Track Trigger Event

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

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

Steps	Open the Session Editor: To add the Trigger Check Rule to a session:- Open the Surveyor Main Menu in TANE (shown below left) or the Surveyor Edit Menu in TRS19 and later Trainz versions (shown below right) Select the option  Edit Session  from the drop down menu list
	Add the Trigger Check Rule: In the Edit Session window (shown below left):- Left Click on the  Add  button In the Rule Selection window (shown below right):- Scroll down the list to select the Trigger Check rule Left Click on the icon Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 This will add the Trigger Check rule to the session.
	Open the Trigger Check Rule Properties: With the Trigger Check rule highlighted (shown below):- Left Click the  Edit  button. This will open the rule properties window
	Configure the Rule: For this example we will leave all settings unchanged and simply identify the track trigger to be used. In the Trigger Properties window (shown below):- Left Click on the Add trigger link More information on the settings and options in this rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Rules Page at:- Trigger Check Rule
	Select the Trigger: The Trigger Selection Window will list all the Track Triggers in your layout. Select the trigger you have just added Left Click on the icon at the bottom of the selection window Once the trigger has been added to the rule, Left Click on the icon in the Trigger Check properties window to accept the change.

Adding an Instruction to the Trigger Event

To test your trigger event you will need to add at least one rule.

Adding a Child Rule

Steps

Add A Message Popup Rule: When you are back in the Session Editor window:- Make sure that the new Trigger Check Rule is selected (highlighted) Left Click the  Add  button to add another new rule Scroll down the rule selection window to find and select the Message Popup rule Left Click on the icon The Message Popup Rule should now appear directly below the Trigger Check rule. It will display a red cross because it has not yet been configured.

Indent the Popup Message Rule: The Message Popup Rule has to be indented so that it becomes a Child of the Trigger Check Rule and is controlled by that rule. With the Message Popup Rule highlighted:- Left Click on the Indent (right arrow) button. This should indent the Message Popup rule one level inwards (as shown below). This Message Popup Rule is now a Child Rule of the Trigger Check Rule and will only be executed after the track trigger has been activated by a train.

Configuring the Message and Testing

Steps

Open the Message Popup Rule for Editing: With the Message Popup Rule highlighted and indented (as shown above):- Left Click the  Edit  button. The Message Popup Rule properties window will appear (as shown below)

Configure the Message: Set the properties as shown:- Check ON Close previous message popup windows Select Option Button Custom text Enter a short text message More information on this rule can be found on the Trainz Wiki Page at:- How to Use Message Popup Rule

(Optional) Add a Message Icon: Left Click the link click here to set (shown left) and either Scroll down the Texture Asset Selection List (shown below) to find a suitable icon, or Simply type "icon stop" in the text box to use one of the builtin icons. Left Click on the icon Left Click on the icon to exit the Message Popup Rule and return to the Session Editor

The completed Message Popup Rule

Test the Trigger: Exit the Session Editor Add a consist to your layout a short distance from the track trigger (but further away than its radius), save the Surveyor Session, and then test in Driver Mode

Another example of using the Trigger Check Rule can be found in the Trainz Wiki Page How to Use Message Popup Rule (Applications).

Alternatives to the Trigger Check Rule

There are other rules that can be used in place of the Trigger Check Rule and triggers. A few possibilities are listed below:-

• Directional Trigger Check Rule - identical to the Trigger Check Rule but adds the ability to test the train direction. Requires the use of a special Directional Trigger. For an example of its use see the Trainz Wiki Page Controlling Signals in Sessions.
• Trackside Check Rule - very similar to the Trigger Check Rule but provides some different options.
• Navigation Points (see the How to Guides link below) are more complex but provide more advanced controls and options.
• Multiple Resource Check Rule - monitors and acts on changes in multiple industry or multiple wagon resource (commodity) levels.
• Resource Verify Rule - monitors and acts on changes in a single industry or wagon resource (commodity) level.
• Timecheck Rule - triggers an event at a set time.
  

There is a driver command that can be used in place of the Trigger Check Rule.

• Wait For Trigger - forces an AI controlled train to wait until a specified trigger has been activated by another train.

Related Links

How to Use Track Direction Markers How to Use Track Markers How to Use Track Priority Markers

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Trainz Wiki

More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz How to Guides Driver Commands List Session Rules List (Alphabetical) with Parameters Session Rules List (Categories) With Parameters

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This page was created by Trainz user pware in May 2018 and was last updated as shown below.

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