How to Use Track Markers

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Revision as of 01:02, 21 December 2022 by Pware (talk | contribs) (added instructions for adding a track mark in S20)
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The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22.

In Summary:
Track Markers are red coloured track objects that are invisible in Driver Mode but visible in Surveyor Mode
Track Markers are used as destinations or waypoints for AI driver commands
Track Markers only work on AI controlled trains. They have no effect on manually controlled trains
The direction that the marker is pointing has absolutely NO EFFECT on its operation


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What are Track Markers?

The Trainz AI relies heavily on Track Markers to direct trains around a layout. They are only visible in Surveyor Mode.

Track markers are the targets for:-

  • Drive To Trackmark and Navigate To Trackmark driver commands
  • Drive Via Trackmark and Navigate Via Trackmark driver commands

They can also be used as:-

  • attachments for Navigation Points
  • locations for Coupling operations


Route or Session?

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


Notes:
Placing Track Markers 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 Markers 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 Marks (destinations and waypoints) in each Session.


Information on Route and Session layers can be found at:-


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Adding a Track Marker

Notes:

A Track Marker has two important properties:-

  • its name which is needed for all commands and rules that use the Track Marker, and
  • its Trigger Radius (the red "wings" shown in the image below, the radius value is shown below the marker name). This controls how closely an AI train has to approach the marker to activate it (smaller radius = closer to the Track Marker)
The direction that a Track Marker is pointing has NO EFFECT on its operation


In Surveyor Classic (S10)

 Setting the Track Marker 
Steps:
  1. Open the Track Tool
  2. Select the Trackmark button
  3. Select the Track Marker
  4. Select the + (add) button - it may already be selected
  5. Click on the track location where the Track Marker is to be placed

If necessary, you can adjust the position of the Track Marker by dragging it along the track using the Move tool

When placed, the properties window for the Track Marker will appear.


Enter a name for the Track Marker and, if needed, select a layer.


Enter a useful name for each Track Marker - the name will be needed for driver commands. Most creators base the name on the location (e.g. "Maintown Track 1 North")


 Set the Trigger Radius 
At the bottom of the Track Tools flyout menu is an Advanced button. Click this button to open the Track Marker advanced tool set.
Steps:
  • Click the Advanced button

You then have a choice of methods to set and adjust the Trigger Radius of Track Markers

To copy the current Trigger Radius of an existing Track Marker

  1. Click the Get Trigger Radius icon
  2. Click the Track Marker whose radius you want to copy - the radius will be copied into the Trigger Radius value box (the default value is 20.00 metres)

To manually alter the Trigger Radius

  • Type the new value (in metres) into the Trigger Radius value box

To apply a value in the Trigger Radius value box (from methods , or ) to another Track Marker

  1. Click the Set Trigger Radius icon
  2. Click on the Track Marker that is to receive the new value (you can click on more than one)

To adjust the value up or down

  1. Click the Adjust Trigger Radius button
  2. Select the Track Marker
  3. Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse forward (to increase the value) or backwards (to reduce the value)
  4. The new value will be immediately applied to the selected Track Marker as the mouse moves (but only one marker at a time)
Once you have a Trigger Radius entered in the value box, you can apply it to any number of Track Markers by using method shown above


In Surveyor 2.0 (S20)

 Setting the Track Marker 

In the Asset Palette either:-

Click the Track Mesh Filter icon

Track mesh

OR
Click the Content Drop-down Box

Filter List
Then select Track Objects
Track Objects


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

Text search
This will list all the Track Objects containing the text "mark" in the filter list.
Filtered list Select the item Track Mark. If your are uncertain that is the one you want, double-click on the item name to bring up its image and description.
Track mark details

Then select the Placement Tool from the Tools Palette and click on the track where you want to place the Track Mark.
Add trackmark


 Set the Trigger Radius 

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Track Marker Operation

The most common use for Track Markers is as destinations for driver commands or as "way points" to direct a train to a destination via one or more intermediate places. They can also be used as the targets for Navigation Points and coupling operations.

Driver Navigation Commands

Information on adding driver commands can be found at:-


Drive To Trackmark and Drive Via Trackmark commands will NOT force the AI to find a clear path to the Track Marker if the shortest path is blocked
Navigate To Trackmark and Navigate Via Trackmark commands will force the AI to find a clear path to the Track Marker if the shortest path is blocked. The path chosen may not be prototypical


Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Drive To Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to the designated Track Marker. The AI will noticeably slow the train as it approaches the Track Marker. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will NOT attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Drive Via Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to and through the designated Track Marker. If there are no further navigation commands (e.g. Drive To, etc) then the AI will halt the train after passing the Track Marker. If there are further navigation commands then the AI will proceed through the Track Marker to the next Track Marker or Industry at normal speed. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will NOT attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Navigate To Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to the designated Track Marker. The AI will noticeably slow the train as it approaches the Track Marker. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 Navigate Via Trackmark

Instructs the AI driver to Drive, via the shortest available path, to and through the designated Track Marker. If there are no further navigation commands (e.g. Navigate To, etc) then the AI will halt the train after passing the Track Marker. If there are further navigation commands then the AI will proceed through the Track Marker to the next Track Marker or Industry at normal speed. Switches ahead of the train that are not locked against the AI will be set to allow the train to proceed and reset after the train has cleared the switch. The AI driver will attempt to find a way around blockages when calculating the shortest path to the Track Marker. All signals and speed signs along the route are obeyed.

This command is built in to Trainz

Navigation Points can be attached to Track Markers to provide users with session instructions.

Information on navigation points can be found at:-


Coupling Operations

An AI controlled train can be issued with a driver command to couple with the consist located at a specified Track Marker.

Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127 The AI driver moves the train (or just the locomotive if it is by itself) to couple with the wagon that is closest to a specified trackmark. More information on this command can be found at Couple At Trackmark

This command must be downloaded from the DLS and installed in Trainz
Information on adding driver commands can be found at:-

Related Links


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Trainz Wiki

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This page was created by Trainz user pware in September 2019 and was last updated as shown below.

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