Help with basemaps please.

[Gavan0c7]

Hi all,

I've made my basemap, and laid it over my baseboards. at elevation zero. When I lay track it seems to sit below the basemap and so is not visible.

I've dropped the basemap to -1 elevation but it flickers and shears terribly.

I could lay all the track at a fixed positive elevation and then drop the lot to zero when I'm finished but that seems a little silly.

What is the collected wisdom on this?

regards
Gavan

 

[cascaderailroad]

You could just keep adjusting the basemap height up/down ... or put a small pimple point on the baseboard, so as to raise the basemap height.

 

[Gavan0c7]

Thanks Cascade,

Tried that for a bit but it's much to frustrating trying to line things up.

I ended up putting the map on a seperate layer at -0.95. Works fine.

cheers

 

[Pejo]

If you are getting flickering, then I assume you are not working in wireframe mode!? You may find it easier if you do. Just remember when laying track to view from directly above for accurate placement.

Peter

 

[4ndylloyd]

Ooops ! Duplicate post of the one above. That'll teach me for not reading the thread properly Sorry Peter, I wasn't trying to 'steal your thunder.'

I use basemaps all the time when route building. Drop it below the level of your baseboard and then hit F9 on your keyboard to take you to wireframe view. You can now lay your track over the tracklines on your basemap and when you want to add textures and detail just hit F9 again to get the baseboard back. Because you have dropped your basemap make sure that you lay track by looking straight down from above to ensure accuracy

Andy

 

[malikrthr]

When I use basemaps, a couple of minutes after using them, if you view from a certain angle, they disappear. Would anyone know how to stop that from happening?

 

[4ndylloyd]

I used to have that prolem too but dont seem to get it now. All that I have done differently is that I use OpenGL now but was using Directx previously. You could try changing to see if it helps you?

Andy

 

[malikrthr]

I'll try that but OpenGL and trainz on my laptop do not really form a great team. DirectX works better on my laptop but if I use OpenGL, the fps drops by a tremendous amount.

 

[Whiteg6]

I think i read somewhere that naming the basemaps helps

 

[AndrewH]

I think i read somewhere that naming the basemaps helps

That does cure the disappearing problem.

 

[Pejo]

When I use basemaps, a couple of minutes after using them, if you view from a certain angle, they disappear. Would anyone know how to stop that from happening?

I've had exactly the same problem. Particularly at the eastern side of the basemaps. I was also told:-
"To prevent this behaviour, you have to name the tile. Select the tile and click on the question mark icon and give the tile a name and the problem should go away."
I think the reference to a question mark icon has thrown me, so I am unsure of how and where to do this correctly. I did ask for clarification, but have not received any thus far. Can you help AndrewH?
I've not tried switching to Open GL but will give it a go.

Peter

 

[4ndylloyd]

Peter,

When you are in the buildings/structures tab in surveyor there is a question mark icon in the lower right hand corner of that tab. Use your mouse to click on the icon and then click on a basemap. A dialogue box will open into which you can type a name for your basemap. Click the tick to save the name

Andy

 

[Pejo]

Thanks Andy. So far no dialogue box has opened, but my puter is acting up a bit so I shall persevere!

Peter

 

[AndrewH]

Peter,

When you are in the buildings/structures tab in surveyor there is a question mark icon in the lower right hand corner of that tab. Use your mouse to click on the icon and then click on a basemap. A dialogue box will open into which you can type a name for your basemap. Click the tick to save the name

Andy

That's not quite right. You need to select the Basemap in question first. Then click on the ? button and type in whatever name you choose. I find that naming Basemap A as Basemap A makes it easy to locate it using the Find Objects feature in the main pull down menu in Surveyor.

 

[4ndylloyd]

That's not quite right. You need to select the Basemap in question first. Then click on the ? button and type in whatever name you choose. I find that naming Basemap A as Basemap A makes it easy to locate it using the Find Objects feature in the main pull down menu in Surveyor.

Uh. No you dont. You can place a basemap then go off and pace buildings and even though your last building is shown as your active item you can click the question mark and then click onto the basemap to name it. There is no need to select the basemap in the surveyor list first. Try it with 2 blank boards and one basemap. Put your basemap on board 1 and then put some buildings down. Click the ? and then click on the basemap on board 1 and name it. Move it to board 2 and check the minimap and you will see that your basemap has been named and is now on board 2