Help with layers
- Thread starter kajatar
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Kajatar,
Firstly welcome to the wonderful world of Layers in TS12 (and 2009, 2010) - a source of many arguments in these forums and much pain. Personally, I love layers but they do have bit of a learning curve.
Any layer you create can be easily deleted - use the layer tool (looks like a layer cake), select the layer from the list (the top group are route-layers and the bottom group are session-layers - another source of confusion until you get used to the concept). Then click the delete icon (it looks like an "X"). Any layer that is named route-layer or session-layer are the default layers that will always be present in any layout, so don't delete them.
Be aware that it is impossible to delete all your layers - a layout must have at least one route-layer and one session-layer to work.
My general advice about layers is to put all the track, tunnels, bridges, signals, switches and industry active assets into the route-layer - it will make your life so much easier. Scenery items (trees, buildings, etc) can also go into the same route-layer or into another layer (either route or session).
Session layers are used when you are creating a layout that will have a number of different session or themes - e.g. a passenger service session, and a coal or heavy freight session. In this situation you would put the different consists into a session-layer in your different sessions. If all this seems to be another language then don't worry. Experiment, try things with the layers to see what they do - but make backup copies of your work first.
Peter Ware
Firstly welcome to the wonderful world of Layers in TS12 (and 2009, 2010) - a source of many arguments in these forums and much pain. Personally, I love layers but they do have bit of a learning curve.
Any layer you create can be easily deleted - use the layer tool (looks like a layer cake), select the layer from the list (the top group are route-layers and the bottom group are session-layers - another source of confusion until you get used to the concept). Then click the delete icon (it looks like an "X"). Any layer that is named route-layer or session-layer are the default layers that will always be present in any layout, so don't delete them.
Be aware that it is impossible to delete all your layers - a layout must have at least one route-layer and one session-layer to work.
My general advice about layers is to put all the track, tunnels, bridges, signals, switches and industry active assets into the route-layer - it will make your life so much easier. Scenery items (trees, buildings, etc) can also go into the same route-layer or into another layer (either route or session).
Session layers are used when you are creating a layout that will have a number of different session or themes - e.g. a passenger service session, and a coal or heavy freight session. In this situation you would put the different consists into a session-layer in your different sessions. If all this seems to be another language then don't worry. Experiment, try things with the layers to see what they do - but make backup copies of your work first.
Peter Ware
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To give you one example of how layers can be used, here is a screen shot of the Layers tool from a current project I am working on.
This is from one of three separate sessions based on the same layout. This session has a "History" theme of an old steam loco running along a branch line on a history tour. The session provides a running description of the history of the line (a real line) as the train travels from one end to the other. Triggers are used to activate and display the messages at different points along the route.
The layers are:
Route Layers - these items will appear in all the sessions.
This, I think, illustrates one of the advantages of using layers in a Trainz layout. The ability to "personalize" or add context to a multiple use layout that would be specific to a particular theme.
Peter Ware
This is from one of three separate sessions based on the same layout. This session has a "History" theme of an old steam loco running along a branch line on a history tour. The session provides a running description of the history of the line (a real line) as the train travels from one end to the other. Triggers are used to activate and display the messages at different points along the route.
The layers are:
Route Layers - these items will appear in all the sessions.
- route-layer - contains all the track, signals, switches, trackmarks, bridges, interactive industries and 99% of the scenery. It also contains a few items of rolling stock that will appear in all the sessions.
- Overlapped Assets - contains those scenery assets that overlap other special scenery assets. For example: boxes and seats on platforms, overhead cranes above active industry tracks - these things are notoriously difficult to move or adjust without first moving the item they are sitting on or above. Placing them in their own layer makes moving them much easier when I lock the route-layer and unlock this layer.
- History Consists - the locomotive and rolling stock unique to this session.
- History Only Scenery - the scenery items that will be unique to this session. Examples include people standing on bridges, at crossings, by the side of the road watching the old steam loco pass; cars stopped on the side of the road; etc. These items would have looked out of context in the other sessions if they were placed in the route-layer.
- History Triggers - all the triggers that are activated by the train.
This, I think, illustrates one of the advantages of using layers in a Trainz layout. The ability to "personalize" or add context to a multiple use layout that would be specific to a particular theme.
Peter Ware
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