Layer problem

[greatnorthern]

I did a whole load of track work on my 2010 in session layer. Is there a quick way to change it to route layer or do I have to click on each item to change it individually? Thanks for any assistace.

 

[socalwb909]

-Merge the session layer into the route layer!

-Joe

 

[pware]

1. Open the Layer Tool,
2. click on the session layer you want to merge,
3. click on the Merge icon (it looks like a fork),
4. click on the route layer that the session layer will be merged into.

If the session layer you merged was the only session layer then this process will create a new empty session layer to replace the one you just merged and lost.

 

[Deano5]

I'm trying so hard to understand this goobledygook, is there more than one route layer and how do I know?

 

[Scottbe8]

There should only be one route layer and one session layer in a functioning environment. If there is more than one route layer, your problems are far bigger than this.

 

[pware]

When you create a route it will have a route-layer and a session-layer. If you open the Layers Tool in Surveyor it will show you the layers you have, organised into two groups. The top group contains the "Route Layers" with the first (and initially the only layer) named "route-layer". The bottom group contains the "Session Layers" with the first (and initially the only layer) named "session-layer".

You can add, delete and rename the layers. You can re-order them within their group, move them into the other group, and merge any two layers together into a single layer. You can lock them (click the padlock icon next to the layer name) to stop them from being edited - such as altering their assets. You can hide them (click the eye icon next to the layer name) to prevent them and their assets appearing (useful during the development of a layout). You select a layer for editing by clicking on its name (assuming it has not been locked).

When you enter surveyor by selecting the Edit Route button to edit an existing layout, all the layers in the Session Group that you had previously created will be lost and replaced by a new (empty) "session-layer". All your existing layers in the Route group will be present and unaffected. The default layer selected for editing will be the top layer in the Route Group.

When you enter surveyor by selecting the Edit Session button (select a route first, then click the Session button, then select a session, then click Edit Session) to edit an existing layout, all the layers in both groups are present, unaltered and are available for editing. The default layer selected for editing will be the top layer in the Session Group.

Hope this clears up the "Gobbledy-Gook".

Peter Ware

 

[pware]

There should only be one route layer and one session layer in a functioning environment. If there is more than one route layer, your problems are far bigger than this.

While this can make things simpler, I don't agree that it is the only possible solution.

I usually have several route layers - one for all track, signals, junctions, trackmarks, active industries. Other layers are for different types of assets that I find can be easier to manage when separated from the other assets. For example: freight boxes, parcels, platform seats, etc - anything that sits on a platform or station that can be impossible to move or rotate without the station or platform being moved or rotated first.

I agree that placing track objects (signals, switches, track, etc) in different route layers can be disastrous.

Peter Ware

 

[Deano5]

Thank you Peter for trying to explain it. I read here once that you should always edit the session, as that is what I did in 06 then that is what I do now. As a result I now have all my trains, trees, buildings, textures and "things" in the session (I think) and not sure if anything is in the route. I also hear of merging them together and losing all your work....oh dear...
Can I still do it like I used to in 06?

 

[William0d0]

...

I agree that placing track objects (signals, switches, track, etc) in different route layers can be disastrous.

Peter Ware

I spent a few days coming to that conclusion. Signals and track on different layers = derail.:'(

 

[pware]

... I also hear of merging them together and losing all your work....oh dear...
Can I still do it like I used to in 06?

You can merge all your layers into the one route layer and this will move all the assets (trees, buildings, etc) that have been placed in any session layers into the merged route layer together with anything that it contained - this is not a problem and many layout creators do this as a normal procedure. Although I have never heard of assets being lost through merging - but other factors may be the cause of this issue.

However, certain non physical things must be in a session layer, they cannot be stored in a route layer. Things like industry settings, driver commands, rules, etc - these are the things that, like in 06, can be different from one session to another. Industries and train consists can be stored in any layers, route or session, but their "software" - their settings, rules and commands - are stored in a session layer. That, in my opinion, is why you cannot delete all your session layers - if you do you will simply create a new and empty session layer called "session-layer".

In that respect, 09, 10 and 12 are no different from 06.

Peter Ware

 

[Gary_Evans]

Peter:
You have done an excellent job explaining layer merging. However, idiot that I am, I am lost. When I open the Layers tool I find a box for Routes and below that a box for sessions but there are no names. I am supposed to add the names of the route and session before I can merge a session into a route? I'm old and flaky so please don't laugh.
Gary

 

[backyard]

Source...?

I thought layers would be used to change seasons...

Where is a source for information on using layers?

 

[pware]

I'm old and flaky so please don't laugh.
Gary

Join the club, there are already many members including myself.

If my understanding is correct (and I am constantly learning new things about layers) there will always be at least one named route layer (default name is "route-layer") and one session layer (default name is "session-layer") in every layout. I have yet to see a layout that does not comply with this.

If the two boxes (or even just one of them) are empty, then that would imply that there are no layers and I would immediately suspect that you have a faulty layout. Hidden or locked layers will still show up as named layers in the two boxes.

Puzzled
Peter Ware

 

[pware]

I thought layers would be used to change seasons...

Only as far as changing the assets - e.g. summer trees in a "summer" session and winter trees in a separate "winter" session. But there are already dynamic tree assets that will do this anyway without using layers. There are some buildings on the DLS that have two different versions - one with and one without snow - and it would be possible to place these into "summer" and "winter" sessions.

As far as ground textures go they, along with the ground height data, are always stored in the base route layer so they cannot be changed by using different layers or sessions to represent different seasons. Again, I believe that there may be some "smart textures" on the DLS that can be used to simulate season changes. Do a search of the forums for the term "snow line" to get further information.

Peter Ware

 

[Gary_Evans]

Thanks Peter. I was able to make the merge based on your prompt response. It's Trainzers like you that make the Forums worthwhile.
G

 

[pware]

Thank you Gary. I also relied on the experience and patience of others when I first started using Trainz.