layers

[EJB]

my question is why do you have layers. . i am trying to build a route but after building in surveyor and going to session i haven't gained a thing. when going back to surveyor everything i had is gone.
once again what is the purpose of layer other than to totally aggravate your customer?
it is particularly bad when the route is a merge route.
thanx
ejb

 

[pware]

There is an extensive guide for using layers at http://online.ts2009.com/mediaWiki/index.php/How_to_Use_Layers

Merging routes will retain the Route layers in each route (allowing for name conflicts which you can resolve during the merging process) but only the Session layers from the first Route can be retained, that choice is yours.

Layers, in my opinion, are akin to sliced bread - a great idea and extremely useful but you must know how to use them. They can provide you with great flexibility during route and session development in Surveyor and even novel abilities when using Driver.

Because Trainz does not indicate whether you have loaded a Session and a Route for editing in Surveyor, or just the Route, nor does it indicate which is the current active layer, nearly all of that "aggravation" comes from "operator errors".

 

[smyers]

Layers allow you to put different elements of your route together without one disturbing the other. For instance, I find it much easier to manipulate track when it's on its' own layer. All those spline circles are confusing to me, so when I need to adjust track I know no scenery splines will be disturbed. Same with walls for MR style routes. I don't know how many times I've accidentally deleted walls without even knowing it when everything was on one layer. You can have a layer for buildings, or scenery splines or whatever. I put model railroad fascia on a separate layer to make it easier to work on the fascia and not disturb anything else. Layers are really a terrific advantage. Every descent paint program uses layers. The disadvantage is that you must be aware of which layer you're working on to not accidentally mix features together.

Best,
smyers

 

[EJB]

i read the one pware is showing. it hasn't helped with the situation i'm in. i placed road and bridges and then go to edit session and all the stuff is gone.
what is the different between the layers frog'speed and signal? i have seen others but what do you do with them.
better yet can the layers be by passed?
thanx
ejb

 

[EJB]

i have lost another route started back with trainz 2004. have tried everything to recover with no success. so i was trying to make it again but cannot since leaving the surveyor to edit sessions i loose everything i have added. i personally do not need the layers to do what i do. i see no reason to even have them.
i have read the earlier mentioned and watch the boring youtube presentation. i can see maybe layers are for some but i personally do not want them. i got really discourage with tane and i am afraid i am getting pretty discourage with this game. the loss of the two routes has really ticked me off. lot of time and effort.
it is a shame the trainz franchised is really not as good as it has been. unfortunately i don't see another one to replace this.
thanx again
ejb

 

[pware]

What session are you loading? Hopefully not the one call "default".

I always give a session a distinctive name when I save for the first time, just like you give the route a distinctive name. So the next time you start up Surveyor, select the Route then select and load the Session.

 

[EJB]

it doesn't matter. when i open the driver session the game shuts off. this is the first rout i have had a problem. all i'm trying to do is replace the one the freaking game ate.

 

[pware]

what is the different between the layers frog'speed and signal? i have seen others but what do you do with them.
better yet can the layers be by passed?

Layers can contain allnything you want them to contain - they are just containers with no specific purpose. Likewise they can be named anything you want. So technically there is no difference between those two layers apart from their content and names. The link I provided explains all of this and more.

 

[pware]

it doesn't matter. when i open the driver session the game shuts off. this is the first rout i have had a problem. all i'm trying to do is replace the one the freaking game ate.

It looks like you have some serious issues with the installation. Send a request to the helpdesk.

 

[EJB]

all the other routes i built are working fine. never had any issues with the layers until this one.i guess i'll scrap it and maybe try again.. i wish i could get the one the game stole but there isn't anything i haven't tried so be it.
thanx again
ejb
look the game looks great and operates smoothly. it is some of the things they really need to look at and fix. i personally don't like the layers. didn't like them when they came out in 2009? never got tame to work. never had any problems with 2012 except the bogies were a little slow in appearing.
thanx again

 

[pware]

You can get by perfectly ok by placing everything in the "route-layer". Not what I would do but it works for others.

 

[EJB]

i thought when merging routes they went to route layer. i have merged some really large routes and had no problem , cumberland and connersville was the biggest hassle. lot of floating trees. cut and paste fixed that.
ok well i took the offending new route out and will try again when nerves settle down.
thanx again for the help
ejb
by the way what are you using for coal load{no problem} and then the coal unloading. can't seem to get that right. tried SAP coal unloader. unfortunately AI can't find it. i started this before but no answer. i have been using coal loader 20 and coal unloader 40 with reasonable success.

 

[Vern]

I was sceptical about layers for a long time, but have found doing a model railway design it is essential to keep the basemap pinned at the working height and prevent it blocking anything else from being selected.

Another potential use is when placing overhead catenary. Putting this down in the general layer causes all sorts of problems when it comes to trying to add markers or signals etc. to the track later with "can't place here" etc. messages. Putting it on a separate layer avoids that. You can always merge the layer at the very end of the route building process.

 

[schweitzerdude]

Here is another use for layers: I have a route-layer and a label-layer. I use the label layer for pushpins with a name to describe a city block or a farmstead I might want to find later to copy and paste somewhere else. The layer is unlocked but invisible (can't see the pushpins) but when I zoom out to map view, the name is visible just like other named objects.