Proper driver's eyeposition

[manos]

Hi all,
After a long experience with trainz I have found out that the proper position of the driver - aka "eyepoint" - in the cab can have a significant effect on the satisfaction one gets from the sim: It can make the difference from a boring session into a very exciting one. Now Trainz (all versions) have a very useful tool to enable the driver to adjust that eyepoint to their liking - the "freeintcam" option in the "trainzoptions.txt" in conjuction with the use of the cursor keys and pgup/pgdn keys while in the cab. The serious downside is that once the perfect eyepoint has been found there is no way to save its coordinates. Ofcourse, one could say that once you have fine-tuned that eyepoint, you can write down the variables XYZYP that appear on the bottom left part of the screen. But practically you cannot get back to them again as they are the result of a random combination of more than one parameter. For other sims (for example FS) commercial utilities have been developed that enable the user to set and save many desired "eyepoints" in the cockpit. Unfortunately this not so for Trainz. At least no utility that I know of.
So I'm asking here - mostly train developers and experienced Trainz-simmers- the following:
- What editing software do I need to permanently modify the driver's
eyeposition of a given train?
- What particulal file - among the many files assosiated with a Trainz' train
do I have to modify to accomplish that and how?
I'd appreciate any help on this,
manos

 

[bnsf50]

Find the interior of the engine and enter the new XYZYP coordinates in the cameralist--0 camera slot. You can even add more positions by adding another camera slot with the next position you want, like maybe a heads out position.

 

[manos]

Thanks a lot bnsf50!
I tried out your suggestion - I added a new camera line with the desired coordinates (so as not to modify the default presets) and made it the default selected camera. This is exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks again for sharing your expertise with me,
manos

 

[bnsf50]

You're welcome.

 

[cjlear]

Awesome tip. Thanks, I'll salt that one away!

 

[llebrez]

On the other hand, let's be realistic: When you enter the cab, you are standing up, then you seat in the driving chair. Each driver has a size, so you adjust or put a cushion.. And you look ahead to the perfect position. So far these are the adjustments suggested. But looking ahead through the windshield gives us a not so clear view, so I always move the cam ahead until I clear the glass, for the sake of a clear view. Doing this, you lose the view of the dials and the cabin ambiance. Then, the other issue on this subject is that the cabin is always lited, day or night, and I recall, drivers should darken the cabin when driving at night for obvious reasons. Just thinking out loud... Maybe somebody at Auran hears..

 

[S301]

Hi llebrez
Some loco cabs (pre 09) were setup to use the 'world' lighting. This does cause the cab (especially steam locos) a darker feel to it. This was apparently a bug, which has now been disabled, however it also means that you get a fairly even lighting across the model now.

For the view point. My VR K class loco's cab is setup with two 'drivers' view points. One is actually behind the seat, so that you can access the majority of the controls (reverser wheel is slightly blocked by the seat). The other is the actual drivers view from the seat, however you have to move the view to access all controls except the brakes and sander (you can also grab the regulator when it's at about 20%-80%).

That said, some creators prefer to give a better view of the controls, or to give a more realistic view. This is where the freeintcam line for the trainzoptions file is handy

Zec

 

[llebrez]

Zec, thank you for the explanation.. can you take a look at my other post about junction controllers?

 

[backyard]

Zec has the answer...

...This is where the freeintcam line for the trainzoptions file is handy

Zec

Enter...

-freeintcam

...into your trainzoptions.txt file & you can get a better manipulation using your arrow keys in any cab position you choose.

I reset all my positions, usually lower as in a seat.

RailDriver has a pivoting control & height control.

I don't know how to adjust height using the keyboard...any help?

 

[llebrez]

freeincam was implemented in the very early days of Trainz. I always used it. It allows a more natural view in the cab. You use the arrows to move the cam horizontally or up down with the page up and page down. Sort of zooming with the up down arrows, I say sort, because it actually moves the cam forward or backwards, allowing you to stick your "head out of the windshield" and giving a clear view ahead without the "fog" of the window.

 

[fullsteamahead]

On the other hand, let's be realistic: When you enter the cab, you are standing up, then you seat in the driving chair. Each driver has a size, so you adjust or put a cushion.. And you look ahead to the perfect position. So far these are the adjustments suggested. But looking ahead through the windshield gives us a not so clear view, so I always move the cam ahead until I clear the glass, for the sake of a clear view. Doing this, you lose the view of the dials and the cabin ambiance. Then, the other issue on this subject is that the cabin is always lited, day or night, and I recall, drivers should darken the cabin when driving at night for obvious reasons. Just thinking out loud... Maybe somebody at Auran hears..

What0s the key-stroke to move ahead?
Andrew

 

[backyard]

Thanks...fullsteamahead!

The Page Up-Page Down keys are what I needed to know!