TS 2010 + Digital Tablet: is possible?

K

KleinArt

New member
Hi all.
I need to know if it is possible to use a Digital Tablet like the "Wacom Bamboo" one. I want to use the "Genius G-Pen M509", that has 26 programmable buttons for use Internet, Vista or Office functions.
Someone can tell me if this buttons may be programmed with the great variety of functions of Surveyor Mode in TS 2010 ? Is this possible for laying tracks, rotate objects, etc., etc. ? Thanks.
 
I don't really have an answer for you but it is a heck of an idea. I have an old pen pad also and will run some experiments.

If the pad inserts between your keyboard and the computer there is a fairly good chance it will work. Another "if" is if the output from the pad consists of normally keystroked keys, then there is no reason your macro buttons wouldn't work.

For instance, if one of the buttons is programmed to open a particular "side menu" that would definitely be easier than moving/clicking the mouse. Unfortunately, there is no keypress used to open the "Advanced" menu.

Bill
 
I have a small Wacom tablet connected to a computer via USB. It has several versions of Trainz and the tablet does work as mouse replacement in Trainz but doesn't have anything special about the way it works. It is like having two mice connected at the same time. I found using the buttons on the stylus a bit difficult so I move my mouse to my left hand and use it for button clicks while using the tablet to move about. I've been doing this for years in software like Photoshop and Lightwave.

If your buttons program using keystrokes then it should be possible to program them to work with Trainz.

William
 
The principal issue.

Thanks Bill and William for your answers.
The principal issue for what I'm looking for is the replacement of the clicking in the mouse (left and right click) by the touching with the "magic pen" in the Digital Tablet. Is that possible ?
 
Your last question is essentially the same as your first post. My answer still holds. If you touch a hot spot on the tablet AND if that hot spot outputs a keystroke sequence, then the pad should work.

Bill
 
"If the pad inserts between your keyboard and the computer there is a fairly good chance it will work."

Hi Bill.
The quote indicates the doubt I had with your answer, because the Tablet doesn't connect between the keyboard and the CPU; the connection is via USB. Anyway, thank you very much.
 
KleinArt said:
Thanks Bill and William for your answers.
The principal issue for what I'm looking for is the replacement of the clicking in the mouse (left and right click) by the touching with the "magic pen" in the Digital Tablet. Is that possible ?
Click to expand...

If that is the behavior of the pen on the desktop then it is the same in Trainz. That is the way my wacom works but I prefer to use the mouse buttons so I don't wear down the pen's tip too quickly.

William
 
Hi William.
Why do you prefer to use the mouse instead the Tablet ? Perhaps because this action made too fast can damage the pen ?
 
It is mostly out of habit. I started using a trackball many years ago when I was doing a lot of 3D computer graphics because it was a lot easier to control objects with it. There weren't any drawing tablets then that were affordable. I would have my right hand on the trackball and the mouse under my left hand. I found that I could work a lot faster using my left hand on the mouse buttons and moving the cursor with my right hand and the trackball. When drawing tablets came down in price and software like Photoshop began to support the pressure sensitive features of the tablet and pen I got rid of the trackball and began to use the tablet in its place. My first tablet was a huge 12 x 12 monster that took up much of my desk so I kind of stopped using the two handed technique and began to use the tablet for drawing and the mouse for everything else. A few years ago I picked up a small 4 x 6 Wacom and began using both hands again and it felt good. I use several 3D programs which require a fair amount of holding down a mouse button while dragging points and polygons around the screen. While you can do this with the pen, it feels like I lose a small amount of control of movement while having to keep the tip pressed into the tablet. Using the mouse buttons in my left hand allows me to use a very light touch on the tablet and also doesn't wear down the tip of the pen's stylus as fast.

Hope this answers your question,
William
 
Hi William.
Thank you for your kindness telling me how you had advanced in the use of digital devices in combination with the mouse. This little story lets me know how can I wear the Digital Tablet in a more comfortable and practice way. Thank you very much.

Cheers.
John.
 
Used a Wacom tablet for years with Trainz surveyor. Simple tablet, pen with right and left click set up.

Makes for a much easier time when using the painting tools and terraforming.
 
Can make soft hills ?

Hi xinrobbie.

1.- It´s more easy to make soft hills with the tablet ?

2.- Instead of the pen's buttons I would use some of the programmable buttons of the tablet for replacement of mouse's buttons. Had you test this feature ?

Thanks in advance for your answer.

Cheers.

John.
 
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