Two issues when merging two layouts that were originally the same

[F2Andy]

Background: I have a sizeable layout I am working on. Some time ago I decided to make a version set in another era, so saved it under a new name, so now I was working on two versions, A and B. Later I decided I wanted a new part of A to be on B as well, and so what I did was created a new version of A, call it A*, with all but seven baseboards deleted, and then I created a new version B, B*, where I deleted the baseboards where those seven overlap, and merged A* with B*. All seemed to go fine at first...

Residual Splines and Track: The first thing I noticed was that numerous splines and track sections on A that were on the now deleted baseboards were still there. It seemed to be splines that were attached to objects at both ends (eg track and platforms between AJS station components), though the objects they had been attached to were now gone (it may be that some splines and tracks were only atached at one end).

Trenches: The other issue was that trenches had appeared. These run between baseboards, and it looks like Trainz just reset them to zero height, and untextured. I expected that to happen at the join between A* and B*, but these were all over the place. My current theory is that they appeared whereever a 5 m squares baseboard meets a 10 m square baseboard (and why you cannot set 5 m to be the default so they are all the same I cannot imagine).


So, some advice:

If you are deleting baseboards, delete any objects that connect to splines and track first, then everything else should go when you delete the baseboards.

If you are merging baseboards, check they are all 5 m squares or all 10 m squares before hand.


I am using TS2009; it is always possible that these issues have been solved in later editions.

 

[JCitron]

Andy,

The issue with the trenches and holes still exists. It seems to be related to using the texture fill tool. In some cases, I have had the opposite with giant ridges and giant spikes instead of holes. and trenches.

The issue with splines remaining also exists still, and I do just as you suggest. I remove splines before deleting baseboards. On my big route, I did some renovations and ended up with pieces of track and road floating in space. I took me close to a month to find them all, well most of them as I should say because I'm still cleaning them up now.

With the 5m versus 10m butting, you'll get cracks along the edge that can't seem to be filled in. There is a white light glowing like there's a light bulb in there. At least it isn't a red glow instead!

John