Some people have asked how to use the Lat/Long Reader 70337:23016 so instead of answering each one individually, I thought I would create a howto message so everyone could benefit.
The Lat/Long Reader was created to be able to locate objects in a map. The built-in Trig Station does the same thing but I found the coordinate values too small to easily read. Since the Lat/Long Reader is a Surveyor only object, I could make the text much bigger. As well as bigger text, because they are Surveyor only, I can place and leave many of them all over the map to locate points of interest.
Note that the coordinate system in a Trainz map is not an exact match to real world latitude and longitude values. If you measure the linear distance between two points on the Earth and the same points in a Trainz map you will have a small but noticeable difference that inceases the further away you are from the World Origin. I find the convenience of being able to directly place objects based on Google Earth coordinates outweighs the small error. Whether you can live with it too is your call.
That being said, let's start with a new map.
First you need to place a World Origin
Next enter the World Origin Coordinates using the values of the area you wand to model
When you can place a Lat/Long Reader, it indicates the coordinates of it's position in the upper text field. The lower text field shows "name" by default
Here we enter the coordinate values in the Properties box. If ever the Lat/Long Reader is accidentally moved you can quickly return it to it's correct place.
A finished Lat/Long Reader
A second Lat/Long Reader, 0.010' south and 0.010' west of the first.
The coordinate values cover an area and are not an exact point at this resolution. Note that both show the same value.
This is a close up of the distance you can move a Lat/Long Reader before the display values change so don't worry too much about getting it exactly right to the millimeter.
I hope this has helped you understand how to use the Lat/Long Reader. Like most of my objects, it grew out of a need in my route making. Hope you too find it useful.
The Lat/Long Reader was created to be able to locate objects in a map. The built-in Trig Station does the same thing but I found the coordinate values too small to easily read. Since the Lat/Long Reader is a Surveyor only object, I could make the text much bigger. As well as bigger text, because they are Surveyor only, I can place and leave many of them all over the map to locate points of interest.
Note that the coordinate system in a Trainz map is not an exact match to real world latitude and longitude values. If you measure the linear distance between two points on the Earth and the same points in a Trainz map you will have a small but noticeable difference that inceases the further away you are from the World Origin. I find the convenience of being able to directly place objects based on Google Earth coordinates outweighs the small error. Whether you can live with it too is your call.
That being said, let's start with a new map.
First you need to place a World Origin
Next enter the World Origin Coordinates using the values of the area you wand to model
When you can place a Lat/Long Reader, it indicates the coordinates of it's position in the upper text field. The lower text field shows "name" by default
Here we enter the coordinate values in the Properties box. If ever the Lat/Long Reader is accidentally moved you can quickly return it to it's correct place.
A finished Lat/Long Reader
A second Lat/Long Reader, 0.010' south and 0.010' west of the first.
The coordinate values cover an area and are not an exact point at this resolution. Note that both show the same value.
This is a close up of the distance you can move a Lat/Long Reader before the display values change so don't worry too much about getting it exactly right to the millimeter.
I hope this has helped you understand how to use the Lat/Long Reader. Like most of my objects, it grew out of a need in my route making. Hope you too find it useful.
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