Trainz/Trainzoptions.txt file

The INI file Trainzoptions.txt is used by the loader module (the EXE file which any Trainz shortcuts link to and load) to initialize the Trainz run time Graphical user interface (GUI) modules and so historically provided the means to define the startup state of older versions of Trainz.

This is one of the few underlying complexities the new Trainzer will not need to alter, but in those older releases, wanted to change early in their experiences with the Trainz operating environments. (See rule of thumb note preceding tables)

N3V/Auran provides a reasonable starting point that appears to provide optimal performance for most users, but play it very conservatively on the default video mode, initializing Trainz with the basic 1024x768 Super-VGA (SVGA) mode.

Various parts of the excellent Trainz .pdf manuals identify typical options you may use in the Trainz options settings file. The options listed below will likely not work for all versions of Trainz. In particular, many one-time options affecting performance throughput have been rendered ineffective in TRS2012-SP1.

Examples

 * Note: The following display data are settings for the Native Mode of the video monitor. Trainz releases post Trainz Classics 3 will set the width and height to (1024 x 768), but the actual video display mode is set in the Launcher > Options Menu in these N3V era later versions.

-DepthBits=24 -StencilBits=8 -fullscreen -width=1280 -height=800 -Jet=bin -cabinfov=75 -driverfov=65 -DefaultAutoMip=none -vsync=0  &mdash;   (now options setting after TS2009) -showcachebar  &mdash;   (no effect after TS2009) -allownoctrlrightclick -freeintcam -showkuids -time=0.0 -DepthBits=24 -StencilBits=8 -Jet=bin /// Org settings ///-cabinfov=60 ///-width=1024 ///-height=768 -Intro=disable &amp;nbsp; &amp;mdash; &amp;nbsp; (no effect after TS2009, some Windows versions required for pre-TS2009 versions) -cabinfov=74.7975 -driverfov=63.9863 -surveyorfov=65 -DefaultAutoMip=none -DynamicVertexBufferSize=4194304 -DynamicIndexBufferSize=196608 -VBO -framerate=200 ///-showcachebar -allownoctrlrightclick -width=1440 -height=900 -showkuids -freeintcam ///-fullscreen (default) &amp;nbsp; &amp;mdash; &amp;nbsp; (now options setting after TS2009) -windowed &amp;nbsp; &amp;mdash; &amp;nbsp; (now options setting after TS2009, but telling myself here doesn't hurt)
 * The following is a (laptop) trainzoptions.txt file still in day-to-day use on a beloved TRS2006 installation:
 * The following is a tower/desktop trainzoptions.txt file for a modern computer and graphics card (with embedded in-file comments) using a medium small display (1440 x 900) in day-to-day use on EACH OF TS2009, TS2010 and TS2012 installations:
 * As a rule of thumb, if there is a setting nowadays for a parameter in the Trainz Options Menu tabs off the Launcher screen), it need not be tweaked in the Trainzoptions.txt ini file.
 * New users will benefit most by installing -allownoctrlrightclick and -freeintcam options. The first allows you to check things easier when driving with a single right click hold. The second also used in Driver enables an offset from the attachment point of one camera view inside the cab (INTernal Camera viewpoint)&mdash;the offset is set by using arrow keys to slide forward or back, left and right, so the camera view (Toggled by '[' and ']' keys)
 * Interested in modeling your own route, then -showkuids is useful in surveyor when cherry picking assets from someone else's route for your own route under construction. People that have lavished man-years on a well done route will be insulted if you don't snoop their creations. It's the best way to see an assets visual effect. Thumbnails give no scale.
 * The most frequently altered parameters by power trainz users is the surveyorfov of the three FOV (Field of View) settings... for a particular temporary situation. (Low numbers allow close detailing work, larger numbers more vista to get better overall 'wide views'.

Table notations

 * In the following table, Opt or Yes means the feature is enabled in newer Trainz releases, meaning after the TRS2006&mdash;TC3 series; a Status=Obs(olete) means the entry was for a much lower graphical video card environment that is relatively useless in today's Hi-Definition monitors.

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 * Trainzoptions items common to all Trainz releases have been given no background color; signifying the option parameter has continued in later newer Trainz versions. Bottom Line: If a parameter seems like it may help you, copy the current file, and try changing the parameter. The WORSE that can happen is Trainz GUI's don't load, and you have to revert and relaunch.
 * You will NOT have to reboot, nor do anything corrective taking a lot of your time.


 * Legacy items with little or no relevance in the more recent N3V Games authored Trainz releases have been given a light grey background color. Each successive main retail version by N3V has replaced these INI file switch parameters with additional options click boxes or GUI menu selections, so more and more of this data table has become irrelevant (and/or obsolete).
 * Trainzoptions items active through Trainz Classics (TC3's tech-level improvements) Trainz Service Pack releases have been given a LightCoral background color; signifying the option has been discontinued in later N3V Games published Trainz versions, starting with the release of TRS2009.
 * Trainzoptions items active through TRS2009's and TRS2010's Service Pack releases have been given a light medium green background color; signifying the option has been discontinued in later newer Trainz versions.
 * Trainzoptions items active through TRS2012's Trainz Service Pack releases have been given a 'Pale Turquoise' background color; signifying the option has been discontinued in later newer Trainz versions.