Trainz/refs/Hotkeys,Surveyor-All


 * ''This page with it's is allocated to show the AURAN HOTKEYS file command notations as the HOTKEYS computer code names (left column), which is the line of the  one would need to customize if one wanted a different leypress for the programmable hotkey action. The intent is to evolve Surveyor Hotkeys into a user friendly English analog of these programerese names.'' =List of All Changeable Hotkeys= The KEY to operating most tools is to understand how and when, , , affect the active tool tip on the one hand, and when a secondary hotkey selects a class of asset on the other. The Primary hotkeys select the, which when pressed will toggle the tab and tool panels open or closed, as do mouseclicks as indicated. A selected tool in the tool panel is often still active, so a key sequence selecting the such as, then  will activate the 'Trackside Tools TAB' ([F4]), the 'T' for  sub-tool menu and then the 'M' for , which will allow you to drag track vertex elements around. The last closes the tool panel and lets the user have more screen while adjusting Tracks. The mouse button can instead be used to toggle the active tool menu open and closed.

In reality, a practiced route builder will likely be toggling back and forth between several tool panels and their respective active tool sub-menus and active tools while doing fine detailing of a section of map, say where a road runs beside a small stream (another spline asset) both of which parallel the tracks for a time, then the stream crosses under the tracks and perhaps so does the road&mdash; all running mostly together. That main scenery runs along side farmer's fields (fences being another spline, and crops often another; while farm equipment, vehicles, and animals are Objects, a different sub-menu); and down the street a few thousand meters&mdash;a row of rural housing (Objects, using ) which need individual placement ( and a likely adjustment of Height, Rotation, and a Move or two of it's position, for each and every one, (not to mention their yard elements such as trees, swings, sidewalks, driveways, hedges and so forth). Creation of even a small detailed area becomes a marathon of intense concentration and takes a practiced eye and fore-planning.

A common enough circumstance, but integrating the Trainz assets with their respective heights, shaping the landscaping as you go means the route builder will be using a veritable flurry of hotkeys and mouse operations, perhaps switching tools as often as once every three-to-five seconds! TS12 is notorious for being responsible for slowing down that process, as the game can't keep up with the mind and hands of a practiced artist at their trade. Instead, with TS12, one often has to wait while the tool switch gets each tool to be reloaded into what seems to be the same patch of memory&mdash;a sloppy programmer assumption and bad effect for the Trainz Power user.

Section I General Command Line HotKeys
Most of the hotkeys in this section are better invoked using the menus and mouse operations.

Section II Edit Help mode
Surveyor module Bookmarks allow you to set a place and view angle so you can return to the exact same view... and continue to work there later. Bookmark buttons are arrayed along the top on the Title Bar in all releases up through TC3; and afterward, in the Pick List Drop down (TS09+) box.

Section III [F1]] Topology Tools Tab
Most tools in this group are affected by the 'sensitivity dial' and hotkeys to decrease,  to increase; abbreviated ('['/']') below when mentioned. Moreover, most are also affected by the size of the tooltip (Tooltip radius below), which is circular in Trainz and is adjustable by mouse LMBh+d on the radius dial or by and ; abbreviated ('+'/'-') below.

Section IV [F2] Texture Painting Tool Tab

 * Most tools in this group are affected by the 'rotation dial' (sensitivity in F1 tools above) and hotkeys to decrease,  to increase; abbreviated ('['/']') below when mentioned.
 * The 'sensitivity'  or intensity of effect is adjusted by hotkeys to decrease,  to increase; abbreviated ('c['/'c]') below when mentioned.
 * Moreover, most are also affected by the size of the tooltip (Tooltip radius below), which is circular in Trainz and is adjustable by mouse LMBh+d on the radius dial or by and ; abbreviated ('+'/'-') below.

Section V [F3] Objects and Splines Tab

 * Objects are placed with simple LMB-clicks where the screen is clicked. They can be rotated, most allow height adjustments, and their is a Main Menu click box option that allows multiple placements of one type to have a random rotation or be fixed and oriented as made.
 * Spline objects have two end point anchors called vertexes and require two vertex placements by a first and after moving with the mouse making a subsequent (second) LMB-click. Clicking the same vertex (a third click) joins a new instince of the selected type of spline and also needs two clicks to finish; so awaits you to add a new vertex (third) by sliding with the mouse to a new location and clicking there too. Such a process can be repeated and completed rapidly for miles of highway, forest trees or telephone lines, and most importantly Track types (next sections tools). Most splines auto-adjust the vertex height and their surface (e.g. roads, hedges or tracks) to the existing terrain height where placed. Vertex heights are adjustable, and the terrain between two vertices can be 'shaped and smoothed' using the 'spline smooth terrain' tooltip. This feature will raise a causeway over a lake, or make a cutting through a hill, affecting the slope of the terrain to either side of the spline. This makes layouts rapidly.