Trainz/refs/Hotkeys,Windows Apps

The Trainzer as a content manager will generally find themselves needing to run more than one Windows applications at a time. When one does so, getting around goes much better if one can master common Microsoft defined HotKeys that often are used in other applications near universally, and which have become de facto industry standards (e.g. will almost always SAVE from an application, while, ,  all have common reserved tasks inside Windows opening the drop down menus , , and ; each enabling a follow on HotKey (so a three keypress sequence, an extended Hotkey, in effect.) in the list of actions in that drop down menu &mdash; see the Underlined letters in the various drop down menu's listed lines) so mastering them can be greatly empowering and the difference between a tentative and a comfortable computer user.

Section I General Command Line HotKeys
The most commonly adopted and widest utilized Windows hotkeys date back to the CMP operating system, itself based on the DEC 10 series of minicomputers, and come to the world of personal computers through the operating system which underlay early  versions and thence to IBM's OS-2. Backward compatibility and the understandable hesitation to break things not needing fixed accounts for their widespread use and longevity.

The most commonly known and most useful of these are the copy, paste, or cut key sequences using the ' general :, , , respectively, and with which one can sequence things in a multi-step process to generate a 'copy and replace' or 'move' operation'' as desired.

Each of Trainz's modules has its own set of hotkeys linked generously here in the Trainz Wikibook and presented with an identifier string like 'CMD Map'= (toggle the mini-map) that a user can actually customize by altering the file keyboard.txt file in the settings sub-folder of the install.

Generic Navigation
Most of these key sequences are active and enabled in Internet Browsers and in quality programmer's Text Editors. Open up multiple tabs to different Wikibooks pages:
 * 1) For starters we suggest keeping the Glossary, Notations, and perhaps this page open all the time in separate tabs in a 'references browser'.  Get good with  and  behaviors, and with using them.
 * 2) If you are a Trainz tyro, having a tab with Driver shortcut keys and Surveyor Shortcut keys could also be of immense use.  At least on your second or third monitor. ~:) Having a reference page already ready to click on the TOC or edit the url in the address bar with a #term  sequence is far faster and you'll be able to check meanings, bolster or clarify your understanding, as you read other somewhat related topics material which generates a thought.  This is the path to making the knowledge your own.
 * 3) Then there is the comfort of having a Wikipedia tab ready for an immediate term check or background search,
 * 4) and if you are running CM and hunting assets, a Tab for the DLS's (new) 'manual' download pages can be useful.  Newer users are cautioned that Content Manager does not always see all that is available in that vast collection.  Checking manually for a missing is highly recommended.
 * 5) and another to TrainzKuidIndex. The web crawlers on this site can't see into .cdp files, but it is great for locating kuids that are indexed by the 3rd-party website.
 * 6) Then again, when hunting 3rd party assets, like a auto-DLS download of legacy content, you'll likely find an edit-folder or three (30?) needing repairs/updates from what was acceptable back when to a newer standard you can live with:
 * 7) that suggests to us you likely want to open two
 * 8) to four reference pages in the Trainz Wiki,
 * 9) depending upon how much that [{TR|K}} has evolved, you may want to go back to the data model documented in months before the respective benchmark (major changes in something) date.
 * 10) Trainz retail releases tend to have anniversaries (birthdays) in the late Autumn, and only the initial TBV will affect TrainzOnline changes in documentation, which almost always lagged behind a release 4-6 months, which works out as after the first one or two software updates, be they hotfixes or service packs.  Major practices, keywords, containers, and kind evolution have generally happened during these pairings:  TCC-TCs era (2007); TS2009 (2008); TS10-SP3 (m. 2010) TS12 (m. 2011); TANE (2014, 2015); TRS19 (2018).

Given all that as a Trainz normal reference need, let us further suggest you install at least three modern browsers, and set up your least favorite to load just that sort of mix every time you launch it. Use the other two more favored browsers to navigate the web. Your productivity will go up if you do. Don't forget to bookmark important pages on each, or invoke a cloud synch service to do so for you.
 * 1) and another couple in the CCG there.


 * TO-DO: 🇨🇴