Trainz/tags/category-class tag

Category-class Tags
The "category-class" tag of the is a classification and searching parameter defining what or how the human content creator meant for the new asset to be used and thought about. Content Manager will warn the user if the tag is not present when committing. In some cases, it's mandatory&mdash;particularly in those assets further refining and defining KIND specifications, for the two work hand in hand.

When encountered in the or Config.txt files, this is a sometimes nebulous and confusing parameter requiring a new user to develop a degree of mental agility, for example, a 'house' asset might be classified (Coded by some asset creator) as scenery, building, industry, or even  something as wildly inappropriate as 'fauna'. name="TOLpage">, Lead paras, 2014-0807 "Each Trainz asset's category-class tag helps describe the 'intent' of the Asset in the game, as opposed to the internal structure of the Asset." The Appendix states the tag classes represent a standardized system for referring to the various types of Locos, Rolling stock, Scenery, Spline and Industry assets. "The pdf file version of the 'Content Creators' Guide for Trainz Classics', Chapter 11, pp397, Appendix-A, said "the classes represent a standardized system for referring to the various types of Locos, Rolling stock, Scenery, Spline and Industry assets." />
 * In part this oddity is sometimes driven by the Trainz Data Model, which for example defines a kind ( which has the property of having attached track, so for the occasional need, like a harbor pier, the mocrossing kind is used to implement the creators vision. But the creator is thinking of the asset as a pier/industry asset so the category-class was born to give insights as to how the creator thought of the asset. Each Trainz asset's category-class tag helps describe the 'intent' of the Asset in the game, as opposed to the internal structure of the Asset.<ref
 * Another reason the assigned classification 'may seem less than obvious' is the mindset of the creator, and the overall scheme (prototyping a complex of buildings perhaps) he was working on. Then there are cases when the memory fails and two letters are transposed.<br
 * In the final analysis, this tag can be defined just about any way for scenery assets where it has little importance in affecting what other tags or containers might be used legally. A more thoughtful definition is important in the way CM categorizes and groups searching in filters, and is especially in rolling stock.

The specification defines which other  entries are needed in that particular asset's config.txt file. It is the entry which defines the asset's type, scope, and needs and the very important parameter that tells TRAINZ how to process and render the specific asset item correctly, error check against the standard for the category-class, and render it into  models.

Each Trainz asset's category-class tag helps describe the 'intent' of the Asset in the game, as opposed to the internal structure of the Asset. The Content Creators' Guide for Trainz Classics said these classes represent a standardized system for referring to the various types of Locos, Rolling stock, Scenery, Spline and Industry assets. The Category-class classification codes become important to all Trainzers when searching and/or filtering for suitable assets to make into content in a session or route (layout).


 * Trainz Base Specification
 * (all config.txt files can contain all these entries)
 *  Figure: 1 TrainzBaseSpec for quick reference  

Category-class code notes
New users should be aware that these codes listed below are not the direct ContentManager.exe category sort by classifications as a simple comparison of lists will reveal, but they do affect what is displayed within such a sort filter selection.
 * For example: Set a search filter for 'Location>Local + Category>Flora'. (TS12 equivalent: Instally>TRUE + Category>Flora) [Sometimes you have to speak geek, returning the simple and clear 'Local' has been requested, but TS12's CM has geek thinking built into the search filters.]
 * In the base installed content of TRS2006-SP0 this search will yield diverse assets such as the set of {Flora types: SOME few trees, Betonbridge (1,2,&3 tracks), crop splines, sidewalks, road types}
 * but the sort will also list a much larger type group, the set of {Scenery: retaining wall splines (Arkaden...), LOADS of trees and Shrubs including Laubbaum with birds (and sound), grasses (textures?), Logs} and so forth.

In that search you will also find electrified railroad centenary parts and the occasional animal. The result of such a search will be no better in new Trainz versions, which means the new Trainzer needs to cultivate a certain mental agility when searching for suitable content. No one has the man-power, deep pockets, nor copyright authority to systematically fix such foibles. You as a user, can clone such items and change the classification to something more sensible to yourself. That however, is not an asset you can upload to the Download Station without a copyright clearance from the original asset creator. The Trainz community is severe in policing copyrights violations! Rejoice in the positive, they are essentially free and cost you nothing but a bit of puzzlement. Free is good! Having them is better.

The Category Classes are:
Class "A"       Motive Power Class "B"       Buildings and Structures Class "C"       Cabeese Class "D"       Defence Class "E"       Environment Class "F"       Foliage Class "G"       Ground Class "H"       Mesh Class "I"       Product Class "J"       Texture Class "L"       Light Rail & Monorail Class "M"       Maintenance Of Way Class "O"       Organism Class "P"       Passenger & Mail Cars Class "R"       Railcars & Multiple Unit Sets Class "S"       Splines Class "T"       Track Class "V"       Vehicles Class "W"       Wayside Class "X"       Freight Cars Class "Y"       Maps and Scenarios Class "Z"       Train Parts
 * There's a little tongue-in cheek humor in them thar spellings!
 *  Figure 02: Base category-class prefixes 

Each Category Class may have a number of subcategories as listed below. Please choose the most appropriate Category Class for your item. Select the Class from the Content Creator Plus drop down menu box - only one class may be selected for an asset.

Selecting a correct Category Class is important since Trainz will allow users to use the Category Class as a sort and selection criteria.

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Class A: MOTIVE POWER

 * AA Electric Multi-current
 * AC AC Electric
 * AD DC Electric
 * AE Experimental or Special
 * AG Gas Turbine
 * AH Diesel Hydraulic
 * AL Diesel & Diesel Electric
 * AM Mammal
 * AS Steam Loco & Tender
 * AT Steam Tank

Class B: BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES

 * BB Buildable (Kind Buildable)
 * BC Commercial (scenery non-functional)
 * BI Industrial (scenery non-functional)
 * BIN Industry asset with product processing functionality
 * BH Home & Residential (scenery non-functional)
 * Subclass BP: Passenger Station
 * BPF Passenger Station with passenger processing functionality
 * BPN Passenger Station (non-functional)
 * BR Railway (scenery non-functional)
 * BS Special (e.g. military) (scenery non-functional)
 * BT Traffic & Streetscape (scenery non-functional)
 * BU Utility (incl. Civil buildings) (scenery non-functional)

Class C: CABEESE

 * CB Brake van
 * CC Caboose

Class D: DEFENCE

 * DA Military motive power
 * DE Military experimental & special vehicles
 * DP Military equipment - lab & personnel vehicles
 * DX Military equipment - freight

Class E: ENVIRONMENT

 * ES Sky
 * EW Water

Class F: FOLIAGE

 * FC Cactii
 * FF Flowers
 * FO Orchards & Crops
 * FS Shrub
 * FT Trees

Class G: GROUND

 * GA Arid
 * GL Lush
 * GS Seasonal

Class H: MESHES

 * HM Mesh

Class I: PRODUCT

 * IC Container Category
 * IP Passenger Category
 * IB Bulkload Category
 * IL Liquid Category

Class J: TEXTURES

 * JC Corona
 * JI Icon
 * JP Particle Effects Texture
 * JO Other Texture

Class L: LIGHT RAIL & MONORAIL

 * LS Articulated train sets
 * LT Trolleys, trams & streetcars
 * LM Monorail vehicles

Class M: MAINTENANCE of WAY

 * MA Camp vehicles
 * MB Ballast cars
 * MC Cranes/lifting
 * MD Diagnostic vehicles (e.g. dynamometer)
 * ME Instructional vehicles
 * MF Fire vehicles
 * MI Inspection vehicles
 * MT Track vehicles (e.g. tamper)
 * MP Snow ploughs
 * MS Section cars (e.g. fairmont)
 * MX Freight equipment (for MoW traffic)
 * MW Weed spray

Class O: ORGANISM

 * OA Animal Kingdom
 * OH Human
 * OHD Locomotive Driver

Class P: PASSENGER & MAIL CARS

 * PA Suburban/short haul (no W.C.)
 * PB Baggage cars
 * PC Coach/chair cars
 * PD Dome cars
 * PH Bar/cafeteria cars
 * PL Lounge cars
 * PM Mail cars
 * PO Observation cars
 * PP Power cars
 * PR Buffet/dining/restaurant cars
 * PS Sleeping cars
 * PU Special cars (e.g. Gaming Cars)
 * PV Private cars
 * PX Composite passenger cars



Class R: RAILCARS & MULTIPLE UNIT SETS

 * RA AC electric
 * RC DC electric
 * RD Diesel & diesel electric
 * RH Diesel hydraulic
 * RP Petrol
 * RS Steam

Class S: SPLINES

 * SF Fences
 * SR Roads
 * SP Platforms
 * SS Structure
 * SV Vegetation

Class T: TRACK

 * TB Bridge
 * TR Rails
 * TT Tunnel
 * TF Fixed Track

Class V: VEHICLES

 * VA Air
 * VL Land
 * VS Sea

Class W: WAYSIDE

 * WA Signalling
 * WS Trackside signage
 * WX Accessories

Class X: FREIGHT CARS

 * XA Auto transporter
 * XAA Open sides
 * XAB Auto box car
 * XB Box car/covered van
 * XBD Dangerous goods
 * XBG General service
 * XBI Insulated
 * XF Flat
 * XFA Articulated
 * XFC Intermodal
 * XFD Depressed center
 * XFH Heavy duty
 * XFM General service
 * XG Gondola/open wagon
 * XGB Bottom dumping
 * XGC Combination bottom/end/side dumping
 * XGE End dumping
 * XGR Rotary dumping
 * XGS Side dumping
 * XGT Covered
 * XH Hopper
 * XHB Bottom dumping
 * XHC Combination bottom/end/side dumping
 * XHE End dumping
 * XHR Rotary dumping
 * XHS Side dumping
 * XHT Covered
 * XI Foundry
 * XIB Bottle/torpedo cars
 * XIT Tipper/slag cars
 * XL Livestock
 * XLA Single deck
 * XLC Multiple deck and convertible
 * XLH Horse box
 * XR Refrigerated
 * XRI Ice chilled
 * XRM Mechanically chilled
 * XS Special
 * XSN Novelty
 * XSU Unclassified
 * XT Tanker
 * XTA Domeless
 * XTS Single dome
 * XTM Multiple dome
 * XV Ventilated car/louvred van
 * XVG General service
 * XVP Produce service

Class Y: MAPS & SCENARIOS

 * YM Map
 * YS Scenario
 * YP Profile/Session
 * YT Tutorial
 * YR Rule
 * YD Driver Command
 * YH HTML-Asset
 * YX Region

Class Z: TRAIN PARTS

 * ZB Bogie/Truck
 * ZE Enginespec
 * ZH Hornsound
 * ZI Interior
 * ZP Pantographs
 * ZS Enginesound
 * ZX Displacement Map (PaintShed-Template Obsolete)
 * ZY (Paintshed-Skin Obsolete)
 * }