How to Use Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool

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The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22.
Note: The Bulk Update/Replace Tool is currently only available in the Surveyor Classic interface. It is not yet implemented in Surveyor 2.0. Those using Surveyor 2.0 (in Trainz Plus and TRS22 Platinum) will need to temporarily switch back to the Surveyor Classic interface to use this tool.

Contents

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What is the Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool?

BlueDot10x10.png The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool allows the replacement, deletion and modification of multiple instances of one or more different assets, including textures


NotePad.PNG Notes:

The tool automates the tedious process of deleting and replacing objects one at a time, as well as other tasks.

DotPoint.JPG It allow the mass:-
RedDot10x10.png deletion of scenery objects
RedDot10x10.png replacement of one or more scenery objects by another object
RedDot10x10.png random rotation of scenery objects
RedDot10x10.png movement of scenery objects from one layer to another
DotPoint.JPG These processes can be performed over the entire layout, a single baseboard or in a selected area only
DotPoint.JPG Deletion and movement between layers can be performed on a set percentage of the selected or replacement scenery objects
DotPoint.JPG The replacement operation can be performed on textures


Things it Will NOT Do

Stop.PNG The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool CANNOT be used on:-
DotPoint.JPG spline objects (tracks are not counted as splines so you can use the tool on tracks)
DotPoint.JPG objects that are in a locked layer (easily fixed by unlocking the layer)
DotPoint.JPG bridge splines
DotPoint.JPG tunnel splines
DotPoint.JPG multiple track splines
DotPoint.JPG consists/trains
DotPoint.JPG objects of mixed types e.g. replacing non-splines with splines
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Selecting Assets and Options

The tool is located in the Surveyor Main Menu in TANE (below left) and in the Surveyor Tools Menu in TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22 (below right).
UpdateStartTANE.png   UpdateStartTRS19SP1.png


BulkAssetWindowReplacementTools.JPG
NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG The large data box on the left of the tool window, the Assets to update list, is used to store the names of the objects that are going to be updated or replaced
DotPoint.JPG The smaller entry box on its right. the Asset to replace with list, is to store a single object that will replace the object or objects in the Assets to update list


Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG

Select the Assets to Update:
There are two alternate methods of filling the Assets to update list
 
Ablue.png
Steps: Use the Get tool:-
DotPoint1Blue.png Left Click on the Get Tool (shown below), then
DotPoint2Blue.png Left Click on the object in the Surveyor screen
BulkAssetAddGetTool.JPG
The object will be added to the list, as shown in the example above.
  OR
 
Bblue.png
Steps: Use Drag-and-Drop:-
DotPoint1Blue.png Left Click and Drag an object from the Object Tool Selection Window as shown below
BulkAssetAddDrag.JPG

This can be repeated for multiple objects, using either or both methods, to build the list of Assets to update.

DotPoint2.JPG (Optional) Set Control Options:

Once the Assets to update list has been completed, the optional Rotate, Move to layer and Delete options can be used and the Scope can be set.

See the sections PageLink.PNG Setting the Options - for Non Texture Objects, PageLink.PNG Setting the Options - for Texture Objects and PageLink.PNG Setting the Scope below for more details.
DotPoint3.JPG (Optional) Add a Replacement Asset:

The same method of Drag and Drop is used to add an object to the Asset to replace with list.

NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Only a single object can be added to the Asset to replace with list. If a second object is dragged into the list it will delete and replace the first object
DotPoint.JPG When objects are being replaced they must be replaced by objects of the same general type - both lists must contain:-
RedDot10x10.png non-spline scenery objects, or
RedDot10x10.png track (single track only and no bridges or tunnels), or
RedDot10x10.png track objects of the same type (e.g. signals), or
RedDot10x10.png textures

BulkAssetAddDragReplace.JPG
If you attempt to replace one type of object with a different type you will receive an error message.

BulkAssetReplaceTypeError.JPG
Options: Choose one of:-
Ablue.png Left Click on  No  to cancel the update, OR
Bblue.png Left Click on  Yes  to proceed with the update but the mismatched objects will not be replaced
DotPoint4.JPG Perform the Update:
Once all required options and values have been entered, Left Click the  BEGIN  button to complete the process.
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Deleting Assets from the Lists

BulkAssetDeleteDragOut.JPG
Options: To remove items from the list choose one of:-
Ablue.png Use the Drag and Drop method to remove individual objects from the lists. OR
Bblue.png Left Click the Cross.PNG icon to remove all the objects


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Setting the Scope

Select the region of the layout where the updates, replacements or deletions will occur:-

BulkAssetReplaceLocation.JPG
Options: Choose one of:-
Ablue.png Anywhere on the route - the entire layout
Bblue.png In current section only - the current baseboard
Cblue.png In selected area - a defined area (see below)


If the Selected area option is chosen, then...

Steps: To define a Selected area:-
BulkAssetReplaceLocationArea.JPG
DotPoint1.JPG Left Click the Red icon, and
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click and Drag out the area to be used


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Setting the Options - for Non Texture Objects

Option 1: Randomly Rotate Scenery Objects

The first option controls the rotation or orientation of the original OR the replacement scenery objects.


Gears.PNG Settings:
BlackDot10x10.png If no Replace with object is entered then the objects in the Assets to update list will be randomly rotated to new orientations
BlackDot10x10.png If a Replace with object is entered then the replacement objects in the Replace with list will be randomly rotated to new orientations
All the layers containing the objects must be unlocked. Objects in locked layers will not be rotated


Steps: To Randomly Rotate Scenery Objects:-
BulkAssetRandomRotate.JPG
DotPoint1.JPG a Ticked CheckBox.PNG checkbox will randomly rotate each replacement (or original) scenery object when it is placed
an Unticked CheckBoxOff.PNG checkbox will keep the original orientation of each scenery object as it is replaced (this will have no effect if there is no Replace with object)
DotPoint2.JPG Left Click the  BEGIN  button to complete the process


Option 2: Move Scenery Objects to Another Layer

The second option allows the original OR replacement scenery objects to be moved to another layer.

NotePad.PNG Splines are not classified as scenery objects and cannot be moved to another layer by using the Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool
PencilTips.PNG To move a spline to another layer set the layer property in the spline property window to the new layer. You will have to do this on every spline segment.



Gears.PNG Settings:
BlackDot10x10.png If no Replace with object is entered then the selected percentage of the objects in the Assets to update list will be moved to the selected layer
BlackDot10x10.png If a Replace with object is entered then the selected percentage of the replacement objects in the Replace with list will be moved to the selected layer
BlackDot10x10.png All the layers containing the objects must be unlocked. Objects in locked layers will not be moved

Steps: To move objects to another layer:-

BulkAssetMoveLayer.JPG

DotPoint1.JPG Tick CheckBox.PNG the check box to randomly move a set % of the replacement (or original) scenery objects to another layer, OR
Untick CheckBoxOff.PNG the check box to keep all the replacement scenery objects in the same layer as the original scenery objects. This has no effect if there are no objects in the Replace with list
DotPoint2.JPG Select a percentage figure from 0% (none) to 100% (all)
DotPoint3.JPG Select the layer for the objects to move to (the layer must be unlocked)
DotPoint4.JPG Left Click the  BEGIN  button to complete the process


Stop.PNG CAUTION:
DotPoint.JPG When moving track or track objects (signals, switches, etc) to other layers always make sure that no track objects end up in a layer that is above the layer containing the track they are attached to
DotPoint.JPG Moving objects between the Route Layer Group and the Session Layer Group will change where they are saved - in the route or the session


NotePad.PNG Option 1 and Option 2 CAN both be checked ON at the same time to produce a combined effect


Option 3: Delete Scenery Objects

The third option allows the deletion of scenery objects from the layout.


Gears.PNG Settings:
BlackDot10x10.png Select a percent figure from 0% to 100% in steps of 5%. Values other than 0% and 100% will be approximate, not exact. Selecting 0% will delete none of the objects, 100% will delete them all
BlackDot10x10.png All the layers containing the objects must be unlocked. Objects in locked layers will not be deleted

Steps: To Delete scenery objects:-
BulkAssetDelete.JPG
DotPoint1.JPG Tick CheckBox.PNG the check box to randomly delete a set % of the objects
DotPoint2.JPG Select a percentage figure from 0% (none) to 100% (all)
DotPoint3.JPG Left Click the  BEGIN  button to complete the process


NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG Option 2 and Option 3 CANNOT both be checked ON at the same time
DotPoint.JPG Option 1 and Option 3 CAN both be checked ON at the same time to rotate all the scenery objects before deleting a set percentage of them.


PencilTips.PNG Deleting "Stubborn" Objects:

Some objects simply will not delete, for example some non track splines. The workaround for deleting these objects from a layout is:-

Steps: To delete "stubborn" objects:-
Stop.PNG Warning: This method is an All or Nothing approach. ALL instances of the selected asset will be deleted from your layout
DotPoint1.JPG exit Surveyor and start Content Manager
DotPoint2.JPG locate and select (highlight) the stubborn asset
DotPoint3.JPG Left Click the Content menu and select Disable or Hide (depending on your version of Trainz). This will not delete the object from your layout or from your Trainz installation
DotPoint4.JPG start Surveyor and reload the route. It will now have a missing dependency
DotPoint5.JPG from the Main Menu (in T:ANE) or the Tools Menu in (TRS19/Trains Plus/TRS22) select the Delete Missing Assets option
DotPoint6.JPG save the route and exit Surveyor
The disabled asset will no longer be present in your layout. It should now be restored for other uses
DotPoint7.JPG start Content Manager
DotPoint8.JPG locate and select (highlight) the now disabled asset
DotPoint9.JPG Left Click the Content menu and select Enable


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Setting the Options - for Texture Objects

NotePad.PNG Notes:

DotPoint.JPG You cannot rotate or move textures. The only available texture setting controls the scale and rotation of the replacement texture
DotPoint.JPG You can select multiple textures to be replaced by a single texture
DotPoint.JPG Select the texture assets by using either the "Grab Tool" or by "dragging and dropping"
DotPoint.JPG Textures can be deleted by using the workaround for Deleting Stubborn Objects described in the section Delete Scenery Objects above


The image below shows a region painted with one texture asset but with different scaling and rotation settings.

BulkAssetTextureReplaceOriginal.JPG
BulkAssetTextureReplaceOption.JPG
With the check box ticked, the following is the result of a Left Click on the  BEGIN  button.
  BulkAssetTextureReplaceOptionOFF.JPG
With the check box unticked, the following is the result of a Left Click on the  BEGIN  button.
BulkAssetTextureReplaceScaleRot.JPG
The scale and rotation settings that were used in the original have been replaced with the default scale and rotation settings of the replacement texture.
  BulkAssetTextureReplaceNoScaleRot.JPG
The same scale and rotation settings that were used in the original have been used with the replacement texture.


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Sample Applications

Replacing Some Assets

The Problem:

A forest has been created using three different trees. A number (30%) of the two smaller tree types are to be replaced with a larger tree of a different type.

BulkAssetTreesOriginal.JPG


The Solution:

The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool does not have a feature that will allow the replacement of only some assets (it is all or none), so a slightly more indirect approach is needed.

BulkAssetTreesMove.JPG
Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG A new layer, named Trees is created
DotPoint2.JPG The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool is used to move 30% of the two smaller tree types to the new layer


LinkWiki.PNG For information on creating new layers, see the Trainz Wiki Page at:-


BulkAssetTreesReplace.JPG
DotPoint3.JPG The original layer is then locked - this prevents the replacement of those trees that were not moved to the new layer (note the warning about the locked layer on the bottom left of the Bulk Asset Update/Replace window)
DotPoint4.JPG The replacement tree is added to the Replace With list
DotPoint5.JPG The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool is used to replace the two smaller tree types with the new tree type


LinkWiki.PNG

For information on how to lock layers, see the Trainz Wiki Page at:-


The final result

BulkAssetTreesModified.JPG
To complete the process:-
DotPoint6.JPG The original layer is unlocked
DotPoint7.JPG The Trees layer is merged with the original layer


LinkWiki.PNG

For information on unlocking and merging layers, see the Trainz Wiki Page at:-


Fixing "Texture Bleeds"

The Problem:

MergedTextureBorderProblem.JPG

Sometimes when adding new baseboards or merging a route containing blank baseboards onto a route containing textured baseboards, there can be a "bleed-over" where a texture from the painted route will flow along some of the baseboard boundaries of the unpainted baseboards as shown in the image left.

As strange as it may seem, this is actually "expected behaviour" and its purpose is to resolve other long standing problems that can occur when baseboards are added.

The unwanted texture can (usually) be painted over by another texture and this will resolve the problem but there may be a lot of it to paint out and you may prefer a simplier solution. The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool can provide such a solution.

The Solution:

Steps: Grab the Grid
BulkAssetGridUpdate.JPG DotPoint1.JPG Use the Grab Tool to Left Click on one of the bare grid lines to place the Grid texture into the Assets to update list
BulkAssetGridUpdateGridReplace.JPG DotPoint2.JPG drag the Grid entry from the Update list into the Replace list. This will still leave a copy in the Update list
DotPoint3.JPG drag the Grid entry from the Update list out of the Tool box. This will delete the Grid entry from the Update list


Steps: Grab the "Bleed Texture" and Clean
BulkAssetSandUpdateGridReplace.JPG DotPoint4.JPG use the Grab Tool to select the "bleed" texture and place it into the Update list
DotPoint5.JPG  IMPORTANT:  change the scope setting to Current section only otherwise this texture will be replaced by the grid throughout the entire layout
DotPoint6.JPG Left Click the  BEGIN  button to complete the process
If more than one baseboard needs this treatment then:-
DotPoint7.JPG move the Surveyor cursor to the next baseboard and Left Click the  BEGIN  button to complete the process
DotPoint8.JPG repeat as necessary


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Trainz Wiki

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More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz


This page was created by Trainz user pware in June 2018 and was last updated as shown below.


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