How to Use Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool

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#'''IMPORTANT:''' change the scope setting to '''Current section only''' otherwise this texture will be replaced by the grid throughout the entire layout
 
#'''IMPORTANT:''' change the scope setting to '''Current section only''' otherwise this texture will be replaced by the grid throughout the entire layout
 
#click the '''Begin''' button
 
#click the '''Begin''' button
−
If more then one baseboard needs this treatment then
+
If more than one baseboard needs this treatment then
 
#move the Surveyor cursor to the next baseboard and click '''Begin'''
 
#move the Surveyor cursor to the next baseboard and click '''Begin'''
 
#repeat as necessary
 
#repeat as necessary

Revision as of 20:35, 8 November 2018

Contents

What is the Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool?

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

You will find the tool in the Surveyor Main Menu.

NotePad.PNG Notes:
  • The tool automates the tedious process of deleting and replacing objects one at a time, as well as other tasks. It allow the mass:-
    • deletion of scenery objects
    • replacement of one or more scenery objects by another object
    • random rotation of scenery objects
    • movement of scenery objects from one layer to another
  • These processes can be performed over the entire layout, a single baseboard or in a selected area only.
  • Deletion and movement between layers can be performed on a set percentage of the selected or replacement scenery objects.
  • The replacement operation can be performed on textures.


DotPoint.JPG When objects are being replaced they must be replaced by objects of the same general type - both must be spline objects, or both must be non-spline objects, or both must be textures, or both must be track objects, etc

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

BulkAssetReplaceTypeError.JPG
Choices.PNG Choices:
  • Clicking No will cancel the update
  • Clicking Yes will proceed with the update but the mismatched objects will not be replaced


Things it Will NOT Do

Stop.PNG The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool CANNOT be used on:-
  • objects that are in a locked layer
  • bridge splines
  • tunnel splines
  • multiple track splines
  • consists/trains
  • objects of mixed types e.g. replacing splines with non-splines


Selecting and Adding the Assets

BulkAssetWindowReplacementTools.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
  • 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.PNG Steps:

The quickest way of adding objects to the Assets to update list is to:-

  1. click on the Get Tool (shown below), then
  2. click on the object in the Surveyor screen.

BulkAssetAddGetTool.JPG
The object will be added to the list, as shown in the example above.

This can be repeated for multiple objects to build a list of Assets to update.


DotPoint.JPG An alternative method is to Drag and Drop an object from the Object Tool Selection Window as shown below.
BulkAssetAddDrag.JPG


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

DotPoint.JPG To Replace the entered assets with another asset, the Asset to replace with list must be filled. The same method of Drag and Drop is used to add an object to the Asset to replace with list.
BulkAssetAddDragReplace.JPG


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.


Deleting Assets from the Lists

DotPoint.JPG Use the Drag and Drop method to remove individual objects from the lists or click the x button in each data entry box to remove all its objects.
BulkAssetDeleteDragOut.JPG

Setting the Scope

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

BulkAssetReplaceLocation.JPG
Choices.PNG Choices:
  • Anywhere on the route - the entire layout
  • In current section only - the current baseboard
  • In selected area - a defined area


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

Steps.PNG Steps:

BulkAssetReplaceLocationArea.JPG

  1. Click the Red icon, and
  2. Draw out the area to be used


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:
  • If no Replace with object is entered then the objects in the Assets to update list will be randomly rotated to new orientations
  • 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.PNG Steps:

BulkAssetRandomRotate.JPG

  • Tick CheckBox.PNG the check box to randomly rotate each replacement (or original) scenery object
  • Untick CheckBoxOff.PNG the check box to keep the original orientation of each scenery object as it is replaced (this will have no effect if there is no Replace with object)


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.

Gears.PNG Settings:
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 move none of the objects, 100% will move them all
  • Select a destination layer for the objects

All the layers containing the objects must be unlocked. Objects in locked layers will not be moved.

Steps.PNG Steps:

BulkAssetMoveLayer.JPG
To move objects to another layer:

  1. Tick CheckBox.PNG the check box to randomly move a set % of the replacement (or original) scenery objects to another layer
  2. Select a percentage figure from 0% (none) to 100% (all)
  3. Select the layer for the objects to move to (the layer must be unlocked)

To keep the replacement objects in the same layer:

  • 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


Click the Begin button to complete the process


Stop.PNG CAUTION: When moving track or track objects (signals, switches, etc) to other layers always make sure that any track objects do not end up in a higher layer than the track they are attached to.


DotPoint.JPG 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:
  • 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

All the layers containing the objects must be unlocked. Objects in locked layers will not be deleted.

Steps.PNG Steps:

BulkAssetDelete.JPG

  1. Tick CheckBox.PNG the check box to randomly delete a set % of the objects
  2. Select a percentage figure from 0% (none) to 100% (all)
  3. Click the Begin button to complete the process


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.PNG Steps:
  1. exit Surveyor
  2. start Content Manager
  3. locate and select (highlight) the stubborn asset
  4. click the Content menu and select Disable

This will not delete the object from your layout or from your Trainz installation

  1. start Surveyor and reload the route. It will now have a missing dependency
  2. from the Main Menu select the Delete Missing Assets option
  3. 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.

  1. start Content Manager
  2. locate and select (highlight) the now disabled asset
  3. click the Content menu and select Enable
NotePad.PNG Notes:
This method is an All or Nothing approach. All instances of the selected asset will be deleted from your layout.


Setting the Options - for Texture Objects

NotePad.PNG Notes:
  • You cannot rotate or move textures. The only available texture setting controls the scale and rotation of the replacement texture.
  • You can select multiple textures to be replaced by a single texture.
  • Select the texture assets by using either the "Grab Tool" or by "dragging and dropping".
  • 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 after clicking the Begin button.		   BulkAssetTextureReplaceOptionOFF.JPG
With the check box unticked, the following is the result after clicking 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.


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


See the Trainz Wiki Page WikiLink.PNG How to Use Layers for information on creating new layers.
BulkAssetTreesReplace.JPG
Steps.PNG Steps:
  1. 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)
  2. The replacement tree is added to the Replace With list
  3. The Bulk Asset Update/Replace Tool is used to replace the two smaller tree types with the new tree type


See the Trainz Wiki Page WikiLink.PNG How to Use Layers for information on locking layers.


The final result.

BulkAssetTreesModified.JPG
Steps.PNG Steps:

To complete the process:-

  • The original layer is unlocked
  • The Trees layer is merged with the original layer


See the Trainz Wiki Page WikiLink.PNG How to Use Layers for information on unlocking and merging layers.


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.PNG 1: Grab the Grid
BulkAssetGridUpdate.JPG

Use the Grab Tool to click on one of the bare grid lines to place the Grid texture into the Assets to update list

BulkAssetGridUpdateGridReplace.JPG
  1. drag the Grid entry from the Update list into the Replace list. This will still leave a copy in the Update list
  2. drag the Grid entry from the Update list out of the Tool box. This will delete the Grid entry from the Update list


Steps.PNG 2: Grab the "Bleed Texture" and Clean
BulkAssetSandUpdateGridReplace.JPG
  1. use the Grab Tool to select the "bleed" texture and place it into the Update list
  2. IMPORTANT: change the scope setting to Current section only otherwise this texture will be replaced by the grid throughout the entire layout
  3. click the Begin button

If more than one baseboard needs this treatment then

  1. move the Surveyor cursor to the next baseboard and click Begin
  2. repeat as necessary



Trainz Wiki

TrainzWiki.png

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