How to Use Layers

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	Layers are a Surveyor tool that allows you to better manage the objects that are placed in your Trainz World.
	Layers are a Driver tool that allows you to change what the players see as they drive around your Trainz World.

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The Layers Tool

Click the Layers Tool to open up its properties.

The layers are organised into two groups:-

• Route Layers in the top group, and
• Session Layers in the lower group.

With the Layer Tools (Add, Delete, Merge and Lock) below them.

Each group contains multiple layers - the scroll bars next to the layer names indicate that there are more layers in each group.

Loading a Route and Loading a Session

The layers you will see will depend on whether you have loaded into Surveyor a Route by itself (with no "child" Session) or a Session and its "parent" Route.

The image on the left shows the layers that will appear if the route only is loaded into Surveyor. These are the layers that are saved with the Route. Note that a default "session-layer" is present. An empty default "session-layer" is always added when only the Route is loaded into Surveyor. The image on the right shows the layers that will appear if a Session based on that Route is loaded into Surveyor. It shows Route Layers and Session Layers. In both cases, the Route Layers are identical because the same Route has been loaded. A Session contains its own layers, the Session Layers, that are saved with the Session but are not saved with the Route. Route Layers are saved with the Route. Session Layers are saved with the Session. If you load a Route without a Session and edit the "session-layer" then those edits will be gone the next time you load the Route without a Session because an empty "session-layer" will be created each time a Route is loaded without a Session.

An important lesson here is:-
	If you load a ROUTE without a SESSION then only edit the Route Layers
	If you load a SESSION then you can edit the Route Layers AND the Session Layers

Creating a New Route

When a brand new route is created it will come with two layers, a single "route-layer" and a single "session-layer".

Both layers will be empty (the baseboard with its grid is saved with the route but is not in any layer). A layer can be renamed at anytime by double clicking on its name with the left mouse button and typing a new name.

Adding a New Layer

Click the Add Button

A New Layer dialogue window will appear.

Enter a name for the new layer and select the layer group, Route or Session, where it will be placed. You can easily move the layer to the other layer group later if you change your mind. A layer can be renamed at anytime by double clicking on its name in the layer list and typing a new name.

Click the Tick button to accept the changes.

Deleting a Layer

Select the layer to be deleted and click the Delete Button

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Deleting a layer will delete ALL the objects placed in that layer except objects that are "Bound" to that layer.

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If the layer being deleted is empty, then the following dialogue window will appear:-

• Click Yes to delete the layer
• Click No' to cancel the delete operation

If the layer being deleted is NOT empty, then the following dialogue window will appear:-

• Click Merge to merge this layer and its contents into another layer. See Merging Layers below for information on merging layers
• Click Delete to delete the layer and its contents. This cannot be undone
• Click Cancel to cancel the delete operation

Merging Layers

Select the layer to be merged into another layer and click the Merge Button

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Merging a layer into a second layer will move ALL the objects from the first layer into the second layer. The first layer, which is now empty, will then be deleted.

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Locking Layers

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It is good practice to LOCK ALL LAYERS that you are not working with. This will avoid the all too common problem of accidentally adding objects to the wrong layer.

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Locking Individual Layers

To LOCK an individual layer, click on the Open Padlock icon next to its name. The objects in a LOCKED layer cannot be moved or deleted.

The image on the left shows two Route Layers, both UNLOCKED with their Padlock icons Open. One layer, "Trees", is highlighted showing that it is the currently active layer. The image on the right shows the same two layers after the "Trees" layer has been LOCKED. It can be UNLOCKED by clicking its Closed Padlock icon.

If you attempt to add a scenery object to a locked layer you will receive the following message:-

Clicking the Tick button will UNLOCK the layer

Locking ALL Route Layers

Click the Lock Button

This will LOCK ALL the layers in the Route Layers Group. The Session Layers Group will not be affected.

The Route Layers Group can be UNLOCKED by clicking the Lock Button again.

Route Layers vs Session Layers

This topic has filled endless threads in the Trainz Forums with arguments raging on both sides.

There are no "cast iron" rules that dictate what should be placed in the Route Layers Group and what should be placed in the Session Layers Group. Each Route and Session will be different and different creators have different ways of working. The main question to be asked is how many different Sessions will be created using a particular Route?

• For a Route with only a single Session - everything can safely go into the Route Layers Group

Many creators only ever build a single Session for each of their Routes so they do not use Session Layers at all.

• For a Route with multiple (2 or more) Sessions - certain things will need to go into the Session Layers Group for each Session.

Many creators build multiple Sessions for each Route and rely on the Session Layers to provide the differences between their Sessions.

The Route Layer Group

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The Route Layer Group should be used for everything that you want to be seen in every single Session (if you have multiple sessions).

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There is nothing stopping you from placing everything in the "route-layer" and never have to worry about managing layers ever again. However, layers do provide you with a way of organising your Route scenery objects to make them more manageable. Some examples:-

• A Special Objects layer or layers that can be used to hold a certain type or types of scenery objects. For example all the trees. This can be very useful when you need to hide those objects to locate or place other objects. Trackside cameras in particular can be very difficult to find when placed in a forest.
• A Platform Objects layer can be used to hold all platform items such as seats, luggage, luggage trolleys, people, lamp posts, etc. Because these items are placed on top of a platform object they can be very difficult to move or delete without first moving the platform. The layer containing the platform can be locked allowing these objects to be easily moved or deleted.
• Hiding and Showing Objects in Driver Mode. There is a Session Rule that can hide and show layers during the running of a Session. For example: a rail worker can be shown standing next to a track lever while shunting operations are underway but can be hidden ("gone off to morning tea") by hiding that layer when shunting has been completed.
• Test Layer. Not sure if a particular object is right for your layout? Place it in a temporary layer which you can hide and show to see the difference it makes. This is particularly useful if you are deciding between different types of grasses.

The "route-layer"

While all layers are equal, the "route-layer" is special.

I would recommend that all the following objects should be placed in the "route-layer":-

• Track and interactive industries with track
• Track infrastructure (turntables, bridges, tunnels)
• Signals
• Junctions and switches
• Track signs (speed limits, warnings, etc)

..and that the "route-layer" be placed at the top of the Route Layers Group.

The Session Layer Group

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The Session Layer Group should be used for everything that you only want to be seen in the currently loaded Session.

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