Trainz/refs/Hotkeys,Surveyor-All

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Fundamentals for Trainz Trainees

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Glossary

HKeys-CM

HKeys-DVR

HKeys-SUR

HKeys-WIN

Mouse use

Notations

This page with it's computer jargon names is allocated to show the AURAN HOTKEYS file command notations as the HOTKEYS computer code names (left column),
which is the line of the ini file one would need to customize if one wanted a different leypress for the programmable hotkey action.
The intent is to evolve Surveyor Hotkeys into a user friendly English analog of these programerese names.

List of All Changeable Hotkeys

The KEY to operating most tools is to understand how and when -, +, [, ] affect the active tool tip on the one hand, and when a secondary hotkey selects a class of asset on the other. The Primary hotkeys F1, F2, ... , F7 select the active tool tab, which when pressed will toggle the tab and tool panels open or closed, as do mouseclicks as indicated.

A selected tool in the tool panel is often still active, so a key sequence selecting the 4th TAB-Tracks and Trackside such as F4, then T+M+F4 will activate the 'Trackside Tools TAB' ([F4]), the 'T' for Tracks sub-tool menu and then the 'M' for Move Vertex tool, which will allow you to drag track vertex elements around. The last F4 closes the tool panel and lets the user have more screen while adjusting Tracks. The 4th TAB-Tracks and Trackside mouse button can instead be used to toggle the active tool menu open and closed.

In reality, a practiced route builder will likely be toggling back and forth between several tool panels and their respective active tool sub-menus and active tools while doing fine detailing of a section of map, say where a road (spline object F3+S) runs beside a small stream (another spline asset) both of which parallel the tracks for a time, then the stream crosses under the tracks and perhaps so does the road— all running mostly together. That main scenery runs along side farmer's fields (fences being another spline, and crops often another; while farm equipment, vehicles, and animals are Objects, a different sub-menu); and down the street a few thousand meters—a row of rural housing (Objects, using F3+O) which need individual placement (LMB and a likely adjustment of Height, Rotation, and a Move or two of it's position, for each and every one, (not to mention their yard elements such as trees, swings, sidewalks, driveways, hedges and so forth). Creation of even a small detailed area becomes a marathon of intense concentration and takes a practiced eye and fore-planning.

A common enough circumstance, but integrating the Trainz assets with their respective heights, shaping the landscaping as you go means the route builder will be using a veritable flurry of hotkeys and mouse operations, perhaps switching tools as often as once every three-to-five seconds! TS12 is notorious for being responsible for slowing down that process, as the game can't keep up with the mind and hands of a practiced artist at their trade. Instead, with TS12, one often has to wait while the tool switch gets each tool to be reloaded into what seems to be the same patch of memory—a sloppy programmer assumption and bad effect for the Trainz Power user.  

Editor's note: In all the below tables, there are both hotkeys (our topic) and for many, a mouse button equivalent. These are signified by the notation +MB after any mix of hotkeys presented, in the same column for convenience. The Trainz GUI's will display a hoover over button short text explanation of a button (with a little trial and error), so we leave it up to the operator to ferret out which icon is which hotkey by it's action.

 

Section I General Command Line HotKeys

Most of the hotkeys in this section are better invoked using the menus and mouse operations.

Surveyor General scope Hotkeys Map and File Commands		Notes, Tips and Comments
NEWMAP	CTRL+N	DANGEROUS KEY. BlANKS the map and starts you on a new map board. Some versions may offer to save before blanking, but others don't.
LOADMAP	CTRL+L	Enters save process, offers Save Over or Save As alternatives, then asks you to select a new map to load. (fairly useless)
SAVEMAP	CTRL+S	Enters save process, offers Save Over or Save As alternatives.
EDITMAP	CTRL+E	Enters 'edit route mode', same as using Main Menu+LMBh+drag to select edit route—both meaning the description tag's text of the route's config.txt file.
OPTIONS	CTRL+O	?May open the options menu, giving access to the mode controls, environment controls, the consists tables and so forth.
TUNING	CTRL+T	?May directly open the performance options menu, dial the distance sliders back to where your computer system runs smoothly with a train running at speed without appreciable pauses or other glitches.
FINDOBJECT	CTRL+F	Brings up an alphanumeric search API window. Type the first letters of a name and it suggests near fits, drag and click to select one, and the terrain will fly under you so you are over the selected location. Tip: Set a bookmark so you can return to your start before using! Click the check mark button to stay in the new location and close the API, or revise your string to search elsewhere too. Clicking the 'X' button or closing the API cancels the Find operation; newer Trainz return you to where you started if closed that way.
MINIMAP	CTRL+M	Opens a resizable mini-map in a Window. Place this at screen bottom left and size it to be away from the screen center for best use. This position leaves one able to see to build and toggle what is displayed on the map or zoom in/out for detail and names. Mastering this mode is pretty much necessary for modifying or writing sessions.
PROFILES	CTRL+P	?May open the Session's description string for edits. It's available via the Main Menu drop down as well.
RULES	CTRL+R	?
COPY	CTRL+C	Operates on strings in input windows, including tool selection typing input windows.
PASTE	CTRL+V	Operates on strings in input windows, including tool selection typing input windows.
CAM WALK	ALT+Y	or Close Up view mode. Main view mode can be zoomed in and out using the mouse wheel or PgUp and PgDn keys. ALT-Y places your feet on the ground in walking mode, and you can get far closer to see as if in the world. Squirelly over sensative to mouse, vertical mouse motions are disorienting. A little practice gives one capability to turn the view using horizontal (side to side) mouse motions alone, or slight tilting verically. Walk about by using the arrow keys: Left and Right arrows slide you sideways; up and down walk you forward or back. Hit Esc to exit mode and return to the normal in surveyor camera mode.
CAM FLY	ALT+U	?
CAM CAR	ALT+CTRL+SHFT+Z	?
RAND MAP	ALT+CTRL+SHFT+P	?
SMITE	ALT+CTRL+A	?

Section II Edit Help mode

Surveyor module Bookmarks allow you to set a place and view angle so you can return to the exact same view... and continue to work there later. Bookmark buttons are arrayed along the top on the Title Bar in all releases up through TC3; and afterward, in the Pick List Drop down (TS09+) box. |-

Surveyor Utility Editor Keys and Bookmark Buttons		Notes, Tips and Comments
menu undo	CTRL+z
menu redo	CTRL+y
menu search panel	CTRL+SHFT+f
hud interface toggle	CTRL+Space
hud contextual info toggle	ALT+o
DO bookmark 1	1	Set the location, height and viewpoint of the current camera view.
DO bookmark 2	nn	If you've seen one, you can guess the rest. 1 is low, '0' means tenth.
DO bookmark 9	9
DO bookmark 0	0
DO bookmark set 1	CTRL+1	Set the location, height and viewpoint of the current camera view.
Same for the next eight set commands. CTRL+2—CTRL+9
SET bookmark 0	CTRL+0	Last Set Viewpoint Bookmark Hotkey.
bookmark clear 1	CTRL+SHFT+1	Clears Viewpoint Bookmark #1 Hotkey.
Same for the next eight Clear commands. CTRL+SHFT+2—CTRL+SHFT+9
clear bookmark 0	CTRL+SHFT+0	Last Clear Viewpoint Bookmark (#0) Hotkey.
menu wireframe	F9, CTRL+w+MB
menu menubar	F10
menu help	F12

Section III [F1]] Topology Tools Tab

Most tools in this group are affected by the 'sensitivity dial' and hotkeys [ to decrease, ] to increase; abbreviated ('['/']') below when mentioned. Moreover, most are also affected by the size of the tooltip (Tooltip radius below), which is circular in Trainz and is adjustable by mouse LMBh+d on the radius dial or by - and +; abbreviated ('+'/'-') below.

[F1] Topology Tools Tab		Notes, Tips and Comments
MODE TOPOLOGY	F1, 1st RHS TAB, Top TAB	Toggles Topology Tools Tab and enables it's hotkeys. Tabs can be closed again and still be the active tool, so that hotkeys mode changes will still have effect.
HEIGHT UP	U+MB	Raise a Region: Makes the terrain under the tooltip radius mound up and if the sensativity is up quickly creates a mountain where the LMB is clicked or held and/or dragged.
HEIGHT DOWN	D+MB	Lower a region: Makes the terrain under the tooltip radius depress downwards conically and if the sensativity is high quickly creates a cone shaped depression where the LMB is clicked or a valley if held and dragged.
HEIGHT ADJUST	A+MB	LMBh+d pulls terrain under the tooltip up or pushes it down depending upon vertical mouse motion. This is a fixed location fine adjustment tool, use Set Height, displacement maps or Plateau tools for adjusting a large area. Affected by both sensitivity ('['/']') and tooltip radius settings ('+'/'-')
CURSOR MINUS	- + CCW LMBh+d dial	Shrink Tooltip radius
CURSOR PLUS	+ + CW LMBh+d dial	Expand Tooltip radius
HEIGHT SENSITIVITY MINUS	[ + CCW LMBh+d dial	Affects 'Mildness' or gradualness a Terrain tool changes the mesh under the Tooltip radius.
HEIGHT SENSITIVITY PLUS	] + CW LMBh+d dial	Affects 'Vigor' or quickness a Terrain tool changes the mesh height under the Tooltip radius.
HEIGHT GET	G
HEIGHT USE	H
PLATEAU	P +MB	Flattens a circular region adjustable using the tooltip radius settings ('+/-')
ADD WATER	W+MB	LMB-click adds water mesh at that spot (center). Tooltip radius controls +/- affect area in question. Setting a water height has effect, otherwise often joins other water already placed.
DELETE WATER	Q+MB	LMB-click deletes water mesh at that spot.
ADJUST WATER HEIGHT	E+MB	LMBh+d to raise/lower water polygons plane height. Use with SHFT for finer increments to fine adjust.
EXTEND SECTION	X	Adds a Trainz baseboard the next void space (off map region) LMB-clicked on screen.
DISPLACEMENT ROTATION MINUS	SHFT+[	Alas, only 90 degree rotations of the bit map limit the utility of this tool set.
DISPLACEMENT ROTATION PLUS	SHFT+]	Alas, only 90 degree rotations of the bit map limit the utility of this tool set.
DISPLACEMENT SCALE MINUS	CTRL+[	Decreases the distortion of the BMP bitmap. Mountains become hills, ravines valleys etc. for smoother terrain.
DISPLACEMENT SCALE PLUS	CTRL ]	Increases the distortion of the BMP bitmap. Mountains taller, ravines deeper etc. for rougher terrain.
DISPLACE APPLY	F+MB	One selects a start corner, then LMBh and drags to the other diagonally opposite corner and release the LMB to fix the corner. With the region selected either click the MB or use the hotkey to make terrain.
DISPLACEMENT GET	Only Menu selected	Displayments are greyscale BMP files stored in the \World folder, and there is a 3rd party tool which makes new ones to add to the ten or so distributed with Trainz releases.

Section IV [F2] Texture Painting Tool Tab

• Most tools in this group are affected by the 'rotation dial' (sensitivity in F1 tools above) and hotkeys [ to decrease, ] to increase; abbreviated ('['/']') below when mentioned.
• The 'sensitivity' or intensity of effect is adjusted by hotkeys CTRL+[ to decrease, CTRL+] to increase; abbreviated ('c['/'c]') below when mentioned.
• Moreover, most are also affected by the size of the tooltip (Tooltip radius below), which is circular in Trainz and is adjustable by mouse LMBh+d on the radius dial or by - and +; abbreviated ('+'/'-') below.

[F2] Texture Painting Tool Tab		Notes, Tips and Comments
MODE PAINT	F2, 2nd TAB	Selects this family of tools, toggles the tool panel closed while maintaining the current tool or others selectable by active hotkeys covered here.
TEXTURE ROTATION MINUS	[
TEXTURE ROTATION PLUS	]
TEXTURE SCALE MINUS	CTRL+[
TEXTURE SCALE PLUS	CTRL+]
CURSOR SIZE MINUS	-	Decrease tooltip radius
CURSOR SIZE PLUS	+	Increase tooltip radius
PAINT GET	G+MB	Gets a texture at the tool LMB-click point, to select it for identification or use elsewhere. Auto-changes ADD mode when grabbed.
FILL GRID TEXTURE	L
SELECT BOX	B+MB
SELECT FILL	F+MB
CANCEL SELECTION	D

Section V [F3] Objects and Splines Tab

• Objects are placed with simple LMB-clicks where the screen is clicked. They can be rotated, most allow height adjustments, and their is a Main Menu click box option that allows multiple placements of one type to have a random rotation or be fixed and oriented as made.
• Spline objects have two end point anchors called vertexes and require two vertex placements by a first and after moving with the mouse making a subsequent (second) LMB-click.
   • Clicking the same vertex (a third click) joins a new instince of the selected type of spline and also needs two clicks to finish; so awaits you to add a new vertex (third) by sliding with the mouse to a new location and clicking there too.
   • Such a process can be repeated and completed rapidly for miles of highway, forest trees or telephone lines, and most importantly Track types (next sections tools). Most splines auto-adjust the vertex height and their surface (e.g. roads, hedges or tracks) to the existing terrain height where placed. Vertex heights are adjustable, and the terrain between two vertices can be 'shaped and smoothed' using the 'spline smooth terrain' tooltip. This feature will raise a causeway over a lake, or make a cutting through a hill, affecting the slope of the terrain to either side of the spline. This makes layouts rapidly.

[F3] Objects and Splines Tools		Notes, Tips and Comments
MODE OBJECTS	F3, 3rd TAB
OBJECTS FILTER	O+MB	Use this to place buildings, trees, cars, tanks, and other objects made in one rotatable piece. Unlike [F4] Trackside objects, 'Objects' can be placed anywhere, and most are height adjustable.
SPLINE FILTER	S+MB	These meshes are linear objects strung out along a line (fences, telephone poles & wires, hedges, even trees and splines of parked cars) or sometimes in a planar mesh (wide/deep clump of trees, parking lots, river/streams).
OBJECT NAME MINUS	-
OBJECT NAME PLUS	+
OBJECT ADD	A+MB	LMB-Click Add mode for selected object
OBJECT MOVE	M+MB	LMBh+d - Move and drag mode for selected object
OBJECT ROTATE	R+MB	LMBh+d -Rotate mode for selected object
OBJECT GET	G+MB	LMB-Click - GET type mode to find type of selected object.
OBJECT DELETE	D+MB	LMB-Click delete the object
OBJECT NAME	N, or RMB-Click	LMB-Properties mode clicked object allows naming it which will appear in maps. Useful in signs, stations, and to change industry names especially, but labeling objects (trees) with on game board centers or corners can allow a map grid references.
OBJECT ADJUST HEIGHT	H+MB	LMBh+d - Adjust HEIGHT mode for selected object. Height jumps in meter increments, so use Shft+LMBh+d to adjust to decimeters increments (o.1 meters)
SPLINE JOIN SPLIT	Q+MB
SPLINE VERTEX HEIGHT	H
SPLINE REMOVE VERTEX	X	Used in the middle of a strung together splines, interior splines can be deleted joining the two sections. Will not work on the end vertices of splines.
SPLINE INSERT VERTEX	I
SPLINE SMOOTH TERRAIN	S

Section VI Track, Trackside, and Markers TAB

surveyor		Notes, Tips and Comments
MODE TRACKS	F4, 4th TAB, Track mode Tools
TRACK SPLINE FILTER		T
TRACK OBJECT FILTER		Y
TRACK TRACKMARK FILTER		V
TRACK NAME MINUS	-
TRACK NAME PLUS	+
TRACK ADD	A
TRACK MOVE	M
TRACK ROTATE	R
TRACK GET	G
TRACK DELETE	D
TRACK STRAIGHTEN	B
TRACK TOGGLE JUNCTION	J
TRACK RENAMING STUFF	N
TRACK SPLIT	Q
TRACK SPLINE HEIGHT	T+H
TRACK SPLINE REMOVE	T+X
TRACK SPLINE INSERT	T+I
TRACK SPLINE SMOOTH	T+S
TRACK GET GRADIENT	T+J
TRACK APPLY GRADIENT	T+K
TRACK GET CURVE	T+L

Section VII World Tools TAB or Layers TAB

F6 World Tools TAB and menus Trainz 1.3–TS2009, Since then, 6th TAB down or 2nd from Bottom now selects 'LAYERS Tool Menu and Tab' from TS10 and up. The rarely needed World Tools (of the Hotkeys below) have been moved into the Surveyor options menu.

 

F6, 2nd from Bottom TAB - The World Tools TAB and menus		Notes, Tips and Comments	MODE WORLD	F6 Opens World Tools TAB and menus
WORLD CLOCK ADD	A
WORLD CLOCK MOVE	M
WORLD CLOCK DELETE	D
COM_WORLD_CLOCK_RED_MINUS	SHFT+-
COM_WORLD_CLOCK_RED_PLUS	SHFT++
COM_WORLD_CLOCK_GREEN_MINUS	CTRL+-
COM_WORLD_CLOCK_GREEN_PLUS	CTRL++
COM_WORLD_CLOCK_BLUE_MINUS	ALT+-
COM_WORLD_CLOCK_BLUE_PLUS	ALT++
WORLD CLOCK MINUS	-
WORLD CLOCK PLUS	+
WORLD WEATHER MINUS	[
WORLD WEATHER PLUS	]
WORLD ENVIRONMENT MINUS	CTRL+[
WORLD ENVIRONMENT PLUS	CTRL+]
WORLD ORIGIN ADD	O
WORLD ORIGIN FIND	F
WORLD ORIGIN EDIT	E

Section VII Camera's and Rulers Tools TAB

MODE TOOLS	F5	Notes, Tips and Comments
TOOLS PLACE CAMERA	A
TOOLS MOVE CAMERA	M
TOOLS DELETE CAMERA	D
TOOLS PLACE RULER	R
TOOLS MOVE RULER	T
TOOLS DELETE RULER	Y
TOOLS PASTE HEIGHT	S
TOOLS PASTE ROTATION MINUS	[
TOOLS PASTE ROTATION PLUS	]
TOOLS PASTE HEIGHT RELATIVE	L
TOOLS SELECT BOX	B
TOOLS COPY PASTE	P
TOOLS CANCEL SELECTION	X

Section VIII Trains and Consists tools TAB

Traincar and Consists Mode Tab and Tools		Notes, Tips and Comments
MODE TRAINS	F7, 7th and Last/bottom Tab
TRAIN FILTER	T
CONSIST FILTER	C
TRAIN NAME MINUS	-
TRAIN NAME PLUS	+
TRAIN ADD	A
TRAIN MOVE	M
TRAIN ROTATE	R
TRAIN GET	G
TRAIN DELETE	D
TRAIN PROPERTIES	P
TRAIN CHANGE HEADING	H
TRAIN DECOUPLE	X
QUICK DRIVE	CTRL+F2