This article presents the three toolbars available to help us during the construction of a project. Links are available for detailed information if needed.
List of tool bars
The main tool bar
As its name suggests, the main tool bar groups together the essential functions of the program.
New layout
As we quickly saw in the article Presentation of the start page , this is where you can define the settings for creating a new layout.
Open layout
Opens a standard window where you can select a project. If a project is already loaded, the program will offer to save it.
Save layout
This command allows you to save the layout currently under construction. You have the choice to select one or more object classes which allows you to have several versions of the same project with different classes. The point is to be able to work with a particular class. These classes, 6 in total, can be compared to layers of image editing software. Click here for more information.
Save as
Opens a standard window where you can save the layout under construction with a different name. As with the save command, you have the option of choosing between one or more object classes.
Open a stored block
Opens a standard window where you can choose a block file. A block file can consist of several different classes of objects. We will see later how to create a block file to reuse it later in the same project or in a future project.
Save current block
Opens a standard window that lets you save the currently selected block to a file. Once saved, the block can be reused later in any other layout.
Here below, you can see the different block file extensions according to there object classes:
- Track editor : *.bi6
- Road editor : *.bi7
- Tramways editor : *.bi8
- Structure editor : *.bi3
- Landscape editor : *.bi2
- Goods editor : *.bi4
- Water, airway and auxiliary editor : *.bi9
- Global editor : *.bi15
Information: The block function is particularly powerful because you can save a section of your plan made up of several classes of objects (communication routes, structures, goods, landscape elements, etc.), or only one class in particular. You just need to be in the corresponding editor to save the objects corresponding … to this editor. Example: Railroad editor active? only the recording of tracks or switches will be possible.
Mark block (select block)
Once you have clicked on the icon, the mouse cursor will take the form of a white square (marking mode active). Hold the left mouse button to start the selection on your plan.
You can use two selection modes: classic or lasso. To use lasso mode, please hold one of the two Shift keys before starting to mark. When the markup is complete, save it to a file for later reuse or copy it for immediate use elsewhere in your layout.
You can use two selection modes: classic or lasso. To use lasso mode, please hold one of the two Shift keys before starting to mark. When the markup is complete, save it to a file for later reuse or copy it for immediate use elsewhere in your layout.
Copy block
This command copies the selection of the marked block to the clipboard. Once the block has been copied, it will be symbolized by a white rectangle. It’s up to you to move it to the location of your choice. all you have to do is insert (paste) it, EEP offers two methods which are detailed in the paragraph below.
Insert block
For inserting (pasting), you have two possibilities: either you click on this button followed by a click outside the inserted area or click directly twice outside the inserted area. This method is the fastest.
Note : To find the details concerning the block commands, please go to the page : the blocks
Match object position height to surface
This push button activates or deactivates the height-position correspondence of the object on the surface. If this function is activated, all objects will be automatically magnetized to the surface of your layout. You can also find this command in the Insert menu.
Undo
This command is common to almost all software allows you to cancel the last action in the event of an error (up to 20 actions can be canceled).
Redo
This command is common to almost all software, allows you to restore the last action in the event of an error (up to 20 actions can be restored).
Bring camera closer
This command allows the active camera to zoom in and thus get closer to the targeted subject (only in 3D view).
Pull camera back
This command allows the active camera to zoom out and thus move away from the targeted subject (only in 3D view).
Center planning or overview window at camera position
This command is used to center or re-center the camera view in the 2D windows (2D planning window and 2D preview window) and thus to reposition the view.
Camera follow mode
In the 3D view, this command allows you to follow moving rolling stock. To do this, you must first switch to the control window and choose a vehicle in the Control window – rolling stock . To cancel tracking mode, simply click on the icon again, the camera will become static again and display the point of view as it was before canceling this mode.
Set up camera
This command is used only in the 2D planning window and 2D preview window allowing you to place a camera at the location of your choice. Once you release the mouse button, EEP automatically switches to the 3D view. You can change the height, angle of view, zoom of the camera through the combination of keyboard and mouse.
Select camera
This drop-down list groups together all the cameras you have created for direct access. Of course, you must be in the 3D view to benefit from the camera views. As much as possible, try to name your cameras with meaningful names. For example, Station entrance camera, Platform camera n ° 1, Tunnel entrance camera (tunnel name), Rotunda camera …
Save camera
This command allows you to save the active camera.
Weather environment setting
This command opens a window in which you can adjust the environmental and weather parameters of the layout. Be aware of this : here it’s about the parameters at the global level of the project. You will see in the chapter ( Coming soon ) that EEP allows you to define local meteorological zones independently of environmental parameters.
Program settings
Opens a window in which are grouped all the EEP parameters such as the track quality, antialiasing, quality of shadows, rendering, saturation, brightness, contrast, controller settings, etc … Follow this lien for more information.
Edit lua script
Opens the Lua editor window to allow you to write scripts to automate certain operating tasks.
The secondary tool bar in the 2D view
The secondary tool bar is located at the bottom left corner in the 2D planning window.
3D window
This command switches from the 2D planning window to the 3D window.
Splines
The guidelines feature comes in handy for properly aligning objects. For example, catenary poles to electrify a track, a row of trees along a road and more generally all the objects requiring a perfect alignment. Several options are available such as alignment along the grid or orientation relative to the track.
Construction grid
This control acts as a push button to turn the grid on or off to allow you to properly align objects when precision is required. The display of the grid depends on the line spacing in the grid settings. For example, for the value 1, the grid is displayed from scale 1 / 10th.
Show ruler
This command acts as a push button to activate or deactivate the ruler and protractor. The rule is represented on 2 axes. The X and Y axes. The protractor has a movable radius that allows you to measure any angle.
Show texture colours
This command allows you to hide textures in the 2D planning window and display objects in wireframe mode. This allows you to better understand them when they are in a dense area or to visualize the exact location of the different models. In the first mode, all objects are displayed in a two-dimensional form, while in the second mode, only the geometric (wireframe) representation of the objects is displayed.
Increase scale of planning widow
This command allows you to zoom in the 2D planning window. You will find the equivalent of this command with the central mouse wheel, which is more practical and faster.
Decrease scale of planning widow
This command allows you to zoom out in the 2D planning window. You will find the equivalent of this command with the central mouse wheel, which is more practical and faster.
The secondary tool bar in the 3D view
The secondary tool bar is located at the bottom left corner in the 3D view.
Planning window
This command switches from the 3D view to the 2D planning window.
Light
This command activates or deactivates the lighting of railway or road vehicles. We will see later that there are other possibilities for managing vehicle lighting.
Load
This command allows you to take control of the loading of goods such as containers, boxes including cranes.
Selection of moving parts
Drop-down list in which all moving elements (axes) are listed, such as opening or closing doors, pantographs, crane jibs, filling of wagons … (if available on the selected model). We will see later on more possibilities for managing the selection and movement of mobile elements in an automated way.
Set position of movable parts
Here we find a cursor that will allow us to move a mobile element located in the drop-down list for a model being selected. We can achieve the same through touchpoints or through a Lua script. But we’ll see all of this later in another article. For the moment and to make you wait, you can find a small example from the Wendelsteins_Kurvenbrueck_v12 project delivered with EEP, to show you the function of this cursor.
Player Buttons
When your project is in production and manual or automatic driving is activated, you have the option of pausing, resuming or speeding up the playback multiplied by 5 or 10. Just as you would with a Blu-ray player. for example.
Selection of editable objects
This command is only for the 2D preview window (radar window) and allows you to move directly in this window, objects belonging to the same class. Click Here to learn more.
Increase scale of overview window
This command allows you to zoom in the 3D window. You have the equivalent with the central mouse wheel which is more practical and faster.
Decrease scale of overview window
This command allows you to zoom out in the 3D window. You have the equivalent with the central mouse wheel which is more practical and faster.
This article is now complete. If you have any questions or suggestions, please give us your feedback in the leave a reply input box below.
Thank you for your helpful comments. Have fun reading an other article.
eep-world.com team
This article was translated by Pierre for the English side of the EEP-World from the article written by Domi for the French side of the EEP-World.
