[eric from trainsim]

Would it be possible to have labels for things like station and siding markers be aligned with the tdb object markers?

I'm noticing that they render below and to the right, and they sometimes show up 1-2 tracks away from the actual track they occur on...

The x/y offsets should be a parameter in a perfect world...

[Weter]

MSTS Mapper utility uses pointer-lines for that.
Also, filtering/declutter option.

[perpetualKid]

eolesen, on 30 October 2022 - 09:20 PM, said:

Would it be possible to have labels for things like station and siding markers be aligned with the tdb object markers?

I'm noticing that they render below and to the right, and they sometimes show up 1-2 tracks away from the actual track they occur on...

The x/y offsets should be a parameter in a perfect world...

how would you envision this to look like? Platform or Sidings only have a start and end defined in tdb, and that's where I think the markers in TrackViewer are aligned (like you mentioned, to the bottom right of that).

 TrackViewer.jpg (206.03K)
Number of downloads: 10

In an alternative toolbox I'm working on, I've tried to visualize the platforms (and sidings) along the track they belong to, and have the markers in the centered in the middle between start and end. Also does some decluttering.

 Toolbox.jpg (222.11K)
Number of downloads: 10


would that help, or what are you looking for?

[perpetualKid]

Weter, on 13 January 2023 - 07:20 AM, said:

Wow, great!
Is it 2-d mode of simulator (runactivity)?

it's multiple parts but all based on a single code base instead of multiple different like the existing:
- a separate stand-alone track viewer (called Toolbox, there is other woro in progress to make it more than just track viewer and path editor, ideally becoming an activity editor)
- replacement for the in-game "dispatcher view"
- eventually also a stand-alone dispatcher for a multiplayer mode ((not yet there)

it does load Paths and one can follow paths node by node (and see if paths are valid), but editing is notyet finished.

 PathView.jpg (109.76K)
Number of downloads: 5

and the same station with an active train looks like that in the "Dispatcher View" replacement (in Runactivity) with active signal state instead (and same capability to change signals or switches)

 Dispatcher.jpg (169.93K)
Number of downloads: 5

Weter, on 13 January 2023 - 07:20 AM, said:

Platforms looking better. Is it shown left/right platform?
Can text be parallel to tracks, or can we have a pointers to mentioned platform?

Signals looking great, representing actual lights arrangement, but would look better, if have foot(pointers), as yellow arrows in classic track viewer, or at least pointing dashes, as in dispatcher window.

Aligning text to the track sounds great at first, but it may be more of a disturbance if all texts are in different direction. Look at any map, barely anything which is not horizontally aligned (maybe text on some mountain ranges). I could give it a try though, to see how it looks like.

Signals got some visual representation if zooming in:

 Signals.jpg (93.5K)
Number of downloads: 5

Weter, on 13 January 2023 - 07:20 AM, said:

Speed restrictions... What if real British/road ones: red outlined white circle with black digits?

sounds useful, I'll have a look.

Weter, on 13 January 2023 - 07:20 AM, said:

Not certain about circle - shaped frame, instead of rectangle, on mini-map, which shows current viewed area.

it typically showing the actual area of the map view is an rectangle (same ratio as the window size), but if that becomes to small, another fixed-size circle is added around to give an indication.

If you want to give it a try, just follow the link in my signature, appreciate input and feedback!

[Weter]

Hello.
I ask because it would be very desired tool for debugging timetables without running ORTS in 3d mode. (faster, more informative, controllable and resource-saving)

Quote

texts are in different direction

Agree: route author can throw sidings in different directions and as a result well get a porridge on map. I concur.

Quote

Signals got some visual representation if zooming in:

Sorry, didn't noticed that - they look beautiful!

[perpetualKid]

Weter, on 13 January 2023 - 10:59 AM, said:

Are You aware about Amtrak115 's project of activity editor and about Looky's intention to write similar utility?

yes, it's actually the work Amtrak115 and I are involved with.

Weter, on 13 January 2023 - 03:46 PM, said:

It wants to download desktop runtime...
what should I do?

yes, you'll need .NET 6 Desktop Runtime from here https://dotnet.micro...load/dotnet/6.0


direct link https://dotnet.micro...s-x64-installer

[Weter]

Thanks.
Then, if You need more collaborants, we can let Looky know.

[perpetualKid]

I gave it a try to align platform names with the actual platforms, it's actually much better than I thought it will be:

 horizontal.jpg (196K)
Number of downloads: 4


 Vertical.jpg (90.57K)
Number of downloads: 4

[Weter]

Sure.
What is rose marker?
Are they directed into same side automatically, or it may be messed, depending on actual markers direction?
Is not aligned text for station's name? If so, maybe make it different (font, size, color)?

[eric from trainsim]

perpetualKid, on 19 January 2023 - 05:04 AM, said:

I gave it a try to align platform names with the actual platforms, it's actually much better than I thought it will be:

Yep, that looks good to me as well.

[perpetualKid]

Weter, on 19 January 2023 - 06:56 AM, said:

What is rose marker?

it's just using the complement color for highlighted items/track (doesn't show the mouse pointer on the screenshot). But colors are customizable, so everyone can mess up those colors themselves :)

Weter, on 19 January 2023 - 06:56 AM, said:

Are they directed into same side automatically, or it may be messed, depending on actual markers direction?

they are directed into same side, readable from left to right. so something along such line / will be from left bottom upwards, but \ will be from top left downwards. So it only will change direction if tracks are converging \ / or / \ across the vertical threshold.

Weter, on 19 January 2023 - 06:56 AM, said:

Is not aligned text for station's name? If so, maybe make it different (font, size, color)?

station names are just placed in the calculated "middle" of the station area, nothing to align to. There are no station markers in the track format, so basically just looking across all platforms which have the same station name, take the boundary and find the middle.
It's like city names on a map (station names, always horizontally) and road names (platforms, sidings, following the track).

Maybe I'll make them more like a station name label to be better distinguishable. However, they also differ already, station names have a fixed size, while other items scale down and fade out as you zoom away.

Thanks for your input!

[eric from trainsim]

Weter, on 19 January 2023 - 06:56 AM, said:

What is rose marker?

Maybe I'm answering too literally, but rose markers are also called a compass rose and gives the four directions on the map. North is not always pointing upward depending on the map.

[Weter]

Hello, Erick.
Thanks for valuable note: it's indeed so, that in some maps north don't match with upside.
Also, there is a term "rose of winds", especially for naval or aviation maps, showing prevailing directions of winds in given location.
I've meant one platform is rose.
Maybe, touched by mouse.

Anyway, I like, how it appears, thanks for Your work.
That's good, direction is uniform.
About text's look similarity for platforms/stations... It's discussion question: both have pluses and minuses, but, at the same time, both are acceptable.
I only remind You about pointer line possibility: not as asking to introduce it, but only for Your information.

[perpetualKid]

perpetualKid, on 19 January 2023 - 08:08 AM, said:

Weter, on 19 January 2023 - 06:56 AM, said:

Are they directed into same side automatically, or it may be messed, depending on actual markers direction?

they are directed into same side, readable from left to right. so something along such line / will be from left bottom upwards, but \ will be from top left downwards. So it only will change direction if tracks are converging \ / or / \ across the vertical threshold.

turntables and the like are good example where text actually changes direction, but doesn't look messy (bottom ones where it changes between 09 and 10)

 Turntable Sidings.jpg (115.39K)
Number of downloads: 6

[eric from trainsim]

That looks perfect.

How does it look when you zoom out? There's obviously going to be some overlaps the further out you zoom, but that's unavoidable unless you try to come up with logic to offset the labels so they don't overlap, and that's where the misalignment starts to take place.