TrainPlayer 4.1 Readme

TrainPlayer-TrackLayer 4.2 Readme

Version 4.2.1, Dec 14, 2011

Welcome to Version 4.2!

Version 4.2 comes right on the heels of 4.1, but is a major step forward. The new version features a long-awaited revamp of the entire graphics system, so that you can zoom in as close as you like, even on the largest layouts, without using up memory or seeing a blank screen or sacrificing performance. Scrolling has been optimized. Highlights are faster -- the train no longer jerks when you throw a switch. This all came together faster than we thought, so here it is.

Revamped graphics! Infinite zoom, smoother performance, better appearance
View drag: grab the view and drag it around with the hand cursor, just like in a map program
Car sizes: specify sizes of individual cars rather than settling for the defaults -- the way it used to work
Background colors: choose your favorite background color for a blank layout and another for the area outside it
Station styles: choose colors for station outline and text
Fixes: many small fixes and enhancements, as detailed in the version history below.

New features are documented in the help system where appropriate -- see What's New in 4.2 in the contents.

Installation

By download: instructions are on the Download page on the web. Click the Download button and follow instructions.

From DVD: insert the disk in the drive, setup starts automatically. For details. see the next section.

If you have any trouble with the installation, see Where to Go for Help below.

Installing From DVD

If you have a DVD from TrainPlayer, insert it into the drive, wait a bit, and you will see the TrainPlayer DVD Installer, a little dialog with three big buttons*:

1. Install Program Files

Click this button to bring up the TrainPlayer Setup wizard, which takes you through the same installation procedure as for the downloaded version.

You may have already done this. If you downloaded the demo or program and went through the wood-grain screens of the setup wizard, then you don't need to do it again. The DVD installer dialog helpfully informs you if this is the case.

2. Install Data Files

Click this button to bring up the TrainPlayer Data Installer, a different wizard for installing the data files -- layouts, car collections, sounds, and scenery.

On the first screen, you are given a choice of whether you want to install the layout files to the hard drive or leave them on the DVD . (Other types of files are always installed to the hard drive.) Installing to the hard drive has several advantages: (a) the program starts up faster; (b) the layouts open faster; (c) you do not need to leave the DVD in the drive.

On the next screen, if you opted to install layouts to the hard drive, you can choose which layout sets to install. You can install your favorites and leave the rest on DVD for occasional use. Checkmark the sets you want to install and click Go.

3. Start Program

Click this button to launch the newly-installed program. This automatically closes the DVD Installer.

Other ways to start the program are (a) double-click the TrainPlayer 4 icon on your desktop, or (b) choose TrainPlayer 4 from the Start > TrainPlayer 4 menu.

* If the dialog does not come up automatically after inserting the DVD, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the root of the DVD drive, and double-click setup.exe.

License

TrainPlayer is shareware. You can run it free for thirty days, after which you must purchase a license to continue. If you do not have a license, a dialog comes up every time you run the program.

To purchase a license, (a) click the Buy button on the opening dialog, (b) choose Purchase from the Help menu in the program, or (c) go to the TrainPlayer Products page on the web.

Documentation

Detailed instructions for running the program are in the Help system. Choose Contents from the Help menu and browse around.

The same documentation is available in PDF format. For a link to the latest PDF manual, see the Support page on the web.

If you have been running a previous version, check the help topic What's New In 4.2 for a guide to the new features.

Additional documentation is on the web. For a growing series of helpful articles, see the How-To Clinics.

See the web Support page for more resources.

Upgrading

If you have been running 4.0 or 4.1, upgrade to 4.2 is free.

If you have been running an earlier version, you can upgrade free to 4.2, but you won't get the full Ops system until you purchase an upgraded license. For prices and links, choose Purchase Upgrade from the Help menu.

Where to Go for Help

Check the manual. See "Documentation" above.
Check for answers on the FAQ.
Consult the friendly helpful gang on our forum.
E-mail the friendly helpful staff at support@trainplayer.com.

Version History

4.2.1 (14 Dec 11)	Point release
4.2.0 (1 Dec 11)	First release of 4.2
4.1.0 (22 Oct 11)	First release of 4.1

Changes since 4.2:

New Station Style dialog for setting station text and outline colors (access via Station Props)
Drop track junction onto circle using Edit tool => forms curve
Prevent drag by hand except in valid direction(s)
Load lookups faster via name map
Background color now applicable per layout
Attaching stations to tracks: now works for multiple tracks
Fix for flickering selection rect
Prevent zoomout to infinity
Fix in Industry Browser to show all AAR codes
Handle trains with no names in Schedule Window
Less flashing on zoom in and out
Fix for hovering over track or circle and pressing Del to delete
Fix for rail separation, now works on straights and curves
Add rail separation value to Prefs
New mechanism for handling loads in industries; allows aar override
Improved highlighting while dragging and while creating stations
Fix for creating new station around multiple tracks
Scripts: Train command now selects by train name or car label

Changes since 4.1:

Revamped graphics system -- infinite zoom, smoother scrolling, better highlighting
Dragging view by hand
Fixes in track transforms -- curves, circles, turntables now reflect and rotate correctly
Setting of individual car sizes -- as it used to work, before spring 2010
New preferences for setting layout and window background colors
New scheme for highlighting junctions and switches -- better performance and appearance
Load combos in Car and Car Collection Properties no longer allow typed input -- you must choose from the list
Auto-scroll turns off automatically upon scrolling or hand dragging (as before) but now only if the selected train is moving
Fixed display of crashed cars so not cropped
Fix for turning off car labels while moving
Fix for broken combo box in Animation Obj Properties
Remove script welcome dialog
On zoom out: remove double flash of layout before display
Select All with track or edit tool now includes circles
Allow choosing layout-specific background color -- new button in Layout Props
Fix allows selecting and moving circles when no track present

Changes since 4.0:

Animation
Ties
Export image; replace Export dialog with wizard
Track transforms: rotate, flip
Car ID display rework
Road Preferences tab
Select Ties, Roadbed only
Remove Tools > Options, redundant menu
Remove nonfunctional Add to Schedule, Add to Switchlist menu items
Remove 4.0 Welcome dialog
Remove "Save view settings" checkbox and feature; use default view on layout load (improved scheme under development)
AnyRail import enhancements: fixes for turntables; straight flex sections now converted to single track pieces
Select All with track edit tool now selects circles as well as track
Do not highlight stations when selecting track
Improved cursors when using station tool
Selecting polygon scenery objects now uses accurate touch detection
Add parameter to load def to allow fitting to partial car length; used internally
Remove Refresh Thumbnail menu item when in web chooser
Add index column to car chooser to allow sorting default sets in menu order
When creating layout thumbnails, apply basic view settings (no stations, color codes, etc.)
Repair of progress bar during downloads
Publish layout now uses default view settings
Manual and help buttons updated to 4.1
Better initial choice in layout chooser
Updated and expanded sets of installed layouts and car collections
Fix for deletion, selection when using scenery tool
Scheme for more efficient highlight detection; disabled until further tested

License Agreement

-- TrainPlayer License Agreement --

Thank you for downloading TrainPlayer software. This agreement says: enjoy the program on whatever computers you have, and don’t give away your license key.

With either the purchased or the demo version, you may:

install the software for your personal use on one or more machines.

distribute the installer freely. Without a license key, the installer is a free demo version.
use layouts as delivered with the program or downloaded from the TrainPlayer web site, in accordance with your license. You will not be able to download layouts for which you are not licensed.
request support by e-mail.

If you have not purchased a license, you may use the trial version free for the extent of the trial period. The trial version does not have the full set of features of the licensed version, and comes with only a small set of layouts. After the trial period expires, you must purchase a license or request an extension by e-mail.

You may not:

distribute, post, or make public any license key we provide.
modify the software or documentation.
distribute, post, or make public images, tpg files, or screen captures of any Kalmbach layout.
make copies of the distributed CD, except for your own personal use as backup.

Track plans from "101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders," "Model Railroader," and "Model Railroad Planning" are copyright (c) Kalmbach Publishing Co. You are permitted to use the images within TrainPlayer and TrackLayer only.

-- Disclaimer of Warranty --

This software and the accompanying files are sold "as is" and without warranties as to performance or merchantability or any other warranties whether expressed or implied. Because of the various hardware and software environments into which this software may be put, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered.

The program is not without bugs. If you find one, we encourage you to report it, and we will do our best to fix it in an upcoming version.

Contact

web	www.trainplayer.com
e-mail	info@trainplayer.com
forum	groups.yahoo.com/group/TrainPlayer
mail	4200 Arcadian Dr., Castro Valley, CA 94546
phone	707 320-4246