Trainz/tags/category-class tag

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Category-class Tags

The "category-class" tag of the TrainzBaseSpec is a classification and searching parameter defining what or how the human content creator meant for the new asset to be used and thought about. Content Manager will warn the user if the tag is not present when committing. In some cases, it's mandatory—particularly in those assets further refining and defining KIND specifications, for the two work hand in hand.

When encountered in the TrainzBaseSpec or Config.txt files, this is a sometimes nebulous and confusing parameter requiring a new user to develop a degree of mental agility, for example, a 'house' asset might be classified (Coded by some asset creator) as scenery, building, industry, or even something as wildly inappropriate as 'fauna'.

• In part this oddity is sometimes driven by the Trainz Data Model, which for example defines a kind (kind mocrossing which has the property of having attached track, so for the occasional need, like a harbor pier, the mocrossing kind is used to implement the creators vision. But the creator is thinking of the asset as a pier/industry asset so the category-class was born to give insights as to how the creator thought of the asset. Each Trainz asset's category-class tag helps describe the 'intent' of the Asset in the game, as opposed to the internal structure of the Asset. The Content Creator's Guide Appendix states the tag classes represent a standardized system for referring to the various types of Locos, Rolling stock, Scenery, Spline and Industry assets.<ref name="TC3CCGpdf">"The pdf file version of the 'Content Creators' Guide for Trainz Classics', Chapter 11, pp397, Appendix-A, said
  "the classes represent a standardized system for referring to the various types of Locos, Rolling stock, Scenery, Spline and Industry assets."
  
• Another reason the assigned classification 'may seem less than obvious' is the mindset of the creator, and the overall scheme (prototyping a complex of buildings perhaps) he was working on. Then there are cases when the memory fails and two letters are transposed.
  
• In the final analysis, this tag can be defined just about any way for scenery assets where it has little importance in affecting what other tags or containers might be used legally. A more thoughtful definition is important in the way CM categorizes and groups searching in filters, and is especially in rolling stock.

The kind KIND specification defines which other (data type) entries are needed in that particular asset's config.txt file. It is the entry which defines the asset's type, scope, and needs and the very important parameter that tells TRAINZ how to process and render the specific asset item correctly, error check against the standard for the category-class, and render it into 3D graphics models.

Each Trainz asset's category-class tag helps describe the 'intent' of the Asset in the game, as opposed to the internal structure of the Asset. The Content Creators' Guide for Trainz Classics said these classes represent a standardized system for referring to the various types of Locos, Rolling stock, Scenery, Spline and Industry assets. The Category-class classification codes become important to all Trainzers when searching and/or filtering for suitable assets to make into content in a session or route (layout).

Trainz Base Specification

(all config.txt files can contain all these entries)TrainzBaseSpec

Figure: 1 TrainzBaseSpec for quick reference

Category-class code notes

New users should be aware that these codes listed below are not the direct ContentManager.exe category sort by classifications as a simple comparison of lists will reveal, but they do affect what is displayed within such a sort filter selection.

For example: Set a search filter for 'Location>Local + Category>Flora'. (TS12 equivalent: Instally>TRUE + Category>Flora) [Sometimes you have to speak geek, returning the simple and clear 'Local' has been requested, but TS12's CM has geek thinking built into the search filters.]

In the base installed content of TRS2006-SP0 this search will yield diverse assets such as the set of {Flora types: SOME few trees, Betonbridge (1,2,&3 tracks), crop splines, sidewalks, road types}

but the sort will also list a much larger type group, the set of {Scenery: retaining wall splines (Arkaden...), LOADS of trees and Shrubs including Laubbaum with birds (and sound), grasses (textures?), Logs} and so forth.

In that search you will also find electrified railroad centenary parts and the occasional animal. The result of such a search will be no better in new Trainz versions, which means the new Trainzer needs to cultivate a certain mental agility when searching for suitable content. No one has the man-power, deep pockets, nor copyright authority to systematically fix such foibles. You as a user, can clone such items and change the classification to something more sensible to yourself. That however, is not an asset you can upload to the Download Station without a copyright clearance from the original asset creator. The Trainz community is severe in policing copyrights violations!

These codes when applied by the content creator were in many cases cut and pasted into a new similar asset, in others, the way he or she was using the asset in their current project. In short, they are not definitive, but are indicative... even if it is only of the mental state of the creator at the time of donation to the DLS, or as happens in many cases, a case of translation from a native tongue with a different way of thinking than that of English.

Rejoice in the positive, they are essentially free and cost you nothing but a bit of puzzlement. Free is good! Having them is better.

The Category Classes are:

There's a little tongue-in cheek humor in them thar spellings!

Class "A"        Motive Power
Class "B"        Buildings and Structures
Class "C"        Cabeese
Class "D"        Defence
Class "E"        Environment
Class "F"        Foliage
Class "G"        Ground
Class "H"        Mesh
Class "I"        Product
Class "J"        Texture
Class "L"        Light Rail & Monorail
Class "M"        Maintenance Of Way
Class "O"        Organism
Class "P"        Passenger & Mail Cars
Class "R"        Railcars & Multiple Unit Sets
Class "S"        Splines
Class "T"        Track
Class "V"        Vehicles
Class "W"        Wayside
Class "X"        Freight Cars
Class "Y"        Maps and Scenarios
Class "Z"        Train Parts

Figure 02: Base category-class prefixes

Each Category Class may have a number of subcategories as listed below. Please choose the most appropriate Category Class for your item. Select the Class from the Content Creator Plus drop down menu box - only one class may be selected for an asset.

Selecting a correct Category Class is important since Trainz will allow users to use the Category Class as a sort and selection criteria.

Class A: MOTIVE POWER AA Electric Multi-current AC AC Electric AD DC Electric AE Experimental or Special AG Gas Turbine AH Diesel Hydraulic AL Diesel & Diesel Electric AM Mammal AS Steam Loco & Tender AT Steam Tank Class B: BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES BB Buildable (Kind Buildable) BC Commercial (scenery non-functional) BI Industrial (scenery non-functional) BIN Industry asset with product processing functionality BH Home & Residential (scenery non-functional) Subclass BP: Passenger Station BPF Passenger Station with passenger processing functionality BPN Passenger Station (non-functional) BR Railway (scenery non-functional) BS Special (e.g. military) (scenery non-functional) BT Traffic & Streetscape (scenery non-functional) BU Utility (incl. Civil buildings) (scenery non-functional) Class C: CABEESE CB Brake van CC Caboose Class D: DEFENCE DA Military motive power DE Military experimental & special vehicles DP Military equipment - lab & personnel vehicles DX Military equipment - freight Class E: ENVIRONMENT ES Sky EW Water Class F: FOLIAGE FC Cactii FF Flowers FO Orchards & Crops FS Shrub FT Trees Class G: GROUND GA Arid GL Lush GS Seasonal Class H: MESHES HM Mesh Class I: PRODUCT IC Container Category IP Passenger Category IB Bulkload Category IL Liquid Category Class J: TEXTURES JC Corona JI Icon JP Particle Effects Texture JO Other Texture Class L: LIGHT RAIL & MONORAIL LS Articulated train sets LT Trolleys, trams & streetcars LM Monorail vehicles Class M: MAINTENANCE of WAY MA Camp vehicles MB Ballast cars MC Cranes/lifting MD Diagnostic vehicles (e.g. dynamometer) ME Instructional vehicles MF Fire vehicles MI Inspection vehicles MT Track vehicles (e.g. tamper) MP Snow ploughs MS Section cars (e.g. fairmont) MX Freight equipment (for MoW traffic) MW Weed spray Class O: ORGANISM OA Animal Kingdom OH Human OHD Locomotive Driver Class P: PASSENGER & MAIL CARS PA Suburban/short haul (no W.C.) PB Baggage cars PC Coach/chair cars PD Dome cars PH Bar/cafeteria cars PL Lounge cars PM Mail cars PO Observation cars PP Power cars PR Buffet/dining/restaurant cars PS Sleeping cars PU Special cars (e.g. Gaming Cars) PV Private cars PX Composite passenger cars

Class R: RAILCARS & MULTIPLE UNIT SETS RA AC electric RC DC electric RD Diesel & diesel electric RH Diesel hydraulic RP Petrol RS Steam Class S: SPLINES SF Fences SR Roads SP Platforms SS Structure SV Vegetation Class T: TRACK TB Bridge TR Rails TT Tunnel TF Fixed Track Class V: VEHICLES VA Air VL Land VS Sea Class W: WAYSIDE WA Signalling WS Trackside signage WX Accessories Class X: FREIGHT CARS XA Auto transporter XAA Open sides XAB Auto box car XB Box car/covered van XBD Dangerous goods XBG General service XBI Insulated XF Flat XFA Articulated XFC Intermodal XFD Depressed center XFH Heavy duty XFM General service XG Gondola/open wagon XGB Bottom dumping XGC Combination bottom/end/side dumping XGE End dumping XGR Rotary dumping XGS Side dumping XGT Covered XH Hopper XHB Bottom dumping XHC Combination bottom/end/side dumping XHE End dumping XHR Rotary dumping XHS Side dumping XHT Covered XI Foundry XIB Bottle/torpedo cars XIT Tipper/slag cars XL Livestock XLA Single deck XLC Multiple deck and convertible XLH Horse box XR Refrigerated XRI Ice chilled XRM Mechanically chilled XS Special XSN Novelty XSU Unclassified XT Tanker XTA Domeless XTS Single dome XTM Multiple dome XV Ventilated car/louvred van XVG General service XVP Produce service Class Y: MAPS & SCENARIOS YM Map YS Scenario YP Profile/Session YT Tutorial YR Rule YD Driver Command YH HTML-Asset YX Region Class Z: TRAIN PARTS ZB Bogie/Truck ZE Enginespec ZH Hornsound ZI Interior ZP Pantographs ZS Enginesound ZX Displacement Map (PaintShed-Template Obsolete) ZY (Paintshed-Skin Obsolete)