This page is dedicated to all the new Trainzers, and to those who haven't been around for a while because the software takes a lot of learning. Here we link a page with a brief on how the mouse is used in various Trainz modules. In most cases, the use is quite instinctive, but this page gives us a way to just begin loading data into your learning curves without explaining on everypage what this stuff means.
In Driver, will attach your external camera to a traincar, even in another consist. Also operates the button controls in Driver, just like Windows clickings, switch junctions using click toggle action, or (when in exernal or free camera mode) toggle/operate button organized controls like couple and decouple this or that hitch between cars.
In Surveyor, attaches (puts down something) using the active selected tool or scenery object adder tool to the world mesh if in add mode; gets asset in the various get (identify or select the same asset) tools, and generally puts things down like scenery objects (buildings, bushes, animals, trees), spline objects (stretchy track, fences, telephone wires) or 'selects' them in some way (move this there, get that same thingy), including tools and tool panel controls.
In Railyard, controls the click driven viewing menu modes.
LMBH - Left Mouse Button, Hold
In Driver is used to select control in Cab Mode preparatory to dragging adjustment (e.g. throttles, air brake levers, Horn or steam engine whistle, etc.)
In surveyor is used to select vertexes or assets preparatory to dragging (LMBHd) including changing surface elevations in the terrain up/down tool. [mode and tool dependent]
LMBHd - Left Mouse Button, Hold and drag
In surveyor and driver is used to select and move things.
In driver is used to select and move control levers, rotate valves or the DCC mode 'virtual dial control'.
RMB - Right Mouse Button, click
RMBH - Right Mouse Button, Hold
RMBHd - Right Mouse Button, Hold and drag
In CM/CMP accesses a drop down menu, in which case you also need to drag, then release on the selection desired.
In Surveyor and Driver - RMBHd is how we move (slide or fly) around. In Surveyor (and Driver's external camera view, or free camera 4 mode) it causes the camera position and your relative movement to operate as described in the below Tip-box, enabling us to get around in the virtual worlds of Trainz.
Surveyor Options menu, allows two map mode or movement controls to be modified to the users preferences. The default mode when the game first boots to operate many find confusing because the mouse controls camera position sliding, altitude, and rotation all in one, when and if panning. We recommend this combination initially for the best easiest operations: (New users have enough to get used to without the disorientation the default controls can give.)
Camera behavior - Rotation not Panning (default)
Compass Movement - Mouse or Keyboard
These options are accessible in the Main Menu > Surveyor Options and affect behavior in both Driver and Surveyor operations.
Movement around in Trainz will then become instinctive and intuitive, use the ← and → arrow keys to rotate, the ↑ and ↓ keys to tilt the view, roll the thumbwheel to zoom in or out.
The camera is offset from the screen center at all times by the combination of the ↑ and ↓ setting and zoom, focused away from the center aiming circle. Tilting the camera angle down, causes the camera viewpoint to rise above its location, allowing look down viewing at most any angle. When moving tilted down, some of us call it flying the route, for it's free as a bird with the similar viewpoint.
Rotate relative to North-South as noted above, thereafter RMBH and move the mouse away from the center aiming point will cause the camera viewpoint to slide proportional to the distance the mouse tip deviates from center. It will move rapidly if you press the button farther away, so can cover ground quickly, slower if you keep it held down closer to on target.
You'll also quickly learn (to the point it becomes unconscious and instinctive) to position the mouse tip near center screed before clicking the LMB when in rhe free camera modes. That is the only mode inside Surveyor. Driver has four camera modes: In Cab, external on the consist (attached to any one car), fixed or Tracking cameras (if and when some are pre-placed by route builders), and free camera mode (you can fly or walk the ground).
With the wrong choice of angle and in some terrain you can teleport a mile or so in one click, so don't click on far away hills unless you want to go there!
A single click RMB off center will jump the locus to the new point off to the side in the current (panorama) view). Rotation relative to the cartesian world (N-S) axis is fixed unless you use the arrow keys to change it.
This jump mode is similar in the minimap as well, on which sliding does not work. That is accessed pressing CTRL+M (or just M in Driver, where CTRL+M also works. Click on a locus away from the aiming target/center and hop around the map in the same orientation North=to=South.
Roll the mouse wheel in the minimap to zoom in or expand your view outwards (so the map shows more terrain, but less detail.) It'll take only a few minutes and only a few trys to master.