LEGION Simulator Help

Maps track events

You can set up events to save images of maps (and also to clear maps) at specified points along the Timeline. For a map to be saved it must be currently available and active in the Object Directory.

Parent topic: Defining Events

Adding a Save Map event

This procedure enables you to save all or selected LEGION maps at a specified time in the simulation.

To add a Save Map event:

  1. Right-click on the relevant Maps track at the point at which you want the event to start and select Add a Save Map event.

    The ‘Save Map’ dialog is displayed.

  2. If required, enter a name in the 'Event name' box.
  3. To run this event when you next record using the Timeline, leave the Enable this event box checked (if you don’t want to run this event in the next recording session, uncheck the box).
  4. Select one of the following option buttons: Save selected maps or Save all active maps (if you choose the latter, proceed to step 7).
  5. If you chose 'Save selected maps', click Select Maps.
  6. In the 'Select Objects' dialog, select the maps you would like to save using the selection buttons >, >>, <, << and click OK.
  7. From the Use Camera drop-down list, select the camera from whose perspective you wish to save your map or maps (see "Creating a camera" in Screen Camera track events ).
  8. From the Image dimensions drop-down list, select one of the three options:
    • Fit A4 sheet
    • Fit PowerPoint slide
    • User-defined – if you select this, enter 'Width' and 'Height' values (in pixels). The default dimensions for this option are 1024 x 480 pixels. We recommend you keep these, but you can enter different values.
  9. Select one of the three Image Format options:
    • JPEG
    • Bitmap
    • PNG
  10. If you want to change the default layout of the saved map image, click the Layout button and make any changes to the layout. See "Designing the Layout for Map Events" below.
  11. In the panel labelled 'Reuse map selection, camera, image dimensions and file format in other Save Map events', select either:
    • Apply to all maps – THIS track
    • Apply to all maps – ALL tracks
    Note: Making a selection here means you can apply these Save Map instructions to either all maps on this track alone or all maps on all tracks on the Timeline.
  12. Click OK to save the event.

    If the event overlaps other events, an error message is displayed. See Overlapping events .

Changing the start and end times of a Save Map event

Follow the procedure described in Changing the start and end times of a Record .RES event.

Adding a Clear Map event

This event will clear (reset) a generated map at a specified point within the simulation. This is useful when you want to isolate maps for peak periods within a simulation or, for instance, if you want to clear accumulated data between the arrival of trains.

To add a Clear Map event:

  1. Right-click on the relevant Maps track at the point at which you want the event to start and select Add a Clear Map event.

    The ‘Clear Maps’ dialog is displayed.

  2. If required, enter a name in the Event name box.
  3. To run this event when you next play back the simulation, leave the Enable this event box checked (if you don’t want to run this event in the next session, uncheck the box).
  4. To clear a single map, select Clear this map and from the adjacent drop-down list, select the map you wish to clear.

    Clear all active maps – this will clear all active maps.

  5. Click OK to save the event.

    If the event overlaps other events, an error message is displayed. See Overlapping events .

Designing the Layout for Map Events

The Layout Designer enables you to add and arrange visual elements to your saved map images. When you are working with only one map, the saved results will match your designed layout. When you are saving more than one map, the layout here works more as a general template and your saved results should always be checked before including in a report.

To design the layout for Map Events:

  1. From the 'Save Map' dialog, click the Layout button.

    The 'Layout Designer' dialog is displayed.

  2. To add any of the customisable items in the ‘Avi components’ toolbar, click and hold the relevant icon and drag into the Layout Designer. Position and resize the items according to preference.
  3. To change the properties of a label, clock or logo, click on the item to select it and change the properties in the left-hand panel of the dialog box. Change properties in the ‘Value’ column by entering text directly, browsing for files or selecting values from drop-down lists.
    • Caption
    • Clock – change time format; font; text colour, contour line values and background colours.
    • Logo – browse to select an alternative logo image; change logo colour, contour line values, background colour and transparency.
    • Legend
      • Legend – depending on which maps were selected for this event, and how many legends they have, you can choose 'All' or specific legends from this drop-down list.
      • Title – enter a 'Title'; choose 'Text Colour' and 'Font'
      • Units – enter 'Units'; choose 'Text Colour' and 'Font'
      • Labels – choose 'Text Colour' and 'Font'
      • Contour – select 'yes' or 'no' to show or hide contour lines; choose 'Contour Line Colour'
      • Background – choose a 'Background' colour and add a value for 'Background transparency' (0 is opaque)
  4. To change the background colour of the workspace, select a colour from the drop-down palette labelled Background Colour.
  5. You can also align the various components in relation to each other.
  6. If you want to delete a removable item, click to select it and press Delete.
  7. Click OK to save your layout settings.