Segment Editing


Split-Up

If you want to add a Vertex in the middle of a selected segment you can use the "Split-Up" feature to split-up a segment into two smaller segments. A Vertex will automatically be inserted halfway between the existing Vertices. A Segment has to be selected in order to be able to use "Split-Up".

Transform

To change a segment type select the new type from the Segment menu then select the Transform command to apply the change. All Segment specific settings will be lost after the Transform is complete. A Segment has to be selected and the selected Segment type must differ from the type of the current selected Segment in order to be able to use "Transform".

Make Straight

One of the most useful features is the Make Straight command. It can be very hard some times to line up the track in a perfect straight line. When you have the segment you want to make straight selected, select the Make Straight command.

Track-Segment Settings

You will want to change the properties of a segment many times during the construction of your coaster. Select a Segment, and then use the “Segment Settings” button to bring up a handy dialog. Depending on the type of Segment the following dialogs will be shown. All segments can be individually colored, and tunnels can be added. The common Track-Settings window looks like this:

Track-Segment Settings
The Track-Segment Settings



The default color scheme for your coaster is set in the Coaster settings dialog. To use the individual colors click on the check box "use individual colors" and select the colors by clicking on the color-boxes and the windows-color-dialog will appear.

If you want to have a tunnel click the "Tunnel" checkbox.

Some coaster styles allow the selection of different "Spine Types". The Spine Type has an effect on the appearance of the Segment. If a coaster style allows the choice of different spines, the "Spine Type" selection will be available under the color fields. If a coaster style does not allow the choice, the "Spine Type" option will not be visible.

Some coaster styles (e.g. spinning-coasters and flying-coasters) allow special segment-operations. In the example above the seat position of a flying-coaster can be controlled.

The "Auto-Supports" Button is available if the Auto-Support-Generator allows the customization of individual Segment options. For more information on Auto-Support-Generators please read the Supports Section of this guide.

Transport-Segment Settings

Opening the Segment settings for a  Transport Segment will open the special “Transport Settings” dialog. It will allow you to adjust the behavior of the devices controlling the train. If the train is going faster than the set speed it will be decelerated to that speed, and if it is going slower than the set speed it will be accelerated. You can modify the power of the acceleration and deceleration by changing the G forces.

Transport Settings Dialog
The Transport-Settings

You can choose how the segment will appear in the Simulator by selecting either friction wheels or LIMs, but either one will behave the same way. Please note that some coaster styles will have no choice between wheels and LIMs. The Lim-Launched coaster style for example displays special small LIMs when using friction wheels.

The Shuttle Mode settings define the way the train will be treated when the coaster is operating in Shuttle Mode. They are not available when the coaster is in continuous operation mode (default). The number of speeding up passes define the count of how often the train should be accelerated when it is passing the segment in one direction. If the train is passing more often than the number of chosen speeding up passes, it can be decelerated down to a chosen speed limit when the "Speeding down" option is activated. The Transport Segment will behave similar to a brake then. Fore more information on the Shuttle Mode please read the Shuttle Coaster Section of this guide.

Brake-Segment Settings

The Brake-Segment settings will show up if you open the Segment Settings for a brake Segment.
A “Brake” is a 2-point control device, which means there are only 2 states: on and off. If the brake is on it will decelerate the train at a certain rate that can be modified. If the brake is off it will not affect the train at all. The brake is switched on by the 2 point control device if the speed of the incoming train is greater than Speed limit + Hysteresis and will be switched off if the speed is lower than Speed limit – Hysteresis. As the Hysteresis gets smaller the speed will be controlled more accurately, but the brake will be more active. 
 
 

Brake Segment Settings Dialog
The Brake-Settings

You can enable or disable the Block feature for the brake if necessary for your design. A nice feature is the "complete-stop" option that if enabled will bring the train to complete stop first before the described two-point-controlled mechanism is activated. Most brakes are inclined slightly downward so that the train can start rolling again using gravity. The Make Straight feature comes in handy when making brakes. If you want to use a non-inclined brake you may use friction tires to accelerate the train. They are set the same way they are set for the Transport Segment. With NoLimits 1.5 brake segments can have LIMs instead of friction tires. They both behave alike. Please note that some coaster styles do not have friction wheels available. They use small LIMs instead of wheels.

The Stop Wait-time and Launch options are new for NoLimits 1.5. The Stop Wait-time will catch the train and hold it for the specified number of seconds. This option is great for implementing delayed drops. It is often used together with the launch option (delayed launch) which will acclerate the train with a specified acceleration after the train was stopped or its speed was controlled. The Transport Device has to be selected in order to produce a launch effect.

The “Trigger” is very important. The Trigger Position controls when the brake is activated for the first time and is defined relative to the segment. The further towards the left that the slider is set the sooner the brake will engage when the train arrives. Conversely the further to the right you set the slider the later the brake will engage. With this trigger you have full control of when the brake is triggered for the ultimate in realism.

Similar to setting the Trigger position on the Segment, with NoLimits 1.5 you can now also control where the Trigger is located on the train. In previous versions, the trigger was always fixed on the center car. Now you can also choose the front car as an alternative trigger position. The front position together with a segment position slider to the far left will simulate the proper triggering found on common end brake runs on real coasters.

The rails have no real purpose other than physical aesthetics in the game. They will not affect the performance of the train.

The No Brakes option hides the brakes objects without changing the segment's behaviour. This option can be used to recreate real-life segments which brake trains with friction tires only.

Lift-Segment Settings

The Lift Settings are very similar to the Transport Settings. A train will be accelerated if its speed is slower than the Lift’s speed, and will be decelerated if it is faster. On a chain lift the deceleration is very small and is mainly caused by the anti-rollback resistance friction (anti-rollbacks cause the clicking noise). It tends to zero when the train moves, but might be larger if you are using a Friction Wheel lift. 
 
 

Lift Segment Settings Dialog
The Lift-Settings

Adjacent lift segments behave just like one really long segment. If you break up a lift hill with a non-lift segment you will generate 2 individual lifts.

With NoLimits 1.5 you can choose if the motor should sit near the end of the lift or near the start. This option will only define the position of the motor's sound source, it will have no other effect than this on the behaviour of the coaster.

The Shuttle Mode settings define the way the train will be treated when the coaster is operating in Shuttle Mode. They are not available when the coaster is in continuous operation mode (default). The Release when reaching end option is typically used when the lift is used to lift up the train at the end of the track. The train will automatically disengage from the lift and begin to roll backwards on the Segment if the train will reach its end. Reverse Cable Lifts are used to lift trains backwards out of a station. They only work if the lift is located right before a Station Segment. Also, the Reverse Cable Lift Start option must be activated on that Station Segment (see below). Fore more information on the Shuttle Mode please read the Shuttle Coaster Section of this guide.

Once again the rails have no real purpose other than physical aesthetics in the game. They will not affect the performance of the train. 

Station-Segment Settings

The Station Segment Settings allow you to modify the station’s properties. Primarily you can set the wait time of your coaster. Other options include friction wheels and pre-brakes. Friction Wheels will accelerate a train when dispatched. If you do not want to use friction wheels you should make sure that the station is inclined so the train will start rolling on it’s own. A launch option is also available if you want to boost the train out of the station. It only works if the station is equipped with a transport device (either friction wheels or LIMs).
A pre-brake option is used to slow the train down on its way into the station. This is useful if your train is entering the station at a very high speed. The pre-brake can slow a train and the main brake will later stop it. 
 
 

Station Segment Settings Dialog
The Station-Settings

The wait time is computed randomly via Gaussian-normal-distribution. This means that a random number will be generated around the mean time. As the Standard Deviation number gets bigger (you can set this number) the variation is greater. This is to simulate slower riders getting in and out and holding up dispatch of the train.

Average and Std. Deviation will determine the average wait time and how much the program can deviate from that. The min and max wait time will limit the deviation.

All dispatches at stations that have the synchronize option enabled will be synchronized. Please keep in mind, that the min. and max. wait-time will take affect on the dispatch time even if  the synchronization is enabled. It is a good idea to lower the min. wait-time and to higher the max. wait-time to increase the synchronization probability.

The simple station building option will hide the station top if enabled. The radio buttons below control the side of entrance.

The No Brakes option hides the brakes objects without changing the segment's behaviour. This option can be used to recreate real-life segments which brake trains with friction tires only.

The Shuttle Mode settings define the way the train will be treated when the coaster is operating in Shuttle Mode. They are not available when the coaster is in continuous operation mode (default). The Reverse Cable Lift Start option works best when there is a Lift Segment with the Reverse Cable Lift option placed in front of the station. The train will be moved backwards out of the station if it is activated. The number of "Passes" controls how often the train should be able to run through the station without engaging the brakes. Fore more information on the Shuttle Mode please read the Shuttle Coaster Section of this guide.