Layout Editor

Track Library Editing

How to customise or create Track Libraries

Track libraries are text files which define the size, shape and general characteristics of each track piece within a particular library. These text files are always saved in the Library folder, within the Racer30 folder where the software is installed.

There are two ways of editing the library files.

Library Editor You can use the Library Editor, which has a graphic interface

Edit Library text file Or you can edit the text files directly

Both options are available under the Frequently used tab of the Library Toolbar

 

Please Note

Before making any changes to a track library, please make a back up copy of your Library folder, or of the specific library file you wish to work on.

It's easy to make mistakes when you are working on track libraries and there is no way to undo those mistakes.

Of course we are always happy to supply replacement library files if all else fails.

Library Editor

The library editor is a graphical tool allowing library file editing.

Library Editor

Track section selection pallette

Choose a track section to edit on the left hand side

 

Library zone

The top right section of the dialogue concerns library information.

  • Name: specifies the library name
  • Scale: track library scale
  • Units: unit used to define track dimension attributes like the track width or default border. This field is only enabled when the library is empty (just created or emptied).
  • File name: file name of the text file containing track section definitions. This file is stored in the Library folder in Ultimate Racer's installation directory.
  • Save button:save library with all track section changes
  • New button: creates a new empty library

 

Track section display zone:

The central section on the right hand side displays the current track section.

  • Add: creates a new empty rectangle track section template. The new template is automatically added into the palette.
  • Duplicate: duplicates current selected track section template. The new template is automatically added into the palette.
  • Delete: deletes selected track section template. The template is automatically removed from the palette.
  • Up & Down: move up and down the track template within the track template list.

Track section definition zone

Track sections are defined in the bottom section on the right hand side

  • Reference: record here the track section template reference. IMPORTANT. The reference must be unique for each track section in a library.
  • Full name: track full name
  • Shape: track section shape definition. Refer to shape definition for further details about track section description syntax.
  • Texture: list of textures applied to a track from the background to the foreground. Refer to texture definition for the texture syntax description. Mappable textures and pictures are described in texture and picture tables.
  • Lane: list of track section template lane. Syntax detailed in lane syntax page.
  • Notes: miscellaneous information about the track section template.

Text Editing

When editing the text files directly you'll see the same information, but in text format.

The text files are divided into sections

Default section

The first section at the top of the page contains all track default parameters, and all library information

Example

[default]
Library=Scalextric Sport
DBName=Scalextric Sport Track
Scale=1:32
Unit=cm
Author=URTeam; Andy; ElectricImages, Ian
DateRevision=Feb 11th, 2009
Notes=
Logo=scalex_sport.jpg
Object=
MaxLane=8

 

Includes

Shows other files which will be included in the Library Toolbar but which are defined separately

Example

[includes]
file1=scalexsport_multilane.inc
file2=scalexsport_rwborders.inc

 

Track Sections

There will be many track sections. Each section corresponds to a track piece, and each line of the section corresponds to a track attribute.

Example

[C8205]
Name=Straight
Notes=
Shape=15.6,35.0
Equivalent=
OneWay=
Frequent=yes
ColorCoding=12845092
Lane1=3.9,3.9
Lane2=11.7,11.7

[C8206]
Name=Standard Curve R2
Notes=
Shape=curve,21.6,15.6,45.0
Equivalent=
OneWay=
Frequent=yes
ColorCoding=921343
Lane1=3.9,3.9
Lane2=11.7,11.7

 

The Basics of Track Definition

Let's look at the basics of track definition by examing the two Track Section examples above. Although we're looking at the text files here, the principles are the same for the Library editor.

[C8205]
Name=Straight
Notes=
Shape=15.6,35.0
Equivalent=
OneWay=
Frequent=yes
ColorCoding=12845092
Lane1=3.9,3.9
Lane2=11.7,11.7

[C8206]
Name=Standard Curve R2
Notes=
Shape=curve,21.6,15.6,45.0
Equivalent=
OneWay=
Frequent=yes
ColorCoding=921343
Lane1=3.9,3.9
Lane2=11.7,11.7

 

The most important parts of defining the track sections are as follows..

In the square brackets at the top of each section is the unique reference number for each track section. In this case it is Scalextric's own reference number for this track section. This will appear on your layout if you choose to Display section reference in View > Preferences

Next is the Name, which is fairly self explanatory, and can also be displayed on your layout if you choose to Display track name in View > Preferences

Shape defines the section's shape. For the straight section there are two numbers representing the width and the length, so in this case it's 15.6cm wide, and 35cm long. For the corner piece, the definition starts by specifying "curve" then defines an inside radius of 21.6cm, a track width of 15.6 cm, and an angle of 45°.

Lane1 & Lane2 specify the positions of the lanes. In this case Lane1 is a constant 3.9cm from the inside edge of both track pieces, and Lane2 is 11.7 cm.

More

More involved descriptions for editing and creating track pieces can be found in the pages below.