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The rail planner is a feature that allows tracks to be built in a dynamic fashion that saves the player effort and time.
The '''rail planner''' is a helpful, time-saving system that allows players to build many segments of [[Rail|rail track]] at once, either directly or as [[Glossary#G|ghost]] items.  You can use the rail planner immediately after researching the [[Railway_(research)|Railway]] technology and acquiring some rails.


== Instructions ==
== Instructions ==


=== Starting the planner ===
=== Starting the planner ===
To use the rail planner, craft and place a single rail, then mouseover the rail that was placed while still holding rails in hand. A green arrow/triangle should appear, like the example on the right.


[[File:rail_planner_starter.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The small green arrow used to start the planner.]]
[[File:rail_planner_starter.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The small green arrow used to start the planner.]]


Then, choose the type of planner by either left clicking or shift-left clicking the triangle.
To use the rail planner:


# Craft some [[Rail|rails]].
# Place a single piece of rail.
# Mouse over the rail that was placed (while still holding rails in hand).
# A green arrow/triangle should appear, like the example on the right.
# Left-click to start the rail planner ({{keybinding|LMB}} for manual mode, {{keybinding|Shift|LMB}} for ghost mode).


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The manual planning mode can be selected by left clicking on the triangle that appears. This will allow the player to place rails close range, about 10 rails at a time at max. The rails will be placed towards the cursor, simply aim with the cursor and left click again to place. This will be repeated. To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Esc}}.  
While holding rails, left-click on the green arrow icon on existing rail to initiate manual rail planning mode. This mode allows the player to directly place rails within a certain proximity to themselves (at most about 10 rails at a time). The rails will be placed towards the cursor; simply aim with the cursor and left click again to place. After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated. To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Esc}}.  


If the player is beyond the range of the rails, they may still left click in order to have the rails placed. This allows the player to start the planner, then run far away in a straight line, and click rapidly to bring the rails up to them.
In this mode, the player is allowed to leave the typical range of the "green hologram" to place items.  This means that, even if the player is physically beyond the range of the "hologram" for the new rail segment, they may still left click in order to have the rails placed from a distance. This allows the player to start the planner, then run far away in a straight line, and click rapidly to bring the rails up to them.


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[[File:Ghost_rail_planner.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The rail planner operating in ghost mode.]]
[[File:Ghost_rail_planner.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The rail planner operating in ghost mode.]]


The Ghost planning mode can be used to place longer stretches of rail at once, by creating ghosts of rails that can be filled in by [[construction robot]]s, either from [[roboport]]s or a [[personal roboport]]. To use ghost planning mode, hold shift and left click the green starter triangle. Then, move the cursor to where you want the rail to terminate, press {{keybinding|R}} to rotate the last rail to the desired rotation, and {{keybinding|LMB}} to place the ghost rails.  
The ghost planning mode can be used to place longer stretches of rail at once, by creating [[Glossary#G|ghosts]] of rails that can be filled in by [[construction robot]]s, either from [[roboport]]s or a [[personal roboport]]. To use ghost planning mode, hold {{keybinding|Shift}} and left click the green arrow icon on an existing rail. Then, move the cursor to where you want the rail to terminate, press {{keybinding|R}} to rotate the last rail to the desired rotation, and {{keybinding|LMB}} to place the ghost rails.  


The AI will find a path from the starter location that does not go through obstacles, instead weaving and winding between them. If you'd rather the rail planner choose the shortest route, use {{keybinding|Shift|LMB}} to place. Trees and stone rocks in the way will be marked for deconstruction. To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Esc}} or {{keybinding|Q}}.  
The AI will find a path from the starter location that does not go through obstacles, instead weaving and winding between them, as seen in [https://eu3.factorio.com/assets/img/blog/fff-113-rail-plan-search-visualisation.gif this visualization].  If you'd rather the rail planner choose the shortest route ''without'' considering natural obstacles, use {{keybinding|Shift}} to preview the route and {{keybinding|Shift|LMB}} to place. [[Tree|Trees]] and stone rocks in the way will be marked for deconstruction (as if a [[Deconstruction_planner|deconstruction planner]] was used on them).  After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated. To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Esc}}.  


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== History ==
The rail planner was introduced in version 0.13, and eliminated the need for [[Curved_rail|curved rails]].  Thus, aside from constructing the curved rail using a [[blueprint]] and [[Construction_robot|construction robots]], the rail planner is currently the only way to place curved rail segments.
{{history|0.13.0|
* [[Rail planner]] tool simplifies rail building.
* Removed the curved rail, ''rail'' is the only type now.
}}


== See Also ==
== See Also ==


* [[Rail]]
* [https://www.factorio.com/blog/post/fff-113 The FFF blog post that introduces this feature.]
* [https://eu3.factorio.com/assets/img/blog/fff-113-rail-plan-search-visualisation.gif A visualization of the work the engine goes through to find a valid path for ghost rails.]
* [https://www.factorio.com/blog/post/fff-113 The blog post that introduces this feature.]
* [[Railway]]
* [[Railway]]
* [[Train]]

Revision as of 15:06, 28 July 2017


The rail planner is a helpful, time-saving system that allows players to build many segments of rail track at once, either directly or as ghost items. You can use the rail planner immediately after researching the Railway technology and acquiring some rails.

Instructions

Starting the planner

The small green arrow used to start the planner.

To use the rail planner:

  1. Craft some rails.
  2. Place a single piece of rail.
  3. Mouse over the rail that was placed (while still holding rails in hand).
  4. A green arrow/triangle should appear, like the example on the right.
  5. Left-click to start the rail planner (LMB for manual mode, Shift + LMB for ghost mode).

Manual Planner

The rail planner operating in manual mode.


While holding rails, left-click on the green arrow icon on existing rail to initiate manual rail planning mode. This mode allows the player to directly place rails within a certain proximity to themselves (at most about 10 rails at a time). The rails will be placed towards the cursor; simply aim with the cursor and left click again to place. After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated. To escape the planner, press Esc.

In this mode, the player is allowed to leave the typical range of the "green hologram" to place items. This means that, even if the player is physically beyond the range of the "hologram" for the new rail segment, they may still left click in order to have the rails placed from a distance. This allows the player to start the planner, then run far away in a straight line, and click rapidly to bring the rails up to them.

Ghost Planner

The rail planner operating in ghost mode.

The ghost planning mode can be used to place longer stretches of rail at once, by creating ghosts of rails that can be filled in by construction robots, either from roboports or a personal roboport. To use ghost planning mode, hold Shift and left click the green arrow icon on an existing rail. Then, move the cursor to where you want the rail to terminate, press R to rotate the last rail to the desired rotation, and LMB to place the ghost rails.

The AI will find a path from the starter location that does not go through obstacles, instead weaving and winding between them, as seen in this visualization. If you'd rather the rail planner choose the shortest route without considering natural obstacles, use Shift to preview the route and Shift + LMB to place. Trees and stone rocks in the way will be marked for deconstruction (as if a deconstruction planner was used on them). After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated. To escape the planner, press Esc.

History

The rail planner was introduced in version 0.13, and eliminated the need for curved rails. Thus, aside from constructing the curved rail using a blueprint and construction robots, the rail planner is currently the only way to place curved rail segments.

  • 0.13.0:
    • Rail planner tool simplifies rail building.
    • Removed the curved rail, rail is the only type now.


See Also

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