Vehicle file structure¶

The vehicle files are divided into sections. Every section begins with the section label in brackets [ ].

File name	Section meanings
[GLOB]	Section with global definitions
[FZ]	Section with the definitions for the vehicles
[A1]	Section with the definitions for the first trailer (trailer part)
[A2]	Section for the definitions for the second trailer (trailer part)
[An]	Section for the definitions for the X-th trailer (trailer part)

The values are defined in a section of the vehicle files. The format for this is variable name=value. A comment can be attached behind any definition by using a semicolon.

The structure of a vehicle file will be shown below using "08 RoadTrain.def" as an example:

[GLOB]  
VERS=1.0; File version - Dateiversion  
NAME= Road train  
PIXMAP=pixmap\ RoadTrain.bmp  
THUMB=thumb\ RoadTrain.bmp  
[FZ]  
NAME= Large truck  
L=9700 ; length - ges. Laenge  
AA=5280 ; wheelbase - Achsabstand  
B=2500 ; width without outside mirror - Breite ohne Aussenspiegel  
UV=1500 ; front overhang - Ueberhang vorne (gemessen von Vorderradachse)  
WD=20.6 ; vehicle clearance side - Wendekreisdurchmesser in m  
KP=9200 ; coupling length - Kupplungspunkt von der Fahrzeugfront (Kuppelmass)  
SV=2200 ; track width front - Spurweite vorne, keine geometrische Kenngroesse  
SH=2200 ; track width rear - Spurweite hinten, keine geometrische Kenngroesse  
[A1]  
NAME= Trailer  
AA=3410 ; drawbar length - Deichsellaenge  
KP=3410 ; coupling length - Kupplungspunkt vom Ankoppelpunkt (Kuppelmass) Darf fehlen, wenn KP=AA  
SP=2200 ; track width front - Spurweite vorne, keine geometrische Kenngroesse  
[A2]  
KA=1 ; kind of coupling 0 to uncouple, 1 fixed - Kupplungsart 0=abkuppelbar, 1=fest=>A2 ist fest an A1 angekoppelt  
L=7450 ; length - ges. Laenge  
AA=4840 ; wheelbase - Achsabstand  
UV=1350 ; front overhang - Ueberhang vorne (gemessen von Vorderradachse)  
UH=1260 ; rear overhang - Ueberhang hinten (gemessen von Hinterradachse). UV oder UH darf fehlen. Es Gilt L=UV+AA+UH  
B=2500 ; Breite  
SP=2200 ; track width rear - Spurweite hinten, keine geometrische Kenngroesse

“VERS” from the [GLOB] section, indicates the data version and is intended to guarantee the compatibility with future data versions.

If a "NAME" is defined under [GLOB], then this will be shown in the vehicle selection instead of the file name. This "NAME" may also include special characters that may not be permitted in a file name. With the provided vehicle definition files this "NAME" may be translated into the regional language by the program.

“PIXMAP” in the [GLOB] section, shows the relative path of the vehicle definition file for a bitmap file. This bitmap file will be shown in the parameter window when that vehicle is selected.
Instead of a bitmap file, a path to a JPG-file can be entered. The size of the image of the bitmap files should be uniform otherwise the depictions in the parameter window may be difficult to work with. The pre-installed bitmap files all have the standard size of 410 x 190 pixels.

“THUMB” in the [GLOB] section, shows the relative path of the vehicle definition file for a bitmap or JPG-file to be used as a vehicle preview. The pre-installed vehicle previews all have the standard size of 118 x 88 pixels. The size of the image of the vehicle preview should also be consistent, so that the vehicle selection parameters window has a uniform layout.

All dimensioning values with the exception of the turning radius diameter "WD" should be indicated in mm in the vehicle definition files.

The following calculation is used for the vehicle length "L":
L (Length) = UV (Front overhang) + AA (Wheelbase) + UH (Rear overhang)
This means that UV or UH may be excluded. The missing value will be calculated by the system.

In the previous example, 2 independent trailers [A1] and [A2] could be utilised ([A1] dolly and [A2] semi-trailer). The value KA=1 from section [A2] means that A2 is solidly affixed to A1. The section [A1] (drawbar) and [A2] together define the 2-axle trailer for this example.

The input of the track width is only relevant for the animated depiction of the vehicle.

This file format is designed for road trains with any number of trailers (A1-An). The tractrix curve simulation can also easily handle these long combination vehicles (LCVs). However, the "vehicle dimensions parameter window" is limited to vehicles with only one trailer. The trailer in this dialog can be either a single axle, double axle or semi-trailer.