Beginner seeks help

[Lew]

1. Why is it that sometimes I work with a bridge and I do not have the opportunity to do earthquake tests? I guess that is God mode, but it does not appear as an option in some cases when I activate Simulate??
2. What is the purpose of phases?
3. I do not see what the "Manual" or "User Control" functions do. What are they for? Seems to me "manual" should be the same as "user control."
I am on a MacG4 with BCS 1.31
Sorry, I know these are probably dumb questions, but I can't find answers to these questions in the manual or the tutorial. To me they are confusing without adequate explanation.
Much thanks,
Lew http://pontifex2.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>  http://pontifex2.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>  http://pontifex2.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

[Jonathan_NL]

Quote (Lew @ May 18 2006,9:15)

1. Why is it that sometimes I work with a bridge and I do not have the opportunity to do earthquake tests?

Only if you don't use "Start Game" (and I guess Tutorial) you can do custom earthquake tests.

Quote ("Lew @ May 18 2006,9:15)

2. What is the purpose of phases?

Mainly for drawbridges and, well, multiple vehicle phases. A train bridge might have:
- Train comes from left to right.
- Train comes from right to left.
A drawbridge might have:
- Cars driving over bridge.
- Drawbridge up.
- Ship going under bridge.
- Drawbridge down.
- Cars driving over bridge.

Quote ("Lew @ May 18 2006,9:15)

3. I do not see what the "Manual" or "User Control" functions do. What are they for? Seems to me "manual" should be the same as "user control."

Manual phase gives you control over phases and hydraulics. User control lets you control the vehicles (select one and drive using WASD, IIRC). If you use user control you'll probably also want manual phase, because it doesn't register that you have driven to the end point and thus leaves you in the first phase.