I can't remember who it was, but somebody asked if there was a way to create "folders" to put your Schedules in.  I'm not sure if this is what you were after, but I was rummaging around, getting ready to write Schedules for my DCC uncoupling operation and I discovered that it's possible to make fresh Track Plans by making copies of the existing one and then writing new Schedules for them.  If you rename it and Save As the new name even if you delete all of the copied Schedules and make new ones, the originals in the first Track plan are unaffected.

You can delete all of the Block Markers and add new ones and the original ones stay in the first Track Plan.  In my case I have a few scenarios in mind for my layout and I can change from one to the other simply by clicking on the next Track Plan file and then assigning the relevant locos to the relevant blocks.  Even the loco and car roster stays the same.

It's probably Ho Hum, but it hadn't occurred to me to try it until now.  :shock:

Anyyyy wayy, I have a question as well as a pearl of knowledge . . .

Is it absolutely impossible to have more than one piece of stock operating in a single Schedule?  Let's say a train is running along and we want to switch some carriage lights on as we are about to enter a tunnel.  The carriage has a decoder, so it's relatively simple to do it with a hand throttle.  To my way of thinking, it shouldn't be necessary to stop the train and write a new Schedule.  I've been around and around the Dispatcher Window and I can't see it anywhere.

Am I missing it?   :oops:       I know, that's two questions.  :roll:

Saving switchboards with different names……Thats a neat idea Max……I hadnt thought of that

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

Is it absolutely impossible to have more than one piece of stock operating in a single Schedule?  Let's say a train is running along and we want to switch some carriage lights on as we are about to enter a tunnel.  The carriage has a decoder, so it's relatively simple to do it with a hand throttle.  To my way of thinking, it shouldn't be necessary to stop the train and write a new Schedule.  I've been around and around the Dispatcher Window and I can't see it anywhere.

Am I missing it?   :oops:       I know, that's two questions.  :roll:

There are two methods

Go to the schedule specific block properties and you can carry out operations at various points in each block….on entry, exit, release etc. or

Set up an Action Marker in the block. Its just like a stop marker you set it up a specified distance from the block entrance…..when the train arrives at that spot it carries out whatever operation you specified

There is a conditions tab so you can restict the opearation to certain trains

HTH    Regards 

John, does that work for a decoder in the carriage which has a different address to the loco? I can't see how you tell TC the decoder address you want to use. It seems to assume every command is for the loco decoder only - okay if you are sounding a horn or something, but not for what Max wants to do.

This is how I think it should work based on the helpfile. I cant test it because I dont have any functions.

The carriage has be set up as a "car" and properly "joined" to the loco to form a train set

When setting up the "car"  you add the appropriate function and select the "Alternate Address" option so that TC can differentiate between the loco decoder and the function only decoder

 This should then work regardless of it is initiated at the end of a schedule, within a block or by an action marker…….I dont see how Max's three cars each with a coupler decoder can work otherwise

Thanks, Guys.  I'm starting to see a glimmer.  It might have to be that I make a "train" out of the 4 box cars and the loco - even if they're not coupled together.  I had an idea about the Action Marker, as I've been using it to switch the bell off at the yard limit while the loco is moving.

This question comes from the need to close the coupler once the loco has pulled away from the box car, while the loco is moving.  I don't guess it matters where the cars in the "train" actually are on the layout, so long as I can talk to them at the same time that the loco is moving.

All good fun.  Thanks again.  :thumbs

And i thought i was good renaming the dispatcher panel "dispatcher"

There is a lot of serious stuff still to explore i thinks.

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

Thanks, Guys.  I'm starting to see a glimmer.  It might have to be that I make a "train" out of the 4 box cars and the loco - even if they're not coupled together.  I had an idea about the Action Marker, as I've been using it to switch the bell off at the yard limit while the loco is moving.

This question comes from the need to close the coupler once the loco has pulled away from the box car, while the loco is moving.  I don't guess it matters where the cars in the "train" actually are on the layout, so long as I can talk to them at the same time that the loco is moving.

All good fun.  Thanks again.  :thumbs

The physical movement of stock and the movement within the computor dont have to occur at precisely the same time. If you look at the Loco Exchange the sequence of commands and the physical movement are not synchronised

Loco 1 with train enters siding uncouples and draws forward. Loco 2 enters and couples. Loco2  leaves with train

In TC to get this to work the first operation has to be"Join" (Loco 2 toCarriages and Loco 1)   the very last operation is " Separate Rightmost Loco" and that takes place (I think) in the next schedule:roll:

With the operation  "open coupler" in TC……. physically the car separates……as far as TC is concerned it is still part of the train set…….the next command (after a suitable delay) should be "close coupler"  and finally "separate rearmost car"……………only then will TC remove the car from the trainset and become synchronised with reality   

 I think thats how it should be done    :hmm     

Thanks, John.  The last shunting puzzle I did had 26 Schedules.  It could be interesting. 

[user=269]MaxSouthOz[/user] wrote:

I can't remember who it was, but somebody asked if there was a way to create "folders" to put your Schedules in.  I'm not sure if this is what you were after, but I was rummaging around, getting ready to write Schedules for my DCC uncoupling operation and I discovered that it's possible to make fresh Track Plans by making copies of the existing one and then writing new Schedules for them.  If you rename it and Save As the new name even if you delete all of the copied Schedules and make new ones, the originals in the first Track plan are unaffected.

You can delete all of the Block Markers and add new ones and the original ones stay in the first Track Plan.  In my case I have a few scenarios in mind for my layout and I can change from one to the other simply by clicking on the next Track Plan file and then assigning the relevant locos to the relevant blocks.  Even the loco and car roster stays the same.

Thanks Max - it was me :thumbs

You're welcome, Dave.

I've just spent the last 5 hours trying to figure out why I can only get one Schedule to work.  If I email the Track Plan to you, would you mind having a quick look at it, please?  I think I've checked everything, but I can't get Schedule 2 to start up.

I think I've got brain cramp.  :shock:

Hi max,

sorry I missed your post last night - happy to help out  - if you PM the file I will have a look at it tonight when I get home from work

Hi Dave

Thanks.  PMing these files is a bit of a problem for me.  John's volunteered; I have his email address, so I've sent it to him.  In the Messages, it's saying that the Start hasn't been set up, but that's wrong.  Something else is generating that error response.

If anyone is going to get these wierd challenges, it will be me.  :oops: