New option:  "train has started"

 

ProTrak has 3 modes of Operations: 1) "Session" , 2) "Daily" and 3) "Continuous".

 

   - Session mode notes that the "day" is over if all the trains have run - to completion.  The Daily Summary Car Distributor (car-order/waybill assignment routines) will only run if all the trains have completed.   This is the 'standard' approach to model railroading operations.

 

  - In "Continuous" mode the Daily Summary runs at the time you specify (1 am to 5 am).  Whether trains have run or completed does not matter.  This is the prototype approach to railroad operations.  Continuous operation may have up to 3 versions of the same train running at the same time (today's, yesterday's if it did not complete, and even tomorrow's if it is advanced by the GM).

 

-  "Daily" mode is somewhere in between.  For the Daily Summary Car Distributor to run all the trains must have started.  And there is only one version of each train-job running each "day" (session). 

 

Until Update 351, "started" meant the "train consist had been printed" and the train was thus "closed" to further car-assignments.  

 

However an issue arises, with the "print train consist" method, in that a train can be "opened" (for further car assignments) after printing.   A second issue is that there has been no way to indicate that a train actually has left the current reporting point - and that - having left - it should not be possible to (re)open the train.

 

Update 351 adds the optional explicit control for you to show that a train has "started".  This new control is available if you are running in "Daily" or "Continuous" modes of Operations - and that you are at session number #20 or higher.  This option is turned on at "File/Program Options".

 

in "Program Options" go to the "Train Consist Report" pane and see the last line in that pane "For train reporting, use "Started" markers (train has left)".  To turn the option on, click the checkbox.

 

Now, in Operations, on the "Reporting Movements" window, you will see the heading above the reporting points "Train has left" and (opposite each reporting point radio-button) a checkbox "Started".  The heading and checkbox are in a purple (to indicate a special option).

Clicking the "Started" checkbox means that the train has left that reporting box.   Once checked, the train-consist can not be re-opened for more cars --- the train has 100% definitely positively left.

 

~~~
That is all that you have to do with this new option.  In the Daily Summary, while in "Daily" mode, ProTrak reads the "started" data.  If all the trains have started the Daily Summary will run.

 

 

Questions?

 

OK?
                                     Jim