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Advanced Ops in TrainPlayer 7 Contents

TrainPlayer 7.0 is a complete overhaul of our system for simulated railroad operations.  The new system is called Advanced Ops (AO), and it features a brand-new user interface on top of a new body of code based on realistic operations principles, as described in a completely new chapter in the user manual.

AO in TrainPlayer 7 is the latest (last?) in a series of ops systems we have developed over the years.  For details, see Ops History below.


About Advanced Ops

There are two levels of AO.  For the operator, the idea is to simulate a day's work on the railroad (or a weekly session at the railroad club) -- you report for duty, are assigned your engine and tasked with a list of cars to be transported, and your job is to deliver the cars.  Completion of the task gets you a virtual pat on the back and a new switchlist for next session.  No two sessions are alike, and there are plenty of varied switching challenges to test your skills.

For the builder, there is a lot more -- a full set of tools to set up your own railroad plan and operations database, with a built-in checklist to guide you and measure your progress, organized in a single central dialog.  Data from older layouts can be converted for AO use.  Testing and debugging tools are available.

Operator tools are available to registered users as a free upgrade.  Builder tools require a modest outlay.  For details, see How To Obtain 7.0 below.


Advanced Ops Features

Version 7.0 contains many new features, most (but not all) connected with the Advanced Ops system.  Features available to all users are those for operating pre-prepared layouts, of which we provide a huge collection.  For users interested in building their own plans, other tools and facilities are available with purchase of an AO license.  Here is a sampling at both levels:

  • AO Toolbar -- handy compact access to the new features. 

  • Visible switchlists -- labels on car-tops display the destinations, no need to consult a dense table.

  • Flexible train management -- plans can include passenger runs, custom special service trains, regular industry-driven waybill tasks.  Each active car has a waybill.

  • State-of-the-art generation engine -- car movements are dictated by detailed logic based on current car locations, industry requests, special runs, author-specified train sequences.

  • Ops Central -- a single compact multi-tab dialog for viewing layout instructions, managing databases, preparing layouts for ops.  <click picture to enlarge>

        

  • Ops development tools -- a set of specialized commands is available for layout preparation, including testing tools, statistics, generation and import of data.

  • Map View -- a new dockable window showing a miniature view of the layout, with features shown by symbols, draggable view box, tooltips -- a great way to find your way around a new layout.

           

  • Car monitor -- a new window on the control panel shows status of the current switchlist.

  • Waybill -- another new window, available by right-click on most cars

  • Rewards -- complete a switchlist and get a visual treat, different every time.


The AO Layouts

 

The AO system includes a generous and completely new set of layouts designed specifically for TrainPlayer ops. These layouts are organized in three folders under Layouts/Advanced Ops in your Layout Chooser.  Each set has a gallery page on the web showing thumbnails and layout descriptions:

  • Shelf-sized – smaller layouts you can complete in 30 minutes or less (see Shelf gallery)
     
  • Room-sized – larger layouts you can complete in an hour or less (see Room gallery)
     
  • Club-sized– very large which will usually require more than an hour to complete (see Club gallery)

A shelf-sized layout would be a good place to learn the basic switching moves while dealing with a smaller more manageable number of cars to shunt about. Club-sized plans may demand some management skills as well as you may need to work through 100+ cars to move or spot on a layout.


History of TrainPlayer Ops

The AO system is a complete rewrite of the original ops system introduced over the years. In Version 1.0 (2005) there were stations and simple tools for monitoring train moves in and out.  Car loads were introduced in Version 2 (2006), then the first complete system called Ops in 4.0 (2011).  Along the way, scripting features were being developed, so that in Version 6 (2016) we brought out a series of script-based systems, from the Directed Ops Generator (DOG) to the full-featured YardMaster system in 6.4.

In TrainPlayer 7 the evolution took a final large step. The extensive body of scripting code from YardMaster was converted to c++ and incorporated directly into the program.  Older facilities were scrapped -- waybill generator, color codes, stations, ops windows -- and new ones introduced, including Ops Central, locations specified by track labels, new waybill logic built from the ground up.

The ingenuity and expertise behind these developments comes from two fine gentlemen and computer railroaders: Richard Fletcher (Merseyside, England), who persevered to become the world's leading expert on TP scripting, with which he developed the logic and algorithms underlying AO; and the late Bruno Pigozzo (Ontario, Canada), who spent a year lovingly designing, tracking, scenicking, and equipping over two hundred ops-ready track plans, each with its own theme and story.


Reading Matter

The new AO system has its own new chapter in the online manual (under Help > Contents in the program).  This provides instructions for using the new devices, but not much in the way of detail or background.  For that, see:

The authoritative guide to the AO system, with detailed instructions for how to develop your own plan, including examples.  Written by the system designer:

For versions 7.0-7.1:

Advanced Ops User Guide (PDF)

For version 7.2 and beyond (all PDF):

Advanced Ops for the Operator

Advanced Ops for the Designer

Advanced Ops for the Expert

Step-by-step instructions for updating an existing layout based on the old Ops system:

Ops Conversion Tutorial (HTML page)

Ops Conversion Tutorial (zipped Word document))

Click here to download the tutorial layout Marplain Crossing (ZIP file)

If you are working with a layout based on the old Ops system, and you need advice or help bringing it up to the new scheme, e-mail us your rrw file and we will help.


How to Obtain 7.0

Anyone is welcome to download 7.0 free. Just click here and follow instructions:

Download 7.0

This gets you many nice new features and the ability to operate Advanced Ops layouts.  If you have not purchased a license, you get the free demo version -- all the features, but with limitations. If you already have a license, you get a free upgrade to 7.0, with new features but without the full Advanced Ops package. To get the full system, there is a modest charge -- $19 for a licensed 6.x user.

OR:  if you are a savvy 6.x user, ready to work with the latest in model ops simulation technology, looking for a way to continue supporting our efforts, then grab your credit card or PayPal and click here:

Purchase AO Upgrade      $19

This takes you directly to the Checkout page with the upgrade in your shopping cart.  What you get for this:  the complete set of authoring tools, data grids, and development commands for setting up AO on your own layout, along with a special installer to deliver the complete set of AO layouts and cars with one click.

Once you have 7.0 up and running, try Help > Check for Upgrades. You get a dialog like this (click for full image) which looks at your current license and gives you a list of what upgrades are available, free and otherwise. You can purchase directly from there.

Fine Print

New Buyer:  check the latest newsletter for special prices before you buy.

Recent Buyer:  if you purchased a TrackLayer system after Sep 1, 2018 you are entitled to a free upgrade to AO.  Send e-mail and request the new license.

Chris Pedersen Cars User:  if you already have the CP car collections, then do not uninstall your current version! -- it will delete your cars and you will have to install them again.  Just run the 7.0 installer.

Old version cleanup:  if you have been keeping up with the parade of versions, you might have obsolete files and shortcuts cluttering your Start menu and desktop.  We are in the process of preparing some tools and instructions for cleaning these up.  Watch this space for details, drop us a message if interested.

Watch out:  if you click a button more than once, you may find multiple items in your Shopping Cart.  Click the Empty Cart button and start over.


 


About AO
AO Features
AO Layouts
History of Ops
Reading Matter
How to Obtain 7.0

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