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