Files
JIMRI/help/en/html/tools/throttle/ThrottleChapter4.shtml
2026-06-17 14:00:51 +02:00

331 lines
16 KiB
Plaintext

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Apple macOS version 5.8.0">
<title>Throttle: Opening/Saving a Throttle Layout</title>
<meta name="keywords" content="JMRI decoderpro dcc nmra throttlepro">
<meta name="Description" content="Throttle documentation for JMRI project">
<meta name="Author" content="Paul Fraker (paul@frakers.com)">
<meta name="Language" content="EN"><!--#include virtual="/help/en/parts/Style.shtml" -->
<style>
.ctr {
text-align: center;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<!--#include virtual="/help/en/parts/Header.shtml" -->
<div id="mBody">
<!--#include virtual="Sidebar.shtml" -->
<div id="mainContent">
<h1>Current Throttle documentation</h1>
<p>Please note that the Throttles Help was updated. Current version:</p>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="ToolsMenuThrottleEntry.shtml">Throttle menu in JMRI</a>
</li>
<li>The <a href="BasicThrottleWindow.shtml">Throttle Window itself</a>
</li>
<li>The <a href="ThrottleWindowMenus.shtml">Throttle Window menus</a>
</li>
<li>The <a href="ThrottleToolBar.shtml">Throttle Window toolbar</a>
</li>
<li>The <a href="AdvancedThrottleControl.shtml">Throttle Window controls</a>
</li>
<li>The <a href="ThrottlesListWindow.shtml">Throttles List Window</a>
</li>
<li>The <a href="ThrottlesPreferencesPane.shtml">Throttles preferences pane</a>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h1>Throttles in JMRI v2.x</h1>
<h2>Saving a Throttle Layout</h2>
<p>A new throttle window can be started and a DCC address established to run a train around a
layout, and then close down the throttle window when done with it. This of course loses the
configuration that you established during this throttle session. And this is fine if you are
running a test of sorts on a loco that you have no intention of running by one of these
computer throttles. Therefore, closing down the throttle window to eliminate it would
suffice.</p>
<table style="width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p>But what if you don't want to keep establishing a new throttle window each time
for one or more locomotives that you intend on running from your computer?</p>
<p>If you were following along in the <a href="ThrottleChapter2.shtml">previous
chapters</a> with building up a new throttle layout and got your train moving, then
the next question that probably comes to your mind is, "how do I save it?"</p>
<p>Following the directions provided in <a href=
"ThrottleChapter1.shtml#MainMenu">Chapter 1</a> for locating the Throttle Menu,
locate the option that says "<strong>Save Throttle Layout</strong>" (see figure 4-1
on the right). Clicking on this menu option will display a "<strong>Save As</strong>"
dialog box see figure 4-2 below).</p>
</td>
<td><img width="20" height="20" src="images/spacer.gif" alt="spacer">
</td>
<td class="ctr">
<br>
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: xx-small"><img width="163" height="82" src=
"images/jmri006.jpg" title="Save Throttle Layout" alt="save throttle layout"><br>
Figure 4-1: Save Throttle Layout</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: xx-small"><img width="327" height="272" src=
"images/jmri040.jpg" title="Save As Dialog" alt="save dialog"><br>
Figure 4-2: Save As Dialog</p>
<p>By default, it should show the directory where your roster file is located. You can save
it to this directory if you wish, or you can save it to another location of your choosing.
For example, the figure on the right shows a "Throttles" folder (sub-directory) where all
throttle layout files are saved.</p>
<p>After entering a file name of your choosing (and optional location) that best supports
your railroad environment, the current throttle layout will be saved with all preferences,
including window size and location.</p>
<p>After the save is successful, you can close down the throttle window.</p>
<p class="important"><strong>Note:</strong> The "Save" option will save <u>all</u> currently
opened Throttle windows. They are <u>not</u> saved as individual Throttles. This is explained
in more detail below.</p>
<h2 id="SaveMultiple">Saving Multiple Throttle Windows</h2>
<div style="margin-left: 2em">
<p>The above instructions are pretty simple when working with a single throttle window.</p>
<p>But what happens when you have two or more throttle windows open at the same time? When
you use the save option, <u>all</u> opened throttle windows will be saved in the same file.
When that file is re-opened, all throttle windows identified in that file will get
opened.</p>
<p>This is important to understand, especially further along when working with <a href=
"#Merging">merging multiple throttles</a>.</p>
<table style="width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p>In the previous chapter, a single throttle window was initiated. And a simple
"save" would certainly have saved just the single throttle window into a single
layout file. When the file is opened again, only the single throttle window would
appear.</p>
</td>
<td><img width="20" height="20" src="images/spacer.gif" alt="spacer">
</td>
<td class="ctr">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: xx-small"><img width="309" height="187"
src="images/jmri036.jpg" title="Example of 2 active throttle windows" alt=
"active windows"><br>
Figure 4-3: Two Active Throttle Windows</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p>But what if we had opened and configured a second throttle window, while the
first throttle window was still active on the screen? There would then be two
active throttle windows that would be "saved" into the same layout file (see figure
4-3). Not only would the configuration of the throttles be saved, but also the
exact screen sizing and locations of the two throttles.</p>
<p>When the layout file is re-opened, both throttle windows would be opened and
positioned on the computer screen in the exact place they were when the file was
saved.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h2 id="LoadLayout">Open/Load a Throttle Layout</h2>
<p>After saving a throttle layout has been accomplished, you'll want to open the file again.
This is a very simple procedure. However, opening up a throttle layout file when one or more
throttle windows are already active somewhere on the screen, requires an extra step. Before
we discuss this extra step, let's first open a simple throttle layout file.</p>
<p>If you were following the guidelines shown above for saving a throttle layout file, you
should now have created your first throttle file. If you haven't done so already, close down
the throttle window that you created in the previous chapter (make sure you saved it first by
following the above instructions).</p>
<table style="width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p>You shouldn't have any throttle windows open on your screen at this time.
Following the directions provided in <a href=
"ThrottleChapter1.shtml#MainMenu">Chapter 1</a> for locating the Throttle Menu,
locate the option that says "<strong>Load Throttle Layout</strong>" (see figure 4-4
on the right). Clicking on this menu option will display an "<strong>Open</strong>"
dialog box. Locate the throttle layout file that you just previously saved and open
it.</p>
</td>
<td><img width="20" height="20" src="images/spacer.gif" alt="spacer">
</td>
<td class="ctr">
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: xx-small"><img width="163" height="82" src=
"images/jmri007.jpg" title="Load throttle layout" alt="load throttle layout"><br>
Figure 4-4: Load Throttle Layout</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The throttle window that you just created should open up in the same place where you
closed it. At the same time that the window opens, it is also initializing the decoder
address to the command station (just like when the address was first "Set"). The throttle
attempts to determine the current direction of the locomotive, as well as identify any
functions that are in the "on" state.</p>
<p class="important"><strong>Note:</strong> Because the JMRI Throttles are still in their
"beta" development mode, there are still some quirks that need to be ironed out. An example
of this is when opening a throttle layout and the DCC address is already "in use" by another
throttle. Some systems (i.e. Digitrax) are reacting differently when this occurs.<br>
<br>
<strong>Enhancement requests</strong> are already on the list for the throttles to be "smart"
in determining when another throttle already has the address. But until these throttles are
fully implemented, just beware that there may be quirks with your particular DCC system with
this feature. It is therefore suggested that <u>prior</u> to opening up a saved throttle
layout file, the DCC address is verified as not being used by another throttle somewhere.</p>
<h2 id="Merging">Merging Throttle Windows</h2>
<div style="margin-left: 2em">
<p>Throttle layout files can consist of a single throttle window (to control a single
locomotive or consist address), or it can contain multiple throttle windows (refer to
figure 4-3). In either case, when opening a throttle layout file, the program will check to
see if any existing active throttle windows are already open. If none are found, then the
file is opened just like a simple layout opening (explained above).</p>
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: xx-small"><img width="354" height="125" src=
"images/jmri035.jpg" title="Merge Dialog Box" alt="loading dialog"><br>
Figure 4-5: Merge Dialog Box</p>
<p>However, when one or more throttle windows are discovered already open on the screen,
the program will open up a dialog box as shown in figure 4-5 on the right.</p>
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Merge</strong> leaves the currently active open throttle windows in place and
opens the throttle(s) contained in the layout file being opened.<br>
<br></li>
<li><strong>Replace</strong> closes down the currently active open throttle window(s) and
opens up the throttle window(s) established in the saved layout file.<br>
<br></li>
<li><strong>Cancel</strong> cancels the "open" request and closes down this dialog
window.</li>
</ul>
<p class="important"><strong>Note: Do not confuse the action that is occurring here with any
attempts to overwrite your saved throttle layout files. The above actions have no effect on
the actual saved throttle layout files themselves. The only "merging" and "replacing" that
occurs is simply on your screen.</strong>
</p>
<table style="border: 2px solid; width: 100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<strong>TIP!</strong>
<p>When creating throttle layout files, you can save the same decoder address in
multiple throttle layout files. A good example of why you may want to do this would
be if you create several throttle layout files, each consisting of a single throttle
window controlling one single Locomotive, like one for each loco in your Roster.
There may be times when you wish to just run a single locomotive and you just open up
the associated layout file. Simple! But what if you find yourself opening up the same
locomotive throttles consistently on each session. It's going to become a pain
opening up (and "merging") these throttles one at a time. Therefore, you could create
another layout file that contains all of the throttle windows that you wish; then
just open up the one layout file and you'll have all of the throttle windows
defined.</p>
<p>Just remember, when making a change to the configuration of a throttle window, it
only gets changed in the layout file that you saved; it is <u>not</u> a global change
in every file where that Locomotive is used.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 id="SaveThrottlePreferences">Save Throttle Preferences</h2>
<p>The "Save Throttle Preferences" allows you to customize the way new throttles will appear.
Load or create one throttle that you want as your default. The program will warn you if
multiple throttles exist. Then use the "Save Throttle Preferences" in the
"Tools-&gt;Throttle" menu to save the throttle. When you create a new throttle, the defaults
that you set should appear. Also when you use the "Save Throttle Preferences" feature the
program will create a new directory called "throttles" in the JMRI directory. A file called
"JMRI_ThrottlePreferences.xml" contains the default xml values for your throttles. If you
want to restore the throttle settings to the original defaults, simply delete this file.</p>
<p>To help you better organize your throttles, the program will also reference the
"throttles" directory when saving or loading throttle layouts.</p>
<h2 id="CloseThrottle">Closing a Throttle Window</h2>
<p>When done with a throttle window, it might be a good idea if you get into the practice of
either "releasing" or "dispatching" the locomotive before completely closing down the
throttle window.</p>
<p>If you have made any configuration changes to the throttle window, and you want to save
them, you'll need to follow the steps as outlined above.</p>
<p class="important"><strong>Note:</strong> If you "save" any changes that you have made
during a session back to an existing throttle layout file, beware that <u>ALL</u> currently
opened throttle windows will also be saved to the same file.</p>
<p>When you are ready, simply close down the throttle window as you normally would on
whatever computer system you use. For example, for Microsoft Windows, simply click on the
"<strong>X</strong>" in the upper right corner of the throttle window.</p>
<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: middle">
<a href="ThrottleChapter3.shtml" title="Return to the previous chapter"><img width="18"
height="18" src="images/LeftArrow2.jpg" alt="left arrow"></a>
</td>
<td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="30" height="18" alt="spacer">
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: middle"><strong><a href="ThrottleTOC.shtml" title=
"Jump to the Table Of Contents page">TOC</a></strong>
</td>
<td><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="30" height="10" alt="spacer">
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!--#include virtual="/help/en/parts/Footer.shtml" -->
</div>
<!-- closes #mainContent-->
</div>
<!-- closes #mBody-->
<script src="/js/help.js"></script>
</body>
</html>