How to Ensure Proper Sequence in Sessions

[crisger]

I wanted to check for clarification on how sequencing works in Session making. I have a single track long route to do sessions for. i want the player train to trigger events, and load and unload at specific spots. If i place the triggers on the track at needed locations I am unclear how adding rules in the Session making window connects to the triggers.. is it automatic? ie does the system 'know" that the trigger will be fired just by its placeement? none of the tutorials describes the actual process of connecting the rules you create using the icons for various types of action in the Session making window with triggers and markers placed on the track that will activate AI trains.

I guess just a thumbnail description of how experineced session makers CREATE a session would help. I know what i want my sessions to do, have the route and the consists and the rolling stock all ready... and I understand how the sequencing of the rules and child rules is created in the session making window but not sure how to be sure they connect to locations along the route.

thanks for tips on this,

Chris

 

[pware]

To give a practical example: Suppose you have 10 triggers set around your route with each trigger supervised by its own "Trigger Check Rule" in the Session Rule Editor. Each Trigger Check Rule must be configured to identify:-

• the trigger or triggers that it will be monitoring
• the particular event that it will be monitoring (e.g. a particular driver, loco, rail car or type of loco or rail car)
• the number of times it will be triggered (once or "forever")

This is done by selecting the rule in the Session Editor and clicking the Edit button

Each of these Trigger Check Rules will normally be a parent with its own child rules. Parent rules are placed up against the left margin of the Session Rule window. Parent rules, all the Trigger Check Rules, will be equal in their importance - that means that they are all constantly monitored for their trigger to be activated so the order of the Trigger Check Rules in the Session Editor does not matter. The exception to this, of course, is if a Trigger Check Rule is set to "Trigger Only Once" in which case it will no longer be monitored after it has been triggered.

The above is just an introduction to the world of session rules. More details can be found in the Trainz Wiki at http://online.ts2009.com/mediaWiki/index.php/Session_Rules_By_Categories_With_Properties

 

[Roy3b3]

It may be wise to understand how Triggers work.

Why not check out the series of Video Tutorials available on https://www.twitch.tv/trainz_simulator

# 8 for Triggers

Cheers,
Roy

 

[crisger]

OK thank you both, that gave me what i needed. Yes i understand how triggers work and how the rules are created. Just never found anywhere any description in simple english how all of it worked. Each part of the process is described but no where was there a 1, 2, 3 steps to make a session with rules. That simple point that all rules are monitored ALL of the time removes any question about sequence in the editing window mattering. I was misled by the fact that in the monitoring window at the bottom of active sessions that shows each action trigger in sequence for I thought somehow we were supposed to proceed along the route making each command in sequence.

Now i see it does not matter at all, except for single action triggers or commands.

thank you for the replies and the wiki .and thanks Roy i have watched all of those tutorials many times but none of them gave an effective overview.

Maybe when this is all over i will try my hand at adding to a First Time User Manual I have been assembling and add a section on Session Making for I see that it is a very important part of offering a route with accurate activities and the in depth knowledge needed to use correct equipment and operating proceedures for the specific railroad portrayed.

thanks again

Chris

 

[pware]

That simple point that all rules are monitored ALL of the time removes any question about sequence in the editing window mattering.

There are times when the sequence does matter and there is a rule that allows you to do this - the Ordered List Rule. You set the rule up as a parent and place all the child rules under the parent, in the order that you want them executed. There is even a Random Order Rule that will execute the child rules in random order.

I have found that the best way to learn about how all this works is to open the session rules of a session and have a look inside - a sort of Trainz autopsy.