Trouble using Central Portal Control

[DWBennett55]

I have been having trouble getting the Central Portal Contol (<kuid2:117746:1013:9> Central Portal Control) to work. I have entered what I have assumed to be all the pertinet data in the rule in the Session tab with and without using an external trigger (using <kuid2:117746:1044:11> CPC: Emit Train On Trigger). I know the portals work as I have entered data at the portals themselves to emit trains and the triggers work when I tested them in other driver commands. As mentioned in a previous thread, I have started entering the portal data in the Session and then saving the route and the session.

I guess my question(s) is, is there any "trick" to using the Central Portal Control? I've tried numerous combinations when to emit the trains (no delay, varing time between emits, etc.) none of which make any difference. And, yes, the consists I enter in the rule exist as they are the same ones I have in the portals I've entered data directly in. Is there some other rule I need to have in the Session to make the Central Portal Control work? Is there another rule with similar functionality that might work?

The Central Portal Control seems like an easier method to enter portal information in rather than finding each portal and going though the layer lock steps to get them to except data. But maybe that would be too much to hope for.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[Roy3b3]

Hi Don, I'm not a guru on this but,...

I use Central Portal Control all the time. Once you've used it successfully, you'll use it all the time too.

The first thing I do after placing individual Portals is to 'name' them and I don't enter any other information into them - no trains or drivers. They are just entry and exit posts.

Before setting up the Central Portal Control, I make sure that all my route layout has been completed. Then I go to 'Edit Session' and under 'Driver Commands' I check 'Copy Command from' and 'Schedule Library' then begin entering Driver commands into 'Schedule Library' for small sections of my route (Navigate here, load, unload, etc) and name them. Once I have a library of all the route sections completed, I then add "Central Portal Control" (CPC).

I then 'edit' the CPC entering in each individual train, driver and route with the respective 'Copy Commands' of each section I need to use. You'll see in the driver commands list 'Copy Commands > Insert > From Library' .
Always make sure that you save the "Session" with a specific name, so that if you need to edit, you only access it through the Session and not the Route. If you access through the route, you'll lose all the Session info you've produced and you'll have to start again.

By using 'Copy Commands' and 'Schedule Library' it is much easier to edit; add a new command, delete one, etc; without having to change your CPC setup.

Remember, complete your Route,... Then use your route to set up your individual Sessions.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Roy3b3

 

[DWBennett55]

Wow! Thanks, Roy3b3. Lots of great info here!

Now to copy your reply and print it out so I don't have to try to remember all this.

Thanks again and take care,