Looking Forward to Trying it

Did you get a chance to use it? I would love to see someone post an image of the XtrkCAD original and the resulting JMRI panel.

I am looking forward to trying it. I have not yet had a chance. Once I get my layout running again (revenue service is suspended pending the installation of a new bridge of the Johns River) I am looking forward to hooking it up to JMRI to try controlling turnouts that way. I am hoping to use the XtrkCAD-> JMRI panel interface to get that started.

Chris

Looking forward...

No I just stumbled across it last night and thought I would pass the info along.  Making the panel is in the distant future at the moment.  Revenue services had suspended construction and during the lull plans changed.  Deconstruction and re-construction are the order of the day right now.

Once trains are running I want to give Panel Pro a try for controlling turnouts too and will be interested to hear others results in the interim.

I did download it so maybe I'll play with it today.  If so I'll post my findings and any images that may result.

XtrkCad in PanelPro

Ok, I installed JMRI and unpacked XtrkCadReader, got the command line syntax right on the second try and converted an XtrkCad file to the PanelPro file type.  I opened the file and displayed the track plan in the panel editor...but that's as far as I get.  After that I am not sure what to do with PanelPro?  Must I have a connection to the physical layout to work on the panel?  I'm going to have to spend some time fooling with PanelPro before I'll get much further.  As for images check these out.

XtrkCad Layout Image

JMRI panel obtained with XtrkCadReader

My understaing is yes...

That you need to have the physical interface between the DCC system of the layout connected to the hardware (PC) to communicate with PanelPro software for it to recognize the turnouts on the layout. And to actually use the features of PanelPro to throw the turnout from the computer panel they need to be connected to stationary decoders, each with a unique address. I bought the interface for connecting from the Digitrak DCC output via a USB connection to my PC, but alas...I have not set it up yet!

One more of those items on the never ending "To Do List"...

I'm closer to understanding now...

Thanks Ryan,

That explains why turnouts etc. are grayed out, (unavailable) in the Tables menu.  There I go trying to put the cart before the horse again!  Ok!  1. Create trackplan in XtrkCad.  2. Actually lay track according to plan.  3. Purchase and setupl hardware. 4. Convert and load in JMRI PanelPro.

BINGO!

You got it Kevin!

Kim Parker at Train Buddy has two layouts set up with the JMRI Panel Pro system and both are connected to his PC's with the interface device that I mentioned. He goes so far as to code a complete set of instructions using script that set ups a complete cycle on the HO layout. One of his saved programmed loops has a powering up a steam loco, throwing a few turnouts, starts up the bell and toots on the a horn and backs the loco out of the siding and onto a main, then it coasts up to a climb and around the layout and eventually returns to the original location and then the loco gives another few toots on the whistle and shuts down. All you do is press one button on the PC panel and you just sit a back and watch. A fully computerized layout!

Regards,

Ryan

Different then I expected

I was somewhat expecting it to be more like a traditional railroad schematic you would find on a dispatch panel.

Pretty cool stuff.. seems VERY well suited to a touch screen..

I may have to move up setting up my spare computer in the basement. Even if I can't run trains right now, I can still throw the turnouts!

Chris

Computerized Layouts

Hey Ryan,

I'm a slow study but I get there eventually!

Thanks for the description of Kim Parkers scripted operations.  I sensed that sort of ability lurking within JMRI but was not aware of the complex operations that could be pre-programmed.

While I could see it being fun to have a programmed route like that, I wouldn't want to abandon traditional driving of the trains.  I may get to the point one day where I'll control turnouts from panelpro but I doubt I'll ever get that level of automation in place. Thanks again!

xtrkcadreader command line

If this thread is still active could someone give me an example of the command line they used as a format ,,,,,, I keep getting Java -jar is not a valid command