On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 09:45 AM, Dennis Drury wrote:

Thanks Phil, but the DS is in a different room from where the manifests are generated and sometimes the DS is in a different state.? Bottom line is to give the layout a more prototype feel by generating prototype paperwork.? If it makes it easier for the visiting operators so much the better.

?

If I knew how to code it I'd do this myself but that's not in the cards.? Thanks.

Dennis, I am not sure how the information is to be delivered to the Dispatcher in his/her remote location.? I had assumed that a printer could spew out the reports needed at the Dispatcher location. If not a direct connection (or networked through TCP/IP somehow, which is above my pay grade), could reports be emailed??

On my JMRI using a highly modified (bastardized some might successfully argue; hope Dan is not listening) Manifest Creator Excel add-on, I can print a report from the csv file that is generated when a train is built.? I normally print all my Manifests and Switchlists to a PDF file and store them for distribution via email or by USB stick.? In testing my idea for a Dispatcher summary, I have generated a report for one train (repeatable for each train built) with a line showing the Station, departure time, direction, quantity of locos assigned (not used on my railroad, but should work if actually used), number of cars and total (estimated) tonnage for each stop on that route.? It could also show full and empty counts, but I do not use that, just total car counts.

Here is a text version of my report:
"Train Manifest #44?? Page - 1? ? 2/10/2020 7:34
MANIFEST for Train #44-
Train departs Elizabeth Northbound @ 13:01 with 1 Locos, 9 Cars , 628 Tons
Train departs Tate Northbound @ 13:02 with 1 Locos, 8 Cars , 603 Tons
Train departs Ellijay Northbound @ 13:11 with 1 Locos, 6 Cars , 453 Tons
Train departs Blue Ridge Northbound @ 13:23 with 1 Locos, 7 Cars , 531 Tons
Train departs Murphy Junction Northbound @ 13:32 with 1 Locos, 4 Cars , 252 Tons
Train departs Copperhill Northbound @ 13:44 with 1 Locos, 0 Cars , 0 Tons
Train terminates at North Etowah"

I do not track cabeese, so that count is not shown and for certain eras would be irrelevant.? For loco count, since I do not use them, I added code so that if 0 then it's 1 since I know the train would have at least one.? If locos are used in JMRI, the csv file generated when a train is built will include adds or drops (helpers) and starting quantity and the code in Excel should use that info.???

Due to the major (for us) snowstorm Saturday, our planned Op Session was postponed until Wednesday, so I might print these out and talk to our Dispatcher about their usefulness.? Maybe something like this would work for your idea, and if so, the Creator's website (if you do not already use them) is .? Since my old Excel doesn't behave with the latest version, I have kept an old one running and keep modifying it to force it to my will, usually with the precision of a crowbar on an HO model (I am a hacker, not a programmer).?

If this is close to what you imagined, maybe Dan or I can come up with how to get it from the new Creator Excel program. Since you are using Operations, the files needed are being generated (csv manifest files) and the Manifest Creator just reads that file and builds the manifest one line at a time.? If all that is needed is the station summary (like I have shown), it may be easier than what I went through to get it.? There may also be a way to get all trains into one long report, but that would take some file manipulation.? One page per train (unless too many stations for one page) may be the best option.?

Phil in gorgeous Young Harris, Georgia, USA

For the record, here are changes I made to DCC++ BaseStation code for 6 byte packets.

PacketRegister.h:

struct Packet{

? byte buf[11]; // was 10?

? byte nBits;

}; // Packet

PacketRegister.cpp: in?RegisterList::loadPacket starting from Line 70:

if(nBytes==3){

? ? p->nBits=49;

? } else{

? ? buf[6]+=b[3]>>2;? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? // b[3], bits 7-2

? ? buf[7]=b[3]<<6;? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?// b[3], bit 1-0

? ? if(nBytes==4){

? ? ? p->nBits=58;

? ? } else{

? ? ? buf[7]+=b[4]>>3;? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? // b[4], bits 7-3

? ? ? buf[8]=b[4]<<5;? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?// b[4], bits 2-0

? ? ? if(nBytes==5){

? ? ? ? p->nBits=67;

? ? ? } else{

? ? ? ? buf[8]+=b[5]>>4;? ? ? ? ? ? ? // b[5], bits 7-4

? ? ? ? buf[9]=b[5]<<4;? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?// b[5], bits 3-0

//? ? ? ? p->nBits=76;

? ? ? ? if (nBytes == 6) {

? ? ? ? ? p->nBits = 76;

? ? ? ? } else {

? ? ? ? ? buf[9]+=b[6]>>5;? ? ? ? ? ? ? // b[6], bits 7-5

? ? ? ? ? buf[10]=b[6]<<3;? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?// b[6], bits 4-0

? ? ? ? ? p->nBits=85;

? ? ? ? }? ? ? ??

? ? ? } // >5 bytes

? ? } // >4 bytes

? } // >3 bytes

?

Terry,

On Feb 10, 2020, at 8:33 PM, Dave Heap <dgheap@...> wrote:

Bruce,

On 11 Feb 2020, at 8:21 AM, forfoum@... wrote:

Go into Windows Device Manager, view COM ports.. Now disconnect / connect your RS-232/USB cable from the computer and note the change.. Should vanish and reappear. If you see nothing, then the device driver is not loaded or the device has a problem. If no driver loaded but device is operational, it should show up as unknown device.

FTDI USB-Serial Drivers from:
<>

Dave in Australia

?

Terry,