Regarding car locations, I use Excel (older version, 2000) to import the car roster export.
Before pre-building any trains for an Ops Session, I do this (Export) then create a spreadsheet with two worksheets: one is all cars sorted by number, and one is all cars sorted by location and spur. This allows me to verify, or re-set/pre-set, the cars on the layout for the Ops Session.
This may not be for the feint of heart though (says Phil as as he starts trying to explain his process and edits it about 32 times in an attempt to achieve the right balance of tech and novice steps).
1. In JMRI, in the Cars file, I use "Tools/Car Roster/Export to file". This creates a "csv" file (comma delimited text file) in a (new) subdirectory "operations" under my User File Location preference.
2. In Excel: I import the data then massage it.
a. Using "Data/Get External Data/Import Text File", I change the search to All Files (since Excel text import does not show csv files). I find and select the "ExportOperationsCarRoster.csv" file.
b. In the Text Import Wizard step 1 of 3, I change the radio button to "Delimited" in the "Original data type" box, then click Next.
c. In the Text Import Wizard step 2 of 3, I check "Comma" in the Delimiters box (which then shows, in the Data preview window, the fields all separated into columns)
d. In the Text Import Wizard step 3 of 3, I click the Finish button. Usually, I skip whatever columns which are not needed (but this is optional since Excel lets you delete those columns later if desired).
e. I select the location to import the data into (typically the top left cell). This creates a worksheet of all cars in the Cars file, sorted by number.
I then sort/arrange the data as needed (delete columns not needed) then I work the Page Setup (printing 1 wide by 2 or 3 tall), highlight the area to be printed then set the Print Area and format the cells with borders and interior lines; then I copy the data to another worksheet and sort/arrange that as needed (by location/spur).
I do this before building any trains to make and print what I call the "Starting Positions" reports (one by number, one by location/spur). I also subsequently import the cars data (to a column after the existing data) after building all my trains to compare the before and after. My 9 trains move an average of about 85 cars (out of an active roster of 111), change loads on about 45, and move about 11 on more than one train per session.
Hope this gives you ideas on possibilitys. I can answer any questions, and would invite comments too if other methods or ways can improve the results.
Phil in gorgeous Young Harris, Georgia, USA (aka pesky computer geek)
