Network Details

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Network Details - Required for Track Features to Work

With Planimate Tracks Features you build rail-type networks.Networks require data about Tracks, their name, nature, end point locations and the time taken for items to traverse them.

This data is all contained in a single table.

If you have laid out some portals and connected them with Track Objects, you can start a run and Planimate will create and prepare a network data table for you called "Track Network Details". This will contain a minimum number of data points with which you can run train items across the network you have built.

The Data Points (columns) of the Track Network Details table are as follows:



Column Name
Description
Comment

From
Start Location of the Track Object
This location is added to the _Model Objects List so that it can be addressed in Routines, etc
To change this initial name, you need to edit it in the Dynamic Objects List under Data in the Menu Bar
To
End Location of the Track Object
This location is added to the _Model Objects List so that it can be addressed in Routines, etc
To change this initial name, you need to edit it in the Dynamic Objects List under Data in the Menu Bar
Forward Time
Nominal Section Time to travel from Start Location to End Location
This column is in time format HH:MM ss.ss
Reverse Time
Nominal Section Time to travel from End Location to Start Location
This column is in time format HH:MM ss.ss
Section Type
Initially not set (shown as a dash) specifies single, double, triple track types etc
Upon Run Start, a dash means Planimate will record the current Track Section type as created.
Otherwise the Track Object's Section Type is read and set from this cell each time a run starts.
Thus the user/modeller can change any Track's Section type between runs by editing this cell.
Section Name
The unique name for the Track Section composed from its End Points
This name is added to the _Model Objects List so that the Track Section can be addressed in Routines, etc
To change this initial name, you need to edit it in the Dynamic Objects List under Data in the Menu Bar
Control 1
Section Control for Road 1
Control 2
Section Control for Road 2 (when double)
Control 3
Section Control for Road 3 (when triple)


How Planimate Uses the Network Details Table Data

Planimate makes a reference to this table whenever it is to move items on to a Track Object.

  • The Section Name column is used to obtain the correct matching row to use to obtain data.
  • Section Type column is used (only) at the beginning of the model run to configure the type of track to be used.
    This is where you can specify whether you want single, double, triple and what flavour of these Tracks in your network.
  • The From and To locations columns enable train item movement direction to be determined.
  • Nominal Section Times data are contained in one or more columns that can be added to this table.
    Two Nominal Section Times columns are provided by default, but their use is optional.
    To get Planimate to read the desired Nominal Section Time for this Track Section, the modeller has to set the ItemTrackForwardColumn and ItemTrackReverseColumn attributes to point to the desired column index. Usually this is done in a routine.
  • The Section Control columns apply for each road of the Track Object, and modify the Nominal Section Time.
    These columns are only used if they have been specified in the Network Details dialog under Track in the menu bar.
    If you remove these names from this dialog, you can then delete these columns if you like.
    However, if you leave these columns alone and they are left set at 100, then they will not influence the running of the model.