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Throttles

Tools

JMRI provides powerful tools for working with your layout.

Layout Automation

JMRI can be used to automate parts of your layout, from simply controlling a crossing gate to running trains in the background.

Current Throttle documentation

Please note that the Throttles Help was updated. Current version:

Throttles in JMRI v2.x

Saving a Throttle Layout

A new throttle window can be started and a DCC address established to run a train around a layout, and then close down the throttle window when done with it. This of course loses the configuration that you established during this throttle session. And this is fine if you are running a test of sorts on a loco that you have no intention of running by one of these computer throttles. Therefore, closing down the throttle window to eliminate it would suffice.

But what if you don't want to keep establishing a new throttle window each time for one or more locomotives that you intend on running from your computer?

If you were following along in the previous chapters with building up a new throttle layout and got your train moving, then the next question that probably comes to your mind is, "how do I save it?"

Following the directions provided in Chapter 1 for locating the Throttle Menu, locate the option that says "Save Throttle Layout" (see figure 4-1 on the right). Clicking on this menu option will display a "Save As" dialog box see figure 4-2 below).


Figure 4-1: Save Throttle Layout


Figure 4-2: Save As Dialog

By default, it should show the directory where your roster file is located. You can save it to this directory if you wish, or you can save it to another location of your choosing. For example, the figure on the right shows a "Throttles" folder (sub-directory) where all throttle layout files are saved.

After entering a file name of your choosing (and optional location) that best supports your railroad environment, the current throttle layout will be saved with all preferences, including window size and location.

After the save is successful, you can close down the throttle window.

Note: The "Save" option will save all currently opened Throttle windows. They are not saved as individual Throttles. This is explained in more detail below.

Saving Multiple Throttle Windows

The above instructions are pretty simple when working with a single throttle window.

But what happens when you have two or more throttle windows open at the same time? When you use the save option, all opened throttle windows will be saved in the same file. When that file is re-opened, all throttle windows identified in that file will get opened.

This is important to understand, especially further along when working with merging multiple throttles.

In the previous chapter, a single throttle window was initiated. And a simple "save" would certainly have saved just the single throttle window into a single layout file. When the file is opened again, only the single throttle window would appear.


Figure 4-3: Two Active Throttle Windows

But what if we had opened and configured a second throttle window, while the first throttle window was still active on the screen? There would then be two active throttle windows that would be "saved" into the same layout file (see figure 4-3). Not only would the configuration of the throttles be saved, but also the exact screen sizing and locations of the two throttles.

When the layout file is re-opened, both throttle windows would be opened and positioned on the computer screen in the exact place they were when the file was saved.

Open/Load a Throttle Layout

After saving a throttle layout has been accomplished, you'll want to open the file again. This is a very simple procedure. However, opening up a throttle layout file when one or more throttle windows are already active somewhere on the screen, requires an extra step. Before we discuss this extra step, let's first open a simple throttle layout file.

If you were following the guidelines shown above for saving a throttle layout file, you should now have created your first throttle file. If you haven't done so already, close down the throttle window that you created in the previous chapter (make sure you saved it first by following the above instructions).

You shouldn't have any throttle windows open on your screen at this time. Following the directions provided in Chapter 1 for locating the Throttle Menu, locate the option that says "Load Throttle Layout" (see figure 4-4 on the right). Clicking on this menu option will display an "Open" dialog box. Locate the throttle layout file that you just previously saved and open it.


Figure 4-4: Load Throttle Layout

The throttle window that you just created should open up in the same place where you closed it. At the same time that the window opens, it is also initializing the decoder address to the command station (just like when the address was first "Set"). The throttle attempts to determine the current direction of the locomotive, as well as identify any functions that are in the "on" state.

Note: Because the JMRI Throttles are still in their "beta" development mode, there are still some quirks that need to be ironed out. An example of this is when opening a throttle layout and the DCC address is already "in use" by another throttle. Some systems (i.e. Digitrax) are reacting differently when this occurs.

Enhancement requests are already on the list for the throttles to be "smart" in determining when another throttle already has the address. But until these throttles are fully implemented, just beware that there may be quirks with your particular DCC system with this feature. It is therefore suggested that prior to opening up a saved throttle layout file, the DCC address is verified as not being used by another throttle somewhere.

Merging Throttle Windows

Throttle layout files can consist of a single throttle window (to control a single locomotive or consist address), or it can contain multiple throttle windows (refer to figure 4-3). In either case, when opening a throttle layout file, the program will check to see if any existing active throttle windows are already open. If none are found, then the file is opened just like a simple layout opening (explained above).


Figure 4-5: Merge Dialog Box

However, when one or more throttle windows are discovered already open on the screen, the program will open up a dialog box as shown in figure 4-5 on the right.

Note: Do not confuse the action that is occurring here with any attempts to overwrite your saved throttle layout files. The above actions have no effect on the actual saved throttle layout files themselves. The only "merging" and "replacing" that occurs is simply on your screen.

TIP!

When creating throttle layout files, you can save the same decoder address in multiple throttle layout files. A good example of why you may want to do this would be if you create several throttle layout files, each consisting of a single throttle window controlling one single Locomotive, like one for each loco in your Roster. There may be times when you wish to just run a single locomotive and you just open up the associated layout file. Simple! But what if you find yourself opening up the same locomotive throttles consistently on each session. It's going to become a pain opening up (and "merging") these throttles one at a time. Therefore, you could create another layout file that contains all of the throttle windows that you wish; then just open up the one layout file and you'll have all of the throttle windows defined.

Just remember, when making a change to the configuration of a throttle window, it only gets changed in the layout file that you saved; it is not a global change in every file where that Locomotive is used.

Save Throttle Preferences

The "Save Throttle Preferences" allows you to customize the way new throttles will appear. Load or create one throttle that you want as your default. The program will warn you if multiple throttles exist. Then use the "Save Throttle Preferences" in the "Tools->Throttle" menu to save the throttle. When you create a new throttle, the defaults that you set should appear. Also when you use the "Save Throttle Preferences" feature the program will create a new directory called "throttles" in the JMRI directory. A file called "JMRI_ThrottlePreferences.xml" contains the default xml values for your throttles. If you want to restore the throttle settings to the original defaults, simply delete this file.

To help you better organize your throttles, the program will also reference the "throttles" directory when saving or loading throttle layouts.

Closing a Throttle Window

When done with a throttle window, it might be a good idea if you get into the practice of either "releasing" or "dispatching" the locomotive before completely closing down the throttle window.

If you have made any configuration changes to the throttle window, and you want to save them, you'll need to follow the steps as outlined above.

Note: If you "save" any changes that you have made during a session back to an existing throttle layout file, beware that ALL currently opened throttle windows will also be saved to the same file.

When you are ready, simply close down the throttle window as you normally would on whatever computer system you use. For example, for Microsoft Windows, simply click on the "X" in the upper right corner of the throttle window.

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