Table of Contents
The Finder
Introduction
The Finder can be used to find a path from one Block to another or to a Location.
This function must be enabled with Use Finder for destination path or in the Rocrail Automode Properties
The Finder will be active after setting a Destination in case there is no direct route available.
How it works
After activating, by setting a destination, the Finder will try to find a path to it by recursively iterate through all Routes.
More then one path can be found depending of the complexity of the layout.
The path will be converted into a temporary schedule which will be activated for the selected Loco.
The new schedule will have a "F" prefix in the table and will be removed at the end of the Rocrail Server session if not modified before with the Schedule Dialog.
Example of a schedule name created by the Finder: F[-1-staging]
If already an "F" schedule exist for the wanted path it will be used instead of generating it again.
Limitations
- To avoid looping and using too much CPU resources the max. recursive depth is set to the number of available Routes.
- The search will stop if the max. depth has been reach more then the available number routes.
- Routes which needs a direction change will be skipped.
Requirements
- The layout must be healthy: Router
Settings
Use Finder for destination path
Path
If more than one path has been found the following options can be used for selecting one:
Shortest
Select the shortest found path.
Note: The Route preference is used to select a shortest path in case of multiple possibilities.
Longest
Select the longest found path.
Direct
Only a direct route will be used to generate a schedule.(Rocrail version 2.1.2903+)
Preferred
Select the most Preferred path.
Note: If there are only routes with preferred set to zero this option will not find any path.
Options
Find alternative paths
This option can only be used if a valid Support Key is provided. |
If not enabled, or no valid support key, the finder will stop after the first path that has been found. Depending on how the layout is designed this could be a (big) detour.
The max. number of alternative paths can be set. The default is 10 which normally will do. Increasing this number can cause more CPU usage without any better paths found. But in case of layouts with many routes, this number should be increased to be able to find the shortest way.
This number of alternative paths is also restricted by the number of routes.
Max. recursive
Limits the number of repetitions when searching for paths.
- Note: If no suitable path is found, the value of the max. recursive may need to be increased.
Find alternative direct paths
Search for more short direct paths.
This option is required incase the Finder usages is "Preferred".
Regular stop
All schedule entries will get the Regular stop option.
Temporary schedules
The generated schedules will be removed at shutdown.
This is default and highly recommended! Changing routes can make Finder schedules invalid and can lead to deadlocks.
Check permissions
Check if the loco has permission to use routes and blocks.
Check destination permissions
Check if the loco has permission to use routes running to the destination block and of the destination block itself.
Avoid occupied blocks
Avoid occupied blocks to find a path.
Depending on the block occupancy and layout the find result could be zero.
Avoid occupied routes
Avoid occupied routes to find a path.
Depending on the route occupancy and layout the find result could be zero.
Use locations
Use block locations in the generated schedule.
If the option is not activated, the finder creates a "block-by-block schedule" to the destination according to the other options.
If this option is activated, it is checked whether the blocks are in a location. In these cases, the location is entered instead of the block.
If not all blocks in a location leads to the same follow-up block/location this will end the schedule.
Destination
If this option is active (default), the "Use locations" option also applies to the destination.
This option must be deactivated if an defined block is to be used in the destination instead of an existing location.
Avoid terminal blocks for none commuter trains
If a train is allowed to enter a terminal block this could be a dead end.
Use this option to avoid running into terminal stations.
Update schedules
If a schedule already exist it will be updated to meet the actual permissions.
This option is recommended to avoid running into occupied blocks.
Reserve destination
The destination block will be reserved.
Do not use incase the destination is a location.
Start only with a schedule after DnD
If no path is found this option will prevent starting the loco after using Drag and Drop.
Depart side
Set the Depart Side of the schedule destinations.
Home
Menu → Automatic → Home location
With the home action all locomotives with a Home location set, and which are not already at the home location, will get a command to run to the home location.
The Finder will be used to find a path to the Home location.