Description

In order to show your public what is happening on your model railway, you will:

1. Set up the Parameters, such as number and names of stations on your layout and the ideal time for a given screen to remain displayed before the next screen is displayed. Although usually set up first, all the Parameters have defaults and can be changed at any time. If you do not have any stations, you allocate one (purely because my program cannot cope without it) but you need not worry - the station name is not shown if there is only 1!

2. Create Display Items. Each Item has a range of clock times during which it is displayed and a display priority. The time range is determined automatically for trains (based on the train times) and entered manually for a non-train information display (Info).

Priority ranges from 1 - 9, with one meaning display every display cycle and higher values limiting the display frequency. Trains are automatically Priority 1.

Items are any combination of:

a. A Train - Valid combinations of Station (from Parameters Station list), Location From, Arrive time, Pass (non-stop) time, Depart time, Destination Location and Train Type (e.g. Pick Up). There are also two user-determined fields.

b. Info - one or more pages, each page being a picture or a text page.

c. A Sound (wav/mp3). Facilities are provided to set volume, loop and play two sounds at the same time.

d. A Scripted Announcement.

When the list gets complicated, there is a filter to allow viewing of a subset of the list. Copy Item allows quick creation of a series of similar Items - for instance an hourly train service.

3. Run - displays the Items you have set up. For a given clock time, the Run option works out which Items are to be displayed. It then creates a list of display screens to be shown for the current display cycle. It works out the time available for the display cycle, and adjusts the display period set in Parameters if necessary. It then shows the screens, repeating the process as necessary. Think of Power-Point on steroids!

There are three distinct modes of Operation:

a. Manual Skip - the Clock Time is advanced to the next event time (e.g. Train time) every time you press key n (next). This is ideal for running a pre-planned sequence.

b. AutoSkip - every time the screen is blank, an automatic N(ext) is processed. Otherwise, the Clock advances at a user-set speed. The Clock Speed can be changed dynamically - and can be stopped.

c. Timetabled - The Clock advances automatically, and it is essential that your trains run on time. A Fat Controller (i.e. YOU) is responsible for confirming that trains have run - and if you do not the system will cancel them for you. The Cancellation notice will use a randomly selected reason for your train failing to run - just like the Prototype.

At the end of the run, you are told what your performance was!

Apart from the above, MRTT has print facilities including Print Preview and an extensive help system.

Should you need further information, please click Contact.

PS - in case you have not met the Fat Controller - read the
Thomas the Tank Engine books by Rev. Audrey