King's Cross Manual (Wiki)

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King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 18/06/2014 at 11:22 #61813
JamesN
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Nice to see that others have been making strides to tidy up the incredibly bloated KX manual. Thank you for your efforts, this has been a bug-bear of mine for a long while.

It is however, still full of lots and lots of superfluous information - at least in my humble opinion. While I do appreciate the efforts gone to to include as much highly-accurate background data to the simulation it must be remembered that this is a manual for the simulation - Not, as it's becoming, a background reference for anything vaguely King's Cross Panel - related. In particular, it's all very well quoting platform/loop lengths from the sectional appendix, but do these match the simulation? Similarly do we need every siding length at Hertford North UCS, or Welwyn CSD? It's just a simple exit: stipulate the maximum length train that can be accomated and be done with it. The user doesn't control or care about the individual sidings.

Also, why do we need a fleet list for each of the main TOCs?

  • The information is available elsewhere on the internet

  • It's only pertinent to the last 3/4 years of the panels 40 year history

  • Does not effect or impact the operation of the simulation



This is intended as an amicable discussion, and it should be noted I really do appreciate the effort that Anyone goes to help edit and improve the wiki, it does allow us to concentrate on writing new simulations and timetables for you to enjoy. If I had only one wish going forward, it would be thus: Edit/Add to the wiki where it improves it in its primary purpose of being SimSig's user manual.

Thank you, now I'll fetch my coat.

EDIT: Grammar

Last edited: 18/06/2014 at 11:25 by JamesN
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King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 18/06/2014 at 17:06 #61827
Danny252
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1461 posts
Quote:
In particular, it's all very well quoting platform/loop lengths from the sectional appendix, but do these match the simulation?
Unless more accurate information from the developer is forthcoming - or possibly reports from players, but I personally don't fancy testing the length of every loop on the sim - what else is there to go by? This is information which is important to running the simulation, especially on more freight-heavy timetables, but is very often omitted in the manuals when released, meaning the SA is the only reasonable source.

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King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 21/06/2014 at 10:04 #61899
Steamer
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3997 posts
On a slightly related note:

At present, there are 3 namespaces used for simulations. These are:


  • usertrack:mans:[sim name], used for the majority of manuals.

  • usertrack:sims:[sim name], which is used to 'sell' the simulation (for example, CScot, which is separate to the CScot user manual), or in some cases (e.g. Carlisle) contains the main user manual. The 'selling the simulation' pages are linked to from the Available Simulations page.

  • [li]simulations:[sim name], which appeared about a year ago to solve the above problem, but which hasn't really taken off.


Is there a consensus as to where the manuals should go, and whether or not the 'selling the simulation' pages should be kept? I'm happy to work on it, but I'd like to know what the preferred solution is before I start moving pages around en masse

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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The following user said thank you: ralphjwchadkirk
King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 21/06/2014 at 10:30 #61900
Peter Bennet
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5419 posts
" said:
On a slightly related note:

At present, there are 3 namespaces used for simulations. These are:


  • usertrack:mans:[sim name], used for the majority of manuals.

  • usertrack:sims:[sim name], which is used to 'sell' the simulation (for example, CScot, which is separate to the CScot user manual), or in some cases (e.g. Carlisle) contains the main user manual. The 'selling the simulation' pages are linked to from the Available Simulations page.

  • [li]simulations:[sim name], which appeared about a year ago to solve the above problem, but which hasn't really taken off.


Is there a consensus as to where the manuals should go, and whether or not the 'selling the simulation' pages should be kept? I'm happy to work on it, but I'd like to know what the preferred solution is before I start moving pages around en masse
Personally I've always disliked the usertrack:mans:[sim name] and when I saw the change to simulations:[sim name] I moved a lot of mine over, think I may still have one or two to do. I've never seen the point of one click effectively jumping several steps which if you backtrack through gives you some, in my view, odd pages.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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The following users said thank you: Steamer, ralphjwchadkirk
King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 21/06/2014 at 20:07 #61927
ralphjwchadkirk
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275 posts
I was the one who set up the simulations namespace, for the reasons listed above. I think I transferred a manual or two over to the new namespace myself, and I saw (very gratefully) that Peter had done a few of his manuals as well. Unfortunately as you all know there is a vast amount of work associated with improving the wiki we have at the moment. I've come to the unhappy conclusion that the only improvements we can make at the moment are tinkering at the edges. Short of completely restarting the wiki from new I can't see another solution to the bloated structure and superfluous information it has at the moment.
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King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 21/06/2014 at 20:20 #61928
Peter Bennet
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5419 posts
Moved NESCOT this morning and it took no more than 15 minutes once I got into the swing of it. I think in earlier moves I tried re loading all the pictures etc. to the "correct" path but that was a nightmare and probably matters less.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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King's Cross Manual (Wiki) 21/06/2014 at 20:20 #61929
Steamer
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3997 posts
" said:
I've come to the unhappy conclusion that the only improvements we can make at the moment are tinkering at the edges. Short of completely restarting the wiki from new I can't see another solution to the bloated structure and superfluous information it has at the moment.
Out of interest, what pages (or groups of pages) do you consider superfluous? Structure might be too far gone to save (although I don't mind helping to move manuals across to make it a bit better), but there should be a way to hack out duplicated material- hence my request for opinions over the 'Selling the sim' pages above.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Last edited: 21/06/2014 at 20:24 by Steamer
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