An always-on-top Events window

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An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 12:56 #62602
maxand
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1637 posts 		Despite having a Train List, Timetable List, Incident Report, Messages list and Simplifier, I still find it useful to keep a separate list of what I group the most important "events". It includes, for example, expected departure times displayed by the Train List but not included in the Timetable list, ditto for expected departures shown in the Incident Report, etc. There does not seem to be one window that collates them all.

Previously I had plastered sticky notes at the relevant locations on the sim, which is fine if you've got multiple screens where everything is visible, but if you haven't, you might be better off keeping it on one central sticky note or finding an alternative means.

Here is an example using a single sticky note (Exeter sim):


The events are sorted by time (leftmost column). After that comes the headcode, type of event (E = entry, D = Departure), the location (CCY = Castle Cary, ESD1 = Exeter St Davids Platform 1) with other data such as N (new service) or whatever.

Advantages:
- Fewer sticky notes required as this one note contains so much.
- Clicking blue underlined headcode link immediately displays timetable.
- If headcode is not blue and underlined, SimSig alerts you to the fact that it can't find a matching train, so you probably made a typo.
- Being a text file, it is easier to keep neat and tidy than if written on a sheet of paper (cross-outs) or paper slips.

Disadvantages:
- If this sticky is not visible you must first jump to its location, e.g., by pressing an appropriate number key (4 in this example). If you refer to it frequently, you find yourself jumping back and forth.
- If there is not a lot of free space you may have trouble locating this note once it grows beyond a few lines.
- You can't edit it directly. It must be opened first, and there are still several minor but irritating bugs in the editing process as mentioned in earlier threads.
- It is all too easily hidden when you open one of SimSig's stay-on-top windows (Train List, Timetable List, Show Timetable, etc.)

An alternative approach, easy to set up, is to use a small, streamlined text editor set to Stay On Top (of all other open windows).

For this purpose I used Notepad++, a free but highly featured Notepad replacement, though there are plenty of others (suggestions?). I normally use EditPad to edit plain text, so why should I have two text editors installed, and how to ensure a text file is opened in Notepad++ and not EditPad?

Having installed Notepad++, including a desktop shortcut to it, create an empty dedicated text file to be used only as a SimSig scratchpad, named e.g. SimSig.txt. Go to your Windows Desktop, create a copy of the Notepad++ shortcut, and rename it to something such as NPP_SimSig. Open its Properties and point it to SimSig.txt by adding the path to it as a parameter, surrounded by double quotes if the path contains any spaces. E.g., on my setup the Target field reads:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "C:\SOFTWARE\STORE\G\GAMES\RAILWAY SIGNALLING SIMS\SimSig\Events\sim_events.txt"

Double-click the shortcut to open this file in Notepad++, then slim down the window by hiding all unnecessary toolbars, etc. Hide the Menu (toggle this by pressing Alt or F10), the Tab and Status bars, line numbers, etc. Choose a smaller, more attractive font (I used Consolas 9pt which is monospaced like Courier) to fit more lines into the same window) if necessary. See Trimming the Fat in Notepad++. Customize text and background colours if you wish. Last, from the View menu, check Always on Top. Done.

You will end up with a small window like this:


Although some text editors permit you to hide the window title bar, I find it gives me an easy handle to drag the window around.

Advantages:
- While you scroll the sim panel, Notepad++ stays put, relative to your screen, so is never out of sight. Instinctively you know where to find it.
- You can edit text directly without needing to open it first (cf. sticky notes), also copy headcodes from it into Train Describer and Interpose windows, and vice versa.
- You can copy shunters' messages and other voluminous stuff to it without ending up with a huge sticky that overlies tracks, as SimSig is fond of doing.
- You can collate only the info you need for the immediate future, from the various other windows available, as reminders. You do not have to scan through lines and lines of closely-packed information as with the other windows. As a corollary you can keep other windows sorted by ID, etc., while your Events window is sorted (manually) by time.
- Other SimSig windows such as Train List, Timetable List and Show Timetable cannot be reduced below a certain height and width, but you can reduce the height and width of your Events window much further, to keep it really compact. Furthermore, unlike stickies, it has scrollbars.
- As soon as an event takes place, you can instantly delete that line to keep the display small and relevant.
- Unlike sticky notes, most text editors have Redo (Ctrl+Y) as well as Undo (Ctrl+Z) commands, not to mention indentation and other fancy stuff.
- You can open more than one text file in a text editor, each in its own tab. So you could add another file to the parameter list above to act as a reference or a second scratchpad, e.g., for when you discover an error in the sim or timetable to be followed up later on.
- SimSig does not remember any stickies you created when you replay the same timetable (although you could do so by reloading a very early saved game), but you could include in your Events file a set of notes for a particular sim that would apply no matter which timetable you are playing. In fact, you could switch between various saved Event files to match the sim you are playing.
- Unlike SimSig's windows which always open in the centre of the screen at their default size (which always seems too large), Notepad++ remembers its last position, size and settings when you reopen it.
- You can use this method in places where a paper and pencil would be inconvenient, e.g., on an airline trip.

Disadvantages:
- If you hate typing, this method is not for you. You would probably be better off with a pencil and paper.
- Even if you check Always on Top, Notepad++ will still be obscured by SimSig's other windows (e.g., Train List, Timetable List and Show Timetable). Thankfully, they don't move either, so set up their positions when you start playing and move your Events list well away, say the bottom RH corner.
- No blue underlined headcode links. However, many text editors will recognize URLs and display them as clickable links.
- Once you discover how much easier an always-on-top scratchpad makes playing SimSig, you will kick yourself for not having done this earlier, which can leave painful bruises.
Last edited: 09/07/2014 at 13:45 by maxand
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The following user said thank you: Peter Bennet
An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 16:50 #62603
JamesN
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1612 posts 		So in summary you're after: A resizeable window that's a bit like a text editor, can be set to "Always on Top", and has clickable headcodes, correct?
Last edited: 09/07/2014 at 16:51 by JamesN
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An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 19:44 #62606
Peter Bennet
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5419 posts 		Seems quite natty, thanks for telling us.

Peter
I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 19:52 #62607
jc92
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3701 posts 		" said:
So in summary you're after: A resizeable window that's a bit like a text editor, can be set to "Always on Top", and has clickable headcodes, correct?
makes sense now I understand it in plain English ;)

This could also be used a notepad for TSR's Delays, special notes, regulation notes etc. +1 from me.
"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 22:03 #62610
peterb
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452 posts 		Max,

1. How long did that take you to write.
2. Please can we have a tl;dr version.
3. I thought stickies were the be all and end all?
4. " said:
C:\SOFTWARE\STORE\G\GAMES\RAILWAY SIGNALLING SIMS\SimSig\Events\sim_events.txt"
Are you for real? I didn't realise Simsig created an 'Events' subfolder, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Where should I be looking?
5. You're going to need a lot less words and a lot more sense to convince anyone that manually replicating information in another program which is already easily available isn't an unnecessary waste of time.
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An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 22:19 #62611
Peter Bennet
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5419 posts 		I'm not particularly computer savvy and I understood what he was saying.

Peter
I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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An always-on-top Events window 09/07/2014 at 22:34 #62612
Stephen Fulcher
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2089 posts
Online 		If Max wants to create an extra sub folder to store his file in I cannot see an issue - It is the same as any of us creating an extra one for every time we download our digital cameras.
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 00:35 #62613
BarryM
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2158 posts 		" said:
Max,

1. How long did that take you to write.
2. Please can we have a tl;dr version.
3. I thought stickies were the be all and end all?
4. " said:
C:\SOFTWARE\STORE\G\GAMES\RAILWAY SIGNALLING SIMS\SimSig\Events\sim_events.txt"
Are you for real? I didn't realise Simsig created an 'Events' subfolder, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Where should I be looking?
5. You're going to need a lot less words and a lot more sense to convince anyone that manually replicating information in another program which is already easily available isn't an unnecessary waste of time.
Simsig did not create the "Events" folder!
Barry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 09:46 #62617
maxand
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1637 posts 		Thanks for the feedback. I haven't come across the term "tl;dr version". Assuming you meant a less verbose summary, JamesN provided one.

It's sometimes difficult to decide whether to explain something new in detail or simply provide an outline. Perhaps I should have prefaced this with an outline. I opted for the first choice which to me reads clearly and logically. If it seems too verbose at first, perhaps you should make time to read it from beginning to end.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. - Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)

(added) peterb also asked:
Quote:
Are you for real?
My handlers said I passed the Turing test with flying colours.
Last edited: 10/07/2014 at 11:23 by maxand
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 12:02 #62620
JamesN
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1612 posts 		Presuming that my summary was correct - it's something that I think would be very beneficial - +1 from me
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 13:19 #62621
john havenhand
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58 posts 		theres a scratch pad on carlisle sim thats useful for head codes
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 13:34 #62622
mfcooper
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707 posts 		" said:
theres a scratch pad on carlisle sim thats useful for head codes
There are some developers who do not like Scratchpads, as these would never be built into a Train Describer at a real signal box (again, the simulation vs. game debate). There was once one in Sheffield, but Kurt removed it when hyperlinked ("clickable"Train Descriptions became available in sticky notes.
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 14:18 #62624
Stephen Fulcher
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2089 posts
Online 		There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Sticky notes are more like the "postits" Signalmen love to stick all over NX panels for just about anything, a lot of which in my experience has no bearing whatsoever on signalling trains - ie outstanding faults that go back years, peoples phone numbers etc. The major drawback with sticky notes is that they are not ideal in multiplayer situations as they can only be seen by the player who placed them.

Scratch pads (which I think Kurt was first to use in the paged Sheffield?), are not totally realistic to real life, but the descriptions interposed in them do transmit to all in a multiplayer session.

If you have a panel change with lots of sticky notes to pass over to someone else in a multiplayer session then it would take ages to do so. Carlisle Station is a good example of this, with the potential for lots of trains that do not have a berth where they are at the time. The yards around Sheffield are another example of this.

Whilst I can understand that some Developers may not like scratch pads for authenticity, they are hardly the most inauthentic thing that have crept into some simulations.
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 14:28 #62625
Muzer
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718 posts 		How do signallers in real life keep track of headcodes in places without train describer berths then? Do they use the aforementioned sticky notes/post-its (what about on IECC-style systems?) or do they just have very good memories? Or something else?
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 14:33 #62626
Stephen Fulcher
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2089 posts
Online 		Scrap paper and a pen usually.
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 15:03 #62628
mfcooper
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707 posts 		Lots and lots and lots of...


" said:
Scrap paper and a pen...

which is very easy to handover to a colleague
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 15:42 #62629
Stephen Fulcher
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2089 posts
Online 		In person yes, but real signalmen do not have to hand over all round the world over an internet connection. This can happen (and does) in SimSig.
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 16:12 #62631
Temple Meads
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307 posts 		I remember a suggestion that sticky notes should have an option to be viewable by everyone in an MP game, did anything happen with this, or was it dismissed?
Username TIM in multiplayer
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An always-on-top Events window 10/07/2014 at 16:31 #62633
kbarber
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1764 posts 		" said:
How do signallers in real life keep track of headcodes in places without train describer berths then? Do they use the aforementioned sticky notes/post-its (what about on IECC-style systems?) or do they just have very good memories? Or something else?

By and large, memory. Remember modern power boxes covering large areas emerged pretty much in parallel with modern train describers linked to signal berths. Originally descriptions would be sent by block bell with no other indication. Older describers simply gave the train approaching (in later versions 1st 2nd and 3rd approaching) and the bobby was expected to keep up with what was coming. But broadly speaking it wouldn't be beyond the capability of the number of signalmen (and there was always the train register for backup - usually with a box lad to keep it in the bigger boxes).
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