Classic Panel software is a 1940 US&S
dispatching software. This software allows you to support a dispatching panel
to control your layout operations. Classic Panel software allows one dispatcher
client, and a limited number of view only clients. The view only clients will
show the state of the layout. Classic Panel design allows each switch, or
signal component to be defined down to the bit/function level.
The Displayed layout supports the latest in location
feedback using RailCom and Transponding technology. As a dispatcher, you have
the option to select a traditional 1940 US&S view, or a more modern view
with location feedback, and visual switch tips. Classic panel is a must for any
model railroad computer control systems.
Figure 1. Classic Panel (released 2004) using Digitrax
certification layout
Classic Panel uses Train Server technology to supply state of the art
command and control for your model railroad layout. Kam has been producing
commercial software for the industry at large with a variety of different
applications for the Microsoft current operating systems,
Win CE (PC2002-03, Mobile 5.x), Win 200x, Windows XP, Vista 32/64 and .NET servers. With Kam
software driving your railway, you have the flexibility and the modularity to
operate your layout like a professional.
Classic Panel retails for $99 and includes Classic Panel GUI
editor, Train Server interface software and Engine Commander. Train Server
software runs on the local systems with the hardware interface to the model
railroad layout. Classic Panel may run on that node, or across the network on
any other connected node. KAM's modularity and distributed applications are
unique in the environment and provides a level of control never seen before in
model railroad software. All of KAM’s software are shipped with a
developers kit
and your are able to extend any software package by using our published
software interface standards. With KAM’s client server software you are in
control of your railroad like you have never been before!
Building Classic Panel
Before you can begin to control your layout you will need to build a layout
configuration file using the Classic Panel Editor. The default layout that is
shipped with Classic Panel is the Digitrax certification test layout. This
layout supports BLD16x, DS54’s, and SEC8C decoders. All of these devices are
supported by Train Server. The default layout is shown in the figure below.
Figure 2. Classic Panel schematic and Track view layout
Building a layout configuration file is an iterative process.
You define the layout, add features to the layout, configure the DCC elements,
test your layout, then make changes and repeat the process until it’s done.
Once your layout is working the way you want, you’ll only need the Classic
Panel Editor if your layout changes.
Also, you’ll want to print a summary report for your records
since the DCC configuration of most layouts can be quite complicated.
Classic Panel Software was designed to allow you to develop your layout
visually with minimal effort. The Classic Panel Editor organizes security
elements as a grid, like a spreadsheet program. To increase the size of the
layout you simply extend either the column or row based on what your layout
requires.
The Classic Panel Editor has a few simple rules that limit the
complexity of the layout in order to keep security elements simple to
configure.
• The layout size is an N x N grid of security elements. The
only size limitation is what you can see on your monitor (based on your display
resolution). Scrollbars will appear automatically if the grid size exceeds the
boundaries of the application’s window, so even if you can’t see your entire
layout at once, you can scroll to any security element.
• Turnout and signal plates are limited to one row of signal
plates and one row of turnout plates.
• All security elements in the same vertical column operate in
tandem and are controlled by the plates below them in that column.
Step 1: Start the Classic Panel Editor
The first step in building a layout configuration file is to
start the Classic Panel Editor. It’s located in the Windows start menu under:
“All Programs->Train Tools->Classic Panel->Classic Panel Editor”.
Step 2: Define the track styles
The next step in building a layout configuration file is to
define the topology of the layout in the Classic Panel Editor. When the Classic
Panel Editor runs for the first time it will open the default sample layout
configuration file provided. To start a new layout configuration file, select
the File->New menu choice.
Figure 3. New layout
Next double click on a security element to bring up the layout
configuration dialog.
Figure 4. Layout configuration dialog
Now select the style of track that most closely represents
this security element. For the purposes of this document, we’ll make it a
turnout by selecting the “Right Branch” style.
Next enter a description of this security element. This is
mainly used for debugging/troubleshooting your layout later and is displayed in
the printed reports, debug windows, etc.
Now hit the OK button. Notice that a turnout plate
automatically appears.
Figure 5. Added a new security element
Classic Panel uses KAM’s Layout Manager® technology to
automatically add the turnout and signal plates to your layout configuration
file based on how you define the security elements within a column of the track
diagram. This makes is simple to configure the relationships between the plates
and the security elements they manage. It’s done automatically based on
columns. All security elements in a column are controlled by the plates in the
same column.
If you’d like to change the turnout plate’s title, right click
on the turnout plate and select “Plate Title…” and enter a new title. There’s
not much room on the plate for long titles, so they are typically given a
number. Typically the convention is to use odd numbers for turnout plates and
even numbers for signal plates but you can make up your own convention if that
helps make their function easier for you to remember.
You may also need to adjust the approach style of a turnout.
This determines the orientation of the turnout. The “Left to Right” approach
style places the converging side of a turnout on the left and the diverging
side to the right. In order to merge our siding back into the mainline, for
example, we would configure the security element in the next column to also be
a left branch, but the approach style would be “Right To Left”.
Note: Straight tracks are always defined as “Left To Right”.
When straight tracks are given signals the A1 signal will always be on the left
and the B signal will always be on the right. Since a straight track has no
branch to a siding, there cannot be an A2 or a C signal.
Step 3: Add signals
Next double-click our newly defined turnout, check all three
checkboxes for signal post visibility, and click the OK button. Notice you now
have a signal plate.
Figure 6. Adding signals
If you wish, you can right click on the signal plate and select
“Plate Title…” to give it a unique title.
While the Classic Panel Editor is not connected to Train Server
and therefore cannot have any effect on the actual layout, you might find it
interesting to try clicking on the plates (or the lights above the plates) and
see what happens in the track diagram. Notice how Classic Panel encapsulates
the logic to keep the signals in the proper state depending on the plate lever
positions. The most important step to understanding dispatching is to become
familiar with how the plate lever directions will control turnouts and signals.
You can also add a straight siding track above our turnout in
the security element we just defined. One important point regarding sidings…
They can have occupancy indicators, but they cannot have their own independent
signals… and most importantly, sidings cannot have any additional branches off
of them. Classic Panel siding are intended to be used as a temporary branch off
a mainline that either dead-ends or merges back into the mainline it came from.
If you want to add another turnout to a section of track that follows the
siding direction (C side) of another turnout, there is a group of track styles
called “row connectors” that support a branch off the mainline to another
horizontal row of security elements.
Before going on to the next step, it would be more expedient in
the long run to continue defining the track styles, sidings, and signals for
the rest of your layout, keeping in mind that all security elements in a column
are controlled by the same plates. (Flip the plate levers to see if the
behavior is what you want.) You might need to move your security elements to
new columns or rows and it’s best to do this before configuring additional
items, such as occupancy indicators, tool tips, etc. You will definitely want
to complete the definition of the topography of the layout before entering all
the DCC values. (A complex layout can have lots of DCC settings to configure.)
Step 4: Add additional adornments
Tool tips activate when the mouse cursor hovers over a portion
of the track diagram. The description you enter for a security element will pop
up when the mouse hovers over that security element. In addition, tool tips can
be assigned to signals. If can be helpful when troubleshooting your layout
configuration file in the Classic Panel run-time application to be able to see
a pop-up of the DCC addresses assigned to the signals by simply moving the
mouse over them without having to look them up.
Occupancy indicators for mainlines and sidings can be made
visible or hidden. You can also assign text labels to the mainline and sidings
to improve the readability of the track diagram.
Step 5: Configure DCC assignment settings
Hopefully when your layout was constructed the DCC hardware
settings were written down somewhere. You’ll need this information now.
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Figure 5. DCC configuration template
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Figure 6. Interlock template
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Step 6: Print a layout configuration report
The Classic Panel Editor is able to print a detailed report for
all your configuration settings. This report will be extremely useful for the
long-term maintenance of your layout. (You won’t need all those Post-It Notes
and scraps of paper where you originally wrote down these values anymore.) This
report is also extremely handy when you begin running your layout with the
Classic Panel run-time application if you have problems and need to
troubleshoot the DCC configuration values.
At the top of the report is a complete summary of DCC resource
assignments, organized by Accessory/Sensor decoders and their port, address,
and bit numbers. This allows you to quickly and easily identify the row/column
of all security elements that contains a particular DCC address you’re looking
for.
The next section of the report contains all of the layout and
DCC configuration settings for each security element, organized by row/column
position within the track diagram.
While much of the information contained in the printed report is
contained in the DCC Configuration and DCC Resource Allocations windows, so you
can save paper initially by using the floating windows while building your
layout configuration file. At some point, however, it’s often quite useful when
double-checking or troubleshooting your settings to be able to scribble notes
on the report, or to check off items as you go through them.
Summary