I am currently writing a database program for the model railroader and would like to include DCC information where appropriate. I do have DCC but am very new and have not experimented to much. At first I had the the F number values but it occured to me that every loco would have the same values.
I think I need to enter the CV definitions and values. The question is how many? I saw the NMRA standards and looked at them but I am confused.
If I had each CV as a text field combined with a value for that field I think that would work. For example:
CV____ Value____CV____ Value____
The user would enter the CV number and it value which could be different for every locomotive.
So the question is how many CV fields should I include, keeping in mind the user can decide which is important?
Bob
Photobucket Albums:NPBL - 2008 The BeginningNPBL - 2009 Phase INPBL - 2010 Downtown
The answer is that it depends on the decoder. Some decoders, such as QSI, use an indexed system where you need to access an index of CV's in order to get at secondary CV's that actually modify the effectuation of the decoder of a certain performance characteristic. That's a mouthful, to be sure, but is just one way in which different decoders have different ways of doing the same things for their owners.
For example, a Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder has the capability of matching a steamer's chuff rate to the cycles of the crank pins on the drivers for realism. That CV is #116. The values run between 01 and 255 or something close to that range. QSI's sound manipulation CV's, indexed remember, have an adjusting range of from 01 - 15...only!
Seeeeewwwww....your inventory system will have to provide something in the order of mabye 150 - 200 CV's (see the QSI manuals available from their website). The values fields, if you would like to be helpful to the users, could have the ranges next to them in brackets, but that varies from item to item, and will likely change in time anyway...so leave it open.
That's my .
-Crandell
(I hope I understood your question...)
Bob,
If your DCC system has a computer connection to it, you may want to look into JMRI Decoder Pro. Not only can you program with it but it will also record all the CV settings for each of your locomotives. And, if you want to duplicate the exact CV settings from one locomotive to another, all you do is copy and paste it to that locomotive.
I'm not sure but you can probably print out a hard copy of all your CV settings - i.e. if you wanted to stick it into a notebook or folder for future use.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tom: my idea is not the programming of the loco but documenting what each loco DCC settings are in the case of having to reset to default and reenter the settings. I do not know but I am thinking that each loco has the potential of having different settings unique to that loco.
Crandell:
selectoryour inventory system will have to provide something in the order of mabye 150 - 200 CV's
What are the chances of a MR programming 150 - 200 CV's. Wouldn't there be a reasonable maximum number? If the user was able to enter the specific CV ID and the value for that CV. Would a user actually change 10, 20, 30 or more?
I find it hard to believe someone would want to change such a large number of values for each of the locomotives he has. Gadzooks!
rclangerTom: my idea is not the programming of the loco but documenting what each loco DCC settings are in the case of having to reset to default and reenter the settings.
Yes, I understood your original intention. What I'm saying is that Decoder Pro will record ALL of your CV settings for that exact purpose in a convenient format.
Even if you don't use it for programming, Decoder Pro can be used to store your CV settings in. However, the advantage is: If your computer is connected to your programming track, Decoder Pro can download your saved CV settings of your locomotive into the reset decoder of that locomotive. That would save having to do it all manually via your throttle. Does that make sense?
rclanger Tom: my idea is not the programming of the loco but documenting what each loco DCC settings are in the case of having to reset to default and reenter the settings. I do not know but I am thinking that each loco has the potential of having different settings unique to that loco.
Two words "Decoder Pro". I use Decoder Pro to store the settings on each of my DCC equipped locomotives. I can quickly restore, copy and view settings. The only thing I don't think it can do is provide a searchable database on CV values (i.e. how many locmotives have a CV29 value of 34 ?). Otherwise it sounds like it will do what you need and more.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
For a sound decder you very well could end up programming over 100 CVs. Even non-sound, if you do a speed table, there's 28 CVs right there.
Like the others, I strongly urge you to look at JMRI. Not all CVs have a standardized definition, so JMRI uses decoder definitions to relate CV numbers to descriptive text to make programmign easier. You may want to have ALL CVs recorded, even ones not changed, particualrly if using a decoder that does not have a factory reset option. If such a decoder gets scrambled, then even the CVs you never changed might now be messed up, and unless you stored those values, you're out of luck.
My yet to be completed plan is to take this very nice loco/rolling stock roster program I have and store the JMRI XML file for the loco with the rest of the information, and add an import/export option to link the two. That way I can move just the roster database to a new computer and rebuild any required JMRI information. Or, since I have more than one computer on a network, have the copy of JMRI runnign on my workbench able to work witht he decoder settings for a loco that I previously programmed ont he layout without having to goof around with copying the roster files from JMRI.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerOr, since I have more than one computer on a network, have the copy of JMRI runnign on my workbench able to work witht he decoder settings for a loco that I previously programmed ont he layout without having to goof around with copying the roster files from JMRI. --Randy
Or, since I have more than one computer on a network, have the copy of JMRI runnign on my workbench able to work witht he decoder settings for a loco that I previously programmed ont he layout without having to goof around with copying the roster files from JMRI.
That's what I've done. My roster and all my panel files are on my NAS (network storage) box, so I can access them from any computer in the house (or over the Internet, should I ever decide to allow that access).
It's nice to be able to work on, for example, my dispatcher's panels up in my home office.
Steve
I've got an Excel spreadsheet with my CVs in them. I put in all the common ones, 2, 3, 4, etc. that I change for pretty much every loco, even if I've left them at the default values. Other than that, I only put in the non-default values.
Typically, I change no more than about 10 CVs, even for sound engines.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have decoder pro on my laptop but do not have a connection to a program track. All my decoders have a log of what has been changed and to what value. Each loco has been tweaked to some degree and all CV changes get written to a page in a book. When my laptop fails I still have a written backup.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
rclanger...What are the chances of a MR programming 150 - 200 CV's. Wouldn't there be a reasonable maximum number? If the user was able to enter the specific CV ID and the value for that CV. Would a user actually change 10, 20, 30 or more?...
Well, I'll turn the question back and ask you what predictive statistic you would use, such as a probability density function, that any one CV is more or less likely than any other to be accessed for the purposes of effecting a change in behaviour in the host engine?
You will have to create a poll somewhere and find out which CV's are accessed routinely on all engines with DCC, and which get periodic or occasional access. Some will never be accessed, and probably most of them, what which of those is something as yet undetermined.
selectorYou will have to create a poll somewhere and find out which CV's are accessed routinely on all engines with DCC, and which get periodic or occasional access. Some will never be accessed, and probably most of them, what which of those is something as yet undetermined.
Depends on how often one hits the "Write all sheets" button in Decoderpro.