Touch screens, JMRI and interfacing with the layout

[C855B]

... download my dropbox file to your computer, open PanelPro, and tell it to open a new panel, select the dropbox file and it should display for you.

No joy here. It wants sensor object definitions, and throws an error on every sensor (don't know what else might be wrong, I give up after 30 or 40 clicks clearing error dialogs):

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[bbussey]

In all seriousness @bbussey it looks like someone may have figured it out:

https://www.facebook.com/modelcraftsman

https://www.facebook.com/ritmrc/photos/a.530510203704648.1073741844.393931700695833/867810953307903/?type=1&fref=nf

I will start playing with Panel Pro.  If it is HTML, then I should be able to make it look the way I want.

@bbussey  -- spend 10 minutes to watch this video .. Bob is a great guy and has been working this exact problem ..  he is also on the jmri list ..

John, the video definitely is interesting.  I'm not going to do the Engine Driver control from cell phones or tablets.  But I will try to get the web interface running.  First step is to learn Panel Pro and see if it will do what I want it to do.

[bbussey]

Be careful on length of USB cables. It's not a particularly robust standard for long hauls. I'll probably need to be wi-fi to any subpanels.

I'm with Eric about the JMRI web implementation on tablets. Definitely an opportunity for cost savings there by using older iPads.

Looks like I can install USB 3.0 wireless for any USB touch panels over 3 meters away from the computer.  The main panel will be well within that distance.  I will make sure to install USB 3.0 ports in whatever spare workstation I decide to use as the layout computer.  The question now is can I use the touch panels as web browsers, since the easiest PanelPro interface appears to be through its web server.

[peteski]

One possible thing I see against this setup is is if operators can accidentally exit or minimize the browser window or accidentally hit some button or area of the screen which will mess things up (exit the panel view or lock it uo somehow).  If you have an operating session with bunch of people then trust me - this will happen. Unless all of your operators are intimately familiar with JMRI, PanelPro and tablets in general, those accidental screw-ups will be frustrating the the operators and to you (since you will have to go over and fix things).

That is why either systems with touch panels running dedicated software (which only responds to the touches for controlling things displayed on the panel - doesn't allow exiting to another level of operating system) or even the old-fashion hardwired control panels  are the ones which provide the most positive and hassle-free experience during an operating session.

[railnerd]

That is why either systems with touch panels running dedicated software (which only responds to the touches for controlling things displayed on the panel - doesn't allow exiting to another level of operating system) or even the old-fashion hardwired control panels  are the ones which provide the most positive and hassle-free experience during an operating session.

FWIW, the iPad has a "guided access" mode (originally designed for school kids) is also useful:

    http://www.webascender.com/Blog/ID/447/How-to-Setup-Kiosk-Mode-Lock-Your-iPad-to-Just-One-App

-Dave

[Santa Fe Guy]

I'm with Pete. On my S.F.R.S.D CTC panels I have stayed with the old toggle system on the panels. On the town panels we installed momentary toggles for the main line turnouts that are also controlled by the CTC panel. The siding toggles stayed as they were. The dispatcher has full control so the engineers only have to run their train and follow the signals. Once they get to the town they need to switch, they call up the dispatcher so he can give them approval to throw the turnouts the old fashion way for the areas they need to go. Once they complete their task they call the dispatcher and he then sets the turnouts and signals and gives them clearance to depart. With the car cards we use plus controlling their train the engineers have enough to think about IMO. I have been operating for many years and guys get tired. Just a thought.
Rod.

[Bangorboy]

Sorry it didn't work for you, Peteski.

I just checked it out to make sure it works, so it must be my settings are different.  I have exerienced the endless error messages before as you describe.  Very frustrating that you have to click for every sensor instead of having a button to apply your click selection to ALL.

Anyway, you shouldn't have to download the file again.  Try this:
Open JMRI
Select PanelPro
Click Edit
Click Preferences
Under Connections in the left menu, enter Digitrax and Loconet Simulator in the boxes.
Click Save
Then try opening the downloaded file under Load Panels.

Hope it works for you this time.  It just did for me, and I made sure it wasn't opening one of my internal files -- just the one I downloaded from dropbox.

[C855B]

That was me, Bill. I was trying with a virgin download of the current production JMRI, so hopefully it wasn't something required I didn't do.

When I get back home - futzing with insulation at the train palace at the moment - I'll try it with your procedure.

[C855B]

Thanks, Bill. It was "Connections" - it needed a network to assert object links.

Looks nice. Good starting point for playing with JMRI panel ops. Thanks!

[C855B]

Web server is very impressive. The browser display was even better (under Safari) than the native PanelPro display. It was interesting to watch the controls update when clicked from the other screen. I couldn't get it to run in my Firefox, but I do have Javascript and other executables locked-down and would expect it to barf.

I could not get the browser interface to work correctly on a v1.0 iPad - slow to display, redraws didn't work for beans, and controls didn't work. However, on my iPhone5/IOS 7.1 it was flawless. Apparently there is a minimum host software support level... anybody happen to know the minimum IOS the browser page will run on? Couldn't find anything in the JMRI info.

[Bangorboy]

Okay!

Thrilled that it works for you, and that I was able to contribute something of use to the forum.

It is cool to see the JMRI on the host computer update turnouts and indicator lights when you click on a remote panel on another device.  Also cool to see the real layout turnouts move and the train follow the commanded path.  I'm liking this more and more as I go along.

And this panel has been way easier to update and modify than a physical panel with hard switches and wiring, and painted tracks.  Not to mention that each of the tracks on this diagram will display red when the block is occupied.  Eventually, I hope to have them also display yellow when a train has clearance to use a track but hasn't arrived there yet, then go on the have JMRI run some scheduled trains while I and a friend run locals.

It's all in JMRI, I just haven't learned how to use it yet.

[Bangorboy]

Didn't mention before, but I think even if you plan to design a CTC-style panel with US&S controls displayed on it, it is probably a good idea to draw a diagram of the layout in Layout Editor like I did.  That's what tells JMRI what blocks are connected and where.  Not sure the diagrams on the CTC panel will allow that kind of programming.  The ramps at the sides of this diagram will also be shown on the visible track level diagram to show connections there.

Before I get into that, I need to design some sort of track plan for the scenicked portion of my layout.  So far, I have laid the tracks shown on the diagram.  Next is to continue the ramps at the top around the room where they will meet in a single track along the wall at the bottom, above the track shown.  There will be turnouts from that single track onto the visible parts of the layout.

All the DS64s, BDL168s, and PSXs are in 3 drawers under the staging yard (2) and the return loop (1) at the bottom of the diagram, with room for more as I get into the scenicked trackage.

Wish me luck!

[Bangorboy]

Mike, am I confusing you with someone else, or do you live in NW Fla.?  I bought a switcher from you at a swap meet in Milton, if you are who I think you are.

[C855B]

Nope... not I. This thread will reveal entirely too many personal details about me.

[John]

Okay!


And this panel has been way easier to update and modify than a physical panel with hard switches and wiring, and painted tracks.  Not to mention that each of the tracks on this diagram will display red when the block is occupied.  Eventually, I hope to have them also display yellow when a train has clearance to use a track but hasn't arrived there yet, then go on the have JMRI run some scheduled trains while I and a friend run locals.

all the things you want to do, JMRI can do .. there is also a program called CATS that runs under JMRI, that will allow you to put clearance to a block, just like you want .its a bit easier (once you get the hang of it) to set up a cool panel ..


btw @bbussey .. for remote panels,  JMRI supports TCP over loconet ..  so you could put cheap wireless tablets at the locations you want and will update from the master JMRI computer ..