Rocrail Manual

This software is distributed freely under the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.
If you include portions of this software in other programs, then those programs must also be distributed freely in their entirety under the GNU PUBLIC LICENSE V3.
Without an official permission commercial use is not permitted.

This Wiki is maintained against the main line of development. Some features could be not available or are different implemented in your version of Rocrail, but it is mostly remarked with a version number.

Options and features not documented in the Wiki are for developers only and should not be a trigger to open a Forum thread.

• Introduction
  
• Glossary
  

• Rocrail's Components
• Addressing
• Supported Operating Systems
• Supported Command Stations
• Reporting bugs and feature requests

• Before You Start
• Quick Guide
• Step-by-Step Tutorials
• Golden rules
• FAQ
• Demo layouts:
  • Circular
  • Terminal

Only version 2.0 'Sunrise' is supported.
Upgrade if an older version is installed.

Dream it, plan it, build it…

See also: Donation Dialog

The Client

• Donation dialog
• Menu
• Configuration
  • Language
  • General
  • Trace
  • Programming
  • SVG Symbols
    • Symbol naming
  • Clock
  • Gamepad support
  • MIC
• Software Updates
• Locomotives Tab
• Accelerators (Hot Keys)
• Drag and Drop
• Command Station Status
• Use multiple clients for viewing
• Reports
• Connect to another server
• Workspaces
• Command line options

• Theme basics and properties
• DB Theme | SpDrS60 Theme | NMBS/SNCB Theme | NS Theme | Roads Theme | Accessories Theme
• New symbol types

• Create/modify a track layout
  • The Undo dialog
  • Move, copy or delete a selection
  • Track layout elements
  • Tracks
  • Turnouts
  • Text/Image

• Locomotive Throttle
• Switch Control
• Route Control

• Mobile Decoders
• Stationary Decoders
  • LocoIO (GCA50)
  • Digitrax
  • Lissy Receiver
  • MERG CBUS
  • GCA
    • GCA50
    • GCA136 Servo
    • GCA141 Wheel counter

Wireless fun for all.

iPhone and iPod Touch

• Introduction & Setup

iPad

• Introduction & Setup

Android

• Introduction & Setup

Java

• Introduction & Setup

Android

• Introduction & Setup

DISCONTINUED; Use RocJ.
PDA

• Introduction
• Setup
• How to use

OBSOLETE; Use RocJ.
Browser

• Introduction
• Setup

The Server

• Configuration
  • General
  • Trace
    • Advanced tracing
  • Services
    • Clock Service (Fast Clock)
    • SRCP
    • SNMP
  • Auto mode
  • Command Stations
  • R2Rnet
• Command Line Options
• ServerMonitor
• Console mode
• Running under Windows
  • Running as service
• Running under Linux
  • Running as daemon
• Stopping the Rocrail server
• Multiple Command Stations
  • Extra programming Command Station
• Power Manager
• Guest Locomotive
• Track plan analyzer
• Track plan health
• Server messages
• Scripting
  • RCP (Rocrail Client Protocol)
  • SRCP (Simple Railroad Communication Protocol)

Objects for defining a layout.

• Actions
  • Actions setup | Action Control | Action Condition | Example
• Blocks
  • General | Signals | Details | Routes | Interface | Block permissions
• Critical Sections & Block Groups
  • General | Properties | Conditions
• Cars
  • General | Details
• Fiddle Yard
  • General | Interface | Tracks | Routes
• Locomotives
  • Index | General | Interface | Details | Functions | Multiple Units | CV's
• Locations
• MVTrack
  • Setup
• Outputs
  • General | Interface
• Routes
  • Index | General | Commands | Sensors | Permissions | Conditions | Wiring
• Schedules
  • Index | Destinations | Follow-up | Locations and Schedules | Test Case 1 | Test Case 2
• Sensors
  • General | Interface | Wiring | Bi-Directional | Sensor Types
• Signals
  • General | Interface | Details
• Staging Block
• Switches
  • General | Interface | Wiring | Control
• Text
• Tours
• Tracks
• Turntable / Traverser
  • General | Interface | Tracks | Setup | Traverser setup
• Waybills
  • General

Connecting Rocrail with the Command Station(s)
Recommended pages to read first:

• Rocrail Server Setup Dialog
• Command Stations and Digital Devices
• Serial device names

• Atlas
  • Atlas Commander
• CAN-digital-Bahn
  • CC-Schnitte
• CT-Elektronik
  • ZF-5
• CTI Electronics
  • Acela
• Digitrax
  • LocoNet Protocol | Command Stations | Interfaces | Fast Clock | Throttles | Transponding | Option Switches | Wiring
• Dinamo
  • RM-H, RM-U, UCCI | OM32
• Dinasys
  • DTC
• Elektor
  • EDiTS PRO
• ESU
  • ECoS
• Fleischmann
  • TwinCenter
• Hornby
  • Elite
• Karsten Hildebrand
  • Infracar
• Littfinsky
  • HSI88 | Inter-10 (RFID)
• Lenz
  • LI10x, LI-USB and LI-ETH
• Massoth
  • DiMAX
• Märklin
  • 6050/6051 | CS1 | CS2
• MDRRC - Model Digital RailRoad Control
  • DIY Central for DCC & MM
• MERG
  • mergCBUS | RFID12
• MTTM D&H
  • FCC
• Müt
  • Multi Control 2004
• NCE
  • Powerhouse & Power CAB USB
• OpenDCC
  • OpenDCC Z1 | BiDiB (http://bidib.org/)
• Paco
  • NanoX | DCC_Gen | GenLI | GenHSI
• PerZ
  • PerIR
• Rautenhaus
  • RMX95x
• Roco
  • RocoMotion
• SPROG
  • SPROG II
• Stärz
  • ZS1/ZS2
• Trix
  • Selectrix
• Tams
  • Easy Control | RailCom RC-Link
• Uhlenbrock
  • Intellibox-I 'Classic' | IB-Basic, IB-Com, IB-II and USB-LocoNet Interface | S88-LN
• Zimo
  • MX1, MX1EC

• LocoNet Slotserver
• DDX Digital Direct Xtra
  • ORD-1 | ORD-2 | ORD-3 | Delta 6604 to ORD-1/rs232 | 6015/6017 Booster to RS232 | S88 Modules
• SRCP 0.7 & 0.8
• Virtual CS For testing
• RocNet Open Protocol
• DCC232 DCC by RS232

• General information
• Tams RailCom RC-Link
• Digitrax Transponding
• Uhlenbrock Lissy
• RFID-12 Reader
• BartJut Barcode Reader
• RFID CBUS Concentrator

• Fast Clock Driver

• suitable USB to RS232 converter

Let the computer run the trains.

By creating a layout with Sensors, Blocks, and Routes, and then assigning your Locomotives to the Blocks, Rocrail can move the Locomotives by itself. You can use Schedules and Critical Sections to create and fine-tune complex movements for each Locomotive.

• Automatic and Half automatic
• Block types and train types
• Commands
• Critical Sections
• Direction
• Manual operated signals
• Manual operated routes / CTC
• Reversing Loop
• Routes
  • Block side routes: Prefered way of defining routes; The classic way is no longer supported in the Forum.
• Sensors and blocks
• Setting up a commuter train
• Signal aspects and second next block
• Slow Motion Switch Machines
• Terminal station
• Turntable
• Wheel Counting

• Operator Control
  • Locomotive control | Consist | Operations Game
• R2Rnet; Rocrail servers in a network.

• Dinamo
• Faller

• Sensor simulation

• Routes with actions
  • Extended example

• How it all fit together
• Setup
• Module Connection

LocoNet based hardware by PhG.

• Overview
• GCA50 16 LocoNet I/O V1.2
• GCA85 LocoBuffer with 15V 3A Power supply
• GCA91 LocoNet Patch Panel
• GCA97 D-con-LocoNet patchpanel
• GCA101 Ethernet <> LocoNet interface
• GCA108 LocoNet Booster
• GCA110 MiniBox LocoNet Central unit
• GCA111 Keyboard + display for GCA110
• GCA123 Mobile LocoNet switchpanel
• GCA124 Fremo's FredI in GCA-style
• GCA141 Octal Wheel/Axle counter for LocoNet

CBus/CAN based hardware by PhG.

• CAN-GCA Overview
• CAN-GC1 RS232/USB PC interface with 3 Amp power supply.
• CAN-GC1e Ethernet PC interface with 3 Amp power supply.
• CAN-GCLN LocoNet Bridge.
• CAN-GC2 Universal 16 port I/O. Compatible with all interface modules for the MGV50.
• CAN-GC3 DCC Command Station with PT and ORD-3 connector.
  • ORD-3 3A Booster
• CAN-GC4 RFID Concentrator.
• CAN-GC5 Stationary keyboard and display.
• CAN-GC6 4 Channel Servo Controller.
  • GCA137 Relay board
• CAN-GC7 Fast Clock.
• CAN-GC8 Display driver for dynamic text.

Interfaces by PhG.

• Overview
• GCA76 8 port output driver for turnout coils > 0,5A
• GCA77 8 port output driver for turnout coils <0,5A
• GCA86 slow dimming LED signal decoder
• GCA93 8 port current detector with signals
• GCA99 2-Rail current detection
• GCA100 polarity switch
• GCA102 Reverse loop switch with turnout control
• GCA104 separation switch for 2 booster or booster / transformer
• GCA106 D-con-Loconet to standard Loconet Gender
• GCA115 Stand alone servo driver
• GCA116 Bascule bridge lifter
• GCA118 Display for GCA119
• GCA119 Time/temp central
• GCA120 Heavy load relay
• GCA122 Reversal switch
• GCA125 Interface for 8 motor- or single coil powered turnouts
• GCA126 Interface for Motor powered turnouts with feed-back
• GCA127 Interface for indication with 8 or 16 Leds
• GCA128 Switch / pushbutton unit for GCA50
• GCA129 Multi led indicator interface
• GCA131 Relay interface for motor posered turnouts
• GCA133 Quadruple infra red gate or reflection sensor
• GCA136 4 servo driver (with feed-back) and attachable relay board
• GCA137 Relay board for GCA136
• GCA139 Genli like interface RS232 to Xpressnet
• GCA141 Octal Wheel/Axle counter for LocoNet
• GCA141c IRgate baord for GCA133 and GCA141
• GCA145 Turntable / Fiddleyard controller
• GCA146 Manual control for GCA145
• BS-1 Universal Led flasher with many -selectable- flashing programs

• Adapter for connection of PICPROG3 to GCAxxx and CAN-GCx boards

• GCA82 4 servo Motorola decoder/driver
  

Optional hardware for the software command station DDX.

• ORD-2 driver, 3 Amp booster, with regulated and adjustable power No longer for new projects
• ORD-3 driver, 3 Amp booster, with regulated and adjustable power, also adaptable to LocoNet Railsync
• S88 GenHSI (Paco)
• ORF-1 current sensor
• GCA98 interface DDX to Edits booster
• GCA105 DDX-Booster 3A with feed-back to Loconet
• ORD-1 driver, booster
• ORB-1 booster

• OpenDCC
• MDRRC

General DCC decoders based on OpenDCC.

• ORA-1 accessory decoder
• ORA-2 accessory decoder
• ORM-1 motor switch adapter

• ORXJ-1 Xpressnet Junction
• GCA139 Xpressnet to PC interface (copy of GenLi)

State of the art car illumination.

• BS-1 Universal Led flasher with many -selectable- flashing programs
• Coach Car
• Dutch traction unit "HondeKop"

• CTC with LocoNet

• Shunting a car with two locomotives

Take the following actions if you encounter problems using Rocrail:

1. Read the Wiki Documentation. (The English version too.)
2. Discuss it in the Rocrail Forum.
3. Report it at LaunchPad if the discussion opt for a source code change.

Jump only to the next item in the list if the previous did not solve the problem.

• Dos and Don'ts
• USB-RS232 Converters
• FAQ