Changing a switch's default?

[Toripony]

How do you make a switch change its default CLEAR path? This should show green in the position pictured, but it wants to make the straighter path the CLEAR one.

(Yea, I'm sure I am overlooking something really obvious here, so go ahead and tell me, lol)

Tori

Screenshot_C&O Alleghany_37.88775--80.28991_12-11-56.jpg

[Bananarama]

Hi Tori,

IIRC, you can change the default path by entering the editor and clicking on the switch stand. Once the path is to your liking, exit and save the changes.

[Toripony]

Right, Hack, that changes the path. But the switch is in the correct (default) path now... the problem is the flag indication... it is displaying "diverge". In Route Edit mode, clicking on the switch in the 2D window changes the switch position without moving the flag... I had hopes that was the solution... but when I switch to Play mode, the lever moves over to match the new position restoring the same (wrong) flag indication.

[Bananarama]

Is the flag animated and part of the TrackRules for that section?

[Toripony]

Yes, the flag turns when the switch lever is thrown. The rule I use for the junction is the GN Mainline that comes with the GN track set. I have another sit like this one... also where the mainline is the curve and the spur is straight ahead. The code that creates the junction seems to take its cue from the track layout??? I've tried a dozen different methods for joining this junction and it always comes out the same.

[artimrj]

Shouldn't it (the switchstand) be rotated 180 and placed on the other side of the track?

[Toripony]

Turning it doesn't change the flag indication. For a chance, I tried anyway... maybe the side determines the default path. I moved/turned it to the other side, flipped the junction using the 2D map in Route Edit mode and then hit Play... it still threw the lever and synced right up with the same wrong default CLEAR path. I think the key here is to learn what RW is looking at to determine the default path when it creates the junction and places the switchstand. Then we could stand a chance of tricking this thing into changing its mind.

[GreatNortherner]

Hi,

I think the only way of changing the default orientation of the switchstand flag is in the model itself, it would have to be rotated by 90°. There may be something in the track blueprints, but I doubt it. Not sure about that though.

However, you could achieve a "good enough" looking effect by simply rotating the switch stand in the sim by 90 degrees. You would probably have to cover up the base of the model with a shrub or something similar, or lower it into the ground a bit, but it might just look convincing enough. The switch stand should still animate properly, only with its colors being inverted now.

Hope this works.
Cheers,
Michael

[Toripony]

I think you're right, Michael. I'll take your suggestion of "hiding" the base and handle a little.

I am left with the question though... what DOES determine which path the switch or junction decides is the "Straight thru" one? When placing signals we identify it manually by placing Link 1 on the main line. But a switch (both manual and powered ones) makes the decision for itself... based on WHAT? I have one power switch that defaults to the more curved track as the main ?!?! With every new scenario I make I have to go change its position. I wonder if that's what happened with that one switch in Victorville, on the Bar-SanBar route? You know, the one that runs you off the end of a siding without warning....

Ah well, like all things, this will probably change someday.

THANKS!
Tori

[Hawk]

I could be wrong on this, but I seem to remember reading, or hearing somewhere that the longest and/or straightest side of a switch would default to the main path.

[Toripony]

I could be wrong on this, but I seem to remember reading, or hearing somewhere that the longest and straightest side of a switch would default to the main path.

Ahhh... possible validation. Although... I had thought this was the case until I encountered this one powerswitch that insists the shorter track with the bigger curve is the main. But both of the manual "headaches" I have are following the "rule" you think you read. I wonder if there is something wrong with that "longest and straightest side" track in these sit?..... then maybe the switch misreads the situation?? I think I'll go study my main track down a ways from these junctions and see if I can find any potential problems. More than once when I've had weird stuff like this, studying the track properties/condition found nothing, but when I replaced the track the problem went away. Always dangerous to tear apart finished track, though... a last resort.

[Bananarama]

In Route Edit mode, clicking on the switch in the 2D window changes the switch position without moving the flag...

Hi Tori,

Have you solved the animated target issue? In case you haven't, I came across the following post that might be of help:

http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread ... ost1693216

Specifically:

"Found it! The default track uses Anim Id "Switch", whereas my track rule called its lever's Anim Id "Animated Brown Lever" (it used to be brown, but I changed it to black). I've changed mine to "Switch" and now it works! The black lever, replacing in-situ the trackside levers, without needing to lay down my track"(thanks to split/weld), now animates

Check the TrackRule for the named animation.

[Toripony]

Thanks, Marc! That doesn't exactly address my problem but it does shed some light on what's involved. I guess I'll give it another hour of research.... but then I'm saying, "To heck with it". lol

[Rich_S]

Hi Tori,
Please let us know if you find anything :) I have several switches like this as well



In the above screen shot the main line run off to the left but going by the switch stand flag, it looks like the switch is against the move. I've looked through the various bin files for the switch stand and track rules but did not see anything obvious Could there possibly be something in a track tile that could be changed?

Regards,
Rich S.

[RSAdam]

Hiya,

Have you tried entering the World Editor, splitting the junction and then re-welding it again? From this situation, RailWorks should render the junction by default, along the straighter of the two tracks.

Regards