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I like the idea but if I've understood you correctly Martin, when template TL123 get deleted from the storage box it gets the next free number when it is stored, say TL501. Is there an upper limit on the numbers?

I would like to see the naming "Linked" in some way. A half diamond is actually pointless without it's other half so could it not be named Diamond x A and B. My single slips have 5 or 6 labels but they are really only slip no 1.

It may also be possible to have different levels of "Show Labels" ie. - 1. None. 2. Main Labels. 3. Full label detail.

The code for the template name labels has remained unchanged for years. By now there must be thousands of templates all called "no-name" -- which on the face of it doesn't make a lot of sense.

I've felt for a long time that this area needed changing, without knowing quite what to do about it. Following this recent discussion by Richard and Arthur:

 topic 370 - message 14648

I have been giving it some more thought. I've made some changes for the next program update, although I'm still not entirely sure it is an improvement. Maybe it is just change for change's sake.

At present the template number simply represents its position in the storage box list, so the number changes as templates are inserted, deleted, etc., or the list is re-ordered on the storage box. This can be confusing when printing templates at different times because the template numbers (the prefix on the timber numbers) may have changed.

There would be an advantage in giving each template additionally a fixed ID number which wouldn't change, and which would be printed as the prefix on the timber number instead of the list number.

So I have now made such a change. When a template is added to the storage box it is given a fixed ID number. In principle this is the same as giving it an auto-generated name instead of "no-name" -- the ID number has no numerical significance and is simply a symbolic identifier.

The ID number looks like this: TL123

where T=turnout, or P=plain track, or D=half-diamond
and L=left-hand, or R=right-hand
and 123 is a 3-figure number used on the printed templates instead of the list number.

Note that this ID number applies only to stored templates -- the control template doesn't have an ID number. If a template is deleted to the control it loses its ID number, and gains a new one when stored again. But doing that doesn't change any other stored template.

Initially the ID numbers will be unique, but this may not remain the case if additional .box files are added to the storage box. There is an option on the storage box to regenerate all the ID numbers from scratch in such a case, so that they are all unique again.

Templates can still be named as before, but if you don't want to do that the label will be shown as the ID number only instead of "no-name".

Because the ID number is shorter than a name, I have changed the default to the boxed-over style for the labels on the trackpad. This setting has always been available, but I imagine lots of users have never found it.   Easily changed if you don't like it, and now included in your program preferences.

Some screenshots:

2_010649_030000000.png

2_010649_040000002.png

2_010649_030000001.png

In the next program update.

I'm still in two minds about all this, so comments welcome.

regards,

Martin.

Big numbers don't matter in principle, but would tend to clutter the printouts. That's why there is an option to regenerate all the ID numbers from scratch if they get out of hand.

Of course, you may have a track plan with more than 999 templates?

regards,

Martin.

Will this new numbering system work retrospectively ?

Perhaps also the columns in the storage box i.e. name & fixed id could be located by hovering over the column and typing the first few characters of of the column contents.

I'm already making good use of the tags, and being able to sort by tag will be useful.

The ID number tag refers to the whole turnout or half-diamond. In the case where the template is visible as a switch only, could it be called SW123? I suspect the answer is "no" because even a switch is still a complete turnout, just with most of it blanked off.

The ID number refers to the whole turnout or diamond. In the case where the template is visible as a switch only, could it be called SW123? I suspect the answer is "no" because even a switch is still a complete turnout, just with most of it blanked off.