Updated YD Instruction Manual

Well guys, I finally did it. I went through the YD website and Instruction Manual and brought it up to the current version. Nothing is ever perfect, but I think you will find it much more accurate now. Please re-read it, even if you are experienced, because I'm sure you will learn something that you didn't previously know.Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - www.YardDuty.com

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Jim,Since you asked us to, I read through everything. Thus, I've generated some comments/suggestions, listed by page, that I hope will make things even more accurate.I.M. Home
Loading & Unloading
- Perhaps note that only .trn files can be viewed on HD?
- "It's" is improper for use as a possessive modifier; proper form is "its." "It's" is only used when forming a contraction ("it is," "it was). (This commonly-made error {on a societal scale} appears in a lot of places, so check around.)
- Note that loaded cars with a siding assigned can not be delivered the "easy" way, and that users should disable the assignment option if they want to LD cars.
- Spurrious HTML at the end of "What to do with loaded cars" section.
- "IMC Unloading" section: "Maybe..." sentence in sixth bullet should be within paragraphs (makes it read more easily).
Special Track
- "Fuel Track" note on engine distance should note that car distance is only shown in Filter 1.
- "IR&W Tracks," bullet two, should note which keystrokes enable the overrides. Following bullets should read "flash," not "appear."Loaded Map
- Fifth bullet: "let's" should be "lets."
- Scrolling a map should have its own bullet, and be listed between the train-control and follow descriptions.
- "The freed cut will continue to move at the same velocity indefinitely." This is a false statement: Kick a long cut at 5mph, and watch it roll to a stop. Perhaps rewrite with, "A loose cut of cars will roll freely, eventually slowing to a stop." Maybe note that the locomotive needs to be slowed/stopped for the kick to be completed?
- I'd suggest removing "enjoyment" from the "For maximum enjoyment and efficiency..." statement. Some people may find it incredibly more easy (and thus enjoyable) to use the mouse to do everything.
- Add "A" (Pause) to the most-valuable list. Provide direct link to the Keystrokes page.
- Add note explaining text-entry box at bottom for chat. Add note explaining scrolling text can be turned off via Comms window.Radio Comms
- Rewrite first bullet, "If the (first/default) server is..." Add note stating that players may not be logged on at all times?
- Second-to-last bullet: "predefined."
- Last bullet: I still think that continuity should be preserved between both text-entry boxes, and that double-clicking in the Comms T-E box should erase the typed text, as occurs in the Map window. Add a "Send" button between the box and the "Private" toggle if you feel you need to have a cursor-activated transmission function.Trains
- Add bullet to top section noting that map number can be typed to load that map.
- "View" bullet should note that .tr1 files can not be viewed.
- Either as its own bullet, or to the last bullet, add: "In the event you mistakenly download a train not intended for you, you can upload it back to the server and preserve its original poster/recipient via the "To and From" box."Create Trains
- Third bullet: "checkboxes" and "freight."
- Fourth: "obsolete." Also, modify: "The second option ... creates a train with only cars..."Train Info
- Add to second bullet: "Make sure you hit the save button after making changes!"
- "Mainline" button: Revise to reflect correct financial consequences.Color Filters
- Image doesn't show (using Firebird 0.6 milestone).
- Add spaces where appropriate in intro paragraph.
- "Local" bullet: Explain overrides.N. America
- Note that panning on the NA Map is done differently than in a yard map (to avoid repeat of discussion here a long time ago).
- Mention what "Animate Path" button does. (Yeah, sounds silly, but document!)Financials
- "while"
- Modify last sentence: "window, or by choosing 'Financials' from the 'View' menu.Options
Gameplay:
- "Draw other text" explained twice; remove first instance, change "of" to "on" in the bulleted instance.
Internet:
- Delivery cc function has never worked for me; bug?Menu Commands
- In M/LM/R.A.T., revise to: "lose their position and must be re-loaded..."Keystrokes
Driving:
- Note that 'D' also stops movement of brake slider.
- Revise 'A' to state that you can adjust throttle/brake slider position, not speed.
- In '6' bullet, add period after "override."
Design:
- Rewrite 'R' to: "Toggles view of drawn tracks. Makes it easier to study the prototype tracks and observe if drawn endpoints match."
- Note that turntables are currently nonfunctional.Creating Maps
- Yikes, I never got around to rewriting this.Map Elements
- Screenshots for creating a crossover need to be updated to current standard (i.e., one line between tracks). Also, "most difficult" comment no longer applies, and should be eliminated.
- Note that parallel tracks should be no less than five pixels apart (at zoom = 0). Use horizontal/vertical track as the reference point, and then maintain the spacing through curves. Emphasize importance of drawing parallel tracks with aligned (side-by-side) endpoints.
- Text labels: Add "railroad" type to list in item 4.
- Yard ladder image is incorrect. Turnouts should be green for the straight route: The second-from-left violates your own rules!
Do's:
- Add note explaining use of "Railroad" type (RR names on "To..." notes, interlockings, etc).
- Remove last bullet (contradicts info that I'll add somewhere).
Don'ts:
- Modify third bullet: "and industries, don't cover..."
- Fourth bullet, add: "Track numbers in yards are acceptable."
- Rewrite last bullet: "Don't get mad when your map is modified. Almost every map receives minor changes before getting posted to ensure that standards of quality and consistency are maintained."I welcome comments on any of these notes. Apologies for the English lesson at the top, but... well, read my last note. -Dave
Conrail Albany Division
...striving for "Continuous Quality Improvement"
http://gcdranet.homelinux.com/davehonan/Yard Duty Superintendent of Maps
http://members.trainorders.com/dwhonan/yd/projects.html

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Thanks Dave. I will carefully go through each of these points and make adjustmenst... sooner or later. Jim

Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - www.YardDuty.com

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