Hello Adrian,
I´ll try to the list the main new features of version 9:
1. Tours
A tour gives you the possibility to chain routes and even integrate alternative routes. The main disadvantage of the routes is the stopping at the end of a route even if the following route is free/could be switched. If routes are combined to a tour a train will only stop at the end a route if the next routes is blocked, but if the following route is free than the train will continue without stopping.
2. Tour automatic
This new automatic combines nearly all features of the timetable operations and the automatic with demand contact (you can also say, that i closes the gap between this automatics). It also provides many additional features, conditions (some already know from the DC automatic, but also many new) and possibilities. This all gives you the chance to realise a complete new generation of automatic operation. I think it is the most powerful automatic ever integrated in Win-Digipet.
3. Locomotive monitor
I think this feature was also integrated in the German version 8.5, but is new for the international version 9. The locomotive monitor is the best way to monitor/supervise all your locomitves at the same time without wasting to much space on your screen.
4. Profiles
Profiles give the possibilty to use contact events (locomotive control, solenoid device switching, sounds and vides) as known from the timetable operation also when driving routes manually, in tours as well as in the DC and the tour automatic. For example you can now activate the locomotive´s horn in front of a level crossing etc.
5. New track symbol layouts
Win-Digipet provides now 11 different symbol tables and they are all user editable, so you can create your own symbols, for example special signals of your home country.
6. Simulation
This program part enables you to simulate your train operations on the screen and you can see the trains driving virtually threw the track layout.
7. Locomotive database
You can now assign not only text to your locomotives special functions, but even symbol e.g. a chimney would represent the smoke generator function. In the locomotive database can now choose different driving characteristics for driving forward and backward e.g. different maximum speed. It is also possible to select different acceleration and deaccelaration rates. In the past this two where combined.
8. Data maintenance and security
The program parts data maintenace and autobackup where completly redesigned and give know the possibilities to create and real "backup history" of your data. The data maintenance also assist you when you want to restore backuped data.
9. Automatic route recording
One of the most borrowing parts in the past was the recording of routes, because you had often to select long way/many symbols on your screen. Now you have only to select the settings of your solenoid device and the start and the destination of the route and the running direction and the rest is done by the program (symbol highlighting, registering of conditions, start, braking, destination contact, release condition etc.). Of course you can still change this automatic registrations manually. But this tool is a very big help when registering new routes or correcting existing routes.
This are the main features of version 9, but there are also many small features, which can´t mentioned now.
If you want to see pictures I would suggest to look at the
german preview or the german manual ("Handbuch") from the
download sections. Even if you don´t understand the german texts, but pictures often say more than thousands of words.
Best wishes
Markus
