The 2024 edition of FBSprivat was released today. The annual update again contains a large number of new features:

• General
• Graphic Timetable
• Drivers Timetable
• Station Index
• Station Timetable

 

iPLAN - Net objects: Headers and footers

• In the network overview, headers and footers can be edited for all selected network objects. The previous entries in the corresponding places are removed and replaced by the new content defined here. Please note that separate headers and footers must already exist for screen timetable objects!

The "Special characters" window has been revised

• More than the previous characters are displayed, from the last used up to 20.
• The now very large number of special characters has been divided into more groups and sorted thematically within each group. The groups have been preceded by an exemplary character to increase their recognition value.
• There is a preview of the current character with guides (ascenders and descenders, character width). The preview shows the entire character, as not all characters fit into the table cells. The guide lines help to identify small differences in alignment between similar characters (e.g. directional arrows).

Interregional route as user-defined field

• Under Evaluation -- Overview user-defined fields -- Trains, the interregional route (to/from) of a train can now also be changed or deleted without having to open the entire train run. Editing is also possible for several selected entries at the same time.

Traffic times in customers timetables

• FBS timetables now also include traffic times (if different from operational times)
• The extended program version is available for download via the integrated update function.

 

Graphic Timetable

• An iPLAN screen timetable object (network window bottom right) has its own display settings, i.e. the display of such a screen timetable is no longer dependent on which first route occurs.
• The display settings for operating stations (line type, font size and arrival/departure time display) are no longer fixed infrastructure data, but can be defined individually for each screen timetable under "Timetable-dependent display settings" -- "Operating stations". Individual settings that overwrite the "inherited" value of the infrastructure are highlighted in red.

Graphic Timetable; Train labels:

• The aim is to be able to label a train depending on how much space it is displayed with in a graphic timetable.
• The labels are now dependent on the screen timetable object in which a train is displayed. A train can have a different set of labels for each graphic timetable in which it is displayed - any number in total.
• However, this also means that a train cannot be labeled at all if it is displayed in a temporary graphic timetable.
• If a label is placed (mouse mode Move label (F2)) and Hide train labels is switched on, the latter is implicitly switched off.
• Train labels react to the "moon button": Only those days of service are labeled on the train that are relevant in the validity of the moon button (display filter for days of service).

In connection with the reorganization of the train labels in the graphic timetable, the following changes have been made to mouse mode F2:

• For trains with more than one route section, the route section whose label is/would be moved is displayed in the status line in addition to the train number.
• In addition to the train line, you can also click on an existing label to select it for moving.
• In the traffic input data of a route, the display data including level can be changed for several or all blocking frames at the same time (new window).

Graphic Timetable; further changes:

• In the layer selection window, the number of elements of each type (trains, connections, blocking frames) is listed as a short note above the number of elements per layer. This makes it easier to delete all elements of a type.
• In tables that allow direct input similar to Microsoft Excel (which are abundant in FBS, e.g. in the infrastructure or train data window) and in which a current cell is therefore highlighted in blue, the current row is now also highlighted with a subtle grey background color for easier orientation.
• When copying the table from "Show arrival/departure times" to the clipboard, the abbreviations (if activated) are now also copied.

• You can also use new graphic timetable by train run and show graphic timetable for train run to open graphic timetables for trains that do not start or end at a train reporting point. In such a case, the graphic timetable is opened extended to/from the next/previous train reporting point - up to where the corresponding blocking time ladder should also go.
• New menu item "Edit headers and footers" in the network objects menu: Allows you to set (overwrite) the headers and footers of all selected network objects at the same time, if applicable.
• Arrival/departure times, "Copy train path with time offset": From now on, it is also possible to change the stop locations when copying times.
• It should also be possible to import user-defined fields via the clipboard. For this purpose, there are corresponding right-click functions "Replace from clipboard" and "Add from clipboard" in the train and route section BDF tables.

Train labels and display settings revolutionized

First the most important thing: Train labels can only be saved in screen timetables that are permanently created, i.e. are contained in the object list.

This means that it is now also possible for a train that is only visible as a short line in a pictorial timetable not to be labeled at all and to receive the complete labeling in "its" pictorial timetable, while other trains are now not labeled.

In order to be able to distinguish this, the data must be linked to the graphic timetable so that a label in temporary graphic timetables is also only temporary. As a result, the Set or move labeling (F2) mouse mode can be used in these graphic timetables, but the resulting labeling positions cannot be saved. Appropriate instructions should prevent you from laboriously positioning labels only to find out that this information cannot be saved.

The line color, line width and line type properties as well as the arrival/departure times are not labels in this sense and can also be changed as usual in the temporary graphic timetable.

Placing and moving train labels

If a label is placed (set or move label (F2)) and the train labels are not displayed, their display is activated. This means that if you want to set a label, the labels of the other trains will also be visible, if there are any.

If the labeling is edited in the train data window of a route section and the option Transfer to all route sections is then selected, the labels are also activated in the route sections that were not previously active.

If the labeling position was not explicitly created with Set or Move labeling, the default position has changed. The program searches within the respective route section in the direction of travel for the first gap between two station lines in the screen timetable that is large enough to accommodate the label. If there is no such gap, the program searches for the first gap between solid station lines - i.e. if necessary, stations with a non-solid line are covered. If there is also no such gap, labeling takes place at the start of the route section. The labeling positions are therefore generally dependent on the display settings of the operating points and the text width of the labeling itself.

Further changes in labelling

The label of the Move label mouse mode has been changed to Set label or Move label.

It is now also possible to click on the label itself in addition to the train line in order to reposition it. This also allows you to "catch" labels that are apparently positioned in the graphic timetable without a train line.

For trains with more than one route section, the status line also shows the route section whose label is currently being or would be moved in addition to the train number.

It is still the case that the information on the labeling is assigned to a route section of the corresponding train and actually reflects the data of this route section.

If you switch the labels with display of train labels on/off in the permanent screen timetable, no more labels will appear until some have been set.

If the traffic days to be displayed are restricted by the moon button, the traffic days  on the labeling are also reduced to these days to avoid further confusion. The Ok for all button both in the selection of levels and train groups as well as in the weekday input window thus affect the display settings of the screen timetable objects.

With "rotated" graphic timetables (vertical route axis), the standard labeling positions are different - depending on the direction of travel, the trains are labeled before or after the train line and not always before the train line. It is therefore advisable to recalculate (all) train labels after switching between the two display directions.

Some settings become global

The default settings for the labeling set for new trains have been moved from the graphic timetable to the network. However, you can still find the settings under Timetable-dependent display settings -- Other -- Labeling for new trains. However, the settings made there now apply network-wide for all graphic timetables and their trains.

The settings for displaying days of operation have now been moved to Network-wide timetable data -- Days of operation display and are therefore only available uniformly for the entire network.

The operator logo can now be added under Network management --References. The distance and speed units can also be found in Network management --Miscellaneous for network-wide specifications.

Adjustments to display settings

The display settings of the graphic timetable have also been adjusted in this context. Each screen timetable as a network object (i.e. not temporary) now has its own display settings and is no longer dependent on the settings from the first route file of the graphic timetable. In contrast to the other network objects, newly created graphic timetables do not receive the settings of the last graphic timetable, but the settings of the first route file as the starting point.

The display settings that depend on the network object are:

• Sheet size, margins and page number
• orientation
• Drawing part lines etc.
• Time and path resolution
• Current time (upper time of the sheet) and rounding rule
• Current and visible levels
• Timetable header contents
• Headings as well as headers and footers
• Format of the symbols for train running messages
• Traffic day filtering (moon button)
• Line type, font size and arrival/departure time display of operating stations
• As well as the train labels

Customizable display of the individual operating locations

The specifications for display settings for operating points are now implemented in such a way that they can be defined individually for each network object. For example, the times at junctions close to large nodes can be omitted from long graphic timetables, but displayed in shorter graphic timetables. Just as you wish. Any deviations from the specifications are highlighted in red.

The information on these settings in the infrastructure data of the route file is still required, as these represent the specifications for the graphic timetables to be created.

Changing the settings in the timetable-dependent display settings for route files also leads to a change in the associated infrastructure data and therefore also to the appearance in any graphic timetable objects that have already been created.

Copy time offset

When copying a train path with a time offset, fixings may also have been transferred from the source train to the destination train. This was not intended and has now been corrected. In this context, the wish was also fulfilled that the holding regimes of the source and destination train could differ. Now the destination train is assigned the corresponding path of the source train with the desired time offset regardless of losses and has thus automatically taken over the holding regime of the source train.

BDF-Import simplified

The import of data for user-defined fields (BDF) has been simplified. Just as you could copy data directly from the table, you can now also paste data into the table using the right mouse button. The data must be separated by a tab stop or comma (,). The header row - if available - must be identical to the previous one.

Only one BDF may be managed per column and one train section per row in the table with the train section details. It is best to export the existing table first to check how the table must look for import.

Breakdown of the elements of a level

In the layer selection window, when the mouse pointer is positioned over the number of layer elements, the number of elements of each type (trains, connections, locking frames) is listed as a short note for each layer. This makes it easier to delete all elements of a type.

Better display of graphic timetables by train route

You can also open graphic timetables for trains that do not start or end at a train reporting station via New graphic timetable by train run and Display train graphic timetable... you can also open graphic timetables for trains that do not start or end at a train reporting point. In such a case, the graphic timetable is opened extended to/from the next/previous train reporting point - up to where the corresponding blocking time scale should also go.

Rounding rule Overview of moves

Under Evaluation -- Overview trains, you can set the rounding rule with which arrival and departure times are displayed here (cogwheel button at the bottom right). The setting is saved in the network file from the delivered file version 2.1d. It applies to all tab pages with times, i.e. also for interval groups. The default is Show tenths (=do not round), i.e. as previously for train parts and direct connections and therefore different from trains (where whole minutes were previously displayed commercially rounded).

 

Drivers Timetable

• In order to avoid having to create a separate column in the drivers timetable for each train in rigidly timed timetables, there is the option of a cycle display
• Adjustments for drivers timetables with traffic day division, including adjustable traffic day texts (above the table) and adjustable inverse background color
• For trains that run in the early morning but should still be displayed at the end of the table, there is the option (right mouse button) "Move train(s) to the end of the table" under "Edit table". The option is only visible if one or more whole trains are selected (whole column inverse).
• Serial printing is now also possible for drivers timetables.

Connecting routes for drivers timetables

To insert a connecting route into a table timetable, a new option "Configure the new section as:" has been added to the "New table timetable - Step 2a" window (Select section). Connecting routes are initially selected here like branch routes, which is why all occurrences of branch route have been renamed to partial route in this window.

Connecting and branch routes can also go via route changes. During route section selection, the right mouse button menu items in the network map can be used to adjust the route as with the main route selection.

The orientation must not change for nested sections: On incoming sections only further incoming sections, on outgoing sections only further outgoing sections. Only further connecting sections may connect to connecting sections, no branch sections.

In the "Edit drivers timetable - Select access points" window, the list of all operating points is now displayed as a tree structure with branch (yellow) and connecting routes (red) highlighted in color.

The standard settings for access points for new drivers timetables have been made even more sensitive:

• Only those access points for passenger services are used at which at least one passenger train has a service stop.
• Additional arrival lines are only inserted for access points where trains have a stop of more than 2.0 minutes, with a maximum frequency of 1/3 of the access points.
• Only access points with service category a or station category I as well as start, end and branch stations are preset in bold type.
• Separation lines are no longer placed between all (Fpl) route changes, but only between arrival and departure lines and partial route changes as defined in the drivers timetable.
• The display of kilometers of the access points is preset so that no negative values occur within main and branch lines (smallest value = 0). Connecting routes are not taken into account as long as - as usual - no distances are displayed in them.

It also follows from point 1 that a table timetable does not show any access points as long as there are no trains in its graphic timetables.

A branch station is also only displayed if it is declared as an access point and passenger trains stop there. A branch station as the start of a branch is therefore still not displayed.

However, the branch line would then begin immediately with its first intermediate station, which is unusual, at least in Central Europe. The user is well advised to click on the last access point on the main line as the branch station, i.e. to repeat the common part of the main line in the branch.

Inserting sections subsequently

Subsections can be added subsequently via the Add section menu item in the context menu of a table timetable in the network object list. This takes the user back to the "Should the table timetable contain another section?" loop, as when creating the drivers timetable. After adding one or more sections, the standard access points are added for all sections that do not yet have any stations in the table and the Edit drivers timetable - Select access points window is displayed.

The user can now add or exclude access points manually as usual. After closing this window, the user receives a message about the now sensible adjustment; trains are not automatically added or times changed. If a branch station of a new section is included in the main line but is not yet displayed with arrival and departure, this missing line will also be added.

In this way, the main line can also be subsequently extended, as no branch line can be added at the first and last station of the main line, but the system switches to Extend main line. However, the standard access points cannot be added subsequently for extended sections of the main line.

Option long-distance trains

To create a drivers timetable, especially for long-distance trains, there is the menu item Delete lines without stops of the current trains in the Edit drivers timetable - Access points window via the gear button/right mouse button. The menu item is naturally only available if there are already trains in the drivers timetable, i.e. not when creating a drivers timetable for the first time. It marks the lines that have no stops and then calls up the Remove station(s) button.

Changing the preset title of the table schedule

The title, which is preset by default for a table timetable, is now formatted a little more sensitively and also includes branch lines (but not connecting lines). As the title is actually dependent on the access points displayed, it is only defined after the Edit table timetable - Select access points window has been closed. Therefore, the option to enter the title in the New table timetable window (which is displayed before the access point selection) is no longer available.

However, the title can now be reset to its default text under View --Headings and remarks -- Title.

Revision of the standard legend entries

Revision of the standard legend of the network to adapt to the legend entries of the drivers timetables, which now have their own traffic day regulations. Changing a legend text or symbol of an entry in the standard legend now potentially (optionally) changes all legend texts of drivers timetables with the same effective traffic day regulation (same bitmask).

The symbols for lead typesetting have been removed for the sake of simplicity.

In the Symbols of the network tab page, entries can be switched off to reserve the symbol because a regulation has become temporarily redundant to another regulation in one year.

As the fixed standard symbols (alluding to the former UIC411) are obviously controversial, they are now displayed in a separate tab page and can be switched off or overwritten there. If a standard symbol is switched off, the program will inevitably overwrite the symbol with the next free digit the next time this traffic regulation occurs.

Standard symbols are overwritten unchanged by defining a new symbol that corresponds exactly to the traffic day rule of the standard symbol. Such entries are displayed both in the Symbols tab page of the network and indented below the overwritten standard symbol.

Accepting changed table driving symbols

The functions Check existing drivers timetables for conformity and the similar check when closing the Standard legend entries window have also been revised. A check is carried out for all existing table timetables to see whether there are any traffic rules, symbols or legend texts that have been changed in their legend entries.

In the case of drivers timetables with network wide legend numbering, any legend symbols specified directly at the times are also checked. Checking existing drivers timetables is also called up after the standard legend has been transferred from another network.
To clarify: The button Insert all from network and the associated menu item Insert all entries from current network ensure that all traffic day rules of all direct connections that are not yet included appear in the standard legend. The existing drivers timetables are not evaluated here, but not all train sections are listed either. The function is thus theoretically suitable for creating a standard legend in anticipation of drivers timetables.

Assignment of the traffic days symbols

When searching for the traffic day symbol and legend text for a traffic day rule, the weekly holiday rules are also taken into account, regardless of whether there are any corresponding holidays in the specific timetable year. For example, the legend entries for Sat[S] and Sat would be the same in timetable years in which no public holiday falls on Saturday. The question of which entry to use in such cases is then clarified via "What-if" (a public holiday would fall on Saturday). In a certain sense, the evaluation is theoretical and therefore generally valid. It is not intended that traffic day markings of trains that are unchanged in themselves change from standard symbol to footnote or vice versa after updating.

New viewing options

Several new settings are available in the window "set drivers timetable":

On the Format and Content tab page, there are several options for train rows. These can be displayed as usual or not. With the Only if not empty setting, the train run lines are only displayed if something needs to be entered for at least one train. However, this applies to the entire table and not to each page individually.

If move rows are displayed, you can specify the number of move rows separately for the from and to rows.

An option has been added to the headings and notes tab page that makes it possible not to output the elements of this area so that the header of the course book page can be omitted.

Copying of vehicle equipment

The vehicle equipment of a drivers timetable can be copied from other existing drivers timetables, in the third step of the window Selection and display of the trains to be copied, via the arrow button at the bottom right of the vehicle equipment list. An entry for the (hard-wired) standard settings is also offered there.

Manually split and merge routes

A function has also been added that makes it possible to split a train here in order to manually create an overtaking break. To do this, click on the corresponding cell in the drivers timetable and then use the right mouse button. A new column is created with the remaining route of the train, supplemented by the arrow for continuing in the new column and the " break" in the previous column, which should lead passengers in the direction of the next column.

There is also a common function called Summarize division, where a cell must first be selected in order to call this function.

Additional options for train column heads

When editing a train column header, a new field Train name has been added. This is displayed in the move columns as vertical text. The vertical text is written next to the times and may also increase the column width if the text cannot be placed between two stop times.

For the data fields Class and general information, Train runs from/to and Train name there is an option to apply the changes made for all identical occurrences.

When the timetable is opened, it is always displayed in the zoom level full sheet.

Formatted text can be added in the fields above and below the tables.

Recording of connecting trains

Another major change relates to the inclusion of trains in a schedule. To do this, you have to select the corresponding train station names in italics (for connecting routes) when selecting the train stations by double-clicking on the respective train station.

Note on synchronizing connection trains

When comparing drivers timetables, connecting trains are not automatically compared; this can be done by right-clicking on a connection (highlighted in red) in the overview table using the Search and enter connections function.

Extended editing mode options

Under Edit table in the drivers timetable, the general remarks under (each) table and also the general remarks in the header can now be edited. These sections, as well as the legend entries, can be collapsed or expanded.

Remove legend entries without reference removes the legend entries to which there is no longer a reference. This can occur when deleting trains or changing the validity of the timetable. When a timetable is reloaded, the empty run is completely deleted and recreated.

Naming object groups

In connection with the serial printing of drivers timetables (possibly across networks) according to "groups" (course book, leaflet, etc.), the question arises as to how network objects (here: drivers timetables) can be grouped. For the sake of simplicity, a group is only defined by a common character string in the object designation. (Strictly speaking, a character string in this sense is a group of two or more letters or digits that occur together in at least three object designations).

To add or delete such group identifiers to object designations without having to edit each object designation individually, the "Rename network object" menu item of the network is changed to "Rename network object(s)" and can also be called up if more than one object is selected.

There are options to add, delete or rename parts of the object name. Although it is currently only used for drivers timetables, it is allowed for all network objects for the sake of uniformity.

 

Station Index

Several Station Index Abbreviations

Until now, there have always been difficulties exchanging data between networks if the operating unit abbreviations do not match, even though they are the same operating units but have different names in different systems.

This can be circumvented with the new version of the operating unit directory.

You must first define the primary tab by calling up File --Properties and defining the tab on the Registerpage. To do this, you can access predefined standard registers or create a userdefined register.

Here you can also create or delete additional secondary registers or rearrange them

You should also make the language settings for the default language on the File information tab page.

Station Index Editor

FBS operating center directories can have any number of traffic names per operating center, each of which can be assigned to a language and/or font.

Class and train number editor:

In preparation for extended drivers timetable functions, train types can now also be assigned colors and strengths for publication (in drivers timetables).

General

• When zooming into the route map of the network, the system no longer necessarily zooms in on the current node. If the mouse position is within the visible area of the map (i.e. when zooming with the mouse wheel), the mouse position is fixed for the zoom.
• In the route selection window ("Please enter the desired route"), which appears when clicking on an unclear route in the network map (create graphic or drivers timetable), the route number from the classification is now displayed instead of the internal route number, if one is defined there.

Train data, revision of calendar window:

• The window can now be resized so that more than 5 months can be visible at the same time - even in multiple lines if necessary.
• A major new feature is the "Existing traffic day regulations" tab page, which can be used to copy regulations from other occurrences (trains, train sections, etc.) and thus save the repeated entry of complex regulations. There you can also assign names to the traffic day regulations (right mouse button on a line), which can be used later to search or sort, for example.
• As a click on the Reset button previously only deleted the special traffic days - not any regular traffic days - a double-click now deletes all traffic days, including regular ones.
• There are now also the buttons Previous day and Next day as before in the "Moon window". They move the current traffic day regulation one day forwards/backwards, as was previously the case, usually with a carry-over from the first to the last day, so that daily remains daily.

Train data, adjust/delete surcharges after assigning a new train category:

• If at least one surcharge rule applies to the new class after a class has been changed, all previous surcharges are deleted and the new ones are applied. Otherwise, the previous surcharges remain unchanged.

Network evaluations

• New "Evaluation" window --"Conflicts overview" for an overview of conflicts on all routes
  Under "Evaluation trains" à tab page "Trains" there are also the optional columns "Lines" and "Vehicles". The columns from "Levels" onwards can be shown/hidden by right-clicking on a column header.

Station Timetable

• Alternative list view in the main window: Each assignment of the Bfo is displayed in a separate line of the table. The previous view contained one row per train
• Additional list view for all vehicle transfers
• When comparing the station timetable, only train parts that are to be included in the timetables according to the train part data are taken into account.