Cookbooks

The EXRAIL Cookbooks provide step-by-step instructions for building various DCC-EX based sequences and components for your model railroad.

The following cookbooks are currently available:

• Power On at Startup
• Define Track Modes at Startup
• Set a track to DC
• Roster Entries for Similar Sound Locos
• Editing - Tips and Tricks
  • Multiple Files in EXRAIL
  • Maintaining multiple command stations
  • Naming sequences for easy commands
  • Using CALL and RETURN
  • Using C++ Macros

• Driving Trains
  • Basic driving functions
  • Loco Functions
  • AUTOMATIONS
  • Simple shuttle
  • Improved shuttle
  • Passing loop shuttle
• Turnouts/Points
  • Defining DCC turnouts/points
  • Defining PIN turnouts/points
  • Defining Servo turnouts/points
  • Facing turnouts/points
  • Animated Turnouts/Points
  • Toggle turnouts/points with button or sensor
• Manipulating Route Buttons
  • Hiding, disabling, and re-captioning route buttons
  • Simple light switch route
  • Changing button captions
  • Two separate routes example
• Virtual Bitmap device pins (VPINs)
  • Creating virtual pins
  • Using OUTPUT VPINS
  • Using INPUT VPINs
  • Using INPUT/OUTPUT VPINs
• Buttons and Switches
  • Detecting a button press
  • Detecting a switch change
• Emergency stop button

• NeoPixel Support
  • Defining the hardware driver
• Signals with flashing (Blink)
  • Blinking Signals
  • Always Blink AMBER
• Flags and Latches
  • Flags, Counters and Bitmaps
  • Latches
  • Using STASH to remember where locos are parked

• Advanced EXRAIL Sequences
  • Display Loco speeds on OLED (Advanced)
  • Analog Sensors
  • Command Filters
  • TCA8418 keyboard scanner
  • Passing locos between sequences
• Time Control
  • Time Command
• Supporting Various Additional Devices
  • Lew’s Duino Gear boards
  • TM1638 Buttons, leds and 7 segment display
  • Trainbrains Devices

Warning

Do not waste your time asking ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini to create EXRAIL scripts. They do not understand EXRAIL and will get it wrong 100% of the time.