Convert semaphores to lights?

[FLHerne]

Am I correct in thinking there's no way to 'upgrade' from semaphore signalling to light signals without using ctrl-convert on each individual signal? It doesn't seem to be area-draggable, and if there's another button for it I've missed it for four years or so.

[planetmaker]

I think your perception is right.

[Brumi]

Maybe you can remove all signals from the line with (remove+)ctrl+drag then place them again with ctrl+drag.

[planetmaker]

Maybe you can remove all signals from the line with (remove+)ctrl+drag then place them again with ctrl+drag.

That sure works. But is *very* risky if the the line is actually used by trains.

[Qu@rks]

I was never really looking for such a feature but I, too, would find it quite nice.

So planetmaker, since the "perception is right", is my perception right, that you are going to tell us if such a feature is planned or has been requested at all?

[Alberth]

I think that perception is wrong.

Feature aren't planned, they just happen.

[Qu@rks]

Feature aren't planned, they just happen.

But they get requested. Any answer to my question?

[planetmaker]

is my perception right, that you are going to tell us if such a feature is planned or has been requested at all?

Not sure you mean that question. But the answer is 'no'. I'm not going to tell as I simply don't know the answer for reasons Alberth mentioned. The only thing I know: it is not on my personal agenda to spend time on in the near or mid-term future - there's a lot more interesting things IMHO; As my crystal ball is mal-functioning, I don't know if anyone else will want to spend time to write such patch - but I know neither of such plans or previous requests for a quick conversion of semaphore to light signals either.

[Eddi]

the quickest way to replace semaphore signals to light signals is load a (static) GRF replacing the signal graphics

otherwise, this seems like an easy task for someone who knows not a lot about the game internals and wants to dive in a bit.

estimation: ca. 20 LOC (2 hours)

[Dave]

It would be more realistic (uh-oh!) if you upgrade your signals bit by bit.

[Alberth]

I have the change date set to before my game start, so I always get electric lights.

[FLHerne]

It would be more realistic (uh-oh!) if you upgrade your signals bit by bit.

Sure, but I'd like to upgrade them route-by-route rather than signal-by-signal. The latter gets a bit tedious.

The former bit rules out a straight graphics replacement.

Might see if I can patch the UI after all this house-moving business, but I've got all sorts of other 'that might be interesting' ideas and a severe lack of motivation to actually try any of them (rather than posting on forums continuously).

[Wahazar]

BTW, semaphores are better than lights because you can see its state from rear side.
On the other size, they are completely unclear if placed for diagonal track (I refer to standard graphics).

[Eddi]

there are two types of semaphore signals in the default set. british-style (left of track) and german style (right of track), depending on which signal side you choose. which one of those is unclear, and why?

[FLHerne]

there are two types of semaphore signals in the default set. british-style (left of track) and german style (right of track), depending on which signal side you choose. which one of those is unclear, and why?

I don't use the german-style ones often, but British ones on diagonal track are very unclear.
The difference is only in a few pixel, in a single line that can be easily obscured by things in front of it and is difficult to read in any case.

See below - can you tell which are clear and which aren't?

(OTOH, I can't see how a more-readable version that still looked like a British semaphore could be done, and I'm not willing to sacrifice that for greater readability. )

[Wahazar]

which one of those is unclear, and why?

I'm using "german" ones and they appear unclear. Those for train going from right to left side of screen, does not have visible red/green light.
Additionally white/red pattern and red-white table make one-way and two-way PBSs hard to distinguish (both type or direction).
British semaphores on diagonal track look much more clear if compared to "continental" ones.
White/red pattern is correctly related to prototype, but maybe it should be one tone darker.
Semaphore arm length is ambiguous for l-r and r-l direction.

[CPR1983]

I have just tried this and it seemed to work.

Convert 1 semaphore and from that one, drag over your other semaphores and they convert automatically

[Qu@rks]

Convert 1 semaphore and from that one, drag over your other semaphores and they convert automatically

Yes that works. But only for as long as you can drag. If there is an abundance of corners, this turns out to be quite a pain, too

[kamnet]

Solution: don't put signals on a bend.