A branch point allows you to crossover from one route to another while tracing a problem. Below are three examples on configuring branches:
Using linear equipment - A switch is usually linear equipment in that it has a length, and it can be used as a segment on a rail track (=route). If you use the same switch on another track, usually a short crossover track, the system will recognize this as a branch point.
Using point equipment - A switch sometimes is defined as equipment without a length. Note that to use it on this tab you must still assign it a Linear Equipment Type (must be a segment) and a Direction. If you use the same switch on another track, usually a short crossover track, the system will recognize this as a branch point.
Using no equipment - Once you select Branch Point you will notice that the Equipment field becomes optional. You can still enter equipment as mentioned in the previous points, but you can also decide to simply identify the branch using the Branch Identifier. Again, you must make sure there is an accompanying route that references the same Branch Identifier, otherwise the system will not be able to find another route to crossover to.
Make sure you only use each combination once. Using the same Equipment or Branch
Identifier more than twice will not limit the list to the one route that can be used
to crossover from the current branch point. Instead, the system will show all that
match, and therefore you could crossover from one point to another that is miles away.
-
Branch Identifier - Enter a unique identifier for a branch point.
-
Branch Direction - Direction of the branch. This should be the direction in which the crossover can be made. This is usually the same as the direction in which you travel or in which the medium flows. This is an information only field. It does not play a role in the tracing function.
The remaining fields on this tab have a similar purpose as described on the Linear References tab.
Organization Option SRSTSYNC can be used to keep the equipment structure synchronized with the data on this tab.
-
At insert of a new segment on this tab, if Organization Option SRSTSYNC is I or ID, then the system will also create a structure record with the added segment as the child and the route as the parent.
-
At delete of an existing record on this tab, if Organization Option SRSTSYNC is D or ID, then the system will also delete this same structure record.
This option is verified against the organization of the route, i.e., the parent equipment.
If the record on this tab is a branchpoint and the Equipment is left blank, no structure
record will be created. Equipment must always be populated for this option to be active.