Additions to NewGRF Specifications in JGR's Patchpack in NML

This document describes non-standard additions to the Official OpenTTD NML Specifications which are present in this patchpack and the associated NML fork.

These additions MAY also be present in other patchpacks. They MAY be removed or moved in future, if necessary.

Not all standard NewGRF features are supported by NML, consequently not all non-standard additions to the specifications are supported by this patchpack's associated NML fork, or are listed in this document.
See the associated non-NML document for more details.

All of the non-standard features listed below will automatically emit suitable feature tests, conditionals, etc. such that NewGRFs which use these features will work correctly on OpenTTD versions which do not support these features, including standard trunk OpenTTD and older/other patchpack versions.

Builtin functions

extended_feature_test(feature_name[, min_version[, max_version]])

This returns true if the given extended feature is present and has a version within the specified minimum and maximum (inclusive).
This function should only be used after the grf{} block.
In most cases it is not necessary to use this function, as extended properties (listed below) which are not supported are simply skipped/ignored.

Railtypes properties

PropertyValue rangeComment
enable_programmable_pre_signals0 or 1 Enable programmable pre-signal graphics in railtype signals.
Programmable pre-signals have a signal type (getbits(extra_callback_info2, 16, 8)) of 6.
enable_no_entry_signals0 or 1 Enable no-entry signal graphics in railtype signals.
No-entry signals have a signal type (getbits(extra_callback_info2, 16, 8)) of 7.
No-entry signals always have a signal state of red.
enable_restricted_signals0 or 1 Enable restricted signal flag in railtype signals.
When enabled, bit 24 of variable extra_callback_info2 is set if the signal is restricted (has a routing restriction program attached).
When enabled, the "Show restricted electric signals using default graphics" client setting and signal post recolouring is not applied.
This flag must only be set if a different sprite is returned when bit 24 of extra_callback_info2 is set.
enable_signal_recolour0 or 1 Enable recolouring of graphics in railtype signals.
When enabled, in addition to returning a sprite, register 0x100 may be set to the following using STORE_TEMP:
BitsMeaning
0 - 23Recolour sprite to use. Set to 0 for no recolouring.
24 - 31Reserved, set to zero.

If recolouring is not optional, the feature name: action0_railtype_recolour should be checked using the extended_feature_test function and if necessary a suitable fallback used or error message shown.
If the OpenTTD version does not support this property/feature, then the property would ordinarily be ignored/skipped and no recolouring would be done.
extra_aspects0 - 6 The value is the number of additional signal aspects to use (e.g. 4-aspect signalling should use a value of 2).
When set, the lowest byte of extra_callback_info2 (signal state) may have the given number of additional values starting from 02:
ValueMeaning
00Red signal
01Green signal
021st extra aspect (e.g. yellow)
032nd extra aspect (e.g. double yellow)
...Further extra aspects...

The provided value is currently clamped to be within the range 0 - 6 (inclusive).
N.B. Realistic braking must be enabled for additional signal aspects to be used
disable_realistic_braking0 or 1 When this property is set realistic braking is disabled for trains of this railtype even when realistic braking is otherwise in effect.

Roadtype properties

PropertyValue rangeComment
roadtype_extra_flagsbitmask(ROADTYPE_EXTRA_FLAG_XXX, ...)
NO_SCRIPT_BUILD
Scripts (AI/GS) may not build this roadtype
NO_TOWN_MODIFY
Towns may not modify tiles of this roadtype in any way whatsoever

Tramtype properties

PropertyValue rangeComment
tramtype_extra_flagsbitmask(TRAMTYPE_EXTRA_FLAG_XXX, ...)
NO_SCRIPT_BUILD
Scripts (AI/GS) may not build this tramtype
NO_TOWN_MODIFY
Towns may not modify tiles of this tramtype in any way whatsoever

Replace new sprites

TypeNumber of sprites Comment
PROGRAMMABLE_PRE_SIGNAL32 Programmable pre-signals

Signal graphics come in groups of 16. These groups contain sprites in the same order as sprites 1275-1290 in trg1[r].grf and Action 5 type 4 (signals); red, then green, for each of: SW-facing, NE-facing, NW-facing, SE-facing, E-facing, W-facing, S-facing, N-facing.

GroupContents
0Semaphore programmable pre-signals
1Lighted programmable pre-signals
NO_ENTRY_SIGNAL16 No-entry signals

No-entry signal graphics come in groups of 8. These groups contain sprites in the same order as the red sprites of 1275-1290 in trg1[r].grf and Action 5 type 4 (signals); red only, for each of: SW-facing, NE-facing, NW-facing, SE-facing, E-facing, W-facing, S-facing, N-facing.

GroupContents
0Semaphore no-entry signals
1Lighted no-entry signals

Signal graphics using switches

This feature allows signal sprites to be specified using switches in a very similar manner to railtype signals in item (FEAT_RAILTYPES) { graphics { signals: ... } } blocks.
However this applies to all signals, not only those of a particular rail type.
Railtype signal graphics have a higher priority than general signal graphics as set here.

Variables: extra_callback_info1, extra_callback_info2, and terrain_type are the same as for railtype signals.

This feature is not supported by standard OpenTTD or by standard NML.
If the use of this feature is not optional, the feature name: action3_signals_custom_signal_sprites should be checked using the extended_feature_test function and if necessary a suitable fallback used or error message shown.

An item (FEAT_SIGNALS, custom_signals, 0) { } block should be used to define properties and graphics.
The graphics block should contain a single default switch.

PropertyValue rangeComment
enable_programmable_pre_signals0 or 1 Enable programmable pre-signal graphics.
Programmable pre-signals have a signal type (getbits(extra_callback_info2, 16, 8)) of 6.
enable_no_entry_signals0 or 1 Enable no-entry signal graphics.
No-entry signals have a signal type (getbits(extra_callback_info2, 16, 8)) of 7.
No-entry signals always have a signal state of red.
enable_restricted_signals0 or 1 Enable restricted signal flag.
When enabled, bit 24 of variable extra_callback_info2 is set if the signal is restricted (has a routing restriction program attached).
When enabled, the "Show restricted electric signals using default graphics" client setting and signal post recolouring is not applied.
This flag must only be set if a different sprite is returned when bit 24 of extra_callback_info2 is set.
enable_signal_recolour0 or 1 Enable recolouring of graphics
When enabled, in addition to returning a sprite, register 0x100 may be set to the following using STORE_TEMP:
BitsMeaning
0 - 23Recolour sprite to use. Set to 0 for no recolouring.
24 - 31Reserved, set to zero.
extra_aspects0 - 6 The value is the number of additional signal aspects to use (e.g. 4-aspect signalling should use a value of 2).
When set, the lowest byte of extra_callback_info2 (signal state) may have the given number of additional values starting from 02:
ValueMeaning
00Red signal
01Green signal
021st extra aspect (e.g. yellow)
032nd extra aspect (e.g. double yellow)
...Further extra aspects...

The provided value is currently clamped to be within the range 0 - 6 (inclusive).
N.B. Realistic braking must be enabled for additional signal aspects to be used

Custom signal sprites example:

grf {
	...
}

if (!extended_feature_test("action3_signals_custom_signal_sprites")) {
	error(FATAL, string(STR_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION));
}

switch (FEAT_SIGNALS, SELF, switch_signals, ...) {
	...
}


item (FEAT_SIGNALS, custom_signals, 0) {
	property {
		enable_signal_recolour: 1;
	}

	graphics {
		switch_signals;
	}
}