Originally Posted by: bugsmasher 
... But the numeric LocalUID associated with the binary mfxUID may differ from one controller to another.
These addresses
WILL (not may) be different, not least because the mfxUID is 8 characters and the local .uid is 4 (and for mfx limited to the 0x4000-0x7FFF address space- for the CS2)
Please also consider that even on the same CS2 the local address may vary - if you do housekeeping and delete unused references only to rediscover decoders/locos in a different order.
However even the local .uid is an intermediate translation step. In my previous post the 0x4006 .uid is represented alongside .addresse/.sid of 6 and a GUI of 6
The GUI value is the decimal conversion of the .sid
And before you say "its just the same but subtract 4000" it is not, as the .uid/.address/.sid are is hexadecimal and the GUI is decimal
This is best considered when we have .ids up to 9 and add one more. in this case the .uid will move to 0x400a ("a" being a "10" in base 16 hexadecimal)
In a prior query there was a reference to Loco Cards.
The Loco Card stores the .addresse value - which is derived from the value that was the .sid on a CS2 , where the loco was discovered, at the time of writing the card.
If you take that card to another CS2 then the CS2 will
TRY, in the first instance, to map the .addresse to its own roster (.sid).
However if that .sid is already in use, it will pick the next available one.
Unfortunately , when subsequently reviewing the loco settings to show the "Address" , all you see is the value that the Card requested (.address), not the one that is actually in use (.sid). While these may be the same , on a club CS2 (for example) it probably will not be the same.
I think that showing the .sid (as well) would be more far more meaningful.
So in the following example ... (excerpt from the
http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/config/lokomotive.cs2 when browsing to the CS2)
lokomotive
.name=UP 4000 Big Boy
.uid=0x400b
.vorname=
.adresse=0x9
.typ=mfx
.sid=0xb
.mfxuid=0x73ff7a43
.icon=UP 4000 Big Boy
You may use the (6021) keyboard and type in "11" (the decimal value of "b") and this immediately gives you

along with the correct spreed, functions, direction information of the loco
BUT - 3 seconds later it changes to ...
which in my example is the .addresse from the Loco Card.
So, while the speed,functions and directions are retained and usable after this hiccup , seeing the number magically change is a bit scary work out what is happening.
As to WHY it behaves this way, is beyond me. Not least because I may have another "9" so the only way to be sure is to read the name (small print , hard to see etc...)
In summary, the (6021) numeric key pad can be very efficient in selecting a locomotive if you know its .SID.
If you go though an exercise and delete your locos and rediscover them in order you may be able to get your common locomotives with a single digit address. (1-9
although my personal experience is that the lowest number is more likely to be 5),
An extension of this is to somehow get hold of a backup file from a CS2 with 999 locos discovered and massage your own meaningful set of cards.
e.g. BR218 with a .addresse/.sid of "218"