I'm just getting into XtrkCAD4, and have a question about adding curved track section to an existing straight section.
When I place a curved section, by default it always places one way:
As I want the track to curve downward, I use the rotate tool to flip it vertically:
... but then the subsequent curved tracks are also placed like the first one, requiring me to individually rotate them one by one:
Is there an easier way to correct the orientation of the curved track pieces, rather than doing it one by one? Also, it seems that when the curves are rotated, it's not always easy to line it up and connect properly to the existing track in a smooth curve.
Thank you for any help in advance.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
SpaceMouse wrote:Don't use the curved track function for this operation. Place a piece of straight track where you want the the curve to end up. Then use the "Join Two Tracks" fucntion to connect from your track to the straight piece. If you don't want the straight track you can delete it and the curve will be place where you want it.
Thank you for the reply. However, I'm a bit puzzled by your reply (while at the same time fully admitting that this may be due to my unfamiliarity with XtrkCAD). I tried what you said, and it created one long curved track. This might be fine if I'm using flex-track, but I'm not, I actually have 11" curve sections I want to use.
Also, using your method, how do you make the single long curved section as a predetermined curve or radius?
Again, if my confusion is from my lack of experience with XtrkCAD, I apologize, and hope someone will explain the nuance to me.
Sorry. I have gotten so used to flex track that I had forgotten that you might be wanting to use sectional. Actually, the beauty of flex is that you don't need to be concerned with the details of the radius of the curve. You just set you minimums radius to the size you don't want to go under then you build the railroad to go where you need it to go, rather than being stuck to the pieces of track you have.
IF yo have to make a large turn like say 90 degrees or more. You make a track circle. Then you can adjust the radius of the circle using the description function. I think that is what it is called. I'm at work and can't see the program.
Anyway move your circle so that the matches the location you want the large curve, then you use the "join track" function to connect to what you have laid out. If the arc is too short or long after you join tracks, you can use the extend track function to move it to size.
XtrkCAD is a wiz at flex track. If you are using Atlas track, their Right Track program is good at Atlas sectional, but poor at flex. Since I don't use sectional track, I have not used it on XtrkCAD and so I'm not much help.
What I do is build sectional curves (Remember, Im using the Kato track set) in a corner where I can see it all, join it together and then move the whole thing into place.
The only problem I have with it is two: Ends are never close enough to join track ends and you are stuck with only the lower left of the screen zoomed in.
I like the program and am half tempted to buy a retail version.
Hi Safety Valve,
Thanks for the reply. I just tried your method and that seems to work much better than what I've been struggling with. So thank you.
What does the retail version of XtrkCAD offer over the freeware version?
I dont know. All I know that is it only allows me to view very close to the tracks in just the lower left corner. The freeware is also missing some Kato Track that I know is availible.
What the freeware DID do was confirm the necessity to fit a human along one wall for access in my space and saved me the trouble with the one plan I was trying to modify. Im currently working carefully on the wife to double the availible space but that is a operation that will take quite some time and some finesse.
I do hope that the retail version is very complete. Perhaps someone who owns one can enlighten us.
Safety Valve wrote: What I do is build sectional curves (Remember, Im using the Kato track set) in a corner where I can see it all, join it together and then move the whole thing into place.The only problem I have with it is two: Ends are never close enough to join track ends and you are stuck with only the lower left of the screen zoomed in.I like the program and am half tempted to buy a retail version.
If you right click on the screen anywhere on the layout you will have the option to zoom out.
I don't know about Kato Track, but when I worked with EX track, the geometry was such that there were times when things didn't quite connect. I had to cut the track down and make a piece that would fit. This happened more frequently as I added turnouts.
The program was right. The EZ track acted just like it showed on the program.
Safety Valve wrote: I dont know. All I know that is it only allows me to view very close to the tracks in just the lower left corner. The freeware is also missing some Kato Track that I know is availible.........I do hope that the retail version is very complete. Perhaps someone who owns one can enlighten us.
I dont know. All I know that is it only allows me to view very close to the tracks in just the lower left corner. The freeware is also missing some Kato Track that I know is availible....
.....I do hope that the retail version is very complete. Perhaps someone who owns one can enlighten us.
XtrkCAD is no longer a commercial program. It has become an Open Source Software (OSS)project (supported by volunteers). The first release as OSS software is version 4, which no longer requires key registration, and is completely free.
Support and downloads are available at http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage. There is an XtrkCad users group and forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/. Hope this helps.
beginning user of XtrkCad
Fred W
Wow! Awesome!
Ive learned a tiny bit about Open Source from my College Linux days. (I loved Linux but MAN was it a ... rather demanding OS)
Thanks for the links, I will explore them further. I dont know about you all, but I have a feeling this program will become a new standard for track planning... I was able to define the room Im in down to the last inch and operate within that space within a inch of tolerance. Such precision in a free program is gratifying.
Hyun,
For the problem you are having there is an easier way to get what you want. On the menu bar click "Add" then "Turnout", I know you are not placing a turnout but just play along. Then a box comes up with a list of all the track pieces in your library. Scroll through and select the piece of track you want, say an 11" radius sectional track. You will see a picture of the piece of track you selected with a black box at one end of the track. That black box represents the end of the new piece of track that will connect to the existing piece of track. Click the end of the new track that you want to connect, the black box will move, and then place the piece of track. All done. To reverse it again, repeat the steps above.
To get to that selection box faster just press "Ctrl-t", it is the keyboard shortcut.
mrplow123 wrote:Hyun, For the problem you are having there is an easier way to get what you want. On the menu bar click "Add" then "Turnout", I know you are not placing a turnout but just play along. Then a box comes up with a list of all the track pieces in your library. Scroll through and select the piece of track you want, say an 11" radius sectional track. You will see a picture of the piece of track you selected with a black box at one end of the track. That black box represents the end of the new piece of track that will connect to the existing piece of track. Click the end of the new track that you want to connect, the black box will move, and then place the piece of track. All done. To reverse it again, repeat the steps above. To get to that selection box faster just press "Ctrl-t", it is the keyboard shortcut.
Mr Plow,
You da man! Thanks very much, that worked GREAT.
I'm really loving this program!
Did I say I'm really loving the program? Well add the helpful posters here to the mix, too! I checked out the link Fred gave above, and the XtrkCAD Wiki addresses this very same problem, without needing to use the Turnout menu:
http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/FirstLayout
All you gotta do is press the SHIFT key on the keyboard and click on the trac piece while the curve is still blue and it'll flip. Very cool!
... and yes, I realize this is a case of RTFM (Read the Freakin' Manual) ...
I think I solved both of my issues today.
Im using the version 401? it does not contain any registration related options anywhere in the program. There was a email from the yahoo group with a Key, I think I dont need this key now with the latest version (as of today's posting)?
Safety Valve wrote: I think I solved both of my issues today.Im using the version 401? it does not contain any registration related options anywhere in the program. There was a email from the yahoo group with a Key, I think I dont need this key now with the latest version (as of today's posting)?
Right. Version 4 needs no registration. The other improvements were, if I recall correctly, are mostly rearranging the menus a bit, including adding a few new editing functions, and adding a few new parameter files (I guess these are not necessarily version improvements, since you could use them in the older version, as well.)
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
nof wrote:As you have noticed there are no scrollbars in the design window. You move around with the map window. Normally the map window opens at the same time as the design window but if you have maximized the design window you can't see the map window.
You can get it back by clicking the "Window" pull down menu at the top.