Layouts and layout building

Hi, I'm trying to document our club layout w/ XtrkCad. I viewed the demos, printed the help pages, I'm having trouble getting past the beginning stages. I'm trying to use the "0" Gargraves track, no problem. But from my starting point all of the curved tracks point in the wrong direction. So I rotate the first one and put it into place. Then when I want to place the second it adds itself but in the wrong curved direction. I try to rotate it, but it never get's quite right that it joins up correctly. Also when I try to select a track the track description box pops up, and blocks me from doing anything else. Obviously there must be something simple I'm not seeing. Also we have a double main, much parallel track, some tips on using the parallel feature would save lots of time also. My layout is 30 x 59' so I got lots of track to lay on paper. Thanks in advance for any help. Sorry to be so lame. Dave

I'll have to try it when I get home.  I think you need to grab the other end, but I'm not remembering how to do it right now.....

Shift-left click is the key for getting things oriented the other way.

As far as the description box, make sure the question mark is not selected.  You probably don't want it to be sticky, go to options-sticky, and make sure it is not selected.

 

 Vail & SWRR   I found that if I choose  a piece of curved sectional track, then shft L click I can rotate it.  So far so good.  But then when I try to add the next piece it defaults to pointing in the origional direction and I get a nice "S" curve, not what I'm looking for. Thanks for your reply, again there must be some simple way to have your sectional turns go one way on one side of the layout, and the other, when your working down the other side. I'll keep asking questions, the only way we all learn.  Dave

I use XtrkCAD a lot but the only sectional track I use is the turnouts. Everything else I do is as if it is flex--which is the way most layouts are built. It is a heck of a lot easier.

 

 

Well the layout is already about 90% built as far as track goes, I'm just trying to document it. It is a mixture of sectional and Flex.  All Gargraves 3 rail phantom, which is in the library.  Dave

OK I got it, It's 4:30 am I must have done something wrong but now I see the light.  Shift "L" click flips the track piece.  Shift "R" give you a selection box of various degrees, plus you can enter your own degree. Now onto the next stumbling block.  Dave

If you shift-L and then place the track the next one comes up the same (there may be a setting that causes this).  I found that if I selected and then shift-L'd I could always join up without using the selection box.  If you do it with the selection box you'll always have to know how many degrees are in the tracks you've placed, and how they are oriented.  The info is all there, but a bit of a pain, to me.  I only used sectional for turnouts, too, so I could really be full of ......

Well I'm moving on slowly.  I've got the direction thing working.  Now since I've got a double main I'm trying to use the parallel function.  I've followed the directions in the help section, I've tried everything, nothing happens when I select my track and use the parallel button.  Any ideas ?  Thanks,  Dave

to make that work, click the parallel button (have nothing selected), and then go to the piece of track that you want to lay a parallel line to.  click (and hold) the Left mouse button, drag up/down/left/right, depending on orientation of original track and where this new parallel line needs to be (you'll see another track the same length and orientation as the original appear above/below/next to the original).  All you need to do now is release the mouse button.

 

You can change how far the track spacing is too.  After you click the parallel button, a spacing option will appear along the lower border of the xtrkcad window.  I think it defaults to 2" (although I've only used the HO track/libraries, it may differ in other scales), you can change this to any measurement that you need in order to represent the track spacing (Center to Center) on your layout.

 

Hope this helps  

I tried your instructions to a "T" nothing happens.  I'll try it in an older version.  Maybe it's a bug.  Dave  Tried it in 3.14 still nothing happens.  Dave

It looks like the parallel tool doesn't work on sectional track.  That probably makes sense, since sectional curves are going to drive the location of a parallel track, not your own wants and desires.  At least that's why I could see it not working.

To quote the help (I added the bold):

The Parallel Separation control displays the current separation between parallel tracks.  You can change this value before selecting a track.  The value must be greater than 0.0. 
Select the track you want to parallel, and the new parallel track will appear beside it.  You control which side the new track will be on by moving the cursor from one side to the other of the selected track. 
This is very useful for creating sidings and yards. 
You cannot create tracks parallel to turnouts or sectional track. 
It is possible to create tracks that abut (the End-Points are very close and aligned).  These End-Points will be automatically connected. 

That's it :(  We have a mixture of sectional and Flex Gargraves plus we use tinplate tubular in the hidden areas.  I guess I'll have to learn to work with Flex in XtrkCad.  I tried it seems like a learning curve.  I'll just have to give it some time.  Rome and Model Railroads weren't built in a day, and if they were how good could they be !  Thanks for your help... Dave

Once you get the hand of it flextrack is pretty easy. The thing that will make some stuff a bit harder for you is trying to capture the existing, rather than starting from scratch. I think the trick will be to get some things put down where you know they belong, and then attatch them. I don't remember if you've done the tutorial, if you haven't, stop right now and do it, if you have, you might want to run through it quickly again.  A lot of stuff will make more sense now that you have a bit of experience.