XtrkCAD Questions

[SMassey]

Im just wandering if anyone out here has tried using the 1:1 print feature for XtrkCAD? I did this today and on every page (66 total pages) I got a border and also some text and graphics on the bottom of the pages. This was a little annoying to me because it makes lining up the pages more difficult. Can I get rid of these borders? And does any one have any good proven ideas on getting the drawings onto the actual layout? Oh and after I did line up one side line to line I found that the printing was about 49" and the foam board I have as subroadbed is exactly 48, should I worry about that extra inch or should I just fudge that a little?

[Tom Bryant_MR]

SMassey,

In the XtrkCad Print dialog,
1) Uncheck the Engineering Data. This will get rid of the text at the bottom of the page
2) Check the Ignore Page Margins. This will allow you to butt the side of one sheet right up to the next without any overlap.
3) Check the Print Registration Marks
4) Check the Print Rulers

I printed out 1:1 for my test layout and got it transferred via tracing paper.
I have some pictures of this process at http://www.railimages.com/gallery/tombryant about 1/2 down the page - pictures dated 12/4/05

[jxtrrx]

Hi Mike,
Yes the 1:1 can be frustrating til you get the hang of it, but boy is it nice for making your trackwork flawless. I transferred the pattern using my wife's little sewing template tool (don't know what it's called) -- its got a little pointy geared wheel on the end, and I roll it down the center line, it punches through the paper and puts little dots on the foam.

I wouldn't fudge on the plan. The beauty of xtrkcad is that if you find something wrong, you can fix it on your computer rather than fighting with track later that's causing derailments. I say get it right in the software where change is easy, and then it works when you lay track. Don't be afraid to waste a little paper when you have to reprint. I'd print just a small section at a time til you're comfortable things are working like you want.

[SMassey]

I am still fiddleing with this. I try the borderless printing that Tom suggested but after I do that it will only print in portrait mode it will not print in landscape and that leaves alot of unused paper. Grrrrrr I will keep fiddling.

and I think I will pick up one of those little wheels thanks Jack

[jxtrrx]

Mike,
There is a Portrait/Landscape choice on the Print Dialogue window.

[SMassey]

Ya I know but it still prints in portrait. It may be my printer. It does fine printing landscape with other programs. I am going to update the printer drivers and try that. Thanks for the help.

[Don Z]

Mike,

Before printing, drop down the menu and select "Print Setup". That will bring up the properties window for your default printer. You can set the orientation to "Landscape" on your printer to force it to print in Landscape mode. Then go to the Print menu again and select the parameters you want (ie. Snapshot, Ignore Margins, etc) and then try it again.

Don Z.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Another trick for the XtrkCad users.

If you want a hard copy of your track plan, one can call up the print dialog and if you select "Snap Shot", the whole plan will be highlighted and the subsequent print fits on a single page. Depending on your Options -> Layout Settings (mine is 252 x 240 inches), this can result in a very small print detail.

To get something larger, set the "Print Scale" to something less than the default shows when you select "Snap Shot". My default is 31. If I set it to 9, I can then select the sections I want printed (click the "boxes" on the layout) and using the options above, I end up with 9 sheets of paper. I then butt these together, tape, and I end up with a 33" x 24" drawing. Mucho better.