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Author Topic: Defining the train table  (Read 2598 times)
David
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« on: December 10, 2008, 09:37:45 AM »
One of the most frequently asked questions is how to create a train table, other than a square or rectangular one.

I can imagine that this is confusing, mainly because when you open the Tools/Options menu, there is a tab named 'Table' (version 3.19.0 and older). Here, you can enter a width and a depth, suggesting that the shape of your table is restricted to a rectangle.

In fact, the width and depth only define the size of the workspace. This is the white area of the AnyRail window.

The table should be drawn within that area, but can have any shape. The table can be drawn with the line/surface tool, that gives you plenty of possibilities to draw any free form element.

For example, to create an L-shaped table:
- right click the work area, and select 'Add line/surface' from the pop up menu.
A line appears. However, you need 6 points to define the corners of your table.
- Add 4 points to the line by right clicking on an existing point, or a line, and selecting 'Add point'. Alternatively, you can press 'p' when your mouse is hovering over a point or a line.
- Right click on a point again, and select 'Closed line'.
The line closes, and forms a (small) surface.
- Drag the points into position to create your table. Alternatively, double click the points and enter the coordinates.

That's basically it.

You can later change the color of the table, create round corners, etc. etc.

Hope this clarifies things!

David.
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David Hoogvorst
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Chris
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« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2008, 02:32:51 PM »
Thank you David. That resolves the problem I raised a while back about being able to work off the baseboard area, especially the top and left sides. I now have a work area of 200cm x 80cm for my 180 x 61 board.

All the best,
Chris.
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Chris from Skye
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« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2008, 09:16:36 PM »
You can see an example of this in my layout plans. I generally even have the whole room incorporated in my designs so I can get a good sense of scale vs the room it will sit in.
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Kim
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Mike from CT
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« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2009, 03:54:26 AM »
David.....

There's a problem with laying out the table as you describe....  You can't set a point (or set a track end) within some fractions of an inch (3/4, as I recall) of the right or bottom edges of the work space.  (I'm guessing this so a point can be added, and accessible for shapes, not sure why it's necessary for track.)

There's a work-around -- to build a shape and then move it to the edge of the table and adjust the points on the top and/or left sides.  (Second work-around -- build only island-shaped plans....  Smiley )

But it's a nuisance.
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David
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« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2009, 09:32:07 AM »
You are right, this is not allowed.

You could make the workspace slightly bigger though...

In the meantime, we'll try and see if it can be changed.

David.
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David Hoogvorst
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« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2009, 04:37:51 PM »
Or... you could make the workspace significantly bigger  and use the Surface/line tool to define the room and then the table inside it. A hint here is to make the room outline a different color from the layout table line. I also find it helps working with these lines to thicken the line width to 1/6" - 1/4". It makes it a lot easier to grab, if you need to adjust it and it's also a lot more visible when trying to keep track inside those lines.
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Later,
   Jeff
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« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2009, 06:33:24 AM »
David,
I understand how this works and it is very simple to use.  There was one issue I had when planning the baseboards within the room, and then the track on the baseboards.  I had to keep reminding myself the measurements were from the edge of the room and not the edge of the baseboards.......
Simple to calculate, but I must admit a forgot a couple of times.........

Charlie
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