AnyRail Model Railroad Forum

General Category => Wish list => Topic started by: gunrunnerjohn on November 11, 2022, 10:27:06 PM

Title: Ability to Cut Switches
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 11, 2022, 10:27:06 PM
Many times doing a layout, it's necessary (or desirable) to cut the switch extensions to achieve a particular track plan result, however there is no way to do that in Anyrail.  Any chance this could be considered?  I use Ross switches and frequently find the need to trim some length off one or more rails.

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Title: Re: Ability to Cut Switches
Post by: David on November 12, 2022, 11:42:42 AM
We will introduce a function to cut sectional straight and curved track in version 7, but not switches or other more complicated track elements.

The reason is that we would need to research each and every turnout to know how much can be cut off (if at all) from all three or more ends. Many times, there are mechanical or electrical parts in the way, or screws or other bits that hold the turnout together.
Also, you clearly can't cut through the frog itself.

The thing is that we want to ensure as much as we possibly can that a plan designed in AnyRail can be laid out for real. There is just too much risk in this functionality.
Title: Re: Ability to Cut Switches
Post by: mfjord02 on January 19, 2023, 05:48:25 PM
I'm sure you've already thought of this, John, but an alternative would be to use a straight section and appropriate flex section to mock up the cut switch. You'd have overlap and an unconnected end, but maybe it's better than nothing?
Title: Re: Ability to Cut Switches
Post by: Gunzel73 on February 07, 2024, 02:03:29 PM
Quote from: David on November 12, 2022, 11:42:42 AMMany times, there are mechanical or electrical parts in the way, or screws or other bits that hold the turnout together.
Also, you clearly can't cut through the frog itself.

The thing is that we want to ensure as much as we possibly can that a plan designed in AnyRail can be laid out for real. There is just too much risk in this functionality.
I think this is still worth implementing, contingent on modified turnouts being permanently flagged as such, with hover-over popup text flagging them as possible issues. For example, making the rails permanently red, and a note "this needs to be checked by the user".

It's important because some turnouts, e.g. Shinohara, are almost entirely useless out-of-the-box and are intended to be cut to length as required for track spacing.

As a partial alternative to cutting turnouts, perhaps being able to overlay two or more track pieces and "merge" them into a single element, with the removed portion of each being greyed out but still visible on the plan according to a particular menu setting.

Or, if the above is too risky, perhaps just the ability to create and upload custom turnouts using flex track or template curves etc. That way, any shape or arrangement of turnout can be represented, and the parts list can just say "X" number of custom turnouts; the user can add manual notes saying that Turnout 17 is assembled from Brand X and Brand Y components.