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User objects in AnyRail version 5

Started by David, October 04, 2012, 03:58:23 PM

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David

Now that we have user defined objects (I call them Udo's) in version 5 of AnyRail, this board is probably not very relevant anymore.

I suggest that we gradually turn the items that are here into Udo's. Of course I want to make sure that the original publishers are OK with that.

What do you think?

David.
David Hoogvorst. Founder and Owner of DRail Software. Creator of AnyRail.

RhB_HJ

Good idea!
How do you plan to get a bit of uniformity into the objects?
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

vistisen

Quote from: David on October 04, 2012, 03:58:23 PM
Now that we have user defined objects (I call them Udo's) in version 5 of AnyRail, this board is probably not very relevant anymore.

I suggest that we gradually turn the items that are here into Udo's. Of course I want to make sure that the original publishers are OK with that.
What do you think?
David.
Looking at the quality of the objects created by Rick. I suggest that you just delete the few Hornby objetcs I uploaded, and we'll pretend they never happened  :-[

Future-Digital

You have my permission, if I haven't done so, already. Can't remember all of them.

Bill
"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." - Groucho Marx

Hoiiip

I would like to create the Cornerstone Central Gas & Supply structure (Part #933-3011) as a user object.  How do I go about doing it? 

TIA.

glakedylan

greetings Hoiiip
the best way is if you have the actual kit, using the diagram on the box as a footprint of the size, shape, and layout of that footprint using settings in AR that will allow you to construct a shape in the actual size.
if you do not have the kit, the dimensions of the footprint are listed at the Walthers site. You can use that info to make an image that shares a like footprint.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely
Gary L Lake Dillensnyder

Hoiiip

Quote from: glakedylan on February 17, 2013, 06:47:14 PM
greetings Hoiiip
the best way is if you have the actual kit, using the diagram on the box as a footprint of the size, shape, and layout of that footprint using settings in AR that will allow you to construct a shape in the actual size.
if you do not have the kit, the dimensions of the footprint are listed at the Walthers site. You can use that info to make an image that shares a like footprint.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely
Gary L Lake Dillensnyder

I have the dimensions but how do I measure the footprint on AnyRail?  The dimensions are Office: 3-3/8 x 4-3/8" 8.5 x 11.1cm Tanks: 1-1/2 x 9" 3.8 x 22.8cm

RhB_HJ

There are several ways to do things.

Two years ago, when AR was still new to me , I used this method.

In the meantime I refined it slightly; whenever possible I look for a footprint drawing either on the Internet or in a catalogue. On the Internet I just grab that graphic - sometimes I have to use "Print Screen" - and import to COREL. From the catalogues I scan whichever and massage it COREL.
If you can't find a footprint, you can either use the measurements the mfg provides and imagineer it from there. Or you can use those measurements to create a "Surface" and then insert a picture of the item.
There are a lot of mfgs who provide very skimpy information, I contacted some of them to get better info, but they don't seem to be interested.




Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

Bob Bryce

#8
I have been sucessfully building a large library of the items I will be using, and it has been fairly simple.

Get the dimensions of the objects, either from the box, the manufacturer's details or, if you already have the object, by measuring it.

Set your screen grids to 1/4" and the snap to 1/8" (or mm is you are using mm's), or smaller if necessary, but I make the snap 1/2 the size of the grid.

Start drawing the plan view of the object using either rectangles with the size you input or using lines and complete the object so the lines create an enclosed boundary.  Once you have drawn it, you can verify the dimension by either counting the squares or using the program's ruler feature.  Just make sure it has right angle corners or it will be out of square, unless it is suppose to be.

Change the line width to a thicker size so it is more noticable.

Change the fill color to something you desire.

Add details with lines and/or circles to show roof lines, chimneys, silos, signs, etc.

If the detail is a silo or a chimney or something closed in, fill it with a diferent color.

Add text to the drawing, giving the text a text size you can read and a color that contrasts well with the object.

When you are finished, create a Group of all these items and it is now ready for use in your track plan as one object.  If you wish to insert it into the User Object Library, create a Library Object using the program's procedures.  Just remember, if you make a library object out of it, you can see what the item is as it will have attachted to it the description and part number you identified when you made the object symbol.  If you just use it as a group, you cannot tell what it is unless you remember it by the shape or the text you inserted.

Here is an object I created of the Kentucky Fried Chicken kit.  I measured the actual building to get the dimensions for this one.  In this case, each small square is 1/4", and the larger grid lines are 6".  You may need to use the Bring Forward, Bring to Front, Send Backwards, Send to Back and vary the opaque density of the fill colors at times to see things that overlap others.






Here is the Walthers Ethanol Plant Processing Center, of which I have converted into a structure to use on my Tropicana Plant.  This was drawn freehand using only lines and circles and text.





Again, this is the method I use and it has been working very well.

Hoiiip


Hoiiip

Quote from: RhB_HJ on February 18, 2013, 05:19:55 PM
There are several ways to do things.

Two years ago, when AR was still new to me , I used this method.

In the meantime I refined it slightly; whenever possible I look for a footprint drawing either on the Internet or in a catalogue. On the Internet I just grab that graphic - sometimes I have to use "Print Screen" - and import to COREL. From the catalogues I scan whichever and massage it COREL.
If you can't find a footprint, you can either use the measurements the mfg provides and imagineer it from there. Or you can use those measurements to create a "Surface" and then insert a picture of the item.
There are a lot of mfgs who provide very skimpy information, I contacted some of them to get better info, but they don't seem to be interested.

Thanks.  I don't have CAD or COREL, though.

Hoiiip

Quote from: Hoiiip on February 18, 2013, 09:36:53 PM
Thanks, Bob, I'll give that a try.

I just tried setting the grid to .25 but the smallest it will accept is .39.

RhB_HJ

Quote from: Hoiiip on February 18, 2013, 09:41:51 PM


I just tried setting the grid to .25 but the smallest it will accept is .39.

Are you working in metric or inch?
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

Hoiiip

Quote from: RhB_HJ on February 18, 2013, 10:58:59 PM
Quote from: Hoiiip on February 18, 2013, 09:41:51 PM


I just tried setting the grid to .25 but the smallest it will accept is .39.



Are you working in metric or inch?

Inch.

RhB_HJ

#14
So, in "Settings"> "Measurements" you set it to "English decimal units" and used .25 for the grid? I just tried that, works without a problem.

BTW you can draw a lot of the structures in AR, it just takes a bit longer.  ;) :)
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display