3 Little Things

[Jeff]

Which have probably been mentioned before, but I'm too sleepy (and lazy) to go looking for them-

1) A way to make the Options settings into the current default for all new files (and what shows when you start the program)

2) A Common Function toolbar - with buttons for flip and rotate (30,45,60,90, 180) and disconnect

3) It would be nice to have a checkbox to have flex-track automatically size itself if you connect it to one track end and then click another unconnected track end.

That last one might be tough to do (I have no idea), but it would save a bunch of time and effort. The other two shouldn't be a big job...

[David]

1. Has been asked before. However, the options in the tools/options menu are saved with the plan. As a work around, you can make create an empty plan with the options as you like them, and start each time from there.

2. We are trying out an all new (MS Office 2007 like) user interface, where the most appropriate functions appear near the mouse cursor. We're in a very preliminary state with that, so it may take a while before it will be released (if it will pass our usability tests at all). The options that you mention could easily be integrated there.

3. You can connect flex track by dragging a loose endpoint (to be more specific, the control point denoted by +) to an existing track end. Does that provide the functionality that you want?

David.

[Jeff]

As for #1, yes, that's how I work around it. It's still not as useful as being able to set real defaults. On #2, I'd be happy to help beta-test that, since I have years of experience in beta-test (and I also own licenses to MS Office versions up to 2007). On #3, I think it works ok, even if it looks a little funny until you let up on the mouse button.

On to new things that I can add- I was wondering if you can find some way to deal with wanting to double-track a section or an entire mainline. Or can it be done by a setting specifying track separation? It's just an idea...

Now the most important thing! There's no way to specify or show a non-rectangular table! If you want an L or U or W-shaped table, you're going to have to do it in pieces and hope you got the connection points right. That's disappointing. I want to register the software as soon as possible and that missing ability is pretty serious.

[David]

I agree on the defaults (1). We might want to keep them somewhere in the registry as well for new plans.
For (2), this is a long running project, but once we get to the beta test stage, I would be very happy to have you as a tester. And (3), yes, it may look a bit funny, but a proper line up of the flex can only be done when the program knows where you want to connect!


About the table:
A table should be drawn as a surface, and can have any shape you like:

- Right click the work area and select 'Add line/surface'.
  * Two points with a connecting line are drawn
- hover the mouse over the line or a point, and press 'p' (or right click and select 'Add point')
  * An additional points appear. These are going to be the corners of your table
- Add as many points as you need for the corners of your table
- Right click the line, and check 'Close line'
  * The line turns into a surface
- Right click again, and select 'Change color'. Select a color
- Move the points into position, either by dragging or by double clicking them and entering coordinates
- If you wish make some of the corners 'round' or 'curved'

Many users draw their complete train room in this manner, including windows, doors, etc.

You can see some examples here.

Hope this helps.

David.

[Jeff]

Ok, that clears up matters, especially on the table situation. Thanks for the prompt answers! Oh, and I guess one last qualification- I've been a model railroader for just a hair over 50 years 

[Jeff]

Now that I know a little about the upcoming version, I'd like to contribute some things that I feel would improve the       software. There's a fair amount, so if you want me to switch to PM or email, let me know.

1) Allow the program to load more than one file at a time. It would mean being able to design a layout in sections and join them later or even to rearrange sections. Also you could save and reuse sections of other layouts.

2) A color-chooser for the track piece highlight when track is selected. Especially when dealing with a larger layout, the regular/bold change is sometimes hard to see (to be put in 'Options / Drawing'?).

3) More options for the Glue command- Original Glue, Glue stretch, Glue piece of track. Also allow a checkbox to turn off the 'all attached track' for glue. When I want to glue, I usually want to glue a section or stretch of track(s).

4) The whole 'Set Height' should be reworked. The way that's most used in real life is that you set the height at whatever you decide is 'clearance' height for over-passing tracks and then make sure that grades aren't too steep on the way to the next spot where height matters. Perhaps it would be good to let the grade 'float' and simply specify the top and bottom point(s? one on each side of the high point) of the grade and the height of the highest point. Why worry about it? Because it doesn't seem to work that way- the grade doesn't seem to want to bottom out. Oh, well, I will try going around the entire layout and setting heights at regular intervals and see what the software decides to do with the slope. Um, also- the place where you set grade percentage... is that meant to set max grade or does it somehow try to apply that gradient to the entire track, somehow? And does it apply to both sides of a high point?

5) Mention of using the lines and surfaces to define benchwork should be added to the manual.

I'm sure I'll have more suggestions as I get into the bits and pieces of the program...

[David]

I'll get to the other points later, but for #1:
You can simply open AnyRail twice, and copy elements between the two instances.

David.

[Jeff]

Today the list is short- a way to import graphics into the program. I'm thinking specifically about landscape items, like trees. The ability to draw bridges and buildings is fine, but somehow it doesn't make tree-drawing all that easy.
Next- Delete Line and Delete Shape. Once you get a dozen or so points, deleting it can take a while. And speaking of landscape items, it would be good to be able to Glue shapes / lines. There's nothing so daunting as spending 15 minutes getting a station 'just so' and having half of it slide off into the lake as you try to move one spot on the adjacent track.

[David]

You'll find a few trees in the 'Miscellaneous / H0/00 / H0 General Scenery' library.

To delete a shape: right mouse button on the shape, and 'Delete'. Or simply: hover it and press 'Delete'.

If you make a mistake, try 'Undo': Ctrl-Z, Ctrl-Y to redo.

We'll try to fit in the glue function for shapes somewhere.

Hope this helps!

David.

[Jeff]

It does! And thanks for putting up with my pestering

[Chris]

Hi David.

I would like to support peartree's first comment regarding importing images. I suggested this earlier in the year and was wondering only the other day whether it has been given any further thought.

All the best,
Chris.

[David]

Hi Chris,

Yes, it has. Don't worry!
We're only still discussing how to handle scaling. In our tests, things sometimes turn out to look ugly when scaled 1:1. So we're still looking for a solution for this.

David.

[Chris]

Thanks David.

[Jeff]

I've come up against something that can be serious- trying to manipulate a control point on flextrack when it needs to go off the top or left side of the screen in order to properly shape a curve. You can zoom out to reach any possible places for control points on the right or bottom edges, but it won't help you for the top or left. Those edges are glued to the menus and window edge, respectively. Maybe the answer is centering the 'table' in the available window space. Then, zooming out would give you gray space around all four edges.

[David]

You are right about the control points. Of course, you can always do a 'select all', move everything to the bottom right, do whatever you need to do, and shift everything back. But that's not perfect. We'll put it on the wish list to come up with a solution to this.

David.