Specifying a grade only - without knowing the height.

[Mark H.]

Unless I've missed it, there doesn't seem to be the ability to simply say, " I want a 2% grade between point A and point B.  I see that you can say, "I want a 5 inch elevation change between point A and point B", but you see the difference between the two statements...

The reason is this:  during planning, I'm trying to figure out if I can achieve a certain elevation change based on a certain grade.  It seems that Anyrail should be able to tell me what that elevation change is without me having to calculate it out first on a calculator.

By the way, love the program.  Gave it a plug on my website!   

[David]

Hi Mark,

I see what you mean.
However, it requires one of the points A or B to be 'locked' or otherwise marked to stay put.
I'm not yet sure how to make this an easy procedure.

David.

[Mark H.]

Here is the workflow Ive been using:

1.)  I'm starting with point A having a set height - let's say 40 inches.

2.)  I lock point A.

3.)  I place a new 36 inch flex track.

--  Here's where a Set Gradient function would now be used.

4.)  Right click new track's end point.

5.)  Select "Set gradient..."

6.)  Enter 2 in a "percent" pop-up dialog.

7.)  Anyrail computes:  36 * .02 = .72 and sets the height of the point as 40.72 inches and automatically locks the height to preserve the gradient.

That could be how to do it.  Obviously it assumes either an non-locked point B or that point B is the end of the track.

Just out of curiosity, David, are you programming in .NET?  How about just adding a "gradient" property to the track object and for a stretch of track that has the gradient set, heights get recalculated every time the track is moved... 

I envision being able to say that I want a 2% grade between A and B - hoping to achieve a 4 inch climb.  If the resulting climb is only 3.6 inches, I know I need to lengthen the track to get the extra .4 inch...

Thanks for your attention...

[tony22]

Mark, I also had a suggestion regarding grades recently. If you haven't already, take a look here

http://www.anyrail.com/forum_en/wish_list/a_few_suggestions-t307.0.html

and tell mw what you think.