User objects in AnyRail version 5

[Hoiiip]

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. 

That's what I'm doing but when I type in .25, AR replaces it with 0.39.

[Bob Bryce]

Actually, I have grids set to 6" and grid snap set to 1/8".  When viewing my layout from the normal size, the main grids are 6"x6", while the minor grids are 2"x 2" in size.  As you zoom in, the Grids automatically get smaller the farther you zoom in.  At one point they will be at 1/2", then 1/4", then 1/8" and so on, not sure how far in you can go.  If the grid size is set to 6", and there are 12 squares between each major grid, they are 1/2 grids", if there are 24 squares, that is 1/4".  Just zoom in until it is workable squares (for me 1/4" squares) and set your grid snap to half of that to get 1/8" accuracy or 1/4" snap to get 1/4" accuracy.

I zoom in until the grids represent 1/4" squares, and if I need a 1/8" dimension, I snap to the midpoint between the 1/4" lines.  If I need to go smaller, I zoom in until the grids show 1/8" squares and set the grid snap to 1/16".  Sort of up to what you need to use for what you are drawing.

If you look at my examples, you can see what I am talking about.  In the first example, the Major grids: 6" x 6",  zoom in until the Minor grids are 1/4" x 1/4", and I set the snap to 1/8".  In the second example, the Major grids: 6" x 6",  and I zoomed in until the Minor grids are 1/8" x 1/8", and I set the snap to 1/16".

[RhB_HJ]

Bob,

If you attach the respective .any file it will be easier to see what's what and what the settings are.

[Bob Bryce]

OK, Here some are, if I attached it right.  HO Scale, Grid Size = 6, Snap to Grid = 1/8

[Hoiiip]

OK, Here some are, if I attached it right.  HO Scale, Grid Size = 6, Snap to Grid = 1/8

Bob, so each of the squares is 1/2" or a 1/4"?

[Bob Bryce]

Bob, so each of the squares is 1/2" or a 1/4"?

OK, try this and see if it helps.

Load my sample drawing (see below).  If you look in the Settings Menu, the grid size is set to 6" and the Snap to Grid Size is set to 1/8" with Snap to Grid checked, or turned on, the View setting reads 1/8, and it is using English Fractional Units (Inches).  If it is not, make it that way for the purpose of this explanation.  Once you follow this concept, it will work the same in any units.

The larger heavier grids are 6"x 6".  The number of smaller grids automatically varies depending on how far you zoom in or out.  Since the heavy lines are 6" apart, if there are 5 light lines between the 2 heavy lines, as there are now, they represent 1" squares. If there are 2 light lines between the 2 heavy lines, the light lines represent 2" squares. If there were 11 light lines between the 2 heavier lines, they are 1/2" squares.  If there were 23 light lines between the 2 heavier lines, they are 1/4" squares, and so on.  The number of light lines between the heavy lines automatically changes as you zoom either in or out.  That is how the grid lines work.

The snap setting is not related to the number of grid lines, but to the distances between the snap points.  If the lines are spaced at 1" and the Snap to Grid Distance is set to 1", the snap will occur where the lines intersect, as every line is 1" apart.  You are seeing 1" squares and the Snap to Grid feature is also seeing 1" squares.

If the lines are spaced at 1" and the Snap to Grid Distance is set to 1/2", the curser will snap either to where the lines intersect or exactly half way between two of the lines or in the center of the box created by the lines.  You are seeing 1" squares while the Snap to Grid feature is now seeing 1/2" squares.

In the Settings menu, set the Snap to Grid Distance from 1/8" to 1", Go to the Insert Menu and select  "Add Line/Surface.  Snap the curser anywhere and it will jump to the nearest intersection of any line, because the grids are at 1" and the Snap to Grid Distance is 1". 

Now go back to the Settings Menu and set the Snap to Grid Distance to 1/2".  Select Insert, Add Line/Surface, and snap the curser anywhere.  It will jump to the closest point either on the grids or half way between the grids or in the center of the box created by the grids because the grids are set at 1" distances and the snap is set to half of that.  You are seeing 1" grids, but the Snap to Grid function is seeing 1/2" grids.

On the Zoom Slide Bar in the lower right corner of the screen, click on the "-" button one time, and the zoom setting will go from 1/8 to 1/10, and there will only be 2 light lines between each darker line.  Now the grids are showing 2" distances between each light line, at least it does on my computer.  If yours does not, there may be a difference in our monitor settings, but the ideas should still work.  Just zoom out until you only see 2 light lines between 2 heavy lines.

Since the Snap to Grid is still set at  1/2", if you again insert a line, the snap points will still be at 1/2" distances, even though the lines are now 2" apart.  You are now seeing 2" squares while the Snap to Grid feature is still seeing 1/2" squares. 

You should now be able to put 5 points on a small grid line, 1 point at each intersection and 3 in between.  Each point is exactly 1/2" apart on a 2" square.  Again, you are not limited to only snapping on the lines, you can snap anywhere in the box, the curser will snap to the closest point within 1/2" increments of the lines, because the curser is seeing 1/2" squares while you are seeing 2" squares.

Play with it and if you still are having problems, let me know and I will try again.

By the way, this snap system also works the same way to move and position objects as well.

[Hoiiip]

Thanks, Bob.  Your explanation was very clear and concise!

[Hoiiip]

Bob, it worked like a charm!  Thanks ever so much.

How do you get the text to stick as part of the group?  I tried highlighting it along with the structure and save as a group, but the text won't stick.

[Bob Bryce]

I'm at work right now and don't have access to the Anyrail program, but for some reason, I think I made a group which consisted of the first group and the text and it worked.  Another way may have been once the text is in position, explode the group (ungroup), then make a new group that included the text.  I will try it tonignt to verify, but I'm fairly sure that is what I did.  I will let you know this evening (it's 9:08 AM right now, my time).

[RhB_HJ]

Simply highlight the existing object group and the text, then "group" again.

Save as object (with all the detailed info) and then submit to AR for inclusion. 

[Bob Bryce]

Simply highlight the existing object group and the text, then "group" again.

Save as object (with all the detailed info) and then submit to AR for inclusion. 

That's what I pretty much remember doing, but he said it didn't work for him.  I'm pretty positive I have made a group from several other groups as well.  Again, can't test it from here.  He may have done something else. 

[RhB_HJ]

Sometimes it is a matter of how much stuff one has in the "work area". The easiest way for highlighting - without missing anything - is left click and drag diagonally across all the objects to be included. This works great for UDOs if you have just one UDO on the work area.

Where it gets tricky is using that within a layout plan - either some stuff is missing or shouldn't be there.

[Hoiiip]

Tried it again and this time it worked.  Thanks, everyone!