Version 7 - custom modules and more standards

[KX7]

The module support was my top feature for AnyRail7. Here is my wish list based on the current state:

Standards:
- full support for NTRAK including the mountain line (green) and the alt blue
- similarly, adding support for oNeTRAK

Custom modules:
- it would be great to be able to create custom modules, as a lot of clubs including ours have slightly modified the standards (eg. Position of the one track in oNeTRAK);
- the ability to create custom modules would enable modular layouts (ones that don't follow a standard) to be able to be adequately represented.

UI:
- For designing a modular layout for show, it would be great to have all the modules of the club as a library sidebar like the track libraries.

Thank you for the great work !

[David]

Is there any documentation to be found on oNeTRAK?

Before adding custom module support, we first want to await more feedback on how the modules now work, and if they're used at all.

[KX7]

NRail is focused on defining the standards - https://ntrak.org/Publications

The 'NTRAK Complete Standards Manual' refers to oNeTRAK in page 26. The 'oNeTRAK Manual' goes into more details.

[gi-tux]

I will say that I am using the modules quite regularly.  I am designing a layout built with T-Trak modules.  Most of my efforts have been easily accomplished but custom modules would help in a few cases.  It might also be useful to be able to connect track pieces to a module until custom modules are available.  Currently, I can connect track pieces to a module if they are one the module, but I can't connect "raw" track to the end of a module in place of a custom module.

[sierramike]

I must say the wishes of KX7 regarding custom modules are great !

We are managing the "SceNic" community (french specific) actually using Railly which is a real pain to use. I would love to introduce Anyrail to our group if such feature would become easy to use !

You can see the SceNic module description (in french) here : http://dany.kwaoo.me/ferro/dossiers/scenic/index.htm

The standards defines interfaces at each end of a module, height of the boxes etc., but everything between both ends is left free to the user. We have now several dozens modules existing and having them as a library to draw plans for exhibitions is our biggest need, I can't wait to see this in Anyrail !

[zsi]

In our N-scale module community we have many clubs using the same module standard in several countries. Ideally we would need a feature for having club-specific libraries or another mechanism to select and combine individual modules of the club as building blocks in order to put together a modular layout for an exhibition. Our module standard specifies only the connection between modules (=module end plate shape and electrical connection), but the module sizes and shapes vary. Many are rectangular, but for junctions, loops etc. there are modules with very unusual shapes as the module builders are free to decide the shape of their modules. 

[Leopold]

Custom modules would be an invaluable feature for our club.
Like zsi our club defines only the endplate and electrical connections. We currently plan our modular exhibition layouts with small cardboard cutouts. The main drawback being dimensions and angles have inherently loose tolerances. Having all our modules built digitally in Anyrail would have helped us many times in the past where we have had to contend with tight spaces.

Also is there a way to lock track and objects to a table top so they don't stick to a different one when accidently overlapped?

[railroads2005]

Call me ignorant, but what is the difference between modules and adding a rectangle you define the height and width in the insert tab?

[Leopold]

Convenience!
The benefit is you can move a module around with all the track and scenery elements at once. Only a single click needed.
This simplifies designing physical layouts that have fixed modules that change placement. Selecting a grouping is waaaay easier than carefully selecting all elements on a rectangle every time you want to move a module around.
Having the modules auto connect and locking elements to individual elements would further increase the convenience.

In a way it simply mirrors reality. I build a physical box with track and scenery on it. The track and scenery stay connected to the box when I move it around the room.