My new personal project

[The_Ghan]

My new personal project: Get the WinTrack guys to add a Tomix library. 

I know a few of the PC based members here use WinTrack for designing layouts using Peco or Kato track.  How lucky they are!  WinTrack is one of the most sophisticated products on the market.   But those of us who use Tomix track are stuck with a 2D product - AnyRail.  While AnyRail is easy to use and has the full Tomix library, it doesn't have 3D capability.  AnyRail is lucky because, as far as I know, it is the only Windows based track planning software with a Tomix library.

If you don't know WinTrack, I suggest you check it out here: http://www.wintrack.de/usa.html.  Don't forget to check out the screen shots here: http://www.wintrack.de/usa.html.  You can even download a free demo version here: http://www.wintrack.de/download/setup_en_demo.exe

To ask the WinTrack people to add the Tomix library please send an email to: info@wintrack.de

If you send them an email, please reply here so I have a rough idea how many people are interested.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[keitaro]

Hmm perhaps should write up a template email and get everyone to post that.

I agree with you though anyrail is good but for the price and lack of features compared to other products it stops me from buying it who knows maybe the next version will be 3d.

[The_Ghan]

I've emailed the guy a few times.  I don't think 3D is coming to AnyRail anytime soon.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[keitaro]

Ghan what about winrail that has tomix similar in price too i don't have any experience with it though?

[rankodd]

AnyRail is lucky because, as far as I know, it is the only Windows based track planning software with a Tomix library.

xtrakcad has a Tomix library.

[Martijn Meerts]

Doesn't Wintrack have an editor that allows you to add your own track library? I seem to remember earlier versions having that option, although I might be confusing it with something else.

I'm considering getting a copy of Wintrack because the ability to add and test wiring is a really helpful tool. It also seems to work just fine running in a VM, so I won't even need to use bootcamp :)

[keitaro]

Winrail let's you change and creat your own in deluxe version... 130 US though.

Anyway I emailed em them.

[Martijn Meerts]

Winrail has nothing on Wintrack when it comes to 3D view and a good preview of how a layout will look.

I'm pretty certain they used Winrail at Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg actually, so it's definitely not a bad program :)

[The_Ghan]

Ghan what about winrail that has tomix similar in price too i don't have any experience with it though?

Keitaro,

I downloaded the demo and it didn't seem to have a Tomix library.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[The_Ghan]

Doesn't Wintrack have an editor that allows you to add your own track library? I seem to remember earlier versions having that option, although I might be confusing it with something else.

I'm considering getting a copy of Wintrack because the ability to add and test wiring is a really helpful tool. It also seems to work just fine running in a VM, so I won't even need to use bootcamp :)

Martijn,

Yes, it does.  But I'm not in the mood to add the whole Tomix library myself.  I simply don't have that much time available.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[The_Ghan]

AnyRail is lucky because, as far as I know, it is the only Windows based track planning software with a Tomix library.

xtrakcad has a Tomix library.

Rankodd,

Can you point me to some documentation on that?  I couldn't find it on their wiki page (which seem to be a pretty poor effort to me) and the demo version I downloaded tonight I couldn't find it.  I only spent a few minutes hunting around though, and will have another look on the weekend.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[keitaro]

ghan you need to download it seperately its listed on their page as a download.

edit * checked it's not available to trial

[rankodd]

AnyRail is lucky because, as far as I know, it is the only Windows based track planning software with a Tomix library.

xtrakcad has a Tomix library.

Rankodd,

Can you point me to some documentation on that?  I couldn't find it on their wiki page (which seem to be a pretty poor effort to me) and the demo version I downloaded tonight I couldn't find it.  I only spent a few minutes hunting around though, and will have another look on the weekend.

Cheers

The_Ghan

Eh - I don't think they go and list all the parameter files - there's a hundred or so different libraries. There's also no demo version, as it's a free software. Make sure you're downloading XTrkCAD 4.0.3a, and the Tomix parameter file is tomix-n.xtp. 

1)Go to File->Parameter Files->Browse, go to the XTrkCad installation folder->share->xtrkcad->params and select the Tomix file.
2)Go to Options->Layout to define your scale.
3)Go to Options->Preferences to select metric or imperial
4)I believe I changed Options->Command to choose select as the default
5)The track bits show up at the top. Select the one you want and put in on the layout.

Tips:

Shift-Click changes the attachment point when putting down a new track piece.

To move a section of track, click on it to select. Shift click selects the whole, joined piece. If you want to move a subsection of a joined piece then select the two ends, and shift click in the middle.

ESC stops whatever you're doing, clears selections, and set the tool back to select. You'll use it a lot.

To move a selected group, hold shift and click/drag with the mouse.

To move and join a selected group to a non selected group is CTRL-J, SHIFT-click on the attachment point on the selected group, then regular click on the attachment point on the non selected group.

If you have 2 tracks attachment points that are adjacent and you want to join them, it's SHIFT-CTRL-J, then click on each attachment point.

The user interface is a little awkward, but once you're used to it it's fast and flexible. No 3D mode, though.

Here's the header from the Tomix file:
CONTENTS Tomix N-Scale Fine Track
#########################
# Created by Dwyane Ward (30-Apr-07)
# e-mail any comments, changes or additions to dwyaneward@yahoo.com
#########################
#Notes
#Roadbed base width is 18.5mm(0.728346)
#Track to Track Spacing 37mm(1.456693)
#Dimensional Data was acquired from the following sources
#http://japanses-model-supplies.com
#http://www.japanmodelrailways.com
#http://www.1999.co.jp
#http://www.enigon.com/products/raily/shared/modulbrowser/ntomixfinetrack.html
#http://www.tomytec.co.jp
#########################