Hi,

thanks for your infomation.
I think it would be helpful for newbies, if the xtrkcad-wiki will be updated regarding this issue.

Pit

Hi Pit,

I tried to get the same results as you did using rail3d and ended up in the same dead end.
The only 3d-viewer I know of is Xtrkviewer. You can download it from http://mwik.altervista.org/

Please note that Xtrackcad track are basically flat objects, so a 3D-view is rather limited compared to more sophisticated tools like Rail3d or Winrail.

Joost

Hi Pit,
I have used early versions of both, and still use both.
Maybe, back in the days of the covered wagon when both tools were first being developed, there was some success at transferring the data into Rail3D. However, as time moved on both programs have undergone major revisions and upgrades, so the extractor that is downloadable will not bring any satisfaction.  I believe the main issue is that the formats of the data files have both changed. The existing extractor does give a good framework, so if someone were so inclined, it could possibly be brought up to date. I am not sure if the source code is available. However, like many "re-dos" it would probably make more sense to start from scratch and start with a clear concept of what it was that was really wanted, then go from there, and compare both formats and consider the translation that would be needed to accomplish the goal.

Peace,
Mike G.

Hi together, I`m Pit from Cologne and I want to restart my Hobby.

First I want to complete my track layout by using xtrkcad.
I want to see the layout in 3D and via Google I found in the wiki a reference to the software "rail3d".
http://xtrkcad-fork.sourceforge.net/Wikka/ModellingIn3D
http://www.rail3d.info/wiki/howto/layoutdesignwithxtrkcad.aspx?Lang=EN
To use a xtrkcad file in rail3d you have to use a convertion tool "raild3dXTraktor". The links in the wiki doesen`t work, but I found:
https://markhodson.nl/
Anyway, I found the tool rail3dXTraktor, but it doesn`t work. The output window shows only "TEXT 20000 20000 Origin", not more.

Is there a solution to use rail3d?

Thanks for support.

Pit

Couple of pointers about Update Turnouts and Structures - 

1) The names must match. If you updated the label of the turnout or structure - it will fail to find it
2) The endpoint count and their position must match. If the turnout was improved to be more accurate (as some of the Peco curved and Y turnouts were recently) then they will not substitute. 

If these don't apply, then hand deletion, replacement and re-joining will be needed to get the the new definitions working.

One of our long-time volunteers is Dwayne, who has always done a sterling job on trying to ensure we have definitions for most new developments in RTR track (and also things like the newer turnout kits).  The best thing that would help is for folks to continue to point out where they are running into issues so that we can deprecate/upgrade files and then incorporate them into the shipped product for the benefit of all. 

Adam

On a wider point, we definitely lack a lot of richness around all the latest print-and-paste card kit buildings, even traditional card buildings as well, and even more lacking are definitions of RTR Cars outside NA practice.  
 

The following files have been uploaded to the Files area of the main@xtrackcad.groups.io group.

• /Dwyane's FIles/OO-Hornby Dublo 3 Rail with Turntable.xtp

By: Dwyane Ward

Description:
Updated turntable to function during train Run Mode

You mentioned deleting old tracks and adding new.
As mentioned below, you can use the 'Update Turnouts and Structures' command to do this.

We (the developers) can't guarantee any contributed parameter files are correct.  It would be great if someone wanted to tackle cleaning this up (and rationalizing the parameter files we do ship).

Dave

Hi Adam, yes, I can see the Unitram file, but this is a Unitrack track segment (double-track, superelevated) which is not part of the Unitram track system. However...in the Parameter settings I turned on 'Show Filenames' and it showed that most of the file I had loaded were ones I had downloaded from this group - I unloaded all of those, then searched the Library and found one labelled 'Kato N Scale', which when loaded showed all the buildings AND track, including the Unitrack SuperElevated double-track.  I deleted the old track sections and added the new ones, and all works well now!  I must just rememeber to unload those parameter files from XTrackCad on my PC as well!

Thank you!
--

Peter Borcherds

BNSF Chicago Sub in N Scale
N Scale Commuter, Freight & Switching Layout

Website: https://www.chicagosubnscale.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-9Z-cHsMP5gw3ZXoOezLA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagosubnscale
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagosubnscale/

Group,

Thank you to all that responded. 

If you would like to see the club layout as it is now go to www.shorttrackrr.org. If your ever in north San Diego county look us up 10am to 4pm on all Saturdays. The current layout was designed with XTrackCad 12 years ago by someone else.

On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 08:37 AM, Phil in gorgeous Young Harris wrote:

Am I correct in thinking that the other person reviewing the design can see everything just like the original designer (who has all the parameter files), but modifications to the drawing may require those files?

Only if the modifications needed are to add/replace or augment with (new) elements from the parm files.  Moving or Deleting existing elements, or Joining, or Adding flexible track elements, or Draw elements, etc - can all be done without needing the original parm files.  

Note that many parm files are shipped as part of the product - so it is only those that aren't which could be an issue. The format of parm files is text - so if needed they could be emailed, for example.

And if there are parm files with generally useful elements that we do not already ship inside the distro, we are always open to donations!! 

Adam

100% correct

On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 02:22 AM, Adam Richards wrote:

In short, yes. The .xtc file does not depend on parameter file contents, the elements are all copied/cloned into the layout.

Am I correct in thinking that the other person reviewing the design can see everything just like the original designer (who has all the parameter files), but modifications to the drawing may require those files?
 
--
Phil from gorgeous Young Harris, Georgia, USA
Digitrax, HO, WiThrottle, Arduino

Peter,
The N-Kato-Unitram file is shipped inside the product itself. Go to File->Parameter Files->Library and search for Kato.  The Unitram file should be listed. Hit "Add" and then "OK". 

The old parm file would still be loaded at startup in Mac case even after being deleted from Windows because they have different settings files so it needs to be removed from each using the Parameter Files Menu. (Unload). 

Adam

Seems I spoke too soon!  This error only occurs on XTrackCad on my Mac. I can open the same file on my PC and it works fine, as soon as I open it on my Mac, it shows this error - I have loaded the same parameter files on both computers - I downloaded these from the files in this forum - is there another source for the parameter files?
--

Peter Borcherds

BNSF Chicago Sub in N Scale
N Scale Commuter, Freight & Switching Layout

Website: https://www.chicagosubnscale.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-9Z-cHsMP5gw3ZXoOezLA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagosubnscale
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagosubnscale/

In addition to the answer of Adam: the current beta release is using a slightly different format for the .xtc files.
This means that once this version goes public and you move to that version, you friends have to use the same version too.
However, there is no problem in reading older files from a previous version.

In short, yes. The .xtc file does not depend on parameter file contents, the elements are all copied/cloned into the layout.

Adam

Group,

I belong to a club that is building an extension to the current layout. I'm the designer of the layout on paper using XTrackCad. I will be exporting copies of the .xtc file to a "group.io" group.  In the past I have exported the layout in .pdf form for approval. A couple of new member use XTrackCAd and want to view the file.

The .xtc file will have items in the parameter list that I have drawn and use. The other users will not have a copy of this list on their computers

I guess my question is "Does an .xtc file carry the information pulled from the parameter files (i e a building drawn for this layout and saved). This question comes from my CAD day where a newer version file might not show a feature when opened with an older version.

This work has shown me that the color pallette works in inscrutable ways, making it very difficult to create and save a suitable gradation of colors.

This is a hangover from the days when XTrackCAD was born.  Those of long memory may recall that early graphics hw support had to use a limited "palette" of colors. You could have any color you wanted but only 16 or 256 different colors.  So it is that today, the colors users input are still "clustered" into a limited palette by seeing how far "off" a color is from ones already in use. 

One of the advantages of moving to a universal GTK3 would be to get away from this heritage and just use the "real" colors as input. 

In that area are also the potential of including transparency (alpha) with colors, gradient fills (and maybe pattern/hatch fills as well). 

Spray painting, however, is likely going to be beyond a vector-based (rather than raster-based) program. Things get complex with zooms and so forth. 

Adam