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"Cary Clark" <cclark2@nScP.rArM.com> wrote in message
news:HxwtDp.uw0@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.trains, David Laswell wrote:
> ...
> > I was trying to find a comprehensive list of TrackDraw features (one • that
> > didn't require slogging through 300+ posts in a Yahoo group), ...
>
> TrackDraw in its current state addresses all of the features you mentioned • in a
> prior post: more than 4 connection points, 'true' rendering (baseplates • exactly
> stitch), etc. I don't doubt though that for your uses Track Designer is a • better
> choice. It's complete, while TrackDraw is still in development.
>
> There is no comprehensive list of features. You can read the documentation
> either directly off the website, or by downloading and running the • program, then
> pressing F1 to bring up help.
>
> Cary
> http://www.trackdraw.com
I think Cary is being modest in his assessment of TrackDraw. IMHO TrackDraw
in it's current Alpha state is a better track layout tool than TrackDesigner
is. But that is just my opinion. Cary has done an awesome job to date and
I expect TrackDraw will continue to improve as he has time to work on it.
There are several reasons I prefer TrackDraw to TrackDesigner, the most
significant is the ability to zoom in close on a layout to work on it. If
you design large scale layouts like train clubs do, Track Designer's
inability to zoom in is a real problem. Cary has also bound TrackDraw's
zoom in and out functionality to allow zooming in and out using a wheel
mouse. If you haven't used this functionality, once you do you will be
addicted to it.
The other big productivity feature is the ability to quickly lay down a
sequence of track or baseplates. Want 10 straights? Key in "10" and click
on the straight track icon and you will have 10 straight tracks added to
your layout. Need to add four curves, key in "4" and hit the left or right
curve icon and your curve is complete. Want an array of baseplates? It is
easy to add them. Key in the number and select the proper baseplate and
they are added.
Adding baseplates in TrackDesigner is a tedious process which requires the
user to press <CNTL>-I and then select the baseplate of choice. There is no
mechanism to do this quickly other than to copy and paste them and when you
do that, they are typically hidden behind the item you are copying.
I'd suspect library support for TrackDraw is already better than it is for
TrackDesigner. All of the standard (straight, curve, T, cross) 7, 8, and 9
stud roadplates are availabale. 7 and 9 stud runway plates are available.
Grey and black landing (space) plates are available. All of the standard
baseplates are available in all colors. The 48x48 World Cup soccer field is
available. Monorail, 9v, 12v, and 4.5v track is available. Duplo track is
available. In fact, Carrera Go (a race track system) and wooden Brio track
are also available.
While TrackDraw isn't complete, there is more than enough functionality in
place to design a pretty complex layout. TrackDraw will get better as more
people use it as well. TrackDesigner isn't going to get any better because
no one has the source code to make it better. It is what it is. For many
people, the functionality TrackDesigner provides is more than adequate. For
those who are disastisfied with TrackDesigner and are willing to work with
an alpha release of TrackDraw, I'd encourage you to do so, I think you will
find it extremely functional in its current state.
Developing additional library parts for TrackDraw is pretty easy as well. A
number of train clubs have already created models for their train tables
which allows the tables to be included in the layout design. TrackDraw's
ability to selectively view classes of parts means you can view just the
tables, just the baseplates, just the track or some combination there of.
For years I have been using SmartDraw (a Visio-like tool) to do our table
module design. Now I can do it easily right within TrackDraw. I know some
clubs have created custom TrackDesigner registries and such to do much the
same thing but I suspect (because I don't know for sure) that creating
custom parts for TrackDraw and distributing them is easier than it is for
TrackDesigner and doesn't require anyone to muck with the registry.
Mike
PS: I'll admit I am a little biased on this topic, Cary Clark, the author
of TrackDraw, is a fellow NCLTC member!
PPS: Cary did a presentation on TrackDraw at BF '03 and BF-PDX. In it he
has a pretty comprehensive overview of TrackDraw's features. I'm not sure
if the slides are available elsewhere but they can be found here if you are
a member of the TrackDraw Yahoo group:
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cHarQKz0rUMbDCBfwm9Ywlclki3RBu8l_J77f7mzEwtZNKEKLBiNUWWS0H21TYsBRoVW9_798ZzJMnYhCudycQ/BrickFest%20PDX/pdx_trackdraw.ppt
--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring.com
http://www.ncltc.cc - North Carolina LEGO Train Club
http://www.carolinatrainbuilders.com - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=mpw - CTB/Brick Depot
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Track Designer Registry
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| In lugnet.trains, David Laswell wrote: ... (...) TrackDraw in its current state addresses all of the features you mentioned in a prior post: more than 4 connection points, 'true' rendering (baseplates exactly stitch), etc. I don't doubt though that (...) (20 years ago, 18-May-04, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.cad)
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