Joined: 17/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 303
Location: Glen Oaks, N.Y.
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Looking to revise my layout and wondering what track planning software members use and why. My requirements are English (my loss), contain M track besides C and K, be able to communicate with PC and CS (if CS has this ability).
Harvey
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Joined: 23/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,726
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Hi Harvey
Do you need software that runs on Windows or Mac? |
Gary
Z Scale
"Never let the prototype get in the way of a good layout" |
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Joined: 17/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 303
Location: Glen Oaks, N.Y.
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Ah, always forget something in the specs. I currently only have windows, so let's add that as another constraint.
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Joined: 28/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 757
Location: Wawa, Ontario
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Currently I am not aware of any track layout software that is able to communicate with a CS. Normally the diagram for operating a CS is just a representation and not an exact piece for piece design as compared to the layout program which is used to design an exact plan to fit in an exact area and give you the details of what piece goes exactly where.
Are you looking for free or a program that needs to be purchased.
I have used Wintrack and find this program to be very well designed. You also get the ability to insert structures into the plan so that you can see what the possible landscape might look like before building. This program is now completely in English as I was assisting in the translating of the documentation.
Also Wintrack allows you to print out contours which can be used to construct the ribs which define the landscape and also allow the track to move from one level to another.
There are many other programs available by just searching the net, but this is the one I have used and am rather comfortable with using.
Matthew
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Joined: 17/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 303
Location: Glen Oaks, N.Y.
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Matthew,
Thanks. I think paying is a necessity. This moreso assures updates and staying competitive. Thanks. I will look at Wintrack and see what others suggest.
Regards
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 Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 12,183 Location: New Zealand
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Harvey, Wintrack has already been mentioned (I use v8). There is also: Anyrail - www.anayrail.com3rd Planit - www.eldoradosoft.com/3pi.htmRaily - http://www.enigon.com/pr...ly/english/indexhtml.htmAll of which support Marklin M, K and C tracks.
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Joined: 17/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 303
Location: Glen Oaks, N.Y.
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Matthew, Bigdaddynz
I looked for WinTrack and find that this is only available via torrents. Seems the software if free except some download charges and fees. Bit relunctant versus straight buying. Are you familiar with this service or do you know of another site to obtain this software. I also see a version 9 is on the market for around $150.
Thanks.
Harvey
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 12,183 Location: New Zealand
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The English Wintrack site is here: http://www.wintrack.de/usa.htmlVersion 9 is the current version, I haven't upgraded as yet.
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 Joined: 13/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 653 Location: Karlstad, Sweden
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I also vote for WinTrack, although I'm still at version 7... |
Fredrik. * ECoS 2 + ECoSDetector *CS2 2.0.1 (0) CAN-bus only *CS 2.0.4 WWW: Modellbanan |
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Joined: 08/02/2007(UTC)
Posts: 412
Location: Asker, Norway
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I started with a version I can't remember (perhaps 2 or 3) some computers ago and I have now WinTrack 9 ....  |
Tom Blikstad
HO, german/swiss trains, Märklin K+C, ECoS I+II,
Viessmann, Kühn, MBTronik, WinDigipet 2012, WinTrack 11 |
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Joined: 13/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 653 Location: Karlstad, Sweden
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I did start with Track, which was the initial DOS-version...!  |
Fredrik. * ECoS 2 + ECoSDetector *CS2 2.0.1 (0) CAN-bus only *CS 2.0.4 WWW: Modellbanan |
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Joined: 13/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 381
Location: Richmond, Virginia
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I get by with Railly 4.0; but, I don't think I can recommend it. While the makers claim it is in English, it is imperfectly translated and the users manual is not in English. It has some parts that would be helped by a good manual.
As for Windows vs. Mac. I have a mac and run railly in a Windows virtual machine on the Mac (VMWARE).
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Joined: 13/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 653 Location: Karlstad, Sweden
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Here's someone who runs his WinTrack on a Mac using Parallells: http://stummi.foren-city.de/top...ack-8-0-mac-edition.htmlLinked from Stummi-foren. |
Fredrik. * ECoS 2 + ECoSDetector *CS2 2.0.1 (0) CAN-bus only *CS 2.0.4 WWW: Modellbanan |
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Joined: 28/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 757
Location: Wawa, Ontario
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This definetly can be done but one should also keep in mind that a valid operating system is also required for the Windows system, this will add slightly to the cost. But for the one of applications that are not available from a specific brand (be it Mac or Windows) this is definetly a good way of dealing with two worlds in one box. I am assuming that the preference or choice was made to use a specific application from a specific firm even though there are various programs available in both Mac and Windows flavors to design track plans.
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Joined: 13/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 381
Location: Richmond, Virginia
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I'm a computer nerd and between my Son and I, I always have some spare operating system software laying about. In this case we had an old XP copy from a dead pc to use on the VMWARE hypervisor. You do need to have a valid set of operating system software to run on the virtual machine. This will jump the price a bit.
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Joined: 28/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 757
Location: Wawa, Ontario
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Software may cost a little more by having two valid operating systems, but one could save by only having one type of computer on the desk and not two for the ocasional use of the other brand.
Just depends on how one looks at the numbers and chooses the path that in thier eyes is the better path and deal.
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