Hi.
I have tested out XTrkCAD track planning software lately, and am very impressed. This must be by far the best free track planning software around, and probably better than some commercial ones as well! Check it out at:

http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage

It runs on both PC and Linux, and has support for C-track, K-track and most other track systems around.

-Roger

Yes it does also support M-track - and Z and 1 as well.

-Roger

I've been using this program for a couple hours now and find it to be a very powerful program once you get the hang of it.

However, the biggest problem I am having is joining turnouts to already created sections of track, on anything more than a straight and level track - my plan is far from a typical oval, so I find myself creating all the tracks first in parralel to make the joining easier etc. Usually the join track command does not work in this instance, telling me the tracks are 'too far apart' or are on 'diverging paths' etc.

Anyone else have some tips they could share? I want to continue the use of the software but find this to be quite a big problem. I'll report back if I find some more information.

Its a great program, I used it before I went to the Christchurch train show last weekend and used the track list
to purchase more track for my layout.

recommended to all.

I just noticed this thread and thought I would comment. I have just started using XTrkCAD and am working my way through some of it. I don't know if some of the questions in the thread were answered by email correspondence but in case they weren't:

turnouts --- I found it easiest to, after selecting the turnout from the hotbar, click on the end of the track the tunout should be attached to. If you hold down the shift key as you click, you change the orientation of the turnout. Often the turnout isn't aligned the way you want it on the first click so just shift & click until it is how you want it. If it is to be connected to another turnout such as when two turnouts connect two parallel track sections, I temporarily delete any tracks that might block my view, zoom in, and proceed.

The "join" command can also be useful - you first select the turnout from the hotbar, place it by itself anywhere on the layout, select it (select hot button), then "join" hot button, then while holding down the shift key, click on the end of then turnout you want to make the connection with, and finally, still holding down the shift key, click on the end of the track that the turnout is to be connected to. Whew!!

tracks not in hotbar even though parameter file loaded --- this happened to me when the layout was set at a different scale (Options - Layout)

Hope this helps. Dan