Track planning on computer using 3rd PlanIt, part 1

I agree with the "old guy" on this subject. I tried a track planning program and found it very difficult to work with. I finaly got a workable track plan with help from a friend who uses this type of software a lot and then when it came time to fit the track nothing would fit where it was supposed to go and "look right". Like the "Old Guy" I prefer to grab the flex track anmd turmouts and lay it out that way.

I agree with the young fellow, I like using CAD to design layouts.

Ryan, good job on the introduction to 3rd Planit.  I can't wait to see what is coming next!  I love my XTrkCAD but I have to say you have got my attention here.  Looking forward to more.

Two thumbs up!

Ryan,

I downloaded the demo and have been looking at the included tutorial and trying to follow along with your steps as well.

The sectional builder tool for some reason does not display buttons of a size that makes the descriptions readable.  If I resize the window the size of the buttons does not change.  I can't tell what most of the track items in the window are because the text is too small as is the image.

Do you have any idea what I am doing wrong?

Thanks.

And howdy folks!

Now that we are officially live with the new issue excitement is huge!

I will take a look at the sectional builder media content to see what you are talking about. If you are using a PC, from your own computer standpoint you could try changing your screen resolution to a lessor size. Troubleshooting your display settings may help, but at this point it is just trial and error since I have not reviewed the options and determined the optimal screen resolution for viewing the tutorial.

In the meantime I have added two images below that should help you with seeing the track segments available for two types of track, both are HO. In the first image is the Atlas code 83 track segments and then the second image is the Walthers code 83 for example.

Just to be sure I was clear, I am talking about the sectional builder window within the 3rd Planit application.  The buttons are small and remain the same size regardless of how I resize the window.  I was under the impression that the buttons would scale as the window was resized but perhaps I misunderstood.  Everything wiht your tutorial is great BTW.

I will try changing my resolution and see if that makes a difference to the button size/text size issue I am having.

I can't get buttons anywhere near the size you have in the images...

Thanks for the images.  I can go ahead and experiment with the software even if I have to print the images to use as a key.

Thanks Ryan!

Ryan,

I did try changing the screen resolution but this did not change what I am seeing in 3rd Planit.

The buttons in the sectional builder window are not even large enough for the entire image or text description to display regardless of the size of the sectional builder window.

I am wondering if it is a problem with the demo I downloaded rather than something I am doing wrong?

Hey Ryan,

The 3rd Planit manual states that the buttons in the sectional builder window should resize as the window is resized but that is not what is happening in my case.  Here is a screen shot of the sectional builder window resized to fit the screen.  As you can see the buttons remain very small.  This must be an issue with the software itself, no?

EDIT: I did find some contact info for El Dorado Software so I'll send them a message about it too.

Do you have any thoughts or advise?

Thanks in advance.

Hello Kevin!

There is a good Yahoo group dealing with 3rd Planit usage at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/3rdPlanIt

In addition you can download the 3rdPlanit manual - it's a pdf file, so you can search in it.

I have not found the answer to your Q there, but a lot of other interesting tips! - I think Ryan B is right here, change your system font, or your screen resolution.

Have fun with it - it's a great tool!

I have and use 3dPlanIt and can't imagine building anything but the simplist of layouts without it. The cost in time and money has repaid itself in avoiding problems and easing construction. I've equalized grades, "centered" my DCC command station electrically, avoided clearance problems and oh yea, designed a nice layout.

Hi Olav,

Thanks for the Yahoo link!

I have already downloaded the manual and have been reading it.  It simply states that the buttons should scale themselves to display more information as the sectional builder window is resized.  That is not happening.

I changed my resolution and that had no effect.  I'm not sure it is my system font that is to blame but I will look at that as well.

I have emailed El Dorado directly to see what advice they can offer.

Thanks again.

Hello again

I found the answer: you have to play around with the width/height relationship of the section buiilder window. In your example you make the window to wide - try a smaller window, and increase the height, then the buttons changes as wanted!

Olav,

Thanks very much!  Indeed you have found the answer!  There seems to be a bit of a fine line where the buttons remain small and then increase and yes it has to be tall not wide.

Thanks again!

Plese give me some advice where is the article so i can read it please

thanks dick

Dick:

The article is in issue 1 of the new magazine ... just click "Current Issue" at the top of this web site and download the issue. You'll find the 3rd PlanIt article about halfway into the 121 page issue.

I connected to web site for 3rd planit and ordered the complete package.  When I get it I am going to set up another computer next to the one with the program on it and run your article and use it step by step.

PS went to 3rd planit web site and e-mailed the reason they made the sale was MRH article.

Keep the interaction comming.

Art Houston

Grande Pacific

Art - thanks for the plug with 3rd Plan-it! To keep the magazine free - which is the equivalent to keeping the magazine, we're going to need the advertiser support.

Knowing that you've made a purchase because of MRH will help that continue to be a reality.

Thank you Art, your plug will go a long way to convince Eldorado Software to advertise with us. Glad you enjoyed the article. 

Since resolving the problem I had with the sectional builder buttons not scaling, (and it was a simple thing I was doing) I have been cruising along quite well with 3rd Planit.  I am looking forward to the next installment in the series!

I mentioned that I contacted El Dorado via email...  Well, today I receieved an email back from Randy Pfeiffer himself offering to walk me through things over the phone!  I thought that was pretty decent of him.  Kudo's Randy for the great support of what looks like an awesome program.

Hi,

I downloaded the Demo and it does not appear to have all of the features that you show in your article such as the layout wizard, sectional track, or any libraries. It looks like a great tool, but without being able to follow your demo with the one I downloaded, I don't get a whole lot out of the demo other than running trains. I've lloked at the toolbars and they sure don't look like the ones in your article. Guess I have to buy the package in order to be able to do all of the things you show.

Thanks, Scott

Scott,

The software is not Trainplayer, it's 3rd Planit and it is available at the link below.

3rd Planit from El Dorado Software

If you download the DEMO VERSION you will find it to be the same as what is used for the 3rd Planit article and you will be able to follow along then.

Thanks for the link Kevin. I'll probably be buying this soon since I've been given permission by management (my wife) to tear down some walls in the basement for a larger layout!

Regard, Scott

Scott,

That's great!  We never have quite enough layout space.  I'm glad to hear you have an understanding manager, as do I.

I think you will like 3rd Planit once you get going with it.  I too have managegerial approval for a future purchase of 3rd Planit!

In the interim grab the demo and see what the program does.  It is a full version but is limited to 100 elements and no saves.  Still a fellow can learn a lot working with the software even with those limitations.  I'm having fun learning with the demo.

Wow! I have been struggling along trying to use the Atlas program and could not get it to help that much, but this software and especially the article with the VERY helpful videos makes me want to try again with 3rd Planit.

Thanks for putting together such an easily understood article, This new format does really seem to be clearer than any other format I've seen.

First time being able to access the site since Monday.

Kevin, glad you figured out the "re-size" the box issue. I thought you were originally talking about the tutorial video, and not the actual software! 

 I ordered 3d planit and told Randy that I was convinced by the turotial and article in MRH. Here is his reply. Hopefully he will send you be able to advertise with you soon!

Quote from Randy:

"I'll contact them and let them know. The economy was too awful for me to afford an ad in their first issue, but I've heard many good things about them in the past few days."

Thanks for a great magazine and thanks to Ryan for the great tutorial.

Regards,

Scott

I have floundered around with the 3pi manuals but gave up in frustration.  Your article with the "demos" really put me back on track (so to speak).  Going back-and-forth from the printed article to the demos really works for me.  Thank you Ryan for taking the time to produce such a helpful and insightful article, and will be looking forward to the next series.

Gene

Art,

If you have two displays on your computer, you can run 3rd PlanIt on one and the MRH article on the other.  Works real great.

Bob Hayes

For anyone interested, the current version of 3rd PlanIt is 8.6.2 while the version Ryan is using is 7.10.006, according to the second paragraph under "Where do I start?".  There are going to be some differences.

BTW Ryan, I have been using 3rd PlanIt for several years and have already found some features in your article I didn't know existed.  One question on templetes: Can I make a drawing of a room I have alread drawn, a templete? And if so, how?

Bob Hayes

Yes, the original part I tutorial was started way back ago before version 8.x.x was available. I do reference in the tutorial that going forward that a more current version will be used. In fact, part 2 was completed in October 2008 and  uses version 8.06.01, which was the current version at the time. There is about a 6 - 9 month lead time between when the articles are written and when they are published, so there may be a gap on how current a tutorial is to the "now" currenet version available. But the basic tenets of the tutorial are the same no matter the version, yes, some Graphic User Interface  (GUI) and "look and feel" may show in current versions, but the steps are 99.99% unchanged.

You can make a template from any dot 3pi (.3pi) track plan file with just a little work. If for example you have a completed plan, but want to extract the room dimensional walls drawn in you can uncheck all the other layers in the current open plan but leave the Room layer checked. Then open a new file from the menu bar selct File and then New or use the keystroke combination of  Ctrl+N to open a new plan file. Then back to the saved track plan with the room walls go to the menu bar and select Edit and then Select_allor use the key combo of Ctrl+A. Then go back to the menu bar and select Edit and then Copy or use the key combo of Ctrl+C. Then click on the new track plan file and from the menu bar and select Edit and then select Paste or use the key combo of Ctrl+V. Now you can save the file from the menu bar select File and then select Save as or the key combo of Ctrl+Shift+S, and name file file something like Room_Template_012309.3pi or something similar. I like to add the date to new file names to help with version control.

I hope that helps with your current track plan project.

Regards...

Ryan,

Thank you for your great tutorial on a great program!

Like Bob I also have been using 3rd PlanIt for several years, and I also found some features in your article I didn't know existed.

The rezise by factor was new for me and helped me scale down at drawing of the 0-scale Atlas 160 foot through truss bridge to HO, I even rezised it to be 150 long like my Central Valley kit.

This complex drawing needs a faster PC than my laptop. The good news is that "simpler" drawings and 3d views works great. I think the later versions is even faster than older.

If you work with an older and slower PC, you might want to not follow Ryans way of drawing the mesh first, or at least turn that layer of. But then you might need to make a layer like "benchwork edge".

All this said, I am looking forward to your second installation in the next MRH, Ryan.

BTW, Olav - it is nice to see a fellow norwegian US-modeller over here, even a Digitrax user living south east of Oslo, you might know there are quite a few of us in Ostfold!