Does anyone else feel that Atlas RTS software is almost impossible to get to work right? Any tips?
-Joe
Atlas RTS 7.0 and R8
Atlas Right Track
I use it and have no problems with it. It has a small learning curve unlike some of the other track designers softwares. And for the price you cant beat it.
Some tips
With flex track use the optimize button. It works about 90 % of the time to make the flex track look and flow well. Sometimes it requires adding editional track pieces before and after the flex.
What areas are you haveing problems with?
I've long since mastered
I've long since mastered 7.0, and am well on my way to mastering the Beta release of 8.0 (unavailable to the public as of yet)...It took a while, though... it does have a curve, but then, everything electronic these days seems to!
Is there something specific you're having trouble with? I might be able to walk you through it. I also offer my services with RTS (and as a graphic designer in general) to design a trackplan for your space, if you'd rather go that route.
AR
ATLAS RTS
acbdfaqoz548 wrote:
Does anyone else feel that Atlas RTS software is almost impossible to get to work right? Any tips?
-Joe
While it has several significant issues (bugs), it was worth what we paid for it - nothing. Atlas has a newer release in beta testing. They've been seeking volunteer testers among those who are well-versed in the features of earlier releases.
I've never been able to master it's 3 dimensional renderings among a few other less important features. I'm annoyed every time I use it by it's propensity to inaccurately calculate positions of adjacent track pieces. And the documentation may just as well have been written by an extra-terrestrial.
In defense of the RTS software, it's much better than doodling a track plan as it won't let you cheat - i.e. You can't fudge a given track arrangement into a too narrow/too short of space. It's also a big aid to beginners in that it calculates the amount of track they'll need to possess to complete a given plan, both in total length, and number of individual pieces, i.e #6 RH Turnouts.
I guess the learning curve is somewhat dependent on the user's experience with other software and computers in general.
If it's of use to you, specifically what are you having problems with in RTS? They're several forum memebers who've shown considerable skill in using it - much more skilled(and artistic than I)
With 27 grandkids and great grandchildren in the house this past Christmas and no permanent layout, a floor layout was mandatory to keep them happy and occupied. This plan was drawn for KATO Unitrack using RTS:
The actual layout on the floor wasn't quite so smooth and flowing but it functioned fine as planned. We also had real life BNSF engineer and conductors to make sure all, most, some, a few, prototypical rules were followed.
I find it very difficult as
I find it very difficult as well. Maybe I just get frustrated too easily. How are you supposed to get all the arcs in a curved yard on the same centerpoint? And there must be an eraser or something to remove a track piece you placed earlier, but I can't find it.
acbdfaqoz548 wrote:Does
acbdfaqoz548 wrote:
Does anyone else feel that Atlas RTS software is almost impossible to get to work right? Any tips?
I've never used the Atlas RTS software before, so the thread prompted me to give it a try. I spent an evening tinkering with it and I'm not a fan. On the plus side, working with sectional track and the library of turnouts was a snap. If I wanted to design a yard etc. and see if everything would fit the program is a great asset. Flextrack was a bit more involved and I didn't like how each piece needed to be anchored in order to be placed. Elevations were nothing short of frustrating, not to mention terrain.
sootower wrote:
And the documentation may just as well have been written by an extra-terrestrial.
Agreed. For a first time user the documentation is really poor - it reads like a developer's 'white paper', and offers little help. The tutorial is great if you want to create a figure 8 layout, but offers nothing else.
sootower wrote:
guess the learning curve is somewhat dependent on the user's experience with other software and computers in general.
I use 3D modelling software extensively, some CAD, and teach the full ADOBE suite at University. Despite these experiences this software still wasn't intuitive.
siderod wrote:
It took a while, though... it does have a curve, but then, everything electronic these days seems to!
No doubt in my mind that with some work users could become proficient with this software, and I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from trying it, but I'm not prepared to invest the time to learn this.
In short:
If you are interested in designing a layout and are happy to use sectional track to rough out a design, and don't mind investing a couple of hours to learn the program I think its a decent asset. Likewise, if you need to know if "that yard ladder will fit on the 12" shelf", the program is equally valuable.
If however, you are looking to create a full mock up of your layout, including elevations, terrain etc. I would caution that this will require a personal investment of time that may be difficult to justify.
My $0.02 - I expect change. 
The RTS sortware is a
The RTS sortware is a little quirky, but for the most part it works OK.
The flex track tool is interesting. I found that if you move the two needles on the flex track shaping tool to the left most, but not all of the way, then hit the optimize button several times you usually get the best results.
I never have gotten the elevations tool or the 3d mode working right, but the helix calculator is helpful.
With patience a decent plan can be made: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/4X8NSCALEOLDWEST.jpg
I use XtrkCad, it is also
I use XtrkCad, it is also free and will let you use any track. It is not without its quirks, but it is a good choice for the budget minded who, like me, doesn't only use atlas products. I had used only 4.01, looking for a link to put here I discovered they are up to 4.02, it should be fun to try that out!
http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage
Chris
ATLAS RTS
pcarrell wrote:
It's Atlas track only with that program. They want to sell their own track with it, not somebody elses.
Sure, Atlas wants to sell their own track, But that can't prevent RTS users from designing layouts using other manufacturers' track elements.
Here's an elementary RTS diagram using Kato's N scale Unitrack components:
The Grid is 16" squares. The inner oval's curves are 282 mm radius (#20-110); outer oval's curves are 315 mm radius (#20-120). The switch(turnout) is a Lefthand #6 (#20-202).
It's been years since I've visited the support group for this software(due to lack of participation by knowledgable users). But I'm fairly certain you can find libraries of most manufacturers' track somewhere online. I'm speculating but I'd guess that's one of the reasons that Atlas is releasing a newer version of RTS - one that includes their new code 65 prefab track. Siderod could tell us. He has a copy of the beta version.
I can't seem to figure out
I can't seem to figure out the flex track. I'm attempting to design a small portable shelf layout. I have never designed a track plan my self, only modified existing plans. I plan to use atlas code 55 and figured that the RTS software would be a good place to start a design. If I knew how to design on graph paper with a pencil I'd much rather do that, but I don't so that leaves me with using some kind of software for the design process. Atlas is a good company in my book and I figured that they'd provide something a little more user-friendly or at least something that would provide a wide range from beginner to advanced layout designers.
-Joe
Hope this helps.
acbdfaqoz548 wrote:
I can't seem to figure out the flex track. I'm attempting to design a small portable shelf layout. I have never designed a track plan my self, only modified existing plans. I plan to use atlas code 55 and figured that the RTS software would be a good place to start a design. If I knew how to design on graph paper with a pencil I'd much rather do that, but I don't so that leaves me with using some kind of software for the design process. Atlas is a good company in my book and I figured that they'd provide something a little more user-friendly or at least something that would provide a wide range from beginner to advanced layout designers.-Joe
Flextrack - fast explanation:
select the endpoints of two un-joined sections of track that you wish to join with flextrac. RTS will automatically fill the space between with track - sometimes looking like a pretzel. By adjusting the curvature and optimising (I'm not sure if that's what they called the function) you can smooth the track to create a pleasing transition.
I guess my problem is with
I guess my problem is with elevation. I tried to use a helix and that calculator worked fine. I can't seem to get the track coming off the helix to connect on the bottom. When you turn it 3-D on angle, you can see that it did not connect. If you could use that view to connect it would be a piece of cake. Any tips?
Also, if you are going to take on a 2% grade, how would you adjust the height? piece by piece?
Decent documentation would help
eldecker wrote:
I guess my problem is with elevation. I tried to use a helix and that calculator worked fine. I can't seem to get the track coming off the helix to connect on the bottom. When you turn it 3-D on angle, you can see that it did not connect. If you could use that view to connect it would be a piece of cake. Any tips?
Also, if you are going to take on a 2% grade, how would you adjust the height? piece by piece?
Trying to join tracks on different elevations was where I quit with the program. Short of visiting the forum for advice, the lack of documention turned me off... Program has definite value, but the curve seems a bit steep.
I have been playing with
I have been playing with RTS for a while. This is in RTS:
There are a couple options to place flex track, including straight to a length, fixed curve to a radius and angle, transition sections or curves (used extensively above), but requires some practice.
Eldecker I have not played with elevations yet as I have been busy with other things. But I will take a look at your problem in the next few days or so. If you can get a file with a sample of the problem to me, that may help.
RTS itself comes from a pay-for product called WinRail, which is up to version 9. There is group dedicated to the product that the developer (Gunnar Blumert) monitors:
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WinRailUserGroup/
The group has been quite, but questions still seem to get answered.
Don't get too discouraged,
Charles
Another Vote for XtrkCad
As I've been slowly trying to get back into N scale, I too confronted the problem of how to go about designing a layout. The last time I did this, pencil, paper, and compass were my tools, but I decided to see what I could find online, and if any were free.
I've been using XtrdCad now for a few weeks and have been very happy with it. It has it's quirks just like any other piece of software, but as I've gotten to understand it a bit, things are going together very nicely.
My XtrkCad advice would be to go through the tutorial they have online, as well as a second one in their Wiki about building yards. Both will help you greatly. Also, be careful to understand the difference between JOINING track, vs. CONNECTING track. Joining track connects two pieces of existing track with flextrack, where connecting track will attach two existing pieces of track together.
It also comes with a variety of different track "Parameter Files" including Kato unitrack, Atlas code 55 and 80, Peco, etc.
Their site:
http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage
Tutorial (With sectional track):
http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/BeginnerTutorial
Yards Tutorial:
http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/AddYard
Another handy reference for XtrkCad that I've found that isn't metioned in much stuff is the example layouts that come with it. There's a VERY large N scale layout in there that helped me think through a bunch of stuff. Make sure you check them out.
Good luck!
Ranulf,ranulf wrote:I find
Ranulf,
ranulf wrote:
I find it very difficult as well. Maybe I just get frustrated too easily. How are you supposed to get all the arcs in a curved yard on the same centerpoint? And there must be an eraser or something to remove a track piece you placed earlier, but I can't find it.
To get a series of curves on the same center line you could do a couple things, but the easiest might be to pick one curve as the reference curve and place it on the drawing. Use disconnect if you need to isolate the curve from the other track for the next step. Then select the curve. Go to the special menu (going from memory here, may need to correct this), and pick the parallel track option. Specify how many parallel tracks you want and the spacing and which direction to duplicate, and away you go. I used this in the yard diagram I posted to get the initial alignment of things.
Erase is a little strange. Select the track, and use [CTL]X which is the windows cut command. The scissor button only isolates a piece of track and selects it, you then need to use [CTL]X to delete it.
Charles
Thanks Charles. I will
Thanks Charles. I will have to try that parallel track feature. I really did get frustrated to easily. The more I look into this program the more I find. The automatic crossover feature looks darn useful, but my trackplan doesn't call for any so I haven't tried it out.
I eventually figured out how to erase. I found the delete button in the edit tab and learned I had to disconnect the track piece(s) I wanted to erase and then select that piece (or group) with the arrow button engaged, THEN click the edit tab and finally I click the delete button...
You'd think the programmers would put that on the main page... Maybe they don't make mistakes.
"You'd think the
"You'd think the programmers would put that on the main page... Maybe they don't make mistakes."
Oh no, speaking from experience, programmers make plenty of mistakes! Trouble is that they are often charged with writing the documentation. Big Mistake!
They know how the product works and they write from that perspective! One day companies will realize the documentation needs to be written by people who have had to learn how to use the product!
Eldecker I played with
Eldecker
I played with elevation a bit, maybe I was not able to recreate your problem. But I did discover an interesting thing. When you click the "Set height (H)" tool, and select a track joint and the "Set height" dialog box comes up. The interesting part is the option "Apply this setting to connected tracks." You may get better results with this deselected. The operation of this option may be a little unstable, I will need to experiment more or something.
One thing I verified, turnouts are kept level in the plan even if the connected track has a gradient.
I did notice something, you may have more control over things if you have the "Calculate gradient" option selected in the "Set height" dialog box (only available when the end of a track is selected, not the joint between tracks). And if the track you want to join is already at different elevations but the ends seem to match (like what you are describing?) you still need to click the ends of both tracks to get them to join when using the join tool.
Any help?
Charles
jroberts227, Have you
jroberts227,
Have you tried to install and run RTS 7.0 on your vista machine? I was a little concerned about my Vista Home Premium laptop, but I installed it and it seems to run quite well. There is a download from Microsoft to allow you to use the help file that comes with RTS. I will get back with the link later.
Charles
rts elevatgions
Hi all,
I read thru the thread looking for advice on setting elevations. I can get the tool to work but it sets all the track in a section to the same elevation. I am looking for a grade so I need a top and bottom elevation. I must be missing something?
Gene
Gene, While I was
Gene,
While I was fiddling with it, it seemed to want a track with an end to set it to a grade. So if you already have the track set up, maybe you just disconnect it at the points where the grade starts and ends, and click the ends of that section to set the height with a grade, etc. I will experiment when I get home.
Charles
Gene et al, I did a bit
Gene et al,
I did a bit more experimenting:
To get a gradient:
1) Isolate the section of track to be graded
a) disconnect the track at the start and end of the grade from the track not to be graded
b) for turnouts, disconnect spurs so that the turnout has no more that two connections, will reconnect later
c) for crossings, disconnect crossing track from the crossing so that there are no more that two connections to the crossing, again will reconnect later
2) Using the Height tool, select the end of the track that is changing elevation to provide the gradient
3) When the dialog box comes up, select the option: Calculate gradient
Notes:
1) Review the help topics for more details:
Gradients and level grounds
Tools-Height
2) I am not sure what the option does: Apply this setting to connected tracks. Perhaps further experimentation will reveal its nature. Perhaps it applies to changing the height of a non-track object that has track connected to it? (if that can be done...)
3) If the Calculate gradient option is not picked the Height tool changes the height of all the connected track without changing the gradient, just as if a track joint between two pieces is picked instead of the end of the section.
4) Running Vista and the help file don't worK? I kept this link to the Vista update. This update allows Vista to work with the old Windows help file format that RTS 7.0 uses:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6EBCFAD9-D3F5-4365-8070-334CD175D4BB&displaylang=en
Reconnecting the track:
If you had to disconnect track from the tack you were grading you may want to reconnect things. So once you have graded the section of track you were working on you should follow this specific procedure to reconnect the track. A little background, as you may have noticed, when joining sections of track the first one clicked will move to join the second track. This is important to remember once you have finished getting the grade you want. Because even though from the plan view the track looks ready to join, it should have different elevation now. To join the track the way you want:
1) Decide which track you want to move in elevation to join the other track.
2) Using the Connect track tool click near the end of this track to join, but not right at the joint (the tool will change shape when you are close enough).
3) Again using the Connect track tool click near the end of the other track in the same manner.
4) The first track should now have moved to the elevation of the second track and they should be joined. The elevation should have changed without changing any grades.
5) Keep at it until your eyes pop out of your head or you are finished.
I believe this all works. I have tested this on my RTS 7.0 on my Vista laptop and I believe I tried all the different combinations and they worked. So I hope it will work for you.
Charles
Alternate to Atlas RTS 7.0
Jacko-Pat wrote:
I am wondering if it is possible to edit the tools/track sizes so I could use Kato unitrack in the planning. Anyone???
Jacko
If your planning on usingkato track then that program won't work for you as it didn't for me. But that's to be understood it's made for Atlas.
I use Drail I posted about it here earlier today. It's about equivelnt to it but in my opinion alot more user friendly.
The link is in my earlier post. However the price is more $55.00 but worth it to me. Little to no learning curve and many Model Train companies in their library. Also windows point and click simple. :)
If you want to use RTS with
If you want to use RTS with other track beside Atlas, you could go for the pay-for version of the package WinRail:
http://www.winrail.com/
It is more than $55 though. The site seems down at the moment, but I suspect it comes with KATO.
Charles
How about (list
How about (list includes Kato, and a zillion others):
http://www.winrail.com/ProdList.html
But don't expect to get away with less than $80:
WinRail 9.0 Standard - £39.95 (approx US$80.00)
WinRail 9.0 DeLuxe - £59.95 (approx US$120.00)
Upgrade from previous version might be around $40-$60.
Charles
elevatons with right track v7
Hi all,
I finally got the elevation tool to work! tah dah I guess that if you have good advice you can do most anything. Thanks again to Charles for the suggestions. I resorted to taking a somewhat older version (not the final-is there such an animal?) and using the scissor to cut away all the track I did not care abt. then it worked fine. the first few tries with out that I could not get the calculate gradient box to light up? guess I was always missing some piece of track on a switch or some thing?
Thanks- this is a great site,
Gene
Hi guys. I have my layout
Hi guys. I have my layout in a gif image, but the I am losing my mind trying to create it in RTS. I have spent a long time on it and it never fits right. And being new, I could really use the plan to help me get my layout off paper and onto my table. So if there are and RTS vets out there that would like to help a guy out, I can send you my gif. It's not a complex plan, and only 4'x8'.
RE: If you want to use RTS with
It does include Kato track in their library. I can vouch for that. I checked it out a bit ago also it's $120.00 US
Offers alot thought and it wouild appear to be simple.
I tried it also but found Drail to be cheaper and easier to use.
I don't work for the company just tried them all just about and the easiest and most dollar smart program is that one(Drail)
And I'm an actual Newbie to this stuff, so just working off of common sense, and not experience too.
taz-n-rr wrote:
If you want to use RTS with other track beside Atlas, you could go for the pay-for version of the package WinRail:
http://www.winrail.com/
It is more than $55 though. The site seems down at the moment, but I suspect it comes with KATO.
Charles
atlas right track V8.0
Well I just downloaded the new version of right track and I couldn't find much of a difference in the old vs the new. It still has the same crappy structure files. they did add code 65 snap track library which has about 8 pieces of track! I will have to ac tually sit down and play with it but it didn't seem worth the download time!
Anyone else out there use it yet?
Gene
PS still haven't gotten the elevation thing to work but then I haven't spent a lot of time trying.
rts v8
Hi again,
I spent some time using rts V8 from Atlas and it does seem to work better. It includes #10 turnouts and a second wye in the code 55 library.
I also used it to finally figure out how to set elevations! I had trouble with the first couple of attempts. I had my computer hang while trying to reconnect sections. I now know that the problem was the fact that the ends were not compatible heights and I would get strange error messages like 'no matching track sections found'? It would also connect random sections to the one I was trying to connect to. I think I have all this worked out. I make sure I do my grades in small sections especially where there are turnouts, making sure that the ends are not joined to other track and making sure the new sections are set at the right height. Anyway, I did a new trial layout and the gradients all worked out although not without some angst!
Again, thanks to all who came to my rescue,
Gene
Thread title updated to
Thread title updated to reflect the R8 discussion.
atlas rtsV8
I know that it has been some time since this thread was open for discussion but I hope a few will get here from the Recent Posts section. I am having trouble with the reconnect tool in RTS8.??? if I disconnect to make a change then try to reconnect I get a blob at the joint that disappears as soon as I do something else? I have tried everything that I could think of but I still have a plan that has some unconnected track sections?
Help!
Gene
Joined: 2004-09-22