model railroad track planning

[smf]

Finally... Thanks to Andrew and his perfect support, a first version of a TrackWidget is implemented.

Attached there is the current version. Consecutive Exectution is removed - TrackWidget replaces it with the benefit of a better user interface and better integration into QCad. You'll need at least QCad 3.7.2 because I'm using setGroupOrder, or you have to remove the call in each script (just search for "action.setGroupSortOrder(QCTrack.MenuOrder.GroupSortOrder);" and remove the entire line).

The track widget integrates itself into the Widget panel. Now just select the desired track from the track widget and start extension of an existing track by typing QN or selecting "Insert new track from track widget". Mouse over the existing track and you'll get a preview of the track that would be inserted by left mouse click. If you want to change the connection end, you may right-click in the track widget, click on the "rotate button", select "Rotate track at track widget" or - most preferrable - just enter QR (will work even with mouse over a track, so you see the result "on line"). I will post an updated tutorial later.

Thank you Andrew for your support, and thank you Husky for inciting me to give TrackWidget yet another try.

[Husky]

Just BEAUTIFUL!

Ok, I'm right now playing around ...

Question: I tried the function "Select ... duplicate and move". The tool is asking for "Select end of track" but after picking the end of a track .... nothing happens. I'm doing something wrong? It was working in a predecessor version.

And now I'm sure ...... you will kill me :
Have you noticed the nice preview Icons in the QCAD Library Browser? Is that something what could be implemented in this new TrackWidget?

Worldhusky-2015.01.08-01.png (22.9 KiB) Viewed 320736 times

However - I never checked before similar Programs/Scrips etc. in the www but now I can already tell that your script is VERY good! Thank you for share this with us!

[smf]

Question: I tried the function "Select ... duplicate and move". The tool is asking for "Select end of track" but after picking the end of a track .... nothing happens. I'm doing something wrong? It was working in a predecessor version.

Uh, I have to check this out soon. "It should not be different than before".

And now I'm sure ...... you will kill me :
Have you noticed the nice preview Icons in the QCAD Library Browser? Is that something what could be implemented in this new TrackWidget?

Hehe, no, I won't kill anyone for a proposal I already started implementation of. In the version 63 there is a function that should generate a preview icon, but I couldn't finish it today (debugger always tells me: "can not add null widget"). So: not ready, but hopefully sometimes it will be.

I never checked before similar Programs/Scrips etc. in the www but now I can already tell that your script is VERY good!

Thank you for the compliment. In fact, I tried several track planning programs (free and non-free), but I always missed the cool features of QCad. And in QCad everything you need is there, even for playing.

[smf]

In the new version, Consecutive Extension is removed. Instead of that there is a Track Widget that can be enabled / disabled via menu item QCTrack / View track widget or QV. You then get something like the Block list but with some more information about the tracks you may add.

Track widget enabled

TrackWidgetBase.png (63.02 KiB) Viewed 319772 times

To extend your an existing track, just select a track from the track widget and click "Add track" or choose menu item QCTrack / Insert new track from track widget or type QN. With mouse over the existing track, there should be preview of the track that would be inserted on left mouse click. Edit: starting with version 83, "insert new track" with shortcut QN inserts a new track "everywhere", and "connect new track" with shortcut QC inserts a new track that is connected to an already existing one.

Add track

TrackWidgetAdd.png (15.95 KiB) Viewed 319772 times

Even during preview, you may type QR or select QCTrack / Rotate track at track widget (or you may right click inside the track widget or select a track end from the combobox or hit the Rotate button at the track widget) to select another track end to connect.

So with just 12 clicks you may insert 12 tracks - compared to Consecutive Extension, you save the double clicks and can move/zoom during insertion and you get a preview - I hope, no one is missing the "old" variant.

[smf]

Question: I tried the function "Select ... duplicate and move". The tool is asking for "Select end of track" but after picking the end of a track .... nothing happens. I'm doing something wrong? It was working in a predecessor version.

Uh, I have to check this out soon. "It should not be different than before".

You're right, "Move" and "Duplicate and Move" are not working with the current version. I'm sorry, I'll fix this today or tomorrow (hopefully).

[Clive]

Hi Stefan

Well, I have read through your documentation and tutorials and so far. I have downloaded your current version of QTrack and it is very impressive, sure there are one or two improvements need - but hey , great work so far .

One suggestion I have is that you include some user notes stating that you need to use the 'MaerklinCGleis' file to work with the QTrack extension.

[smf]

attached is version 64 with fixed Move / DupMove (in the file there was an insertion by accident).

[smf]

Well, I have read through your documentation and tutorials and so far. I have downloaded your current version of QTrack and it is very impressive, sure there are one or two improvements need - but hey , great work so far .

Thanks. The scripts are very basic at the moment, so if you miss something, please post it - at the moment I'm working on it, so perhaps I can "just implement" it.

One suggestion I have is that you include some user notes stating that you need to use the 'MaerklinCGleis' file to work with the QTrack extension.

The MaerklinCGleis is only useful if you have Märklin C-Gleis or just want to have a starting point for script checking - you can use QCTrack completely without it and build tracks for every system (as described in tutorial step 2 and 3, e.g. for Ninco slot car system or Fleischmann N scale).

[Clive]

The MaerklinCGleis is only useful if you have Märklin C-Gleis or just want to have a starting point for script checking - you can use QCTrack completely without it and build tracks for every system (as described in tutorial step 2 and 3, e.g. for Ninco slot car system or Fleischmann N scale).

Okay thanks for the explanation.

However there is an issue for me - I don't get the dialog window opening as you describe in step 2.

[smf]

However there is an issue for me - I don't get the dialog window opening as you describe in step 2.

Oh, tutorial 2 or step 2 in tutorial 3? The create-dialog should appear immediately after QCTrack / Create...

[smf]

Tataaaa.

New version attached has icons with radius dependent background color in TrackWidget. Unfortunately, this slows down loading and refreshing "a bit", because the icon is always created from scratch. I will have to look at the item-db used in the library-browser...

[Clive]

Oh, tutorial 2 or step 2 in tutorial 3? The create-dialog should appear immediately after QCTrack / Create...

No Nothing for me On Windows 8.1, any ideas?

[smf]

No Nothing for me On Windows 8.1, any ideas?

Hm, I only use Linux, no Windows here... So the menu item is existing and clickable, but after clicking nothing happens? Could you please start QCad with the following options:

Code: Select all

qcad -rescan -enable-script-debugger

Perhaps the debugger tells us more.

[Clive]

Hm, I only use Linux, no Windows here... So the menu item is existing and clickable, but after clicking nothing happens? Could you please start QCad with the following options:

Same results for me in Linux Mint !

[smf]

Hm. No idea. The debugger does not pop up?

Just to ensure we are talking about the same thing, I recorded the behavor of "Create" with the current version as animated gif on my machine.