Making a Start
A page about running Templot for the first time.
IMPORTANT NOTE for users of Windows 95, 98, ME.(This note does not apply to Windows XP or Windows Vista)
Templot is a multi-windowed program which needs a substantial proportion of the available resources in Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME. Templot is intended for recreational use - it is not recommended to have Templot running concurrently with software for everyday work in these versions of Windows. Close one or the other first. This note does not apply to Windows NT4, Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista. There is no restriction on the use of Templot concurrently with other software in these versions of Windows. |
1. Running TEMPLOT :
To run Templot, double-click the Templot shortcut icon on your desktop.
Alternatively, from the Windows taskbar
click the Start > Programs > Templot > run Templot menu item.
( or click Start > Run..., type C:\TEMPLOT\TemplotZero.exe in the box and click OK.)
( If you specified a destination folder for Templot other than C:\TEMPLOT , run TemplotZero.exe from you destination folder.)
On some systems Templot may not be able to run if there is no default printer
on the system. If there is no printer driver yet installed on your system,
please install one before running Templot. You don't need a printer to be
physically present, all that is needed is the driver program from the Windows
CD-ROM for a typical printer, e.g. HP Deskjet. To install the driver, click
Start > Settings > Control Panel >
Printers > Add Printer . ( If your system
includes a fax-modem, it is likely that the fax software has installed a
virtual printer, in which case another printer driver will not be
necessary.)
2. Licence:
If you have not yet entered your lock-release code number to run Templot on this computer you will be asked to do so in this window (details may differ in earlier versions of Templot):
Enter the code number in the box and then click OK.
If you do not know your lock-release code number, please click the option which applies to you.
If you have not yet obtained a lock-release code number by purchasing a Templot licence, please click the order... button or this link: Templot ordering to buy a Templot licence online.
Make sure that you quote your computer internal reference number when purchasing a licence (shown here highlighted in yellow - the number shown here on this web page is for example only, yours will be different). For more information about Templot licensing, click the more information button.
3. Start-up:
During start-up, several messages and option forms may appear concerning colours, screen resolution, etc., depending on your current screen settings. Respond to these as you wish, or for now, if you are impatient to get Templot started just keep pressing the ENTER key.
A window called the control room will appear, disappear and then eventually reappear looking like this. Click the drawing pad button or just press ENTER again. The control room window disappears again.
You should now be seeing a drawing of a B-6 left-hand curved turnout on the drawing pad window. This is the window in which all your design work is done. This start-up turnout is curved to a scale radius of 10 chains (660 ft) along the main road, and is drawn in an odd fictional gauge called T-55 (shown arrowed above). This has a one-inch track gauge at a scale of 5.5 mm/ft. This is fine for now if you have just started Templot for the first time, there is no need to change it while experimenting.
(It is easy to change to your chosen gauge and scale later. Select the control > gauge and scale... menu item.)
A turnout is comprised of two basic elements, as shown boxed above. The area containing the movable point blades is called the switch. Switches are available in several ranges of different sizes, the one shown here is size B in the REA semi-curved series. (Sizes A, B and C in this series are the most commonly used switches in models based on UK-pattern bullhead track.)
The area in which the outer rail of the turnout road crosses the inner rail of the main road is called the V-crossing (or sometimes the "frog"). Crossings are available in a range of different angles, the one shown here has an angle of 1:6. (This means that the rails separate by 1 extra foot for every extra 6 feet along them.)
Turnouts can be created in a huge range of sizes by combining different switch sizes with different crossing angles. Much of your design work in Templot will consist of selecting these different size combinations, and then setting a curving radius along the main road such that the resulting turnout fits the desired location on your track plan.
The first thing to do is to switch on your printer and select the help > print F key chart menu item. This will print a chart of the function key shortcuts which can be placed behind your keyboard for reference. (If you find the chart baffling, fear not, all will become clear as you work through these pages.)
If you don't like the screen colours, click the small multi-coloured button near the top left-hand corner and select a different colour scheme. Its also possible to change all the drawing pad colours individually using the pad > pad drawing colours menu items.
The B-6 turnout template which you are seeing is the starting condition for
the current template. It is waiting
there for you to adjust it to the
size,
length and
curving line which you require.
There are several ways to do this, but the most frequently used are:
-
The mouse actions, when you want
to make trial-and-error adjustments. To experiment with the many mouse actions
available, click mouse actions for a
step-by-step guide to using them.
-
Changing the settings on the quick
set form, when the template is a common size, and you know
exactly the size and radius wanted. Select the track
> quick set... menu item. Click quick
set for more information.
-
Using the
track > switch...
track > crossing...
geometry > curving data...
and other menu items, when you have more specific requirements.
Watch this screen video to see how easy it is to make these adjustments and print a turnout construction template. Click startup video page to see the printed template and watch how it was created.
Click mouse actions for a step-by-step guide to using them for the first time.
Click finding help to read about the help information available within Templot.
Click what is a template ? for an explanation of what is meant by the current template.
Click drawing pad to read about zooming and panning across your view of the drawing.
Click storage box for information about storing and saving templates.
Click utterly baffled if you are still scratching your head.
Quick-Set Form
To see the quick-set form select the track > quick set... menu item.
Use this form to quickly set a new mint template.
A mint template is a new
current template with the following
settings:
-
Regular crossing with auto-fit entry "straight".
-
Normal length turnout road.
-
No approach or exit track.
-
No slew or transition curve.
-
No blanking.
-
No shoved timbers.
-
No timber randomizing.
-
If there was previously no timbering, equalized-incremental timbering style
is restored.
-
Fixing peg in the
CTRL-0 reset position.
-
No template name.
- Memo text cleared.
Other settings remain unchanged from your previous current template. Click what is a template ? for an explanation of what is meant by the current template.
Use the option buttons and drop-down lists on the form to select the size and curving-line radius for the new template.
The turnout sizes shown include REA-pattern switches (A,B,C, etc.) which are familiar to UK modellers from published pointwork plans and commercially available components. The second part of the size designation is the crossing angle. So REA B-7 refers to a turnout having REA type B switch blades and an angle of 1:7 at the crossing (frog). Click turnout terminology for an explanation of the terms switch and crossing.
Setting a positive radius causes the main road to curve in the same direction as the hand. A negative radius curves in the opposite direction (Y-turnout). The radii shown in the list are full-size prototype dimensions. The equivalent model radius at your current scale is shown below it.
When you click OK the new current template will appear in the centre of the drawing pad, ready for you to print (F11), adjust as required, or incorporate into your background drawing.
If the pad zoom > fit option button is selected, the pad view will zoom in or out as necessary to just fit the new template.
If the pad zoom > on datum option button is selected, or the current template is already on the datum, the new template will be shifted to the datum (green dot), the pad view will zoom in or out as necessary to just fit the new template.
Otherwise the zoom settings will remain unchanged.
Handy Hints:
A much wider range of settings, including loose-heel and GWR-pattern switches,
and different types of crossing, is available by selecting the
track > switch...
track >
crossing...
geometry > curving
data...
and other menu items.
If plain track is set, the above turnout settings will apply if track > insert turnout in plain track is subsequently selected.
more notes here soon
page revised © 1-Dec-2007