Templot  Reference  Information

 This page is still under construction, and will in time contain the complete reference information for all of Templot's many functions. Apologies for its scrappy format at present.

© revised 11-Jan-2001

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• Templot Abbreviations :

ACW Anti-clockwise

CESP Crossing entry-straight point

CW Clockwise

DP Deflection point

FP Fine point

MCP Main-side crossing point

MRP Main-side return point

MS Main-side

MVJP Main-side V point-rail joint position

MXP Main-side crossover mid-point

TCP Turnout-side crossing point

TORG Turnout radius origin (radial centre)

TP Toe point

TRP Turnout-side return point

TS Turnout side

TVJP Turnout-side V splice-rail joint position

TXP Turnout-side crossover mid-point

TEMPLOT HELP TEXTS

The following information is a compilation of most of the Help texts from within the Templot program. This was originally compiled by Dave Summers, for which many thanks.

 Please see also the Templot documentation in the Templot Companion pages, which duplicates much of this information in a more web-friendly format.

The Templot upgrade version number from which the text was extracted is shown against each topic. If you are using a later upgrade please check for any revisions within the program.

• Adjacent track spacing.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter the centre-to-centre distance in millimetres to the adjacent track. It is possible to use different spacing dimensions for the tracks on each side of the template.

TS is "turnout-side", i.e. the same side as the hand of the template.

MS is "main-side", i.e. the opposite side to the hand of the template.

Separate templates for adjacent tracks are created by selecting the TOOLS > MAKE CROSSOVER or TOOLS > MAKE DOUBLE-TRACK menu items.

Adjacent track rails can also be placed on the current template as planning aids, by selecting the GENERATOR > ADJACENT TRACKS menu items. It is necessary to select each rail separately.

The minimum spacing on straight track should normally give a 6ft way between the inner rails, i.e. 11ft 2in (134in) (scale) minimum centre-to-centre spacing for standard-gauge tracks.

Where there are sharp curves or super-elevation, this distance must be increased to allow for vehicle overhang.

The minimum spacing should also be increased when using the TOOLS > MAKE DOUBLE-TRACK functions on a transition curve, as it is not then mathematically possible to create an exact uniformly spaced adjacent track.

Where the adjacent track forms a loop or siding, the spacing should normally be increased by 4ft to 15ft 2in (182in) (scale). This is to provide a space for signal posts and other obstructions, and to ensure the safety of shunting staff.

If preferred, full-size dimensions can be entered (in inches) by using the P conversion factor. For example, to enter the scale equivalent of 15ft 2in, enter p182. For more information about conversion factors, click the WHAT? button.

Changes made here will be reset if a new gauge/scale setting is selected. Many model railway gauge standards incorporate overscale nominal spacings to allow for the use of sharp curves.

• Background Drawing List   [ v:0.66.a ]

This form can be thought of as an annexe to your storage box, listing the templates that have been copied from the box to appear on your background drawing.

To remove a template from the background, select it in the list, and then click the WIPE button. This will not delete it from the box; it simply becomes an unused template, and can be restored to the background drawing by clicking again the COPY TO BACKGROUND button on the box.

To remove all the background templates, click the WIPE ALL button.

Templates appear on the background reflecting the settings of the pad GENERATOR menu items that were in effect when they were copied to the background. They can be updated to correspond to the current settings on the GENERATOR menu by clicking the REBUILD or REBUILD ALL buttons.

But you will only see these changes if the relevant SHOW option boxes are ticked. These boxes let you customize the way background templates are shown on the screen, they have no effect on the printed output or a DXF export file.

If you are building a complete track layout in the background, it is usually less confusing to display the background templates in skeleton form only, with the rail outer-edges and perhaps the timbers omitted. But if you want to print them this way, you must remember to make the necessary changes in the GENERATOR menu and then click REBUILD or REBUILD ALL. You can if you wish then restore the GENERATOR settings for the current template on the pad without affecting the background.

(If you want to print the entire drawing including the current template without rails or timbers, a quicker way which does not affect the background drawing on the screen is to use the PRINT > PRINTED ELEMENT OPTIONS menu items. Be aware, however, that you cannot use these options to print features that were never generated.)

Clicking the BOX button shows the storage box. Read the WHAT NEXT? notes for box for more information about working with background templates.

• Background Shapes   [ v:0.66.a ]

These simple background drawing functions allow the addition to the drawing of such features as baseboard edges and joint lines, or other fixed obstructions such as a control panel space or turntable well.

Shapes might also be added to the drawing to represent architectural items on the model, such as a signal cabin or station platform.

You can also add short labels to identify different parts of the drawing. "Short" means not more than 50 characters. If you want to make detailed notes about the drawing you should enter these in the MEMO area of the INFORMATION panel for each template.

It is also possible to add target mark shapes (small cross-hairs symbols) to the drawing as alignment and reference markers.

Shapes and labels can be drawn in several different ways:

The spacing-ring tool can also be used as a "drawing pen". Select the TOOLS > SPACING-RING menu item and see the help notes for more information.

Background template name labels can be converted to label shapes, so that they can appear on the printed templates. To do this click MAKE LABEL SHAPE in the pop-up menu for the template.

The size and position of existing shapes can be changed as required, either by using the mouse actions or by entering new dimensions directly. When mouse actions are used this window will be temporarily hidden to give a clearer view of the pad.

The drawn shapes are treated as part of the grid, in other words they are unaffected by the shift and rotate template functions, and are not included in the template data files saved from the storage box. They can, however, be included in a DXF export file if the background shapes layers are enabled.

Your collection of background shapes and labels can be saved (in a .bgs file) and reloaded again next time.

• Adding Background Shapes   [ v:0.66.a ]

To add a background line, shape or label to the drawing pad and printed template do this:

In the NEW panel click one of the SHAPE option buttons to select a LINE, RECTANGLE, CIRCLE, LABEL or TARGET MARK.

For a line, click one of the LINE option buttons to select a SOLID or DOTTED line. This setting also applies when drawing lines with the mouse.

For a rectangle or circle, click one of the STYLE option buttons to select one of these styles:

TRANSPARENT means that the underlying grid or other previously drawn shapes show through.

BLANK means that the shape is drawn empty, blanking out anything underlying it.

HATCHED means that the shape is drawn filled with a cross-hatched pattern.

Enter a name for the shape or the text for the label in the name box. A rectangle might be called "Lever Frame" or "Access Way", for example. (Other than for labels, this name will not appear on the drawing, it simply provides a reference in the list of shapes.)

The shapes are drawn in the order shown in the list, so blank or hatched shapes may be overdrawn by subsequent ones. Labels are always drawn as a blank rectangle containing the text. Shapes should therefore be placed in the list in an order that allows for any overlaps. They will always be overdrawn by any overlapping part of the track drawing.

If there are already some shapes in the list, click the list to select the entry below which you wish to add the new shape.

If you want to locate the new shape with the mouse, click the pad in two locations, representing the ends or opposite corners of the shape. For a circle, "opposite corners" refers to an imaginary enclosing square box.

To locate a label with the mouse, click the pad once to indicate the top left corner of the label.

To locate a target mark with the mouse, click the pad once to indicate the centre of the target.

Then click the ADD CLICKED SHAPE button to insert the shape in the list and add it to your drawing. (If you re-size the window to get a clearer view of the pad, this button will remain in view.)

If you want to enter dimensions for the shape directly, click the ENTER DIMENSIONS... button and enter the requested dimensions for your shape or label.

Bear in mind that unless you use conversion factors all shape dimensions should be entered in mm. So to avoid confusion, it is sensible to set the grid spacing in mm before adding shapes, by clicking the GRID... button.

The spacing-ring tool can also be used as a pen to draw a series of connected LINE shapes. Select the TOOLS > SPACING-RING menu item for more information about this function.

By clicking the DRAW WITH MOUSE button LINE shapes can also be drawn freehand with the mouse. Click the white "more help information" bar below for more details.

To delete a shape from the drawing, select the shape in the list, then click the DELETE button or press the Delete key on the keyboard. To delete all the shapes click the CLEAR ALL button.

To change the details or dimensions of a shape, select the shape in the list, make any changes in the NEW panel, and then click the MODIFY... button.

Alternatively the selected shape can be adjusted by mouse action. Click the CORNER 1, CORNER 2 or SHIFT buttons to make the required changes.

The details of the currently selected shape are shown below the list, and the shape appears highlighted in red on the drawing pad.

Shapes drawn freehand with the mouse or added using the spacing-ring tool can be modified and deleted in the same way as shapes which have been entered here directly.

A RECTANGLE shape can be converted to 4 separate LINE shapes marking its outline, by clicking the MODIFY > REC-LINES button. This enables you to modify or delete each line separately if desired.

Click HIDE when you have finished adding, modifying and deleting shapes.

It is also possible to make changes to all the listed shapes, using these buttons in the ALL SHAPES panel:

To change the font and text colour used for labels, click the LABEL FONT... button.

To change the colour of shapes drawn on the screen, click the SHAPES COLOUR > PAD... button.

To change the colour in which shapes are printed, click the SHAPES COLOUR > PRINT... button

To move all the shapes by a specified amount, click the SHIFT ALL BY... button.

To move all the shapes by mouse action, click the MOUSE ACTION SHIFT ALL button.

To enlarge or reduce all the shapes by a specified amount, click the SCALE ALL BY... button.

To rotate all the shape locations by a specified angle, click the ROTATE ALL BY... button. The shapes will be rotated around the current location of the spacing-ring tool, which should be positioned first (TOOLS > SPACING-RING menu item). Note that only the locations of the shapes will be rotated. The outlines of rectangle and label shapes, axes of elliptical circle shapes, and target mark arms will remain square to the grid.

If you want rectangle outlines to be rotated, they must first be converted to lines by clicking the ALL SHAPES > REC-LINES button.

To mirror-image all the shapes (flip them about the margins), click the MIRROR > ON X or MIRROR > ON Y buttons. After doing this you may need to zoom out to see them, and you will probably want to shift them all back into your drawing area.

To delete all the shapes from the list and from your drawing, click the CLEAR ALL button.

These background shapes are not included in template data files when they are saved from the storage box. The current collection of shapes can be saved to a separate file by clicking the SAVE AS... button, and a previously saved collection of shapes can be reloaded by clicking the RELOAD... button. You can build up a collection of shapes from more than one file by clicking the ADD FILE... button.

If the HIDE ON RELOAD option box is ticked, the shapes form will be hidden after reloading a shapes file. Otherwise it will remain visible for any additions or changes to be made.

Handy Hints:

These shapes will not actually appear on the drawing pad unless the PAD BACKGROUND OPTIONS > DRAW BACKGROUND SHAPES entry in the PAD menu is currently selected (bullet showing),

Nor on the printed templates unless the PRINTED BACKGROUND OPTIONS > BACKGROUND SHAPES ON entry in the PRINT menu is currently selected (bullet showing).

When labels are printed they appear rotated through 90 degrees relative to their position on the screen. This is to match the paper orientation. The top-left corner location remains fixed. Bear this in mind when adding labels to the drawing.

When entering dimensions directly, if you request a pre-set dimension by entering a slash "/" the relevant dimension will be taken from the positions of the most recent copies of the spacing-ring tool. This is useful if you need a shape that is a specified distance from the rails, for example. Set the size of the ring accordingly.

If there are insufficient ring copies the current spacing-ring position will be used instead. It is not necessary to request the pre-set for all four dimensions; any figures entered will be used instead, which might be useful occasionally.

Select the TOOLS > SPACING-RING menu item and click the WHAT? button for more information about using the spacing-ring and making ring copies.

Remember to save your shapes before you quit Templot if you will need them again. They are saved separately from your template data files so that you can start a fresh track design with your existing baseboard outlines.

• Data for Background Shapes   [ v:0.66.a ]

Shapes are defined by entering the X, Y co-ordinate dimensions for 2 separate points as follows:

For a LINE, enter the dimensions to the 2 end points of the line, (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2).

For a RECTANGLE, enter the dimensions to the bottom-left corner (X1, Y1) and the top-right corner (X2, Y2).

For a CIRCLE, enter the dimensions to the bottom-left corner (X1, Y1) and the top-right corner (X2, Y2) of an imaginary enclosing rectangle. If this enclosing rectangle is not a square, (with all sides of equal length), the circle will become an ellipse.

(When exported in DXF file format, an ellipse will be "averaged" to a circle. There are few elliptical features on a model railway.)

For a LABEL, enter the dimensions to the top-left corner (X, Y).

For a TARGET MARK, enter the dimensions to the centre (X, Y), and the length (each way) of the horizontal and vertical arms.

Note that unless you use conversion factors all dimensions should be entered in mm. To avoid confusion, set the grid spacing in mm before adding background shapes (click the GRID... button).

For more information about using conversion factors click the WHAT? button.

Handy Hint:

The figures that appear initially represent the most recently clicked location(s) on the drawing pad. If you want your shape or label to be at this location, just press the ENTER key for each dimension.

An easier way to do this is simply to click the ADD CLICKED SHAPE button. Click the two ends or opposite corners of the required location first. For a LABEL, just click the top-left corner. For a TARGET MARK, click the centre location.

If you request a pre-set dimension by entering a slash "/" the relevant dimension will be taken from the positions of the most recent copies of the spacing-ring tool. This is useful if you need a shape that is a specified distance from the rails, for example. Set the size of the ring accordingly.

If there are insufficient ring copies the current spacing-ring position will be used instead. It is not necessary to request the pre-set for all four dimensions, any figures entered will be used instead, which might be useful occasionally.

Select the TOOLS > SPACING-RING menu item and click the WHAT? button for more information about using the spacing-ring and making ring copies.

• Blanking Length   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter a dimension in mm which represents the length of your turnout that will be blanked out and not appear in the drawing.

This length is measured from the rail-end datum (the fixing peg RESET position, CTRL-0), towards the crossing and includes the approach track length, if any.

Blanking part of the turnout is useful when superimposing two templates. For example you may want to omit the first two sleepers between the rail-joint and toe (blade tips) when creating a tandem turnout, or fitting two turnouts close together. Likewise by blanking up to the crossing you can use it as a separate component in a complex formation.

The pre-set dimension is zero, i.e. no blanking.

Note that setting a blanking length does not change the underlying overall length of the turnout, and any blanking is automatically cancelled by some Templot functions to avoid confusion.

(e.g. the CONVERT TO PLAIN TRACK function, the SWAP CURRENT END-FOR-END and MAKE DOUBLE TRACK tools, and the ADJUST PLAIN TRACK LENGTH (F3/F4), ADJUST APPROACH LENGTH (F3) and MAINTAIN LENGTH (CTRL-F9) mouse actions.)

Blanking is not available when drawing plain track. The same effect is obtained more conveniently by simply changing the plain track length (mouse action F3 or F4), having first set the fixing peg at the opposite end (CTRL-0 or CTRL-1 peg positions).

Handy Hints:

It is easier to set the blanked length by moving the peg to the desired position (with mouse action CTRL-F8) and then selecting the TRACK > SNAP LENGTHS > BLANK UP TO PEG menu item. The blanked length can be increased or reduced this way.

To blank out the part of a turnout beyond the peg (i.e towards the crossing end), select the TRACK > SNAP LENGTHS > SNAP TO PEG menu item, or simply reduce the overall length (mouse action F4).

To use the switch as a separate component (as a set of catch points, for example) select the TRACK > SNAP LENGTHS > TURNOUT > SNAP TO CATCH POINTS menu item.

To cancel blanking, set a blanking length of zero, or select the TRACK > SNAP LENGTHS > CANCEL BLANKING menu item.

It is possible to set a negative blanking length. This permits a timber to be shoved out beyond the CTRL-0 datum position, if necessary, but otherwise it has no effect. Note that if you subsequently cancel blanking, such a shoved timber will become inaccessible.

Because of the way Templot generates turnouts it is not possible to finish the rail edges exactly at the blanking point. You will need to allow a slight overlap when joining blanked templates.

(Caution: If you blank to beyond the nose of the V at the crossing, select the PRINT > PRINTED DRAWING OPTIONS > RAIL INFILL > OUTLINE ONLY menu item before printing the current template. Otherwise a risk exists that the rail INFILL colour function might fail, possibly wasting coloured ink across a large area of the paper.)

• Crossing Sizes and Unit Angles   [ v:0.66.a ]

The crossing part of a turnout is the arrangement of rails and fittings that permit the left-hand rail of one diverging road to cross the right-hand rail of the other diverging road. This part of a turnout is sometimes called the "frog".

The size of a crossing is determined by specifying the angle between these two rails at their intersection point. In British practice this angle is always specified as a ratio or unit angle. A crossing angle of 1:6, for example, means that the running edges of the rails are 1ft apart at a distance of 6ft from the intersection point. Note that this is an inverse measure, meaning that as the unit angle figure increases, so the angle between the rails decreases.

In small-scale models we are always short of space, and generally have to settle for shorter turnouts than full-size practice would use in the same situation. So the suggested minimum crossing angles for model use are these:

In yards and sidings 1:5 minimum.

Slow-speed crossovers in running lines with little curving or straight 1:6 minimum.

Higher-speed crossovers in running lines or where there is moderate curving 1:8 minimum.

Crossovers and junctions in sharply curved running lines 1:10 minimum.

If the curving radius is moderately negative, one full size less can be used, i.e. 1:4 minimum for yards, etc. If there is significant negative curving, producing a Y-turnout effect, two full sizes less can be used, i.e. 1:3 minimum for yards, etc.

The intersection point mentioned above is called the "Fine Point", and Templot marks this point with a small cross. Note that in full-size practice this point is not the tip of the V-rails. If the V were made infinitely sharp the tip would be damaged by the first wheel that ran over it. The normal bullhead practice is to blunt the V back to a tip width of 3/4", and Templot draws all Vs this way.

If you are using exact-scale flangeways you can follow prototype practice and blunt off your Vs to match the templates. If you are using wider than scale flangeways, you will usually get better running by using sharp Vs located at the fine point mark.

Because the rail chairs and other fittings have to be made to match the crossing angle, crossings normally conform to a fixed set of sizes increasing in 1/4-unit steps; for example 1:5.75, 1:6, 1:6.25, etc. If the calculations for a complex junction require an in-between size, the normal practice is to use the nearest standard size and adjust the rails slightly to fit.

When you are adjusting the crossing angle with the mouse action (F5), Templot normally snaps the crossing angle to the nearest 1/4 unit step. You can change this behaviour by selecting the ADJUST > CROSSING ANGLE OPTIONS menu items.

(N.B. Within Templot, all crossing angles use the R.A.M. unit measure. For an explanation of this and how to specify C.L.M. units instead, click the PROGRAM > EXPERT > UNIT ANGLES > ?HELP menu item in the CONTROL ROOM. To convert the current template from RAM to CLM units, click the TOOLS > CONVERT RAM TO CLM menu item.)

• Crossing Size Form   [ v:0.66.a ]

Use this form to select the size and type of crossing to be used for your turnout when you don't want to set the turnout size using either the ADJUST SIZE (F5) mouse action, or on the TRACK > QUICK SET... form.

Select the crossing you require by clicking the lists, and then click the OK button.

Clicking the RESTORE button will restore the previous settings.

The list of crossing angles contains the most common sizes for model use. To use a size not listed click OTHER and OK. The data-entry form will appear for you to enter the angle you require. (The next time you select this form the list will show the nearest listed angle. To continue using the previous angle, you must click OTHER again.)

This form is concerned only with the geometry of the rails. To change the appearance of the crossing, select the TRACK > NON-STANDARD... menu item to set the timber spacing or check rail lengths, or the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING menu items to change the timbering styles.

• Types of Crossing   [ v:0.66.a ]

Templot offers you four types of crossing geometry:

REGULAR CROSSING : This is the normal type of crossing used in crossovers and junctions. The radius in the turnout road between the switch and the crossing finishes a little way short of the crossing, and both roads through the crossing then continue at the radius of the main road.

In other words, if the whole turnout is on a straight, both roads through the crossing will be straight. If the turnout is on a curve, the curving radius applies to both roads through the crossing, i.e. the turnout road is curved to the same radius through the crossing as the main road.

Templot generates regular crossings with a short length of entry "straight" in front of the fine point, sufficient to ensure that the knuckle point between the wing rails is on the "straight" portion. The limit of the turnout curve is marked by a RADIAL END mark across between the rails.

By entry "straight" in quotes is meant that this section will be straight only if the whole turnout is on a straight. If the turnout is on a curve, this section will be curved to the same radius as the main road.

If the AUTO-FIT option button is set (recommended), Templot will calculate a suitable (usually short) length for the entry "straight" for each template.

If the FIXED AT... option button is set, after clicking OK, you can enter some other (longer) length for the entry "straight" which will be used for all subsequent new templates. This will give an easier run through the crossing, but at the expense of a significantly smaller turnout curve radius.

You will also probably want to increase the length of entry "straight" if you are blanking part of the turnout so that you can use the crossing as a separate component. For more information about blanking, select the TRACK > LENGTHS... menu item.

GENERIC CROSSING: This is similar to a regular crossing, but in this type of crossing there is no entry "straight" and the turnout radius always finishes at the fine point. This gives the maximum possible turnout radius.

Be aware, however, that if you select a short switch size with a long generic crossing a situation could arise in which the turnout radius is greater than the switch radius, which is incorrect full-size practice. When working with generic crossings you should check this by selecting the TRACK > DRAW WITH DIAGNOSTICS menu item, which will warn you when a longer switch is needed. In extreme cases, the turnout radius will be negative, causing an error condition. If DRAW WITH DIAGNOSTICS produces no screen messages, your turnout is satisfactory. You can check the actual switch and turnout radii in the INFO area in the information panel.

CURVED CROSSING: In this type of crossing the turnout radius continues through and beyond the crossing unchanged. There is no radial end mark and no entry "straight". A curved crossing requires greater care in construction to ensure correct rail alignments through the crossing, but is useful when tracks need to diverge more quickly, as in yards and sidings. Curved crossings are also used when creating symmetrical Y-turnouts with negative curving.

Do not use curved crossings in turnouts forming a crossover, as this would produce an instant reverse curve at the mid-point, leading to rough running. As for generic crossings above, it is possible for the crossing to be too long for the switch size. Use the DRAW WITH DIAGNOSTICS menu item to check, as detailed above.

PARALLEL CROSSING: This is a special-purpose type of regular crossing in which after passing through the crossing the turnout road curves back towards the main road until both roads are parallel forming double track. This is a useful way of getting a smooth entry into a running loop, especially when the turnout is significantly curved or on a transition.

The curving back part of the turnout road is called a "return curve". If the turnout itself is sharply curved it is possible for the return curve to be actually straight, or curved in the same direction as the main road.

If the AS ADJACENT TRACK option button is set, the spacing between the two roads will correspond to your current turnout-side adjacent track centres setting (GEOMETRY > ADJACENT CENTRES... menu item).

If the OTHER... option button is set, after clicking OK, you can enter some other dimension for the track spacing for parallel crossings.

You may prefer to use instead the TOOLS > MAKE RETURN CURVE menu item to produce parallel tracks, which gives you more control over the alignment and timbering (but unlike a parallel crossing is not available when the template contains a transition curve or slewing).

• Data Entry Form   [ v:0.66.a ]

This is Templot's main data entry form, which appears whenever dimensional information is to be entered. Up to 8 items of information may be requested on one form. If more than this is needed the form will re-appear as necessary.

To enter data, edit and/or enter the required information in the highlighted panel on the current line, and then press the Enter key or the down-arrow key, or click the ENTER button.

To use the figures already showing, just press Enter. To revert to these figures after making changes to them, click the RESTORE button. To enter a dimension from the clipboard (e.g. from the metric calculator) click the PASTE button.

For more details about the current line, click the ? HELP flag (if present ). For more general help click the bottom ? HELP button (if available) or press F1.

If you enter a slash (/) at the left of the highlighted panel, Templot will in most cases ignore anything else in the panel and use a pre-set value for the information required. This will usually be the exact scale equivalent of full-size British (bullhead) practice for your chosen gauge and scale. If no pre-set is possible, a note will appear near the top of the form.

If you enter a completely blank value, Templot will assume that you mean zero (0). Note that in some cases, zero is not a valid entry (as a radius figure, for example). If the figures you enter are unacceptable, Templot will ask you to try again.

You can leave or insert spaces in your figures if you wish. They will be ignored.

If you prefix your entry with an opening square bracket as:

[-123.45

your entry will be taken as negative, regardless of the presence or absence of a subsequent minus sign. This corresponds to Templot's normal display of negative numbers within square brackets. The closing bracket is optional. If you have switched off the square brackets (PROGRAM > NUMBER FORMAT menu item in the CONTROL ROOM) the bracket(s) will vanish when you press ENTER. Note that in many cases a negative entry is invalid.

Be careful to note the required units - some entries are in millimetres on the model, some in inches from the full-size to save you unnecessary calculations. They will be converted to millimetres at the current scale. Do not add other unit names to your entry. For example, if you type " 2 ft " when asked for millimetres, Templot will ignore the " ft " and assume that you mean 2 mm.

(To enter dimensions in units other than those asked for you can instead prefix your figures with the code letters for one or more input conversion factors. For example when asked for a radius dimension in mm you could enter 48 inches as i48. You can also specify your own custom conversion factors for other units. For the conversion factors to work it is necessary for the INPUT CONVERSIONS option box to be ticked. For more information see CONVERSION FACTORS)

If you find that you have made a mistake, it will be necessary to work down the whole form again - click the RE-DO button or press the up-arrow key. This is necessary to ensure that any pre-sets are calculated correctly. It will only be necessary to change the incorrect entry.

If you click the CANCEL ALL button or press the Escape (Esc) key, ALL your entries on the form will be cancelled, and ALL the previous values will be restored.

An OK button will appear at the end of the form, so that you can check all the entries before continuing. If you close the form before this button appears, ALL your entries will be cancelled as for the CANCEL ALL button.

Most of the colours used on the form can be changed - right-click on the form or click the multi-coloured button.

The ?HELP flags can be disabled by removing the tick mark from the SHOW HELP FLAGS box.

The INPUTS drop-down list contains a list of your actual entries on the form. This is useful if Templot reports an error and you want to see what caused it, or you want to check which conversion factor code letters you entered. Also, by clicking on an entry in this list it is copied to the clipboard and pasted into the current line.

• Input Conversion Factors   [ v:0.66.a ]

Templot uses the following convention when data is to be entered:

Actual dimensions on the model or the drawing are always entered in MILLIMETRES.

Full-size dimensions on the prototype railway are always entered in INCHES, and the program does the necessary conversion to your chosen scale.

This is a useful distinction and convenient for modellers of traditional steam-era British railways.

There is just one exception to this; the grid-line spacings on the drawing can be entered in any of these units: m, cm, mm, feet, inches.

For modellers of modern railways and for users in continental Europe and elsewhere where full-size information is frequently in metric units, and for users in the USA where model dimensions are frequently in decimal or fractional inches, Templot also provides "input conversion factors".

By prefixing your entered figures with a code letter, dimensions can be entered in any units of your choice.

Here is a list of all the code letters available:

prefix
code letter		 data entered in is converted to example
m mm inches sleeper width: m250 = 9.843 inches (250 mm)
i inches mm radius: i48 = 1219.2 mm (48")
e 8ths of inch mm track gauge: e5 = 15.88 mm (5/8")
h 16ths of inch mm scale: h3 = 4.76 mm (3/16")
t 32nds of inch mm track gauge: t17 = 13.49 mm (17/32")
f 64ths of inch mm flangeway: f5 = 1.98 mm (5/64")
p prototype inches scale model mm track gauge: p56.5 = 18.83 mm (56.5")
s scale model mm prototype inches sleeper length: s32 = 96 inches (32 mm)
k degrees unit angle (RAM) crossing angle: k9.5 = 1:5.98 (9.5 deg)
n unit angle (RAM) degrees rotation: n6 = 9.46 degrees (1:6)
g gradient % unit angle (RAM) crossing angle: g25 = 1:4 (25 %)

Conversion factors can also be combined.

For example Templot expects the sleeper length to be entered in full-size prototype inches. If you are using model sleepers 1.25 inches long you could enter this as si1.25

The i prefix then converts the inches dimension to mm, and the s prefix converts model dimensions in mm to full-size inches. So for 4mm/ft scale si1.25 = 95.25 inches full-size.

Input conversion factors can be combined in any order and can be upper or lower case, so IS1.25 gives the same result.

It is also possible to specify your own custom conversion factors for code letters a,b,c,d. You can then use any units you choose.

For example British prototype track radius dimensions are often quoted in chains (1 chain = 66 feet), whereas Templot expects the radius to be entered in the model size in mm (because it is nearly always underscale).

If you set up custom conversion factors like this:

A = 66

B = 12

You could enter a radius of 10 chains directly as PBA10. The A prefix converts chains to feet, the B prefix converts feet to inches, and the P prefix converts full-size inches to model mm. So for 4mm/ft scale pba10 = 2640 mm radius on the model.

To set the custom conversion factors select the PROGRAM > CUSTOM INPUT FACTORS... menu item in the CONTROL ROOM.

N.B. The INPUT CONVERSIONS option box must be ticked for the above conversion factors to work. Templot makes no check that the code letters used are appropriate for the units requested, since only you know what your figures represent.

• Datum Step Size   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter the datum step size in millimetres. A minus or zero dimension is not valid.

This is the amount the datum point (green dot) will jump up or down the drawing pad when the ADJUST > JUMP DATUM menu items are selected.

The datum point is normally located on the Y-axis (i.e. where the X dimension is zero), and represents the base point from which all the template dimensions are calculated.

(It can only be moved off the Y-axis by means of RE-ORIGINATION; see the PROGRAM > EXPERT menu items in the CONTROL ROOM.)

• Explode / Shrink Step Size   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter the explosion factor for each spot zoom step.

The preset factor is 200 %, meaning that the pad width is doubled or halved each time.

To make the pad zoom in or out faster, increase this number.

To make the pad zoom in or out more slowly, reduce this number.

If you set 141.42 %, it will take 2 steps to exactly double or halve the pad width.

The preset for the slow zoom step is 110 %. The minimum setting for either is 100.5 %.

Handy Hints:

You can zoom in or out to a precise size using the SPOT ZOOM mouse action (CTRL-F1) or the SCALE ZOOM mouse action (CTRL-F2).

Or you can zoom in by drawing a rectangle on the pad. Select the PAD > ZOOM (EXPLODE/SHRINK) > CLICK-DRAG ZOOM RECTANGLE... menu item, or click the zoom rectangle button at the top of the pad.

It is also possible to enter the zoom settings directly by selecting the PAD > ZOOM/PAN OPTIONS > LOCK ZOOM AT... menu item.

• Export in DXF file format.   [ v:0.66.a ]

N.B. This export function is not Templot's normal file saving function. To save your work in the normal way for later reloading, click the SAVE ALL... or SAVE GROUP... buttons on the STORAGE BOX instead. (There is no way of reloading exported DXF files into Templot. This export function is provided only as a means of transferring Templot's drawings to other software.)

Templot will generate a DXF file from the current background drawing using these colours and styles for each layer.

(The current template is not included. To save the current template only, you should first clear the storage box and then store a copy of the current template as a background template.)

Select your required settings from the drop-down lists.

To omit a layer from the file, select NONE as the colour for that layer. You will rarely want to do this as most CAD software using this file format permits you to omit unwanted layers. The exception to this is the RADIAL CENTRES layer that should normally be omitted - see Handy Hints below. Omitting layers here does reduce the file size, which might be useful if you are saving to a floppy disk.

Don't get confused - these "layers" are only meaningful within your CAD program. To toggle elements of the drawing on or off within Templot, use the GENERATOR menu items. Each background template is exported in its present state. If timber outlines, say, were switched off in the GENERATOR menu when the background template was copied or rebuilt, they won't appear in the DXF file, regardless of which colour you choose for them.

The DXF file can be exported in millimetres (to 2 decimal places) or inches (to 4 decimal places), click the MM or INCHES option buttons accordingly. You will probably need to specify which when importing the file into your CAD program. (If you have difficulty getting the CAD drawing to import at the correct size, try using the other option.)

If the SCALED box is ticked, the DXF data will be scaled in accordance with the current PRINT > ENLARGE/REDUCE SIZE menu setting, as shown. If this box is blank, the DXF data will be exported at full-size (100%) regardless of the print size setting.

To omit some of your background templates from the file, click the SELECTED GROUP ONLY option button, having first selected the ones you do require. (By clicking them on the pad, and then clicking GROUP SELECT (TOGGLE) on the pop-up menu, or by clicking the GROUP SELECT button in the storage box.)

If the DRAWING LIMITS box is ticked, only the currently visible part of the pad drawing will be included in the file, and the drawing limit dimensions will be included in the file header.

By re-sizing the drawing pad window on the screen, and zooming in or out, you can in this way export any selected area of the drawing. Compare this option with SELECTED GROUP ONLY (see above), in which only the selected templates are exported, but without regard to whether they are currently visible.

If the DRAWING LIMITS box is left blank, the entire background area will be exported, regardless of the current pad view and zoom settings. (If your CAD software reports "Bad Header" when loading files from Templot, this box should be ticked, and you should then zoom out and re-position the pad view sufficiently to see all of the required part of your drawing.)

Your chosen colours may or may not appear correctly - some CAD software maps different colours onto the DXF pen codes or uses the current pen colour settings instead. And "black" means "white" if your CAD program uses a dark screen. Experiment with dotted and dashed lines to get the required result in the CAD program you are using.

Unlike Templot's own box file format, the DXF file contains only the template drawings. The information texts and your memo texts are not included. If these details will be needed externally to Templot, click the WRITE button in the information panel and save them as a separate text file.

In generating the DXF file, any printer calibration is ignored. The grid and page alignment marks are also omitted. If necessary for the destination software or printer, the aspect ratio and scaling can be adjusted using data distortions - see the PROGRAM / EXPERT menu items in the CONTROL ROOM.

Handy Hints:

If the DRAWING LIMITS box is left blank (see above), it is better to omit the radial centre marks. Your CAD program may otherwise scale down the drawing in order to accommodate them. If you are using very large radii your templates could then appear as little more than a smudge in the corner of the paper.

If the DRAWING LIMITS box is ticked, the radial centre marks can be included, since only those visible on the pad will be included in the file.

When using the DRAWING LIMITS option to export a selected area, set a fraction larger area to allow for the ragged edges. The margins can be cropped cleanly to your exact requirements in your CAD software.

Remember that DXF files are much larger than Templot's own box data files. A complete track layout that requires say 150KB in Templot format can be 3MB or more as a DXF file. Don't accumulate more of them than you need, and remember to omit unwanted features to save file space. It is better to save your work as Templot files and generate DXFs only as needed.

N.B. If the SCALED box is ticked, and the print size is currently set to PRINT SINGLE PAGE, it will be necessary to have actually printed such a page before this size option will take effect for the DXF file.

• Fixed Curving Radius   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter a radius dimension in millimetres onto which the whole template will be curved. This radius will apply along the full length of the main road of a turnout template and any approach or exit tracks.

The radius is measured to the track centre-line.

If the radius figure is positive the curving will be in the same direction as the hand of the turnout: a left-hand turnout will curve to the left and a right-hand turnout will curve to the right. If the radius is negative the turnout will curve in the opposite direction to the hand, producing a Y-effect turnout.

Bear in mind that despite appearances a left-hand turnout curved to the right remains a left-hand turnout, with a left-hand switch deflection to (and consequently a reduced speed restriction over) the turnout road on the left, and a constant radius in the main running road on the right.

The curving radius can also be quickly adjusted by means of the F6 mouse action, select the ADJUST > MOUSE ACTIONS: CURRENT > ADJUST CURVING RADIUS ONLY menu item (F6).

N.B. Plain track is also handed, so take care to enter a positive or negative radius as required. The hand of the current plain track is shown in the information panel.

The pre-set radius (enter a slash "/") is 660ft (10 chains) scale.

• Gauge/Scale Selection List   [ v:0.66.a ]

Scroll the list and click on your required combination of scale, track gauge and flangeway standards.

Then click the green OK bar or press the keyboard ENTER key.

Alternatively, double-click on the list.

Selection can also be made using the tab and arrow keys.

Click the SHOW INFO button to see full details of the dimensions that apply to the currently selected gauge.

Click SET EXACT SCALE... if you want the track gauge, checkrail and flangeway dimensions to be scaled exactly from British full-size practice (bull-head rail). Or click one of the SET CUSTOM... buttons to enter your own custom dimensions. You can have up to 4 different custom settings available for use. These will appear at the bottom of the list.

The ~ symbol prefix indicates a gauge which has not yet been implemented in the current version of Templot - please enter your requirements as a custom setting instead. More information is available by clicking the chat (=) button.

If the MINT option box is ticked, the new current template at the new gauge and scale will be a mint template. If the box is unticked, Templot will match the new current template at the new gauge and scale to the size and position of the original current template.

This option box setting also applies when using the CONTROL > GAUGE AND SCALE menu items, and can also be changed using the CONTROL > GAUGE AND SCALE > MINT NEW and MATCH ORIGINAL menu options.

For an explanation of a mint template, select the TRACK > QUICK SET... menu item and then click the WHAT? button on the QUICK SET window.

If you close the form or click the CANCEL button or the yellow panel, the previous gauge and scale settings will remain unchanged (as shown in the yellow panel).

When this form first appears, it will show the gauge/scale setting corresponding to the current template on the drawing pad. If there are any differences between the dimensions in use for the current template and the standard dimensions for this gauge/scale setting, a red warning label "N.B. Dimensions now in use differ" will appear above the list. Then clicking the SHOW INFO button will show the list of standard dimensions for this gauge/scale setting, and any that currently differ will be shown in RED.

These dimensions can also be checked by selecting the CONTROL > GAUGE AND SCALE > DETAILS... menu item.

Handy Hint:

After reloading templates from a data file which you have not saved yourself (e.g. a downloaded file or one from another Templot user) it is sensible to check for any dimension differences before continuing to use the templates for your own designs (click the CONTROL > GAUGE AND SCALE > DETAILS... menu item).

Dimensions that are often changed are the timber spacings, and the lengths of checkrails. To restore the current template to the standard dimensions for this gauge and scale setting, simply click the green OK bar. To continue using the modified dimensions, close the form or click CANCEL.

• Grid Spacings   [ v:0.66.a ]

The grid line spacings entered here will apply to both the screen drawing pad and the printed templates.

The grid lines are intended only to provide a "graph-paper" background to aid planning and alignment; changing these spacings has no effect on the design of the templates or their position on the drawing.

It is possible to use different spacings for the horizontal and vertical grid lines (so that the grid boxes are no longer squares), but the units for both must be the same (i.e. you can't for example have mm dimensions for one direction and inches for the other).

If the current pad zoom setting causes the grid lines to be too closely spaced, Templot will omit some of them from the screen.

If the current print size setting causes the grid lines to be too closely spaced, Templot will omit some of them from the printed output.

The minimum grid spacing is 0.1 mm (or 0.004"), which is useful when zooming in to examine fine detail.

• Information Panel   [ v:0.66.a ]

This panel displays information about the current turnout or plain track template drawn on the drawing pad.

The various items on this panel are:

The HIDE button removes the panel from view to give a full view of the pad area. To see the panel again, select the PAD > SHOW INFORMATION PANEL menu item. The panel can be more conveniently toggled into and out of view by pressing the F2 key repeatedly.

The EXPAND button expands the panel to its full size, if it is not already that size.

The SHRINK button reduces the panel to the bare minimum that contains useful information while remaining in view.

The MINIMUM RADIUS NOW box shows the minimum track radius at any point on the current turnout. If this is less than the limit value set in the RADIUS LIMIT box, the warning lamp flashes red. Otherwise it shows green. To change the limit value, click the CHANGE button.

(The radius warning function is not available when the template contains a turnout and a SLEW (slewing is intended mainly for plain track). For more information about slewing, select the GEOMETRY > SLEW (NUDGE) > SLEWING DAT• .. menu item.)

The PAD DATA box shows the current scale of the drawing pad, i.e. the size represented by the full width of the pad. If this is free to change as changes are made to the size of the turnout the label will show ZOOM FREE in green. If the label shows LOCKED AT in white, then the current pad scale will remain fixed. To change to free zooming, click the UNLOCK button or press the PAGE UP key. To lock the zoom again at the new scale size, press the PAGE DOWN key. To lock the pad zoom scale at any other size, click the LOCK ZOOM AT button. (These options are also available on the PAD menu and on the right-click menu.)

The PAD DATA box can also be scrolled to see more zoom data and the current position of the pegging notch.

The lower half of the information panel comprises the INFO and MEMO areas, and the split between these can be moved using the <<<< and >>>> buttons.

The INFO area contains dimensional details about the current template. By adjusting the scroll bars on this area, and also the scroll bars for the whole information panel while re-sizing it, it is possible to keep the dimensions of interest in view while the main panel is at a much reduced size to give a clearer view of the drawing pad.

The NAME of the current template is shown above the INFO area. To change the name, click the RENAME button, or click on the name itself. Or click on the status bar along the bottom of the panel to use the name showing there, which has been copied from a template in the storage box.

The MEMO area contains a simplified text editor box into which you can enter any notes you wish to make about the current template, which will be saved with the template. The OBTAIN button can be used to obtain these notes from an existing text file.

The VIEW button displays the current info data and memo texts in a more easily readable form, which then remains unchanged and visible.

The INFO button is similar but duplicates the info data only in a separate window that updates continuously.

The WRITE button will save the contents of the info and memo areas to a text file, and the PRINT button will print them on your printer. The current printer text font is used for this, to change it select the PROGRAM > PRINTER FONT + MARGINS... menu item on the CONTROL ROOM window. This information is also printed out along with each printed template if required.

The status bar along the bottom of the panel shows the name of the last template copied back from your storage box. Clicking this will enable you to use it as the reference name for the current template.

(There are a few quirks with the MEMO text entry - a double-click is needed to position the cursor with the mouse, and vertical bar characters (shift-backslash) should be avoided as these will break into a new line when reloaded from the storage box.

To enter numbers in the memo the main keyboard number keys should be used (the number-pad keys are in use for moving the mouse pointer, for more information select the HELP > SHORTCUT KEYS LIST menu item).

Also, the usual CTRL-X, CTRL-C, CTRL-V copy && paste shortcuts may not always be available. The buttons can be used instead for these functions.

You can use tabs in the memo if needed to compile neat lists - which means that tabbing directly out of the memo to a button is not possible. Press the ESCAPE (Esc) key to restore normal working. This is also necessary to restore the working of the single-key alternatives for the function key shortcuts.)

• Maximum Explode (Zoom-In)   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter a dimension in mm that represents the scale width of the drawing pad when fully exploded (zoomed all the way in).

This is an inverse measure - meaning that reducing this dimension increases the magnification of the drawing.

The minimum dimension Templot will accept is 1 mm.

The maximum dimension Templot will accept is 1000 mm.

The pre-set dimension is 25 mm.

Setting a figure greater than about 250 mm will handicap some of Templot's functions to no advantage.

Caution:

It has been found possible to "hang" the graphics system in some versions of Windows if this dimension is set too low. You should quit all other applications and save your work before experimenting with dimensions less than 25 mm. There is seldom any practical need to zoom in more than this.

If you experience problems this dimension can be increased to 50 or 100 mm without any great detriment in 4mm/ft scale and above.

• Minimum Radius Warning   [ v:0.66.a ]

The warning "lamp" in the information panel will start to flash red if any part of the current drawing is curved to a radius less than this dimension.

Changing this dimension has no effect on the design of the current turnout.

• Modifying the track gauge dimension.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter the required new track gauge in millimetres.

N.B. Changes made here affect only the distance between the rails, i.e. they do not affect the current scale ratio or timbering sizes.

To change to a different gauge/scale combination (for example to change from N Gauge to O Gauge), or to establish a custom gauge/scale setting, cancel this and select the CONTROL > GAUGE AND SCALE menu item instead.

If you change the track gauge dimension here, the information panel will continue to show the original gauge name, i.e. it would continue to show, say, EM even though you had changed the track gauge here to, say, 16.5 mm, and the flangeway gaps and other settings would continue to be those for EM Gauge.

The option of changing the track gauge here is intended for making minor adjustments only, for example to introduce some gauge-widening on sharp curves.

• Mouse Response Rate for F5 - Adjust Size   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter a setting for the mouse sensitivity when adjusting the size of the turnout (mouse action F5).

Higher figures cause the turnout size to change more slowly as the mouse is moved.

Lower figures cause the turnout size to change more rapidly as the mouse is moved.

The pre-set figure is 100. Sensible figures are in the range 20 to 2500.

Handy Hints:

Setting changes made here are intended to apply for the whole working session. A quick way to make a temporary change to the mouse response rate is to select instead the ADJUST > MODIFY MOUSE RESPONSE menu items. The change will remain in force while you make the adjustment and be reset to normal on the next F12 redraw.

If you need to set a known turnout size, it might be quicker to use the TRACK > SWITCH. or CROSSING menu items.

• Nominal Timber Length   [ v:0.66.a ]

By "nominal" is meant that this length will apply only to the first few timbers at the toe of the switch. The remaining turnout timbers increase in 6-inch increments as necessary to accommodate the rails.

Enter the timber length dimension in full-size inches.

For British standard gauge bullhead track this dimension was normally 108 inches (9ft) in the pre-grouping era, and 102 inches (8ft 6ins) subsequently. But 9ft sleepers remained in use for many years after grouping and could still be found in yards and sidings to the end of the traditional steam railway.

Templot is pre-set to draw 9ft timbers, with an additional mark on the printed templates showing the end positions for 8ft 6ins timbers.

The dimension entered here is also used for plain track sleeper lengths.

For more information select the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING > TIMBERING DAT• .. menu item and read the help notes.

The length of individual timbers can be changed using the SHOVE TIMBERS functions. Select the ADJUST > SHOVE TIMBERS menu item and read the help notes.

• Non-standard Turnout Settings   [ v:0.66.a ]

Use this form to enter non-standard settings for the turnout timber spacings and rail lengths.

This is useful when you have specific prototype information which differs from the established norms, e.g. for old-type GWR crossings and for narrow gauge and industrial lines.

Click the help flags for each line on the form for more information.

To set the timber sizes and randomising, select the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING > TIMBERING DAT• .. menu item.

To set the timber alignment, select the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING > TIMBERS EQUALIZED or TIMBERS SQUARE-ON menu options.

Individual timbers can be re-positioned and re-aligned using the ADJUST > SHOVE TIMBERS functions.

For plain track settings, select the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING > TIMBERING DAT• .. and GEOMETRY > PLAIN TRACK LENGTHS... menu items.

• Page Outlines Trip-off Limit   [ v:0.66.a ]

As you zoom out (shrink) on the drawing pad, the increasing numbers of printed page outlines become obtrusive.

Templot switches the page outlines off when more than a set number of pages would appear across the screen. The pre-set number is 15.

You can change this number here. If you set zero, no page outlines will appear. This can also be achieved by selecting the PAD > PAD GRID OPTIONS > PAGE OUTLINES OFF menu item on the drawing pad.

Sensible numbers are less than 33 pages, as this is Templot's maximum length for a single print run. The actual size this represents is determined by your currently set paper size for the printer.

To check the page layout when outlines are not being shown, select the PRINT > PREVIEW CURRENT TEMPLATE (F10) or PRINT ENTIRE PAD (CTRL-F11) menu items.

N.B. The page outlines on the drawing pad always appear as for full-size printing. Page outlines shown in PRINT > PREVIEW reflect the current print scaling size.

• Peg Arms   [ v:0.66.a ]

The length of the angled arms on the fixing peg can be changed. This is sometimes useful when aligning templates by eye on the pad to ensure maximum accuracy.

Enter the required arm length in mm. The pre-set arm length is equivalent to a scale length of 3ft.

The new length will appear immediately on the current template, but it is necessary to rebuild the background templates before the new arm length will take effect on them (GENERATOR > REBUILD ALL BACKGROUND menu item).

(N.B. The peg has two arms, one each side of the centre. The dimension here applies to each side, so the overall length is double this figure.)

• Plain Track   [ v:0.66.a ]

This setting draws plain track instead of turnouts.

This is implemented within Templot as a special case - the plain track being drawn is actually the approach track to an invisible dummy turnout.

This has several important consequences that are not immediately obvious:

To swap the plain track length end-for-end on the existing alignment, so that the numbering and joints commence from the opposite end, select the TOOLS > SWAP CURRENT END-FOR-END menu item.

To change the plain track rail lengths and sleeper spacings select the GEOMETRY > PLAIN TRACK LENGTHS... menu item.

To change the sleeper sizes and randomising settings select the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING menu items.

If you change to plain track using the CONTROL > RESET TO PLAIN TRACK menu item (CTRL-N), the current template is deleted and the plain track is reset to the start-up length of 2.5 current rail lengths on a fixed curve from the datum point.

If you change to plain track using the TRACK > CONVERT TO PLAIN TRACK menu item, your current turnout is replaced with a length of plain track on the same alignment. You can restore the turnout by selecting the TRACK > INSERT TURNOUT IN PLAIN TRACK menu item.

(Note that if the turnout included any blanking, this will be cancelled and the full length of the turnout template will be converted to plain track. Blanking is not available for plain track, as the same effect is more easily obtained by simply changing the overall length.)

You can return to drawing turnouts in four ways:

The turnout size can be set in the TRACK menu beforehand; otherwise the current turnout settings will be used.

You may need to use the TOOLS > SWAP CURRENT END-FOR-END tool to get the inserted turnout correctly aligned and facing in the required direction. You can remove the inserted turnout by selecting the TRACK > CONVERT TO PLAIN TRACK menu item.

The 30ft and 45ft lengths are generally more suitable for the pre-grouping era. 60ft rails became the norm for new bullhead track after the grouping (1923) although of course shorter rails remained in use for many years and could be found on secondary routes well into the BR period.

The number of sleepers per rail length was increased on sharp curves. For 60ft rails the rules are these:

20 chains radius is over 5000 mm (17ft) in 4mm scale and over 9000 mm (30ft) in 7mm scale, so clearly most model curves should use the 26 sleeper spacing to be correct. In most cases, however, we are trying to disguise the sharpness of our curves, so a wider spacing will look more in keeping. 25 sleepers per length is a good compromise for most model track.

The sleepers are not equally spaced along the rail length. Those nearer the rail joints are progressively closed up to strengthen the joints.

If preferred you can enter a custom rail length and set of spacings. Click the CUSTOM SETTINGS... button and read the help notes for more information.

• Plain Track Form   [ v:0.66.a ]

Use this form to select the rail lengths and sleeper spacings to be used when drawing plain track lengths, and also for the approach and exit track on turnouts.

Select the rail length and sleeper spacings you require by clicking the list, and then click the OK button.

Clicking the RESTORE button will restore the previous setting.

This form is concerned only with the sleeper spacings. To change the sleeper size, select the GEOMETRY / TIMBERING / TIMBERING DAT• .. menu item.

To enter your own custom spacings for plain track, click the CUSTOM SETTINGS... button.

To actually use these custom settings, click CUSTOM RAIL LENGTH AND SPACINGS in the list and then click OK. You can swap between your custom settings and the standard settings without losing the custom dimensions. To save these custom dimensions in the storage box file, ensure that there is at least one template in the box that uses them.

• Impact Printer   [ v:0.66.a ]

Are you are using an older-pattern dot matrix or other impact printer (i.e. one using an ink ribbon like a typewriter and capable of printing carbon copies)?

If you click YES Templot will simplify some of the output to reduce wear and tear on the print-head (and also the noise). This is strongly recommended when calibrating the printer.

All line thicknesses (line widths) will be set to 1 dot, regardless of any other settings you may have made for them.

Also click YES if this is a pen-plotter, but the fact that you are seeing this message implies something amiss in the plotter driver, as Windows has failed to inform Templot that this printer is a plotter.

Click NO or just press ENTER if this printer is an ink-jet or laser printer, or other modern printer capable of printing filled areas, or a virtual printer such as a Fax sender.

Also click NO if you are not sure.

If you click CANCEL, Templot will the assume that the answer is NO for the purpose of printing templates, but you will be unable to calibrate your printer for maximum accuracy.

(Hopefully, the next version of Templot will have devised a means of answering this question for itself.)

• Banner Printing   [ v:0.66.a ]

If your printer is capable of printing banners on Z-fold or roll paper this can usefully eliminate most (or all) of the page-joins for a large template.

You must set up the printer for banner printing. Templot cannot make these settings for you.

(Refer to your printer documentation. It will probably be necessary to click a button or tab marked OPTIONS or SETUP or PROPERTIES or FEATURES in the printer set-up form to find the banner settings.)

Note that for Z-fold banner paper it is important that the paper size is set correctly. This paper is more commonly available in US Letter size (11in x 8.5in) than A4. It may also be necessary to move a switch or lever on the printer itself when loading the banner paper.

N.B. Do not set the printer for single sheets when BANNER + ROLL PAPER printing is set in Templot, otherwise you will lose the top and bottom trim margins and be unable to join the pages accurately.

Also, for Templot to print templates on banner paper correctly it is necessary to select Upright/Portrait printing on all standard printers.

For banner printing an accurate printer calibration is especially important to maintain accuracy over long print runs. Remember to do a separate calibration for the banner paper. For more information select the PRINT > PRINTER CALIBRATION > CALIBRATE PRINTER... menu item.

When printing on single sheets of paper Templot ignores any empty (blank) pages and prints only the pages of your drawing that actually contain track.

If the BANNER FILL option box on the print form is ticked, any such empty pages will be included in the print run when printing on banner paper, so that no lengthwise page joins are needed.

Bear in mind that for some track plans this could mean printing a great many blank pages (e.g. for a circular layout you would be printing blank pages to fill the whole of the centre space).

In such cases you will probably want to untick the box and separate out the individual pages from the banner print run.

This option box has no effect when printing on single sheets.

For more information click the WHAT? button on the print form when it appears.

• Print Screen Contents   [ v:0.66.a ]

Printing the screen contents produces a low-resolution copy of the drawing on the screen, dot for dot. This is not suitable for use as a construction template, but might be useful in other ways. As part of a control panel diagram, for example, or if printed on OHP transparency film it would make a colourful image for use perhaps in a club talk on pointwork construction.

Hide the information panel, scalebar, screen grid, page outlines, zoom target ring and background details if you do not want any of these to print, and set the required DRAWING COLOURS on the PAD menu (not the PRINT menu). Unless you set the paper colour to white, you will use a lot of coloured ink.

All the lines drawn on the screen are 1 dot thick, so for the best printed results you will need to experiment with the print quality (click PRINTER SETUP...) and the colours. Usually the best results will be obtained by using only the basic ink colours of black, yellow, cyan (the pre-set blue colour used for the grid lines on the printed templates), and magenta (the pre-set pink colour used for the trim margins on the printed templates).

The scale of this printout will be determined by your current screen and printer resolutions, and will in all probability be an odd size. Templot does not use the normal printer calibration corrections when printing the screen contents.

For accurate track planning purposes, print a reduced scale template instead. To do this, select the PRINT > ENLARGE-REDUCE SIZE menu item.

• Printed Line Thickness   [ v:0.66.a ]

For the final template print using Best or Letter-Quality printing a line thickness of 1 or 2 dots is usually sufficient and precise.

For trial prints using the Economy or Draft setting, a line thickness of 3 or 4 dots is more prominent.

The line thickness set here applies when printing FULL-SIZE templates. When printing at a reduced size, the line thicknesses for the drawing details (but not for the grid lines and trim margins) are scaled down accordingly, with a minimum thickness of one dot.

If you are printing a reduced size template and need a specific line thickness you must make the appropriate calculation. For example, to print a line thickness of 3 dots when printing at 1/5th size (20%) you would set a line thickness of 5x3 = 15 dots. This would then be scaled down to 3 dots for printing at 1/5th size. Remember to reset to 3 dots before printing full-size again!

The actual drawn line thickness (line width) will be determined by the dot size and dpi (dots per inch) setting for your printer. This information is shown on the printer calibration test sheet.

For lines 1 dot thick, the line width is the same as the dot size (the diameter of a single dot). Then if the printer is set for 300 dpi, for example, each extra dot increases the line thickness by 1/300th of an inch. So a line thickness of 4 dots (an extra 3 dots) will produce a line that is 3/300ths of an inch (0.010" or 10 thou) wider than a line of 1 dot thickness.

For lines which may be required to be accurately measured (grid lines, trim margins, etc) it is better to use an odd number of dots (1,3,5,7, etc) so that the printer can accurately position the centre of the line.

If you are using an old-style impact printer (or a pen plotter), Templot draws all lines 1 dot thick, and the settings that you make here will have no effect until you change to a non-impact printer.

(These settings have no effect on a template exported in DXF file format. The way the template is rendered in your CAD software is determined only in that program.)

These line thickness settings affect only the printed output; they have no effect on the screen drawing. To change the appearance of the drawing on the screen, select the PAD menu items.

• Printer Calibration   [ v:0.66.a ]

For the maximum dimensional accuracy of your printed templates it is usually necessary to calibrate the printer.

This involves carefully measuring a printed test pattern, and then entering the sizes, so that Templot can adjust the subsequent printing of your templates accordingly.

If this printer has been calibrated previously, the calibration information can be re-entered directly, or reloaded from a file.

You can choose to calibrate any or all of your printers, and switch between them without losing the calibration information for each. This allows you to do quick trial templates on one printer and the final construction templates on another, for example.

If the printer being used is uncalibrated, Templot will mark the printed templates with a warning. They may be acceptably accurate for trial planning purposes.

For the final construction templates, calibration is strongly recommended, and for maximum accuracy it is important to use the same type of paper for both the calibration test print and the finished templates.

Take your time to follow through the calibration process carefully and without hurry, as entering incorrect figures will wreck the accuracy of your templates.

To delete incorrect or unwanted calibrations, select the PRINT > PRINTER CALIBRATION > DELETE menu items.

If you are not confident of your ability to measure the test print with sufficient accuracy it would probably be better to leave the printer uncalibrated.

Click CALIBRATE THIS PRINTER NOW to start the process - there are further detailed help notes as you go along.

• Quick Set Form   [ v:0.66.a ]

Use this simplified 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 randomising.

Fixing peg in the CTRL-0 reset position.

No template name.

Memo notes cleared.

Other settings remain unchanged from your previous current template. For an explanation of what is meant by the current template, click the HELP > WHAT IS A TEMPLATE? menu item.

Use the option buttons and drop-down lists to select the size and curving 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.

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 DAT• .. 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.

• Refresh Modes and Screen Flicker   [ v:0.66.a ]

When you are using the mouse actions to adjust the template design, or using the panning functions to pan across the drawing pad, the screen image has to be repeatedly re-drawn. Because of the amount of calculation required for each re-draw, an instant screen refresh is not possible.

Templot has two screen refresh modes. ON-SCREEN refresh mode gives the fastest response, but on some systems this can result in an unpleasant screen flicker.

OFF-SCREEN refresh mode avoids most of this screen flicker, at the expense of a less responsive feel to the mouse movements which on older systems may make this mode frustratingly slow to use. But for the latest Pentium II and III systems, this mode is recommended as giving the most comfortable results.

The current refresh mode is indicated by a dot in the coloured panel in the top left-hand corner of the drawing pad:

ON-SCREEN refresh shows a black dot,

OFF-SCREEN refresh shows a white dot.

The refresh mode can be toggled by clicking this dot, or alternatively by pressing the INSERT (Ins) key, which is more convenient while using the mouse actions.

The refresh mode can also be set directly by selecting the PAD > SCREEN REFRESH OPTIONS menu items, or by pressing the CTRL-INSERT (for off-screen) and SHIFT-INSERT (for on-screen) keyboard shortcuts.

The difference in response speed between these two refresh modes may or may not be very noticeable, according to your system's graphics capabilities. ( Windows NT or 2000 usually draws graphics faster than Windows 9x, and it is also possible with some unusual combinations of slow processor and fast video card that off-screen refresh will be faster than on-screen.)

For the mouse actions there are also two drawing modes. The fast setting is SKELETON MOUSE DRAW that means that while the mouse is adjusting the current template it is drawn in skeleton form showing only the rail running edges. This gives a faster mouse response by reducing the amount of re-drawing needed. When the mouse action is released with a second click, the full template drawing re-appears.

The slower setting is FULL MOUSE DRAW that always draws the full template with both rail edges and timbering while a mouse action is being used.

At start-up selecting ON-SCREEN refresh also selects SKELETON DRAW mode, or selecting OFF-SCREEN refresh also selects FULL DRAW mode.

Select the PAD > SCREEN REFRESH OPTIONS menu items to toggle between these two drawing modes, or just press the ; (semicolon) key. You can change mouse-drawing modes at any time independently of the screen refresh setting.

FULL DRAW is useful when zooming in to examine a small area at high magnification, or while adjusting the timbering, but will need a system with fast graphics to avoid significant screen flicker with ON-SCREEN refresh. With OFF-SCREEN refresh, FULL DRAW may result in an inconveniently slow response when drawing a very long template.

In cases of extreme flicker, the mouse tracking can be turned off completely. Select the PAD > MOUSE OPTIONS > MOUSE TRACKING OFF menu item. The template will not then be redrawn until you release the mouse action with the second click. This option is useful if you are using Templot on a system with a slow processor or without maths co-processor functions.

In less extreme cases, here are some suggestions to minimise the effects of screen flicker:

In general, using fewer colours or a lower screen resolution will give a faster response.

To find out if you can change the colour depth, click START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > DISPLAY > SETTINGS and explore the entries under COLORS or COLOR DEPTH or COLOR PALETTE. There is little to be gained in Templot by using more than 16-bit colour, but using less than this will make it more difficult to select a comfortable range of colours for the various drawing features.

To find out if you can change the screen resolution, click START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > DISPLAY > SETTINGS and explore the entries under SCREEN or RESOLUTION or DISPLAY ARE• For many users, Templot will run best at 1024 x 768 resolution and 16-bit colour. If you make any changes you will need to quit and restart Templot for the changes to take effect.

There is a special third LOW-MEMORY on-screen refresh mode that Templot uses when there is insufficient system memory available for the normal modes. Or you can choose this mode intentionally if you wish. This is useful if you are short of memory on your system or experience problems with the normal modes. You may find it slightly faster than the normal modes, but it will be less user-friendly with significant screen flicker. The screen will occasionally get messy - just press F12 to clean up and redraw. After choosing this low-memory mode, it will be necessary to quit Templot and restart if you want to change back to the normal modes.

The LOW-MEMORY mode is indicated by the dot in the top-left corner showing grey.

IMPORTANT: If you are susceptible to photo-hypnotic effects, do not use the mouse actions or panning function with the ON-SCREEN or LOW-MEMORY refresh modes and mouse tracking turned on. Children using Templot should be supervised.

N.B. Do not confuse Templot's screen refresh modes with your monitor's display refresh rate in Hz, which is a hardware setting determined by the capabilities of your system, and should only be changed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

• Restore on start-up.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Your storage box contents and background drawing can be restored from your previous working session with Templot.

This is done independently of any saving to storage box files which you may have performed.

If you answer "no thanks" the previous data can be restored later by selecting the FILES > RESTORE PREVIOUS menu item in the storage box menus.

The restore feature works correctly even if your previous session terminated abnormally as a result of a power failure or system malfunction, so there is no need to perform repeated saves as a precaution against these events.

If you want to have the previous data restored every time you start Templot without being asked, change the OPTIONS > RESTORE ON STARTUP menu options in the storage box accordingly.

N.B. The restore feature does not include your Background Shapes, which have to be saved and reloaded separately if wanted.

N.B. If you run two instances of Templot concurrently from the same TEMPLOT folder, the restore data will be held in common between the two. To prevent this happening, create and run the second instance from a different folder (directory).

• RH or LH B6 Reset   [ v:0.66.a ]

This function will now reset Templot to the start-up conditions for a RIGHT-HAND or a LEFT - HAND turnout.

The usual reason for doing this is to recover from an error condition, or to revert to drawing turnouts after drawing plain track.

If you simply want to change your current turnout to the opposite hand, click CANCEL RESET, or select the TRACK > HAND > SWAP HAND (CTRL-H) or INVERT HANDING (CTRL-X) menu items.

If you simply want a fresh template to work with, click CANCEL RESET and then select the TRACK > QUICK SET... or TRACK > MINT FROM CURRENT menu items.

If you will need the current template again and have not yet stored it, click STORE THIS AND RESET. The current template will then be transferred to your storage box before being replaced. But DO NOT do this if you are recovering from an error, as this may prevent the storage box file from reloading properly.

Otherwise just click OK.

Your current scale and gauge will be preserved, but the pad view and zoom settings will be reset.

• Rotate current template around peg.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter an angle in degrees for the amount by which to rotate the current template around its fixing peg.

Angles are measured positive in the anti-clockwise direction, and negative in the clockwise direction.

Rotating the current template is more usually done with the mouse action, select the

ADJUST > MOUSE ACTIONS: CURRENT > ROTATE AROUND PEG menu item (or press F8).

• Saving your work between sessions.   [ v:0.66.a ]

"Storing" a template in your STORAGE BOX is not the same thing as "saving" it to a file on a disk drive. "Stored" templates are held only in Templot's memory, so that each template is instantly available without the need to access files.

Templot can automatically restore the contents of your storage box and your background drawing (if any) between sessions, but it can only "remember" one set of box contents at any one time.

For future reference and reloading whenever you need them, you may also want to save the current box contents in a separate named data file before quitting Templot.

For more information about saving data files, click the WHAT? button in the storage box.

If you want to prevent an automatic restore on the next start-up, you have two options:

Change the OPTIONS > RESTORE ON STARTUP menu options in the storage box menus,

Clear the storage box before quitting.

To restore the previous box contents at any time after start-up, click the FILES > RESTORE PREVIOUS menu item in the storage box menus. This works independently of the option settings for automatic restore on start-up. You can click RESTORE PREVIOUS as often as you wish; the data from your previous Templot session remains available throughout the current session.

Likewise, the FILES > RESTORE PRIOR-PREVIOUS menu item restores the box contents from the Templot session prior to the previous one, i.e. from two sessions back.

The restore feature works independently of your own saved data files, and makes no changes to them.

The restore feature works correctly even if your previous session terminated abnormally as a result of a power failure or system malfunction, so there is no need to perform repeated saves as a precaution against these events.

N.B. Background Shapes are not included in the automatic restore feature, and must always be saved separately.

N.B. If you run two instances of Templot concurrently from the same TEMPLOT folder, the restore data will be held in common between the two. To prevent this happening, create and run the second instance from a different folder (directory).

• Selecting Group Templates   [ v:0.66.a ]

Before a group of stored templates can be subject to shift, rotate, save, or other group operations, they must first be selected.

To select a group of stored background templates from the pad window, use the CONTROL > GROUP SELECT menu items:

To select all background templates, click the GROUP SELECT ALL menu item (CTRL-A).

To select one or more background templates with the mouse, click the CLICK BACKGND TO GROUP menu item (CTRL-I) and then click on their name labels.

Or click anywhere on each template and then click the GROUP SELECT (TOGGLE) item on the pop-up menu for that template.

A group of templates can also be selected in the storage box, and the group can then also include unused stored templates. Click the WHAT? button on the storage box for more information.

• Set Datum   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter a new Y-dimension for the datum point (green dot) in millimetres.

The datum point is normally located on the Y-axis (i.e. where the X dimension is zero), and represents the base point from which all the template dimensions are calculated.

(It can only be moved off the Y-axis by means of RE-ORIGINATION; see the PROGRAM > EXPERT menu items in the CONTROL ROOM.)

• Set Fixing Peg   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter new X and Y dimensions for the fixing peg in millimetres.

The fixing peg "belongs" to the template, not the drawing pad. The dimensions to be entered here are internal to the template, i.e. they are referenced from the rail-end (CTRL-0) for the equivalent STRAIGHT turnout. Regardless of the hand of the turnout or it's orientation on the pad, X-dimensions are positive from the rail-end towards the crossing V; and Y-dimensions are positive from the running-edge of the straight stock rail towards the turnout-road side of the turnout.

To avoid mistakes, it is helpful to temporarily convert to a straight left-hand turnout when setting the fixing peg dimensions directly.

The dimensions displayed when moving the peg with the mouse will differ, and show the actual pad position of the peg after any curving or shifting of the turnout.

For plain track templates, peg X-dimensions are similarly referenced from the CTRL-0 datum end, Y-dimensions are positive from the opposite running rail-edge towards the hand of the template.

For most purposes, it is easier to move the fixing peg with the mouse actions, or select the ADJUST > SET PEG OPTIONS menu items, or use the CTRL-0 to CTRL-9 keyboard shortcuts.

• Set Notch Position   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter new X and Y dimensions for the centre of the pegging notch in millimetres.

The pegging notch "belongs" to the drawing pad, not to the templates, and there is only one notch.

The dimensions to be entered here are referenced from the drawing pad origin point, and can be determined from the grid margin scales. X-dimensions are positive across the pad from the left and read along the bottom margin, Y-dimensions are positive up the pad from the bottom and read along the left margin.

For many purposes, it is easier to move the notch with the mouse action, or by selecting the ADJUST > NOTCH OPTIONS > NOTCH UNDER PEG menu item (or pressing the DIVIDE key) after setting the position of the fixing peg within the current template.

• Setting the flangeway gap dimension.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter the required flangeway gap for the check and wing rails in millimetres.

N.B. To change to a different gauge/scale combination (for example to change from N Gauge to 0 Gauge), or to establish a custom gauge/scale setting, cancel this and select the

CONTROL > GAUGE AND SCALE menu item instead.

If you change the flangeway gap dimension here, the information panel will continue to show the original gauge name, i.e. it would continue to show, say, EM even though you had changed the flangeway gap here to, say, 1.5 mm, and the track gauge and other settings would continue to be those for EM Gauge.

The option of changing the flangeway gap here is intended for making minor adjustments (e.g. for non-standard rolling stock) and for setting narrow-gauge requirements.

• Shift current template on X and Y.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter an X (Y)-dimension in millimetres for the amount by which to shift the position of the current template.

X-dimensions are measured across the width of the screen, positive from left to right.

Y-dimensions are measured vertically on the screen; the positive direction is upwards from the bottom.

Shifting the current template is more usually done with the mouse action, select the

ADJUST > MOUSE ACTIONS: CURRENT > SHIFT POSITION menu item (or press F7).

• Shift radial centre to X and Y dimension.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter an X (Y)-dimension in millimetres for the new position of the radial centre on the drawing pad (the centre location from which the curving line radius is drawn).

X-dimensions are measured across the width of the screen, positive from left to right.

Y-dimensions are measured vertically on the screen; the positive direction is upwards from the bottom.

Unless the exact location of the radial centre is important, shifting the current template is more usually done with the mouse action, select the

ADJUST > MOUSE ACTIONS: CURRENT > SHIFT POSITION menu item (or press F7).

• Page Origin X and Y.   [ v:0.66.a ]

Enter a new X (Y)-dimension in millimetres for the origin point of the printed pages.

X-dimensions are measured across the width of the screen from the left.

Y-dimensions are measured upwards from the bottom of the screen.

The page origin can also be moved with the mouse, select the ADJUST > MOUSE ACTIONS:PAD > MOVE PAGE ORIGIN menu item (SHIFT+CTRL-F10).

• Set Page Origin.   [ v:0.66.a ]

You can change the X and Y dimensions for the origin point of the printed pages.

The origin point is the bottom-left corner of the page outlines on the screen, and the top-left corner of page a/1 when printed.

Changing the page origin is useful if the page margins are inconveniently positioned within the drawing.

The pre-set dimensions are zero, so that the page origin normally coincides with the drawing datum.

Negative dimensions for the page origin are permissible.

Handy Hints:

The page origin setting is not saved between Templot sessions. If you will need the same setting again, make a note of the page origin dimensions in the MEMO panel for the first template in the storage box. Then you can quickly copy and paste them back here on reloading.

The size of the page outlines shown on the pad reflect the current print size setting in the PRINT > ENLARGE/REDUCE SIZE menu options.

• Shove Timbers and Sleepers   [ v:0.66.a ]

Templot normally draws templates with the timbers of the correct sizes and in positions based on full-size railway practice, or in accordance with your size and spacing settings.

The SHOVE functions permit you to change the position, alignment and size of individual timbers and sleepers within the current template, or to omit them from the template.

("Timbers" are normally used for pointwork. The standard size for British standard-gauge railways is 12 inches wide by 6 inches thick. The length of timbers varies as required. "Sleepers" are normally used for plain track. The standard size for British standard-gauge railways is 10 inches wide by 5 inches thick. Sleepers are normally of a standard fixed length, typically 9ft in the pre-grouping era and 8ft 6ins later. Sleepers can be shortened, but it is not usual for them to be longer than this; a timber would be used instead. For more information, see the help notes for the TRACK > NON-STANDARD... and GEOMETRY > TIMBERING menu items.)

You can shove or omit up to 30 timbers and/or sleepers in any one template.

Some of the reasons you might want to do this are these:

Timbers may be shoved along the track to increase the space for point-rodding runs, etc.

Timbers may be shoved along and/or twisted slightly to avoid conflicts where tracks come together in crossovers, junctions, etc.

A minimum timber spacing of 2ft (centre-to-centre) is needed for rail joints and fishplates.

Lengthened timbers can be used to support hand point-lever boxes, ground signals and detection devices, etc.

Wider than standard timbers are sometimes used when this is necessary to accommodate chairs or baseplates which are offset or set at an angle.

In the pre-grouping era, some railways used 12-inch wide timbers in place of standard sleepers adjacent to the rail joints in plain track.

Timbers might be omitted over level (grade) crossings, inspection pits, inside engine sheds, etc., or where longitudinal baulk timbers (way beams) are used (on the deck of girder bridges, over coal drops, etc.).

Frequently at crossovers and junctions adjacent running lines are carried on long timbers across both tracks. This can be done by omitting timbers on one template, and extending the length of the timbers on the adjoining template accordingly.

When a short stubby turnout for narrow gauge or industrial sidings is required, it is sometimes difficult to find a timber spacing setting (in the TRACK > NON-STANDARD... menu item) that gives the required result. It is often easier to leave the pre-set spacing and shove timbers manually to the required positions.

There are also some purely model reasons for shoving timbers. To avoid baseboard joints, for example, or to clear point-motor linkages.

Handy Hint:

Do not begin shoving timbers until you are sure that the track plan is finalised. Shoving individual timbers is a slow process, and changing the size or alignment of a template nearly always means that a new timbering layout is needed.

• Using the Timber Shove Functions   [ v:0.66.a ]

To change the size or position of a timber ("shove" it), the timber or sleeper that you want to shove must be selected.

There are two ways to do this. The easiest and quickest is to click on the NUMBER of the required timber (not the timber itself). The timber numbers will be highlighted as the mouse moves over them, and the timber selected for shoving shows in red.

Sometimes it is not possible to click the timber number, for example when zoomed a long way in or out, or when one number is obscured by another, so the timber to be shoved can also be selected by entering its number directly.

Click the blue down-arrow button to show an additional window, and enter the timber number in the box, or select a previously shoved timber from the drop-down list. Then click the OK button.

When a timber has been selected you can shove it, i.e. change its size and/or position. First try doing this using the buttons:

Clicking the FORWARD button causes the selected timber to be moved forwards by 1 inch (scale) with each click. The forward direction is away from the CTRL-0 datum end of the template.

Clicking the BACKWARD button causes the selected timber to be moved backwards by 1 inch (scale) with each click. The backward direction is towards the CTRL-0 datum end of the template.

Clicking the ACW button causes the selected timber to be twisted by 1 degree anticlockwise with each click.

Clicking the CW button causes the selected timber to be twisted by 1 degree clockwise with each click.

Clicking the LENGTHEN button causes the selected timber to be lengthened by 6 inches (scale) with each click.

Clicking the SHORTEN button causes the selected timber to be shortened by 6 inches (scale) with each click.

Changes in length normally take place at the turnout-side end of the timber only, so that a timber can easily be extended across double tracks. If the SHIFT key is held down on the keyboard, the change in length will instead take place at the main-side end of the timber only.

To move a timber lengthwise across the tracks without changing its length, alternately lengthen it at one end and shorten it at the other.

Clicking the WIDEN button causes the selected timber to be widened by 2 inches (scale) with each click. So a standard 10-inch wide sleeper can be converted to a 12-inch wide timber with a single click.

Clicking the NARROW button causes the selected timber to be narrowed by 2 inches (scale) with each click. So a standard 12-inch wide timber can be converted to a 10-inch wide sleeper with a single click.

To restore a shoved timber to its normal size and position, select it and then click the RESTORE button.

To remove a selected timber from the template, click the OMIT button. Timbers that have been omitted retain their numbers, so that they can be selected for RESTORE by clicking on the number.

It is usually quicker to "click" the buttons by using the underlined accelerator keys shown on them. To quickly lengthen a timber for example, just keep pressing or hold down the L key on the keyboard.

Now also try shoving timbers with the mouse actions. Select a timber by clicking on its number, and then do this:

Click the ALONG button. This is a 2-way mouse action. Moving the mouse from side to side shoves the selected timber along the track. Moving the mouse up and down the screen twists the timber to lie out-of-square with the rails.

A little practice with the mouse is needed to get the knack of making the 2-way adjustments simultaneously. Watch the dimension readouts in the mouse action panel to avoid making unwanted changes.

Or use the arrow keys on the number-pad to move the mouse pointer in one direction at a time (not the normal arrow keys - NUMLOCK must be on - see the ADJUST >? MOUSE ACTIONS HELP menu item).

Click the ACROSS button. This is also a 2-way mouse action. Moving the mouse from side to side shoves the selected timber lengthwise across the track. Moving the mouse up and down the screen lengthens or shortens the timber. This also needs a bit of practice to get the desired result.

If the SHOW ALL SHOVED option box is ticked, all the timbers in the current template that have been shoved will be shown in blue. You can shove or omit up to a maximum of 30 timbers and/or sleepers in any one template.

The RESTORE ALL button restores all the shoved timbers on the current template to their normal size and position.

To change the size or spacings of ALL of the timbers, you should not use these shove timber functions, but select instead the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING, the TRACK > NON-STANDARD... or the GEOMETRY > PLAIN TRACK LENGTHS... menu items.

To omit ALL of the timbers, you should not use these shove timber functions, but select instead the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING > NO TIMBERING menu option.

The blue readout panel shows the current dimension to the centre of the selected timber in mm (measured along the track-centre from the CTRL-0 rail-end datum). You can use this to check the spacing of adjacent timbers after making any adjustments.

Handy Hints:

Do not begin shoving timbers until you are sure that the track plan is finalised. Shoving individual timbers is a slow process, and changing the size or alignment of a template nearly always means that a new timbering layout is needed.

Clicking the timber number works only while the SHOVE TIMBER window is showing (ADJUST > SHOVE TIMBERS menu item, or SHIFT-F10), and the shove functions work only on the CURRENT TEMPLATE. If the timbers to be shoved are part of a background template, you must first make it the current template. For notes on how to do this, click the HELP > WHAT NEXT? - STORAGE BOX menu item.

While the SHOVE TIMBER window is showing and the current template is not hidden, it is not possible to get the pop-up menu for a background template simply by clicking on it. Instead, hold down the SHIFT key and click the template's NAME LABEL, or first hide the current template (CTRL-W).

Make a note of the underlined accelerator keys shown on the buttons. Then you can resize the form much smaller to avoid obstructing the drawing and still be able to use the buttons by pressing keys on the keyboard.

For example, to widen a timber you can simply press the W key.

If you prefer to shove timbers by entering dimensions directly, click the DAT• .. button.

For a useful list of all the timbers currently shoved on this template, click the blue down-arrow button, and then the down-arrow for the drop-down list.

Do not switch off TIMBER CENTRE-LINES in the GENERATOR menu while shoving timbers.

Using the shove timber functions is confusing if an excessive amount of timber randomising is in force. Select the GEOMETRY > TIMBERING menu items to cancel randomising while shoving timbers.

If the limit of 30 shoved timbers per template is a problem, split the template into two or more separate templates. (A quick way to do this is to make two copies, and then use the SNAP LENGTH TO PEG function on one, and the BLANK UP TO PEG function on the other).

N.B. Selecting the SHOVE TIMBERS function has ensured that timber centre-lines and numbers are switched on in the GENERATOR menu while the SHOVE TIMBERS function is in use.

The timber infill is also shown on the pad for the current template. If you do not want this while shoving, select the PAD > PAD CURRENT DRAWING OPTIONS > HIDE TIMBER INFILL menu item.

Using the mouse actions for shoving will also enable the FULL MOUSE DRAW screen refresh option so that you can see the timbers being shoved. You will probably want to revert to the skeleton draw option when you have finished shoving timbers. To do this select the PAD > SCREEN REFRESH OPTIONS > SKELETON MOUSE DRAW menu item or SHIFT+CTRL-F12, or just press the; (semi-colon) key.

To shove a timber out beyond the CTRL-0 datum end of a turnout, it is first necessary to apply sufficient negative blanking to accommodate the shove. This can be done by moving the fixing peg out as far as needed (CTRL-F8), and then clicking the TRACK > SNAP LENGTHS > BLANK UP TO PEG menu item. This option is not available for plain track.

• Slewing   [ v:0.66.a ]

The slewing function shifts a section of the track sideways from its normal position. There is a section between the slewed and unslewed portions called the SLEWING ZONE in which the amount of SLEW (sideways shift) is progressively increased so that the slewed and unslewed portions are joined by a smooth reverse curve.

Slewing is a useful means of nudging the track into an alignment to fit the existing site, but should normally be used for plain track only. A turnout placed in the slewing zone is likely to be distorted and/or difficult to construct, and Templot will be unable to warn you about the minimum radius within it.

A common use for slewing is to increase the space between double-track running lines to make room for a fixed obstruction such as a bridge girder, or perhaps to accommodate an island platform.

Unlike a transition curve, slewing introduces some distortion into the rail lengths and sleeper spacings. This will be negligible if slewing is used as intended to make small adjustments to the alignment. If you use the slewing functions to generate a sharp S-curve some noticeable distortion is inevitable. It is better to build up such curves with transitions whenever possible.

While slewing is in force a reminder notice appears on the drawing pad. This shows in blue normally, but will change to yellow if Templot judges the slew to be excessive.

There are two slew MODES, using different maths for the reverse curve. Mode 1 makes the centre reverse curve as gentle as possible to avoid buffer-locking problems and is suitable for slews in large radius curves or straight track.

Mode 2 eases the radius at each end of the slewing zone and is therefore more suitable for slews in sharply curving track. But it does this at the expense of a more pronounced reverse curve at the centre of the slewing zone.

For Mode 2 slews there is an adjustable SLEW FACTOR which permits fine tuning of the slewing radii by mouse action, select the ADJUST > MOUSE ACTIONS CURRENT > ADJUST MODE 2 SLEW FACTOR menu item. (There is no slew factor for slew mode 1.)

Slewing is enabled by selecting the GEOMETRY > SLEW (NUDGE) > SLEW USING MODE menu items, and can be cancelled without losing the current settings by selecting the GEOMETRY > SLEW (NUDGE) > CANCEL SLEW menu item.

The slewing settings can be adjusted by the mouse actions only while slewing is in force.

Note that slewing does not change the track radius (except within the slewing zone). The slewed and unslewed sections are of the same radius, and by zooming out you can see the two radial centre marks, one for each section.

If you want the radius of the slewed section to differ, you can combine a slew with a transition curve. By careful adjustment of the starting points and lengths of the transition curve and slewing zone, it is possible to make the slewed and unslewed sections concentric.

(If adjusting a slewed transition curve seems daunting, it may be simpler to contain the slew within its own template, and then combine separate templates for each section in the usual way.)

As for the other mouse actions, the way in which the template responds to the slewing adjustments is determined by the position of the fixing peg within it. Please experiment fully with the various settings before finalising a template, as there are a number of interesting effects.

A frequent need is to slide a template along a slewed alignment without disturbing the alignment. This is done using the SNAKE (CTRL-F6) mouse action. Compare the results with the otherwise similar SLIDE (F9) mouse action.

For more information about the slew settings, click the help flag for each.

• Slow Running   [ v:0.66.a ]

You can slow down Templot's drawing functions by setting a count figure greater than zero.

This is useful if an error has occurred and you need to check each feature as it is drawn.

A suitable count for your computer will need to be established by trial and error. Higher counts cause Templot to run more slowly. A count in the range 20-100 would be a starting point.

To properly see the effect of slow running you will need to be using the LOW MEMORY refresh mode, which requires a Templot restart.

N.B. Remember to come back here and reset the count to zero after use!

The count is reset to zero on a B-6 turnout reset, or when printing.

• Spacing-ring Tool   [ v:0.66.a ]

The spacing-ring is used as a design aid to check the spacing and clearances between adjacent tracks. It can also be used to make reference marks on the drawing pad, as a general measuring tool, and as a drawing pen. It can be positioned anywhere on the drawing pad using the MOVE SPACING-RING mouse action (SHIFT+CTRL-F9 or click the MOUSE ACTION MOVE RING button).

    1. Checking Track Spacings and Clearances

To set the size of the ring, click the SET RING > SIZE... button and enter the required inner diameter of the spacing-ring in mm. The outer diameter of the ring is always automatically set to correspond to a ring-width equal to the current rail-width.

This then means that you normally use the INNER diameter of the ring to check against the OUTER-EDGE of the rail, and the OUTER diameter of the ring to check against the INNER or GAUGE-FACE edge of the rail.

While using the mouse actions to adjust the template (with SKELETON DRAW - the normal setting), only the gauge-face rail edges are shown, which means that only the outer ring diameter is then relevant.

If you select the pre-set dimension by clicking the SET RING > P-S button (or enter a slash "/") the ring size will be set to give a track centre-to-centre dimension of 11ft 2in scale for your current gauge and scale. This dimension corresponds to the standard minimum 6ft way between running lines for standard-gauge track.

You should use the spacing-ring to check that no two tracks come closer than this pre-set dimension to maintain the proper clearance for passing trains, and if there is a curving radius of less than about 750ft scale (3000 mm or 10ft radius in 4mm scale), the clearance should be increased.

The pre-set dimension represents the MINIMUM spacing for running lines - there is no harm in using wider spacings if conditions permit. Also, railway regulations require increased spacing (9ft or 10ft way) for loops and sidings alongside running lines for the safety of staff on the ground, and to give room for signal posts, etc.

(If you are designing for a track gauge other than standard gauge the pre-set should not be used - enter the ring dimension as required. For Irish 5ft 3in gauge, for example, enter the 6ft way dimension directly, e.g. enter 24mm for 6ft way with exact scale Irish 21mm gauge in 4mm/ft scale.)

    2. Marking and Measuring

You can leave a temporary copy of the ring in position as a reference point. Click the RING COPIES > MAKE button. This is useful when you need to mark several clearance points while making adjustments. You can have up to 32 such copies if you wish, and each one can be a different size. While you are moving the ring its current position on the pad is shown in title bar at the top of the screen.

If the inner ring size is set to a small dimension or zero (click the MAKE TARGET button to make it 6" scale diameter), the spacing-ring and any copies of it become small target marks that are useful as general markers. The cross-hair lines are each 18" scale long.

The spacing-ring can also be used as a gauge to check any other dimensions on the drawing as required - just remember that the size you set is the inner diameter of the ring. For example, if you need to fit a locomotive that is 200mm long into an engine spur, set the ring to 200mm and check the clear length of the spur. This is easier than using the grid lines to judge dimensions when tracks are at an angle.

Or you can measure dimensions directly with the ring or the mouse. The readout panel displays the dimensions from the most recent copy of the ring to the current position. When the ring is being moved the dimensions are to the centre of the ring and the readout panel is yellow; at other times the readout panel is white and dimensions are to the mouse pointer, which can be changed to the cross-hairs symbol for accuracy by clicking the MOUSE CROSS-HAIRS button.

To measure the distance between two positions on the drawing, simply move the centre of the ring to the first position and click the RING COPIES / MAKE button. Then move the ring or the mouse to the second position and read off the dimensions from the first one. The DIAGONAL dimension is the straight-line diagonal dimension between the two positions.

    3. Handy Hints:

Moving the ring with the mouse action generates continuous pad redraws. When using the ring for marking and measuring you can get a faster response by using the mouse pointer directly. Try this:

Press the F12 key to cancel the mouse action.

Click the MOUSE CROSS-HAIRS button (or press CTRL-full stop key).

Move the cross hairs mouse pointer to the required ring position. But don't click the mouse on it otherwise you will cancel the cross-hairs symbol.

Select the JUMP RING TO > MOUSE button (not with the mouse of course, press the U key on the keyboard, shown underlined on the button).

You can now click the RING COPIES > MAKE button (or press the K key) to start measuring from the ring to the mouse pointer.

Make a note of the underlined accelerator keys on the other buttons. Then you can resize the form much smaller to avoid obstructing the drawing and still be able to use the buttons.

The JUMP RING TO > NOTCH button jumps the ring to the current position of the pegging notch. By first using the NOTCH UNDER PEG functions, you can position the ring on the fixing peg of the current template, or any background template.

Likewise the ADJUST > NOTCH OPTIONS > NOTCH ON SPACING RING menu item moves the pegging notch to the ring position, and you can then use the SHIFT ONTO NOTCH functions to position the current template at the ring position.

To temporarily hide the ring and any copies, click the RINGS > HIDE option button. They will re-appear when you click the RINGS > SHOW option button, or select the TOOLS > SPACING-RING menu item.

You can choose different colours for the ring and any copies by clicking the COLOUR... buttons. But avoid choosing red if possible; otherwise at some zoom settings the ring might be confused with the fixing peg.

When accuracy is needed, always zoom in so that the ring fills a good proportion of the visible pad. At lower zoom settings, rounding effects for the screen may appear to make the two ring diameters non-concentric.

Like the pegging notch, the spacing-ring and its copies "belong" to the drawing pad, not the current template, so you can't save these items in the data files as they stand. To save a ring for future use, it can be converted to a collection of 4 background shapes (2 rings and 2 cross-hair lines) and included in your background shapes list along with any other shapes that you have defined. Click the MAKE SHAPES button to do this.

Once in the background shapes list, the shapes forming the ring image can be modified as required in the same way as any other shape. You could delete the outer ring, for example, or change it to a square without changing any dimensions. (Note that you won't actually see the underlying shapes until you move the ring, and then only if background shapes have been switched on in the PAD menu.)

The spacing ring can also be used as a means of drawing other background features. If you click the DRAWING PEN > MOVE TO RING button, an imaginary "drawing pen" is moved to the current position of the spacing ring. After moving the ring, if you then click the DRAW TO RING button, the "pen" will draw a line to the new position of the ring. By repeatedly moving the ring and clic