Computer power & memory

[Mike McIntosh]

Hello all
I am new to the Templot club and about to download Templot but would like advice on the computing power and memory storage required in running the programme. I have watched some of the tutorials and there seems to be a lot of stored items created in the making of the full track plan.
My model will be over 5.0 meters long with four running lines, many loops and sidings involving at least 30 turnouts and crossings. I plan to use a HP Elitebook 820 G3 laptop which has 8Gb of Ram and 240 Gb SSD processor. Will this work? Is it possible to store ongoing Templot planning on a memory stick? I also have a desktop iMac but having read of the issues people have experienced I think I prefer to stick with Windows.
Many thanks
Mike

 

[Martin Wynne]

My model will be over 5.0 meters long with four running lines, many loops and sidings involving at least 30 turnouts and crossings. I plan to use a HP Elitebook 820 G3 laptop which has 8Gb of Ram and 240 Gb SSD processor. Will this work? Is it possible to store ongoing Templot planning on a memory stick?

@Mike McIntosh @Lancastrian @Simon Dunkley

Hi Mike,

Welcome to Templot Club.

That system will be plenty adequate and more. Some folks have layouts quite a bit larger than that, with hundreds of templates:

by Ian Allen

All that happens is that the screen response gets a bit slower on large track plans. There are functions to get round that by working on only a limited area at any given time. Or by displaying the templates in less detail. I doubt you will need to do any of that.

Yes, you can choose to install Templot on a USB stick. Just edit the location in the setup installer. Your entire Templot installation including the program, your files and data will then be on the USB stick, and can be run on any Windows computer you care to plug it into.

Just a couple of things to bear in mind when editing the install location:

1. Don't install Templot in any of the standard Windows locations, such as C:\Program Files\

2. Don't have any spaces anywhere in the entire path, use underscores instead,

e.g. G:\MY_RAILWAY_STUFF\TEMPLOT_STUFF\

The default location is C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\

For use on a Mac, you need to ask others on here -- my knowledge of Macs is nil. Quite a few Templot users do use a Mac.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Bill Campbell]

Hello all
I am new to the Templot club and about to download Templot but would like advice on the computing power and memory storage required in running the programme. I have watched some of the tutorials and there seems to be a lot of stored items created in the making of the full track plan.
My model will be over 5.0 meters long with four running lines, many loops and sidings involving at least 30 turnouts and crossings. I plan to use a HP Elitebook 820 G3 laptop which has 8Gb of Ram and 240 Gb SSD processor. Will this work? Is it possible to store ongoing Templot planning on a memory stick? I also have a desktop iMac but having read of the issues people have experienced I think I prefer to stick with Windows.
Many thanks
Mike

Hi Mike

If your iMac has an Intel processor Windows, and hence Templot, work very well using Bootcamp. The only problems I have encountered is that Windows does not like the Apple mouse and some of the function key options do not work within Templot. I use an ordinary USB mouse when using Windows.

Regards.

 

[Terry Downes]

Hi Mike, I successfully run Templot, and several 3D CAD programs on my old 2013 iMac (Intel i7 3.5GHz 32GB RAM) using Bootcamp and Windows 10 (64-bit). As bill says, check on the internet to see that you can run windows 10 on your iMac desktop via Bootcamp and maybe max the plug in RAM to max it can accommodate.
The problems reported using Mac's is generally when using emulation software like CrossOver, Parallels or VMWare. These are only if you want to run MacOS and Windows applications at the same time. I sometimes do this using Parallels but, I find it a little clunky when working/designing using CAD so, I generally use Bootcamp which essentially turns my iMac 27 into a very reliable Windows PC. I hope this helps.

 

[Mike McIntosh]

Hi Mike, I successfully run Templot, and several 3D CAD programs on my old 2013 iMac (Intel i7 3.5GHz 32GB RAM) using Bootcamp and Windows 10 (64-bit). As bill says, check on the internet to see that you can run windows 10 on your iMac desktop via Bootcamp and maybe max the plug in RAM to max it can accommodate.
The problems reported using Mac's is generally when using emulation software like CrossOver, Parallels or VMWare. These are only if you want to run MacOS and Windows applications at the same time. I sometimes do this using Parallels but, I find it a little clunky when working/designing using CAD so, I generally use Bootcamp which essentially turns my iMac 27 into a very reliable Windows PC. I hope this helps.

Many thanks for the replies and advice which I have generally grasped despite my grave inadequacies with computers! In the end I think it will come down to practicalities. My wife uses the iMac a lot for her work and the laptop has only a 13 inch screen, so I have to decide to invest in a new computer; Windows or Apple? Thanks again for the help. I am not needing to start my Templotting immediately so I will enjoy the club and learn from the topics discussed.
Mike

 

[AndyB]

Hi Mike,

Rather than buy a new computer you could just buy a large screen monitor and plug it into the laptop. Your laptop has an HDMI output that will support a hi-res attached monitor screen.

If you buy a new computer later the monitor will work with it too.

Cheers!
Andy

 

[Mike McIntosh]

Hi Mike,

Rather than buy a new computer you could just buy a large screen monitor and plug it into the laptop. Your laptop has an HDMI output that will support a hi-res attached monitor screen.

If you buy a new computer later the monitor will work with it too.

Cheers!
Andy

Hi Andy
What a great suggestion worthy of me buying you a beer!

Many thanks
Mike

 

[Steve_Cornford]

I'm using an HP laptop with a 22" by 7" screen, and it is ok.
Obviously a larger screen would be nice but Templot does have a good zoom facility.
Steve

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Mike McIntosh

Hi Mike,

You may already have a large screen monitor. It's called a TV. Most of them have HDMI sockets.

Just for testing, you understand.

Martin.

 

[Stephen Freeman]

Yes but the one I am using as a monitor in the downstairs workroom (OK I have a proper one in the upstairs office) might be quite big but being several years old is a bit limited on screen resolution (800x600), so not really usable for Templot

 

[Bunchie3174]

I run Templot on a PC but operate it via Teamviewer on my MacBook Air. It runs in a separate window with all the normal functionality. I've even run that via Airplay to my tv though lag sets in.