No FB Base Display

[Jim Guthrie]

Martin,

I've just tried to print out a track plan for track laying in FB rail and I can't get any display of the base although I have it selected under the Real/Rails menu option. I've used this option previously with no problems. I note that now there are copious warnings about the facility being experimental which I don't remember previously. I'm on the latest 2.43A version.

Jim.

 

[Martin Wynne]

Martin,

I've just tried to print out a track plan for track laying in FB rail and I can't get any display of the base although I have it selected under the Real/Rails menu option. I've used this option previously with no problems. I note that now there are copious warnings about the facility being experimental which I don't remember previously. I'm on the latest 2.43A version.

Jim.

@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

The FB foot lines appear only on the outputs, not on the trackpad. All seems to be working normally here:

You shouldn't be receiving any warnings about FB rail being experimental. That applies only to the 3D plug track and chairing functions, which work only for bullhead. If you are planning for FB track you need to leave the 3D experimental stuff switched off.

Perhaps you could post a screenshot?

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Jim Guthrie]

Martin,

Just gone over what I'm doing with this track plan and the setup :-

I am printing in grey scale and I noted that your images were in colour so I tried an output in colour and it was the same with no rail bases showing. On my test I used the Microsoft print to PDF facility, my previous printout was done on an Epson inkjet.

Jim.

 

[Steve_Cornford]

Hi Jim,
I get the same as Martin if i use the output option to print to pdf:-

IF i just choose to print to my Canon inkjet I get similar, but with option to preview each page as here:-

Steve

 

[Steve_Cornford]

WHen I click on the menu item head and foot (flat-bottom rails) to change to FB

I do get a proviional implementation warning:-

rather than an experimental warning

Steve

 

[Steve_Cornford]

Hi Jim,
I think the problem is that you did not have the head and foot option switched on before you started making your track plan.
I get the same result as you if i print a background template that was stored before switching on that option.
To overcome this use the

real > rails > modify group to match above option, then when you get this screen:-

click group select all

then click modify group to match rail -scetion settings
Then when you print & preview you should get:-

the desired effect....
Steve

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Jim Guthrie @Steve_Cornford

Hi Jim,
I think the problem is that you did not have the head and foot option switched on before you started making your track plan.

Thanks Steve. I have tried to find some way in Windows to indicate that the middle group of menus apply only to the control template, but it's not easy without requiring additional clicks:

Having made a change or setting to the control template on these menus, it will mostly propagate forward to any subsequent control template and thus to new stored templates, but not back to any previously stored templates. To do that use the modify group to match functions which are available in many places in Templot.

Templot has been working this way since the beginning of time, so it's a bit late to change things now.

I do get a provisional implementation warning:-

That's been "unfinished" since version 076a in January 2002, so nearly 22 years!

I had to look in the code to find the date:

if rail_section=2       // head+foot (FB section)... 0.76.a 2-01-2002   (unfinished)
   then begin
               fbtoex:=toex-fbtip*SIN(k1);

               fbplx:=plox-(j+ifb)*SIN(kpl);

               temp:=SQR(swrad+ofb)-SQR(sworgy-ifb);
               if temp<0 then begin RESULT:=136; EXIT; end;   // FB inner foot of straight stock rail.
               fbplox:=sworgx+SQRT(temp);

               temp:=SQR(swrad-g+ifb)-SQR(sworgy-g-ofb);
               if temp<0 then begin RESULT:=137; EXIT; end;   // FB inner foot of curved stock rail.
               fbstox:=sworgx+SQRT(temp);

               fbplx3:=plx3+ifb*SIN(k1);
               fbplox11:=plx3-ofb*SIN(k1);

               fbheelox:=heelx+ofb*SIN(k2);
               fbheelx:=heelx-ifb*SIN(k2);

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Jim Guthrie]

Hi Jim,
I think the problem is that you did not have the head and foot option switched on before you started making your track plan.
I get the same result as you if i print a background template that was stored before switching on that option.
To overcome this use the
View attachment 8240
real > rails > modify group to match above option,

Steve,

That did the trick. I have used the facility at least twice in the past and must have had to do the same thing at printing time but the memory is getting a bit old these days. I think the problem for a lot of us is that we design a layout every year or so, or maybe more infrequently, and remembering all the finer points of the Templot operation becomes problematic - and Martin's portentous development dialog box doesn't help matters even if it's been there since the year dot.

Apologies for the delay in responding. A new laser cutter appeared from China about ten days before it was due and I spent half the day trying to get to the Post Office to pick it up, having just missed the ParcelForce van which drove off just as I returned from walking the dog. And once having got the parcel in my hands, I had to open the box and start building it.
Jim.