VERSION 7
SCALE N
ORIG 10.000 0.000 0.000
ROOMSIZE 96.0 x 48.0
PARAMETER misc easement-val 0.000
PARAMETER misc stickyset 65535
PARAMETER misc toolbarset 511
PARAMETER GROUP misc
PARAMETER draw roomsizeX 0.000
PARAMETER draw roomsizeY 0.000
PARAMETER draw tunnels 0
PARAMETER draw endpt 2
PARAMETER misc move-quick 0
PARAMETER misc turntable-angle 0.000
PARAMETER draw label-scale 12
PARAMETER misc labelEnable 253
PARAMETER draw color-layers 0
PARAMETER GROUP setup
PARAMETER draw grid-horzspacing 6.000
PARAMETER draw grid-horzdivision 6
PARAMETER draw grid-horzenable 0
PARAMETER draw grid-vertspacing 6.000
PARAMETER draw grid-vertdivision 6
PARAMETER draw grid-vertenable 0
PARAMETER draw grid-show 0
PARAMETER draw grid-origx 12.000
PARAMETER draw grid-origy 12.000
PARAMETER draw grid-origa 316.000
PARAMETER file checkpoint 10
PARAMETER misc balloonhelp 0
PARAMETER misc hideselectionwindow 0
PARAMETER misc anglesystem 0
PARAMETER misc minLength 0.100
PARAMETER misc connectDistance 0.100
PARAMETER misc connectAngle 1.000
PARAMETER misc twoRailScale 16
PARAMETER misc mapScale 64
PARAMETER draw dragpixels 20
PARAMETER draw dragtimeout 500
PARAMETER draw minGridSpacing 3
PARAMETER misc liveMap 0
PARAMETER misc preSelect 1
PARAMETER misc listLabels 7
PARAMETER misc layoutLabels 1
PARAMETER misc description-fontsize 96
PARAMETER misc enable-list-prices 1
PARAMETER misc units 0
PARAMETER rgbcolor snapgrid 65280
PARAMETER rgbcolor marker 16711680
PARAMETER rgbcolor border 0
PARAMETER rgbcolor crossMinor 255
PARAMETER rgbcolor crossMajor 16711680
PARAMETER rgbcolor normal 0
PARAMETER rgbcolor selected 16711680
PARAMETER layer name Main
PARAMETER layer color 255
PARAMETER layer visible 1
PARAMETER layer frozen 0
PARAMETER layer onmap 1
PARAMETER layer button-count 10
PARAMETER misc labelEnable 7
STRAIGHT 1 0 0 0 0 N -1
	E 23.086096 1.459535 254.675892
	E 72.500000 15.000000 74.675892
	END
STRAIGHT 2 0 0 0 0 N -1
	E 1.770859 28.642902 189.520022
	E 5.625000 51.625000 9.520022
	END
REDRAW
RESET
MESSAGE
Now we will create a helix in the corner of the layout connected to 2 tracks.
END
STEP
COMMAND Helix
PARAMETER misc helix-radius 18.000
PARAMETER misc helix-turns 1
PARAMETER misc helix-elev 0.0
PARAMETER misc helix-angSep 0.0
PARAMETER misc helix-grade 0.0
PARAMETER misc helix-vertSep 1.0
PARAMETER misc helix-vertSep 0.0
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

We will be creating a helix with a Elevation Difference of 12", Grade of 1.5% and limit the Vertical Separation to 2".
END
STEP
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

First set the Elevation Difference to 12"
END
STEP
PARAMETER misc helix-elev 12.0
BIGPAUSE
BIGPAUSE
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Next set the Vertical Separation to 2"
Notice how this causes the number of Turns to be set to 6
END
STEP
PARAMETER misc helix-vertSep 2.0
STEP
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Next set the Grade to 1.5%
Notice how this causes the Radius to change.
END
STEP
PARAMETER misc helix-grade 1.5
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Setting these values changes the Radius to 21.2" and the number of Turns to 6.
END
STEP
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Now we specify the Angular Separation between the enterance and exit to the helix.

Note: this will decrease the Radius slightly.
END
STEP
PARAMETER misc helix-angSep 90.0
BIGPAUSE
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Next we can fine tune the helix by decreasing the Radius to 15".
Note the change to the Grade.
END
STEP
PARAMETER misc helix-radius 15.0
BIGPAUSE
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Lastly change the Vertical Separation to 2.5".  The number of Turns will change to 4 and the grade increase to almost 3%.

Note: the Vertical Separation will be increased.
END
STEP
PARAMETER misc helix-vertSep 2.5
MESSAGE
=========================================
END
STEP
CLEAR
MESSAGE
Now that the helix parameters are set we can place the helix on the layout.
END
MOUSE 2 15.375 20.500
MOUSE 3 15.375 20.500
MOUSE 3 16.000 16.000
STEP
MOUSE 4 16.000 16.000
RESET
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Next, join the 2 straight tracks to the helix in the same way we join to a circle.
END
STEP
COMMAND Join
MOUSE 2 1.875 30.000
MOUSE 4 1.875 30.000
MOUSE 2 1.000 17.375
MOUSE 3 1.000 17.250
MOUSE 3 1.000 17.000
MOUSE 3 1.000 17.000
MOUSE 3 1.000 16.750
MOUSE 3 1.000 16.500
MOUSE 3 1.125 16.500
MOUSE 3 1.125 16.375
MOUSE 3 1.125 16.250
MOUSE 4 1.125 16.250
MOUSE 2 28.125 3.000
MOUSE 4 28.125 3.000
MOUSE 2 16.500 1.000
MOUSE 3 16.500 1.000
MOUSE 3 16.375 1.000
MOUSE 3 16.125 1.000
MOUSE 3 16.125 0.875
MOUSE 3 16.000 0.875
MOUSE 3 16.000 0.875
MOUSE 3 15.875 0.875
MOUSE 3 15.625 0.875
MOUSE 3 15.500 1.000
MOUSE 3 15.375 1.000
MOUSE 4 15.375 1.000
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Notice that the length has increased because we have more than 4 turns in the helix.  It is closer to 4.25 turns.
END
STEP
COMMAND Elevation
PARAMETER misc elevation-mode 0
PARAMETER misc elevation-value 0.000
PARAMETER misc elevation-station 
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

Next, we assign elevations to the 2 End-Points of the helix.  This will determine the grade and separation between the helix coils.

Note: we could set the elevations anywhere along the connecting tracks instead.  XTrkCad treats a helix as a single length of track for elevations.
END
STEP
MOUSE 2 15.125 1.125
MOUSE 4 15.125 1.125
PARAMETER misc elevation-mode 1
PARAMETER misc elevation-value 1.000000
BIGPAUSE
MOUSE 2 1.250 16.000
MOUSE 4 1.250 16.000
PARAMETER misc elevation-mode 1
PARAMETER misc elevation-value 13.000000
PARAMETER action elevation-done
BIGPAUSE
RESET
REDRAW
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

We have set the elevations to 1" and 13" to produce a grade of 3.0% with 2.8" between coils.

You can use the Describe command to change the number of Turns or the Elevations at either end of the Helix.  This will affect the Grade and Vertical Separation.
END
STEP
MESSAGE
_________________________________________

The helix description can be moved by the Move Label command.
END
COMMAND MoveLabel
MOUSE 2 15.875 16.125
MOUSE 3 16.125 6.250
MOUSE 4 16.125 6.250
MESSAGE
=========================================
END
STEP
CLEAR
