Getting Started

# Contents For XTrkCad

XTrkCad is a program for designing Model Railroad Layouts.

## Introduction

    	Getting Started
    	General Operation
    	Warranty and Copying
    	Features
    	Performance Issues
    	Glossary
    	Registering
    	File and Directories
    	Bugs and Enhancements

## How To ...

    	Move about the layout
    	View the demos
    	Load and Save layouts
    	Use straight and curved flex-track
    	Modify tracks
    	Join tracks
    	Use Easements (Spiral Transition Curve)
    	Delete tracks
    	Use Turnouts and Sectional Track
    	Define New Turnouts
    	Use Turntables
    	Move tracks
    	Draw Table Edges and Room Boundaries
    	Draw Lines
    	Print
    	Use Tunnels and Split tracks
    	Use the Ruler
    	Set Layout Parameters
    	Record and Playback
    	Register Your Copy of XTrkCad
    	Create a Parts List
    	Use Layers to hide parts of your layout
    	Set Elevations and view the Profile

## Windows

    	Main Window
    	Map Window

## Commands

The commands are accessible from the Toolbar, various menus and accelerator keys.

Zoom In, Zoom or Zoom Out

Undo or Redo

Easement

Straight, Curve, Circle, Helix, Turnout, Handlaid Turnout, Turntable or Parallel

Modify Join, Connect, Split, Elevation, Profile or Move Label

Describe or Select

Move, Rotate, Delete, Tunnel, or Above/Below

Text, Draw Objects, Notes or Structures

Ruler

Layers Next Page

## Getting Started

### Linux Installation

Chdir to /usr/local/lib (or where ever you install local commands) do

    	tar xvfz xtrkcad-linux-XXX.VVV.tar.gz

where XXX is the binary format (either aout or elf) and VVV is the version number.

This will create the xtrkcad directory. You can move xtrkcad/xtrkcad to /use/local/bin/.

If you install XTrkCad into another directory, set the XTRKCADLIB environment variable to point to that directory.

### Quick Tour

When XTrkCad starts, it displays the Main and Map windows. The Map window is used to change the origin of the Main window when the entire layout cannot be displayed at one time.

The Menu bar across the top of the Main window contains standard Windows menus. Some of these are particularly useful to the new user:

- The File|Open menu opens existing layout files. When first installed, the default directory contains some example programs you can look at.
- The File|Exit menu exits XTrkCad. You can also exit by selecting the System menu in the upper left corner of the Window.
- The Options|Setup menu specifies the working scale and overall room size. You will be limited to a roomsize of 96" x 48", unless you have registered XTrkCad
- The Options|Preferences menu specifies some less frequently changed items. You can use this menu to choose Metric units.
- The Help menu can be used to read the XTrkCad Help file (which you are reading now). Also, the Help|Demo menu selects a number of demonstrations which illustrate various features of XTrkCad

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