SCARM NG (NexGen) -- What changes and new capability would you like to see?

email Milen at info@scarm.info and start this discussion with him. 

There are a couple of users that can build the structures - Chilloquin Russ is good with 3D printing tools - if he has exact measurements of an example of a structure he knows how to code it into SCARM he made some really buildings - so, the problem is building a database of the measurements of the structures 

Carl,

A few people have figured out how to add buildings to SCARM, but if the information and tools were available then many of us coul contribute to the effort.  The wealth of buildings and accessories in RRTrack I would like to have in SCARM.  AnyRail appears to have a good selection.

Jan

64-bit architecture, so that I can run it on MacOS Catalina via Wine.

I don't think that SCARM uses the Windows register, and I've noticed that I can have more than one instance of it open.  This makes me suspect that it has its roots in Linux or similar.  If that is the case, a MacOS version should be possible.

Jan

@Jan posted:

I don't think that SCARM uses the Windows register, and I've noticed that I can have more than one instance of it open.  This makes me suspect that it has its roots in Linux or similar.  If that is the case, a MacOS version should be possible.

Jan

SCARM is developed as 32-bit Windows x86 application and cannot run natively on Mac computers.

Source.

An alternative would be to get Crossover 19, but then I might as well get Railmodeler Pro.

I would like the ability to better control what figures show on top in 2D.  using figures to create benchwork, framing, legs, etc. it seems that the last thing drawn is always shown on top.  This is often not what I want.  Perhaps there is a way to control this, but so far I have not found it.

Another thing would be the ability to have multiple layouts open at once, instead of being limited to just 1

"Another thing would be the ability to have multiple layouts open at once, instead of being limited to just 1"

You can do this now, as you can have multiple instances open at once creating the same effect.  I have done it, and easy to copy and paste one to another.

I thought of a couple of more items.

1. After reading the blogs and watching the tutorials it would be nice to be able to scale up/down a building or other object.  There are a lot of HO buildings that we could us in O scale if we had a way to blow them up.
2. It is tedious to place insulated joiner as described in the blog.  Since joints have a height property an additional properties could be added.

Jan

@ogaugenut posted:

I would like the ability to better control what figures show on top in 2D.  using figures to create benchwork, framing, legs, etc. it seems that the last thing drawn is always shown on top.  This is often not what I want.  Perhaps there is a way to control this, but so far I have not found it.

 

Layering, turn a layer on/off or move up or down on the stack of layers ↑↓. Create a group, make a layer out of it.

You can rescale ho objects. I forget how, but Ive done that too. Once larger save the group as a new object file

If you remember please post how or where to find it.

Jan

I haven't been on Windows or used scarm in a few years.  I rescaled a loco (object) and a couple of buildings, I think by changing a numerical value or two. Might have been in the command lines vs GUI screen.

I would have learned it on scarms site, reading randomly.

Hello all

Thank you for all suggestions, ideas and recommendations for the next major version of SCARM.

I cannot promise that I will be able to implement all of them, but I am writing down all these in my To-Do plan notebook and will try to make SCARM better, faster and even easier-to-use that now.

Mixy

Hi again @Mixy!

First- let me say that I love your software.  It's brought many hours of joy, and I look forward to using the Next Generation version.  There is one very important addition however, which would be welcome as part of a final update to the current program.  Please see the graphic below:

The above example is a bit contrived.  But I would like some kind of an ALIGNMENT AID to make it easier to line up switches and cross tracks.  Especially when they don't line up at obvious right angles.  For consideration, here's one type of alignment aid used by a competing track design software:

Note the dashed blue lines extending from each switch and end of track.

A complementary enhancement, equally important, is the ability to move selected track in precise increments using the ARROW KEYS.  I know that it's possible to translocate track with the toolbox command, and I use it often.  But when you have to move track in both the X and Y dimensions (for example to line up a 45-degree crossing) it's time-consuming and tedious.  It would be great if we could move the selection with the arrows, and have it turn colors when it's aligned to the dotted line extending from nearby track.  I believe Microsoft PowerPoint uses visual cues like this as an alignment aid, as well.

I will leave the exact details of implementation in  your capable hands, but I hope this helps you understand what I'm asking for.  I welcome comments from others.  For your consideration, respectfully.   -Ted

Ted,

My solution to your problem is to add a straight section of track to the ends of every joint that I want to align.  Besides being and alignment aid as  you describe, they also prevent the auto jump to connect that can happen.  Its  not to hard to connect horizontally or vertically, but to connect diagonal sections involves both movements.

Jan

PS. Another thought would be for the track section to auto-align along the vectors you propose and then one could snip track to fill the gaps.  Is the an out-fill function somewhere?

Jan, I use the same technique with both straights and curves. I’ve even turned off the side rails to use just the center rails.

I don't think SCARM has an "auto-fill" function, but the tutorials suggest the use of flex track to close loops, etc., and that's what I usually do.  I knew about the trick of adding extra track, but with angled reversing loops, 45-degree crossings, etc., making revisions gets very tedious.

Being able to move the track in precise increments with the arrow keys, and having it turn colors when it's lined up, would make things much easier.

Ted, I complete agree, just didn’t know you knew to add tracks and thought the idea would help. Flex track helps too, but not all brands have flex and even if they do, it doesn’t always flex as much or as easily as the software suggests. I do like the idea of an alignment tool of some sort. I find lining things up for cuts is very tedious with a lot of trial and error. I have one large design where it’s especially difficult because I have to zoom in quite a bit and my laptop has a hard time displaying things smoothly, even with an i7 cpu and plenty of ram. One gets pretty good at it the more they do it, but it’s still one of those things that shouldn’t require so much work. Heck, it would be nice if the track rails just highlighted or something when they overlapped evenly for snipping.