SCARM track planning software - Hello from the author

A couple of days ago, I published the new SCARM v. 0.9.26 which comes with the new online help system integrated and the Layers feature for easy editing of complex layouts. Read more details here:

SCARM Track Planning Software 0.9.26 Released

Hope you will like the new release

Mixy

NE Special,

Would you be able to post the steps of your process with perhaps some screenshots. There are many mac users that want some train layout modeling software. Forum user Farwest would be particularly interested as he has tried with no success. He is in Japan. maybe, shoot him an email.

Mixy,

I look appreciate the new layer editing feature in the new version. I have a layout that I can learn and experiment with this. It should be helpful for a 4 level layout.

Thanks for all of effort!

Best Regards,

Carl

Thanks Mixy!!  I downloaded it last night, and gave it a really quick look.

I hope it works, I like to try it on my MAC OX 10

John P

I will report back to group with details as soon as I have time.

It worked well enough for me to start a track plan and move some track onto it.

I will have to find and learn the appropriate keys strokes and clicks as they are not quite same as for Microsoft windows use.

For those interested in attempting to use SCARM on a MAC

I followed the directions found here

http://www.davidbaumgold.com/t...als/wine-mac/#part-1

to install Xcode, Home Brew, and Wine.

It took some time but was not difficult to do.

If you are not familiar with Terminal and command line instructions it is good idea to read this first. I needed to refresh my memory as it has been quite a few years since i worked with a command line only computer!

http://www.davidbaumgold.com/tutorials/command-line/

Part 3 of the Instructions did not work for me when I tried to run the command line

$ wine SCARMsetup_09_26.exe

from my mac terminal window.

I realized that it was possible that I needed to run X11 from my utilities folder and then run the wine command from there. This worked and opened up the SCARM Program window on my screen.

This is far as I have gone to date.

I will follow the instruction to set up a Dock Icon for easier access and start learning how to use SCARM.

Will report if I have any issues with the use of Program.

If anyone has questions please ask. I am certainly no expert but I will try help as best I can.

Thanks, NE. Great info for mac users.

SCARM has the ability to run from a usb device, like a flash drive. I am wondering if you copied the wrapped SCARM folder from it's location to a flash drive, started it and then followed the instructions in Tools, Settings, Portable tab if it would create a wrapped version to share with mac users.

Give it a try when you can find time.

Mixy,

I have a question about the new layer feature. Does the layer assume the vertical height of the object(s) on it? I don't see a properties to pre-set the layer height.

I have a 4 level layout that I am working on. I was able to copy level 2 in a separate instance of SCARM and paste onto layer 2. The heights were already set for level 2. It works perfectly to select a layer to work on and then select both to display the entire plan.

It has also helped with the default 3D rendering.

Hi Carl,

The layers are not connected with the heights. The layers are intended to make editing of complex track plans (like yours with 4 levels) easier and more convenient. In example, you can assign each level to a different layer and to "turn off" (hide) the levels that are already finished in 2D view. You do not need to use second instance for layering of the plans, created in the old versions - just "cut" the selection, select new layer and "paste" - it will be assigned to that layer.

I am considering to make the Layers to work also in 3D, but will need more feedback about that.

Mixy

I see, then each layer could actually have items of varying vertical positions then.

I was wondering if the layer could be used to set the vertical position.

Can a layer have a negative vertical position object?

The 3D layer seems like a lot of work to play with eye candy. Although, there are some that really enjoy the 3D modeling capabilities of SCARM.

Yes, the objects can be with negative vertical positions as before.

The layers, working in 3D will result in showing/hiding of the 3D figures and objects in the 3D Viewer, according to the current setting in Layers control panel. Now, everything is show in 3D, no matter of the layers visibility settings.

Mixy

IMPORTANT!

Several bugs were discovered in SCARM 0.9.26 related to the renaming of the layers and then save and restore of the already changed layer names. The patched version of the program was released today.
Please upgrade to SCARM 0.9.27, which can be downloaded from www.scarm.info to fix these problems.

See more about this bugfix update in the following blog post: SCARM v. 0.9.27 Released.

I am sorry if these bugs caused any problems and inconvenience in your work with SCARM. If you see another problems, please report them here or in SCARM Blog and I will try to fix them ASAP.

Mixy

Mixy,

Let me start off by saying thank you for this wonderful program.  It has been a great help in my overall layouts.

One item I would love to see is a way to show the grade of each piece of track in the same way you can show the elevation points.  As of now you must modify an elevation point to see the grade.

Hello RLHornbeck,

Thank you for that suggestion. I will consider adding such feature in some of the next releases of SCARM

Mixy

What I do is make a text note on the plan next to the track when I originally create the grade, like this:

2.2% -->

The arrow indicates the uphill direction. The text can be rotated if desired for better orientation.

I will be interested to try out the new 9.27 version of SCARM. Thanks Again, Mixy !

Ace thanks for the suggestion, that should help me remember what I did. 

Mixy, also I love the layers!

Here I want to present the first very detailed virtual locomotive models in SCARM, created by Ian Donohoe and shown in the SCARM blog here:

Detailed 3D Models of US Diesel Locomotives in SCARM

Below are two of them:





These are created with the object's interface of SCARM and are auto-scalable to the scale and gauge of the used tracks in the layout plan, so they will perfectly match in O-gauge too.



Download the loco library from the blog's post and use these nice models in your virtual SCARM layouts in O scale

Mixy

Had some time to play with SCARM over the holiday, seems like it will be fun to learn how to use.  Russ

The coaling tower needs work but for a first try I'll live with it.  Seems I got some measurements wrong.  I'm working on a water tower now.  Russ

Got it.

I have been playing with the program for the last couple of days.

Question.

How I enter the dimensions of my room?, That's my start point Everything is either CM or In  

There are positive and negative numbers. What is the purpose?

Doug

1) using negative numbers is optional.

2) you can set the origin corner for your layout at 0,0 and you can

still show clearances around the space: windows, doorways, moldings, etc.

3) using negative numbers is optional.

To add: The workspace is a proper representation of the coordinate system. It's there to provide any user the flexibility of locating their design. I typically only work in the Positive X and Y.

Tip: if you start at 0,0...the home key will always reorient that corner to those coordinates.

Because the software was developed in Europe and is meant for global use, you have CM or inches, but only 5" grid blocks in inches (12.7cm)

You should use objects to create the room dimensions. It can be a translucent polygon at 0 height for a working line. Then it's only a line of the perimeter.

The SCARM website and Blog have easy to learn tutorials, tips and techniques.

Can you convert a RRtrack plan into a scram plan?

Thank You

Ken M

Thanks Carl for the link.  It's interesting software and for the price (free) it is actually pretty stable.  He has packed a lot of features into a small package.  

What I'm working on today is being able to stick a pix of a drawing/plan in as background, then SCARM build over it and then delete the background.  If I can figure out the scaling factors etc, should be a quickie way of laying out structures.  Anyhow, Happy New Year and thanks again for the link.  Russ

Hi all and Happy New Year

@Russ: If you want to make a proper scaling of the Background image, make sure that there is some dimension marker on the picture which you can measure in SCARM. Then you will need to resize the image 3-4 times (with the sizing grip at bottom right corner) until the marker on it is measured exactly as is in SCARM using Measuring Tape in the program.

@Ken: There is no way for direct import of the track plans from other programs, but you can export the plan as picture and then import in SCARM as Background image. Then you should be able to reproduce it in SCARM relatively quick and easy.

Mixy

The posting of a pix as a background and then doing the SCARM stuff over it works like a champ!  Having fun now!    I would sure like to know how those wonderful diesels were done WOW, we need some steamers now.  Russ

Thanks for the plug for SCARMHiRailers.com

Admittedly I've been lax in maintaining the site.  Got a little busy the last few months.

Tomorrow (Saturday) I'll jump back in it and make sure all registrations are up to date and any pending uploads are added to the library.

This is fun!  Russ

Steamer, gons, tanks, box, fun!

What gauge is all of this?  The track has only two rails. Really nice work by you!

Thanks!

"What gauge is all of this?"  Sorry should have posted that info.  I model in ON30, as shown by the link in my byline.  So in SCARM I'm using the Peco code 100 narrow gauge track and ROUGHLY trying to scale things to match that track.  In the beginning using SCARM I wasn't to much interested in getting a accurate 'thing' just in getting a 'thing'.  Now that I have a little handle on how it works I will go back and remake some of these objects to match the actual models I have.  I have already made models of most of the buildings that are shown on the modules so I have those measurements within close enough tolerances to get the mood across.  My eventual plan is to do the entire 20x40 triple deck layout but that will take some additional learning curves.  So for right now the modules are what I'm working on.  At the Medford Oregon Model Railroad Show this year we had no ON30 modules.  So we have started a new group and are going to be in the 2015 show.  Thanks for asking.  Russ

How do I do a screen shot in RRtrack?

Thank You

Ken M

Boy I'll say you have a handle on it!  Very nice work.  I hadn't considered On30 when we created SCARMHiRailers.com.  However, I'd love for you to share your work  Could you put "On30" somewhere in the name when/if you upload?

My dad did his entire layout in SCARM and with each new release he's adding more to his layout.  I've asked him if I can put his whole layout on the page as well.  Uploading whole Layouts is still in development, but if you want to just do the whole module as a single post, private message me and I can add it manually.

Again...nice work!  Keep it up.  Maybe someday I'll get to see it in person.

I was able to get the screen shot from RR track to Scarm but I can change anything or add anything.

Ken M

Ken M,

That's correct because you imported a picture into SCARM, not a SCARM useable file.  The idea is to now use the SCARM program to "build" a layout with track pieces over the picture that you, or others, can later modify as needed.

Chuck

Post the image(s) Ken. I'm sure someone will help recreate it in SCARM, if you don't wish to do it.

Just consider the background pix as a template.  I actually have done two now, one in my high end cnc software Vectric Aspire and another low tech one done in MS Powerpoint.  Both saved as jpg's and brought in to SCARM to use as a background.  Then I used SCARM's ability to resize the background piece to make it match the actual measurements I needed.  This is easy because there are rulers top and on the left and a menu bar at the bottom that all show the object size.  Once set when you exit the background mode it is 'locked' and so you just build on that.  At any time you want to see what's going on you can 'toggle' the background on and off.  Like I said pretty fun!   As far as posting to ScarmHiRailers is concerned, when I get a little better, sure, I have already posted a water tank.  The ScarmHiRailers folks have a done a good job with Lionel Part Numbered structures which is very cool.  What I am drawing up are actually scratch built O scale narrow gauge structures.  I.E. Chama coaling tower, Cumbres station and section house, etc,.  So sure I'll post but folks need to know that these structures may or may not be available as kits.  Russ  

That makes sense Russ I will try that when I get some free time.  I just want to play around & see if Scarm does a better job of joining the track.

Thank You

Ken M

Great SW Mixy. I just need to play with it long enough to get manipulating track pieces.

Mixy,

I came across a situation that may not be common to most folks, but wanted to tell you about. Sometimes, I work on a computer with dual monitors. When I work in SCARM on monitor 2 and go to insert a point on the baseboard, I get the following menu. (For whatever reason, when I do a screen capture, the line turns to blue, but it is red, lol.) When I move SCARM to monitor 1, the normal menu to insert a new point appears. I don't remember having this problem before. Like I said, I just wanted to bring this to your attention. Otherwise, I am having a ball playing with SCARM and helping others on the forum!