Uploading SCARM

As I suspected, it happened again.  Not intuitive, except for 16 year olds.

Bob,

I just installed SCARM. When I click on your file, it opens as a .txt. file. So I downloaded it using the right-click/save target as option. It saved your file with a .txt extension, so I renamed it with a .scarm extension and it opened in SCARM just fine. I then saved it with a different file name and attached it to this post to see how it uploads for me. As you will see, it did the same thing, so I have no idea what is going on. I haven't tried downloading any other .scarm files from other posts, but I will. If it matters, I'm using Windows 8.

FWIW, I found a SCARM file uploaded by ACE in the SCARM thread and it did exactly the same thing. I had to change the extension from .txt to .scarm to get it to load properly.

I'm no expert, but this problem might be a function of browser you are using or version of windows you are using.  I am using Windows 7 and Firefox v24, and here's what happened for me.  When I right click on file added to first post, I chose "save image as" and when the save dialog box opened, I selected a subdirectory where I store SCARM files.  I left the name "O72O54.scarm" and it saved the file where I directed.  Please note that the file type line in the save dialog box showed "Textdocument.scarm" but that was not changed by me.

When download completed, I double clicked on the file and SCARM opened it, fully editable by SCARM.

Chuck

Here goes another try.

Should have been more careful with prior post.  The initial command chosen with right click was "Save link as" and the file type box said "Text Document (*.scarm).  Sorry for the slight inaccuracy.

Chuck

Bob, I just opened it. Just find the plan where its saved. You have it now.

What do want, some general comments?

Are you using the platform as the other layout?

Here is a modified version. I changed the inside connection to the turn-out at the bottom. The two connections with a diamond mean they are really close and shouldn't be a problem.

Also, anywhere that you had at least 40", I replaced the 10" pieces with a piece of 40" flex to reduce your track connections and cost. You could probably do most of it in flex with a snazzy bending tool(can't find the link right now) and a 1:1 printout from SCARM to use as a guide. You abou 105.25 feet of track less 7 switches. ~32 pieces of flex.

It looks fun. I see your country\city theme carried over. Are you going to use power blocks for the sidings?

 Edit: Here's the track bender link: Norm's Model Supply

I'm using Windows 8 and IE 10. I can change the .txt to .scarm in the Save As dialog box and get the right file that will open directly in SCARM. I don't get a Save Link option. I don't know what browser Bob is using, but I guess the point is that I don't think he's doing anything wrong.

This platform will be considerably larger.  10' X 15' with a 3' x 7' access way in the middle.  When opened your attachment, it came out the same way as my original.  I am operating windows 7 and the Microsoft browser that comes with it.

Dave,

OK, I switched to IEv10 in Windows 7 and right clicked on every SCARM attachment in this group of posts.  Each time, I clicked on "Save target as..." and a dialog box opened with the name of the SCARM file as seen in each different post.

My best guess is that you are getting files ending in "txt" because there is something wrong in the file association area of Windows 8.  Unfortunately, I can't help in Windows 8.  In Windows 7, you just have to find any file on your computer that SCARM opens correctly.  With that file closed, right click on the file name and choose "Open with..."  A new dialog box opens and should recommend the SCARM program as the correct one.  If not, search for, and select, the SCARM program, but only after ticking the little box at the bottom that asks if you want to use SCARM everytime to open any *.scarm file.

Must be a similar process somewhere in Windows 8, but I don't know where.

Chuck

Yes, as PRR1950 says, right-click and save the download. Then double-click the file and SCARM will open.

Here is a photo of the bottom changes.

I don't know what happened, but it's all working correctly at the moment. I didn't do anything except CHECK the file associations. I didn't change or save anything, just checked and cancelled. When I tried Save Target As just now, it comes up correctly with the .scarm extension instead of the .txt extension...............Oh wait. I did do a Save Target As a minute ago where I edited the extension from .txt to .scarm and saved the file to see if that worked. Ever since then, it now comes up with .scarm the way it's supposed to. Weird.

DoubleDaz,

That's correct, right click the attachment, select SAVE TARGET AS, and point somewhere on your computer so that you can find it. It reads it as a text file without the application because it's the raw code for SCARM. The file associations for .scarm files also helped.

Built in security protocols in IE and Windows 8 sometimes get in the way. Do you work form the desktop and use IE from there? Win Key +D gets you off of the Metro screen.

I don't think I'm making myself clear. I know how to do a Save Target As, etc., been doing it as long as the option has been available. The point in my last post was that until I changed the extension in the dialog box from .txt to .scarm the first time, it kept offering to save these files as .txt files. After I changed it once, it now automatically offers to save the files as .scarm files. It seems that physically changing it once allowed IE to offer the correct file extension even though the .scarm extension was always associated with the SCARM program, something I checked earlier. Until I changed it once, it kept assuming it was a .txt file because that is essentially what it is. I'm trying to get Bob to try a Save Target As and change the extension in the dialog box that opens and then save it. After that, it should work correctly from then on.

And, yes, I work from the Desktop on my laptop and know how to get off the Metro screen, but thanks.

OK.  I did as you said and in opens in the SCARM file.  So, I see your suggestions and they are well taken.  I would have done it similarly, didn't find all those options in the Atlas track.  But I recall you were using some flex.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to

the project.

I have been to a wedding rehearsal tonight and I'm tired.  I'm like Scarlet now, I'll think about that tomorrow.  Thanks for everyone's input on trying to figure the upload out.  Now I know how to open it on this site, but still don't know how to upload it correctly in the first place.

Roger that, Double Daz.

Bob, you do know how to upload it. You have done it already. It is the file format that SCARM saves it in that is confusing you.

He writes the program in simplistic language and the files that it creates appear simple. This is because it is a self-contained application that uses very little computer resources and storage space.

I get the pictures by using Snipping Tool in Windows 7. It's like an advanced screen shot tool.

I only modified the plan to fit the one turn and try to reduce connections. I wouldn't know what more to change. It depends on how you will scenic it and what the use of the sidings will be.

Ok, working with the baseboard. Let's get your aisle in there. I drew the baseboard according to your description. The 3' x 7' aisle leaves two 120" (10') x 72" (6') rectangles at the top and bottom. That results in the 36" x 84" aisle in the center.

Get used to working in inches on the grid (we already complained to the author).

The result is only a 1/2"-3/4" clearance from the edge to the bottom siding.

So, you'll need to adjust the track or have the aisle off center. Depends on how you want to cut the lumber. I would bump the track over a little.

Think of the creating the baseboard (and objects) using X,Y coordinates. Your baseboard is (X=0,Y=0), (X=120,Y=0), (X=120,Y=72),(X=36,Y=72),(X=36,Y=108),(X=120,Y=108),(X=120,Y=180),(X=0,Y=180),(X=0,Y=0).

I have attached the new file renamed. Baseboard drawn only. Just for fun, I'll throw in some scenic and upload another attachment. Then check it out in 3D view.

Unfortunately, it didn't survive a reboot and just changing ".txt" to ".scarm" apparently wasn't what fixed it last night because that didn't work this morning. What did though was opening Internet Options/Programs/Set Programs/Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program. Even though .scarm is already associated with SCARM, just opening this option screen seems to activate something in Windows8/IE10. I did have some Windows updates last night, so I'll try another reboot to see if it survives this time.

And you're right, Bob is uploading the file properly. It is a text file with the extension .scarm to keep things simple. I don't know what version of Windows he's using, so I don't know if what I'm doing will help him download other files with the .scarm extension.

EDIT: It did survive a reboot, so it must have been reset by the Windows updates. When I just click on the file link though, IE still opens it as a text file, but that's okay as long as I can save it directly with the .scarm extension and not have to go through the renaming hassle.

Yes, I knew the yards at the bottom would be too close to edge, but I can alter the access way.  This design gives a lot more room than the smaller layout I now have using MTH RealTrax.  This will be an "over winter" project.

My goal with the yards (or spurs) is to provide a place to park cars, as well as engines.  I'm running T&P coal/steam passenger, UP oil/steam freight and MKT Alco diesel freight/passenger.  When I go DCS I can probably run two engines and consists at the same time, but for now I need a place to park them.  Will probably have to eventually run an extension at bottom right with a wye to get some engines out of the way.  Cars are easy, because I don't have to have a block (although I'll probably install them).

I see what you mean about uploading SCARM in .txt or .scarm.  What I upload has to be converted by the receiver?

Only in certain cases. For some reason, my Windows 8 with IE10 wanted to download the files with a .txt extension until I went through the process I mentioned. Now it downloads them correctly with the .scarm extension. I don't know if it's just my setup or if it's all systems using Windows 8/IE10. IIRC I didn't have this problem on my old laptop with Vista and IE9 when I originally looked at SCARM. You are uploading the files correctly, so you are not doing anything wrong. This appears to be a bug in Windows 8, but no one else has commented yet, so it could just be my settings, though I'm using the defaults.