Table of Contents

1 WinRail - what is it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.1 The User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 New features in WinRail Version X3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3 New features in WinRail Version X2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4 New features in Version 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
WinRail X3 1.5
1.6
New features in Version 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Compatibility with previous versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.7 Changing the program language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Quick Start Guide 1.8 Changing the program measurement units . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Copyright © 1993, 2014 Gunnar Blumert 2 This Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Waldstr. 117
D-25712 Burg/Dithm. 3 Initial program start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Germany 3.1 Your first layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Tel: +49-4825-2892 Mo.-Fr. 14.30 - 16.30 C.E.T 3.2 Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Fax: +49-4825-1217 3.3 Tagging and manipulating elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Email: [email protected] 3.4 Benchworks / Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
WinRail Web site (German): www.winrail.de 3.5 Fixed elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.6 The clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.7 Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
English language version: 3.8 Stock, lists of materials, and prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Copyright © 2014 Span Software Limited 3.9 Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Little Moss, Peacock Lane 3.10 Flex track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
High Legh 3.11 Gradients and level ground. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Knutsford, Cheshire 3.12 Wires and Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
WA16 6PL, England 3.13 Working with layers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Email: [email protected] 3.14 Catenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.15 The alignment bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

WinRail Web site: www.winrail.com 4 3D - An Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

5 Menu Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
5.1 The File-Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
5.2 The Home tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5.3 The Features tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5.4 The Properties tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5.5 The Track tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
5.6 The Flex Track tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
5.7 The Catenary tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
5.8 The Other Elements tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
5.9 The Display tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
5.10 The View tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

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 1 WinRail - what is it?
6 The Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
6.1 Tools-Arrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 WinRail is a program for planning model railway layouts. With appropriate
6.2 Tools-Tag only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 libraries, you can design car racing tracks as well.
6.3 Tools-Move description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6.4 Tools-Place object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 WinRail lets you
6.5 Tools-Place track and connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 • perform the track layout in correct scale (including flex tracks)
6.6 Tools-Pick element from layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 • draw the benchwork and supporting frames
6.7 Tools-Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 • have a three-dimensional visualisation of track and terrain
6.8 Tools-Insert ruler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 • manage an area of 3000 * 3000m
6.9 Tools-Connect track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 • add accessories (wires, houses, trees, catenary, etc) to your layout
6.10 Tools-Disconnect track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 • link parts of different layouts (eg combine several modules)
6.11 Tools-Loosen track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 • compute and create helixes
6.12 Tools-Flip track joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 • compute gradients
6.13 Tools-Insulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 • generate parallel tracks, crossovers and ladders
6.14 Tools-3-rail track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 • find short circuits
6.15 Tools-Text field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 • calculate the shape of the frames
6.16 Tools-Font . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 • compute lists of materials used for your layout
6.17 Tools-Flex track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 • calculate the costs of all that fun
6.18 Tools-Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6.19 Tools-Gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 WinRail requires Windows XP or higher (Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista,
6.20 Tools-Clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 XP) with a default printer installed, even if no printer is connected to your
6.21 Tools-Benchworks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 computer. Please just install some printer driver. The printer driver has to
6.22 Tools-Drawing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 be available for WinRail. In cases where the driver is installed on a network
6.23 Tools-Toggle fixation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 server, the network connection has to be available to run WinRail. We
6.25 Tools-Catenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 recommend at least a computer of the 1 GHz-class with 1 GB of RAM. The
6.26 Tools-Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 larger your layout, the more RAM and performance is required.

7 Element Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 WinRail is an inexpensive program designed both for the serious hobbyist
and for the beginner. Designing and constructing layout drawings is simple
8 Help with problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 and foolproof, and elaborate designs can be created in a very short time.
Minimal PC or Windows knowledge is required.

As well as being useful for model railways or car racing, WinRail can be
used to produce other types of layout design such as dioramas or
architectural models. With the optional Parts Compiler (included in WinRail
Deluxe), the user's own custom models or track modules can be added to
the design, and moved or modified at will.

Best of all, it is fun to use!

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1.1 The User Interface It contains 8 separate sections. You may move, configure or hide each of
them individually. To hide single commands click the small arrow at the
Since WinRail X2 the main menu has been replaced by a tool bar named very right of a section. To move a section to another location drag the left of
"Ribbon": it.

On the tab "View" you may open a dialogue box to add additional
commands to the sections and configure hotkeys and icons or hide a
section entirely.

Also you can "tear" the sections off the toolbar and make them windows
floating above the workspace:

If you are used to the previous versions of WinRail you will sometimes have
to flip through the tab pages to find the command you are looking for.
However, after a short while you will recognize the advantages of this new
user interface. The ribbon will save you many mouse clicks!

In the Help section “Where do I find my commands” we provide you with

information where you will find the commands known from previous
versions.
The other way around works as well, of
A ribbon is like a dialogue box that always remains open; if you make any course: Drag a floating tool window back to the tool bar, and it will become a
changes you get immediate feedback in the layout, without having to open section again. For the floating windows you may open the context menu to
menus and sub-menus and without the need to click OK to close it. hide or show single commands.

The tab pages are organized by groups that comprise related commands. Next is the selection bar:

For some groups you may open an additional dialogue window by clicking
the small arrow at the bottom right of the group. The context menu offers
commands to hide and rearrange groups.

If you’d rather use the keyboard, then press <F10> or <Alt> key to activate
the key tips. On the left of it you can choose zoom and layer.

Additionally there a large "tool window" that doesn't display just the icons,
Below the ribbon you'll find the tool bar: but the descriptions of the commands as well. This may be helpful as long
as you are not used of the commands. Later you'll probably prefer to use
the tool bar instead.

The context menu of the tool window offers several ways to modify and
configure it. On the tab-page "View" you'll find a command that opens a
dialogue box to add or remove commands to and from the tool window.

-5- -6-
Whenever you hover the mouse over an icon or a command, a tool tip with 1.2 New features in WinRail Version X3
a brief explanation will open:
We now have a new Tag-only arrow tool, that only tags elements, but
doesn't move them. It works exactly like the Arrow tool, but using the new
tool you avoid moving elements by mistake when you only want to edit their
properties.

The context-menu (right mouse-button) of the Arrow- and Tag only tools
contains a command that makes the properties of the currently tagged
element the default for elements to be inserted if an element is tagged.

The zoom settings can be changed using the mouse-wheel while the
<Ctrl>-key is pressed.

When tagging track sections that are connected to sections that are placed
in a hidden layer, these hidden layers became visible, so that you won't
manipulate or delete them by mistake. Now these layers will become
invisible again once you choose another tool or tag another element.

Different line-styles:

These line-styles are available for the outlines of elements, for slope- and
clearance-Lines as well as for running-wires.

A new feature cuts track sections at module borders.

It is possible now to assign a gradient to turnouts. In the system-dialogue

this feature may be switched off. If you created your layout using libraries
shipped with previous versions of WinRail, it may not be possible to assign
a gradient to some of the turnouts. In this case please replace the turnouts
in your layout by turnouts taken from the recent libraries that you received
with WinRail X3. You may use the Edit-Replace command on the Home-tab
for this task.

All dialogue-boxes remember the last position on the screen when opened
next time.

The list of required material can be sorted by layer now if you'd like to know
how much material you need for a certain layer.

The required amount of flex sections will now be calculated more exactly by

-7- -8-
the statistics-features: The length of curved flex section will be the length of The Arrow tool now can be used to tag single track sections even if they are
the outer (longer) rail. Offcuts will be taken into account. Offcuts shorter connected to other sections - please press the <Ctrl>-key when you click
than a certain length you specified will not be used except for gaps that are the section.
shorter than this minimum length.
It is easier and more obvious now to handle different types of flex track.
The points where running-wires are connected to masts and span-bridges
can be edited, created and deleted within WinRail using a new tool. So you The height specifications of elements may be rotated now.
don't have to run the parts-compiler for this task anymore.64-bit versions of
all programs for 64-bit Windows systems. The Height tool is no longer the only way to assign a height to a track
section. If no gradient has been applied to the track section you may also
use the height edit control in the "Properties" tab.

You may use the tool Height of fixed track sections as well to get the
1.3 New features in WinRail Version X2 gradient displayed. Of course you won't be able to change the height then.

64-bit versions of all programs for 64-bit Windows systems. You can decrease and increase your stock by the elements that are in the
current layout.
Improved user interface

The main menu as well as the dialogue windows "View-Properties",

"View-Options" and "Element-Properties" are gone and have been replaced
by a so-called Ribbon (see above). 1.4 New features in Version 11

If you are used to the previous versions of WinRail you will sometimes have Now you can load more than one library at a time.
to flip through the tab-pages to find the command you are looking for.
However, after a short while you will recognize the advantages of this new The drawing accuracy has been increased up to +/- 0.05 mm. This requires
user-interface. The ribbon will save you many mouse-clicks! more calculations and may slow down the performance. Therefore you may
choose the drawing accuracy under View-Properties-System.
A ribbon is like a dialogue box that always remains open; if you make any
changes you get immediate feedback in the layout, without having to open WinRail now knows the gauge of the track section. This increases the
menus and sub-menus and without the need to click OK to close it. accuracy used to calculate the length of the rails of flex sections (under
Element-Properties on the Flex track page). Also the distance of the rails is
Below the ribbon you will find the tool bar in a new design, followed by the shown correctly now when you activate the display of ties (sleepers). Files
selection bar as known from previous versions. that have been created using an older version of WinRail do not contain
information about the gauge. WinRail uses this information to calculate the
Many dialogue windows now have an "Apply" button. This button works like length of the rails of flex sections and to display the rails in the correct
the OK button, but the window will remain open so that you can view the distance when the display of ties is switched on. If you open such an older
results of the changes you made in the layout and make corrections (if layout for the first time, this dialogue will appear automatically. If your layout
required) without having to open the window again. should contain track of different gauges (for instance H0 and H0e), then we
recommend that you enter the most common gauge first and later use this
New tool 3-rail-track (for combined standard-gauge and narrow-gauge track command to change the gauge of the other sections.
systems).
New Gradient tool to enter gradients without having to cut the line off the
layout.

-9- - 10 -
The 3D-View now supplements the orthogonal view by a perspective view: More than one layer may be active at the same time now to make it possible
to place catenary in another layer as the track sections.

The frames now show openings for crossing track sections.

Under View-Toolbars-Customize you will find a new page "Zoom-

Commands". There you may assign different Zoom-values to them. Then
change to the page "Commands", from where you can drag them into any of
the toolbars, so that you can choose these values with a single mouse click.

Also you'll find a new category "Display/hide layer" that offers a command
for each layer. Drag these commands into one of the toolbars if you want to
be able to hide or display this layer with a single mouse click.

It is possible to edit Helices that are created using flex track. Just tag the
helix and open Element-Properties. A button on the page Flex track will
open the dialogue box.

The context menu of the tool Move description offers a command to rotate
art.-nos. and descriptions.

The context menu of the Arrow-tool offers a command to rotate text fields.

New command to count insulations and insulated sections in the Special-

menu.

Insulations may be highlighted by a different colour.

Under View-Options you may activate additional symbols for the insulations
New Dialogue-window to edit existing benchworks. of three-rail track.

In Module-Definition files you now may enter decimals to specify the position Prices you have entered for your stock are kept when the library gets
of track and catenary masts. updated.

Layer-lists now remember the last position so that you don't have to scroll The context menu of the tool Terrain offers a command to create height
when you open them again. lines:

The colour of ties (sleepers) may be assigned to Layers now.

The layer-lists now offer some new controls:

- rename layer
- display all layers
- hide all layers
And you can hide/display all layers where the name contains a certain text.
This search optionally even supports regular expressions.

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 You now may stack benchworks.

A new command in the Element menu resets all gradients and heights to 0
in one go.

A new command in the Properties menu quickly moves elements to another

layer.

Another new command in the properties menu enables you to change the
line width without opening the Element-Properties dialogue.

You may insert a ruler onto your layout and place, move and rotate it like
any other element.

The vertices of frames are now also written to a text file. The new command Separate layer of the Element menu loosens all
connections between track sections placed in different layers.
The tool Loosen track removes all connections of the line if you press the
<Ctrl>-key.
WinRail now uses a drop-down list to choose colours, so that you can select
The 3D-editor (to be found in WinRail's Start-menu) makes it very easy to the most common colours without opening another window. A click on
create tunnel portals individually. These portals are docked and aligned "Custom" will open this window when required:
automatically when you place them close to a track section.

Last but not least: WinRail now uses Unicode, as Windows does. However,
you will notice this change only if you should use exotic characters.

1.5 New features in Version 10

The 3D-view now simulates the sun, so that for example a sphere now
doesn't look like a simple circle any more.
Here the same scene is shown without and with light:
The feature that fills gaps now produces better results, especially for straight
connections.

The shape of the chosen element now appears at the mouse cursor even
with the tool Place track and connect.

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1.6 Compatibility with previous versions
3 Initial program start
Layout and library files from all versions of WinRail since Version 2.6 can be
used. Layout files will be automatically upgraded to WinRail X3 format Simply said: WinRail works like any other Windows Program. If WinRail is
when they are saved. the first Windows program you've used, it may be helpful to practise with a
standard Windows program such as the Paint program for exercise. Paint is
the painting program that comes with Windows.

1.7 Changing the program language The answer to questions like “What is the enter key” can be found in your
Windows tutorial.
If, for some reason, your copy of WinRail displays menus and messages in
the wrong language (in German, for example), you can change the program When you have installed the software, WinRail will probably display one of
language by using the following special key combination on your keyboard. the included demo-layouts. To design your own layout, please choose
Simultaneously, press File-New. WinRail will then ask you to define your Benchwork.
<Shift> + <Ctrl> + F12
then select your preferred language from the selection offered. If the desired shape of your layout should not be supported (WinRail
supports rectangular, triangular, L- and U-shaped and "surround" layouts),
you may click “Draw other shape” (which will activate the tool for drawing
benchworks) or load a benchwork-file.
1.8 Changing the program measurement units
If you close the dialog by clicking the Cancel button, you should specify the
You can easily change the WinRail program between metric and imperial size of the workspace on the “View” tab, because this will make it easier to
units (Centimetres or Inches) by using the “View” Tab “System” option. navigate the scroll bars.
Here there are various other program options too.
The 3D-terrain is part of the benchwork. Therefore the 3D-viewer will not
display a terrain if your layout does not contain a benchwork. The elements
then will hang in the air.
2 This Documentation
The limit is 3,000m x 3,000m (10,000ft x 10,000ft).
In the following paragraph you will find an introduction, and then the
complete menu reference follows. After that, WinRail shows an empty work space, containing only the
benchwork. Above it, there is the toolbar, and the large tool window floats
We recommend that you first read all of this information. If afterwards above the workspace. On the "View" tab you'll find commands to customize
everything is still not clear, you should not worry too much. It is important the user interface.
only that you know: " there was some mention of... ", if a question emerges
later. This text is only to enable a rough orientation for you over the abilities To change units between Metric and Imperial, use the System dialogue
of WinRail. ("View"-Defaults).

Simply look at the menu options, at what functions the program offers, and To design a layout, you first have to load an element library (via Load library
reread if necessary in the integrated on-line help; there you will find on the "Home" tab). The demo version only accepts the demo-library!
substantially more detailed notes and many diagrams for illustration.
At the end of your session WinRail remembers which library had been
Therefore: please use the on-line help! There is a lot of information there, loaded last and will start with just this library the next time it runs.
much of it included as a result of user queries.

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Also, whenever loading or saving a file, WinRail will remember the directory 3.2 Using the keyboard
next time you load or save the same kind of file.
Although not recommended, you can operate WinRail by keyboard. You
WinRail data files are stored in “C:\WinRail X3" by default. can move around on the working area using the cursor keys. But:
Functions that are called by a right-click cannot be accessed by any key.

The <Enter> key equals the left mouse button. If you depress the <Ctrl>
3.1 Your first layout key and/or keep the cursor keys pressed for some time, the mouse cursor
will move faster.
In the selection bar above the working area, you pick the desired element.
Of course, you can have the selection window, that displays more The ribbon also can be operated using the keyboard. Please press <F10>
information and a larger image. It can stay opened on the screen, or it can or <Alt>, and key tips will be displayed in the ribbon.
be closed if there’s insufficient space.

Now choose Tools-Place object and click with the left mouse button at
the position where the element (track) shall be placed. When you have 3.3 Tagging and manipulating elements
placed a piece of track, the active tool is automatically switched to Tools-
Place track and connect . You may now connect more tracks to the first As usual in programs for Windows, you have to tag elements before
manipulating them in any way. So before you can copy, move, delete, etc,
one by again pressing the left mouse button at the desired position. The
elements, choose Tools-Arrow . If you just want to make changes to the
mouse cursor changes its shape depending on whether a connection is
possible or not. properties of some elements without moving them by mistake, you may use
the Tag only tool.
The accuracy with which the mouse cursor has to be positioned, can be
adjusted in the System dialogue (“View” tab). There are special tools to tag benchworks to avoid you tagging them by
mistake.
To begin a new section of track, choose Tools-Place object again.

If you add a switch or a curved track, the element may be facing the wrong If you tag one piece of a track, all the other connected pieces are selected
direction. Via Flip track you can connect any track edge of the new as well. Also, if you grouped elements, tagging one element of the group
will tag all other elements of the group, too.
piece of track with the old ones. This works for the latest added track only.
For previously added elements, you have to choose Tools-Flip track joints
It is possible that some of these sections had been placed in different
.
layers. Hidden layers will be made visible in these cases. When using
another tool or tagging other elements, these layers will become invisible
The scale can be changed using the Zoom edit below the tool bar on the left again.
between 1:1 and 1:2,000. The same scale is used to print the layout .
To tag single sections in a line of track please press <Ctrl> while clicking at
them. It will not be possible to move them of course because they are
connected to other sections.
To move them anyway please press <Ctrl> again when dragging them. The
connections will be loosened then.

- 17 - - 18 -
If you keep the <Shift> key depressed while you are moving elements with Now click on the second piece of track, and both of them will be connected
the mouse button pressed, then the elements will be moved only in a (the track you clicked first moves to the second one).
horizontal or vertical direction.
If you click on a section of flex track with the <Shift> key pressed, the
If you feel that moving elements is too slow, you may open the System shape of the flex track will be altered, not the position.
dialogue ("View"-tab) and set "When moving" to "Draw frame only".
The second function of this tool is to close circles (and of course any other
To tag more than one element at a time, keep the <Shift> key depressed gap between two straight tracks) with the most suitable pieces of track.
while clicking the elements.
If the two connecting points you have clicked on are already connected
You tag track sections and lines by clicking the centre. For all other indirectly, i.e. by other pieces of track, then the program searches
elements it is sufficient to hit the surrounding rectangle. automatically for the best fitting pieces of rail.

If several elements overlap, the topmost element will be tagged. Clicking In any other cases you must keep the <Ctrl> key pressed while clicking on
again at the same position will tag the element below the topmost one, and the second connecting point. Only while doing this will the search for
so on. You can change the order via Element-Bring to front/Put to back. appropriate track sections be done.

Running wires (catenary) are tagged by tagging the masts the wires are This search can take some time; therefore you may influence the process
connected to. To tag more than one catenary mast at a time, press the via Special-Close circles. And, of course: The element library should
<Shift>-key when clicking the second mast to tag all masts and wires contain some curved tracks...
between the two masts you clicked, or press <Control> to tag all connected
masts and wires As it would be beyond the scope of this chapter, we will deal with flex tracks
separately.
There are two ways to connect tracks, both using Tools-Join tracks .

You can move both pieces of track close together and click on the
connection. 3.4 Benchworks / Modules

The allowed tolerances (distance, angle) are set via View-Properties: Benchworks are the base of your layout. Your layout may contain as many
Tolerances. In case you note that the track supplier is a “bungler” and the benchworks as you like - even none. Benchworks may have any shape and
pieces of track won’t fit smoothly, you may have to raise the tolerances can be moved on the workspace and rotated.
slightly. WinRail computes connections very accurately, so tolerances that
you would not notice while building your layout show very clearly when you Benchworks are containers for all elements placed on them; you can move
design the layout with this program. or rotate a benchwork with all elements like a single element. Therefore a
benchwork can be treated as a module.
At the point where the circle shall be closed, all differences would then be
added while “in practice” they would be distributed through all the By default a benchwork contains all elements that are placed on, above and
connections. below it.

The second and more simple way works only on tracks that are not if you have the intention to stack benchworks, you should assign one or
connected. Thus, it does not work if you want to close a circle: more layer(s) to it. Then the benchwork will contain only elements that are
placed in its range and in one of the assigned layers. To assign layers to a
Click on the first connecting point, which will then be shown as a small black benchwork, tag it using the tool Tag benchwork, open Element-Properties
arrow. and choose the layer(s) on the page Benchwork. You must assign different
layers to benchworks that do overlap!

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If you didn't assign layers to overlapping benchworks (not recommended!), Use the import/export commands of the edit-menu to write tagged elements,
then a benchwork will contain all elements placed on or above, but below including benchworks with all elements they contain (= modules) to another
the benchwork on top of it. Only the bottom-most benchwork will also file or to add another module to your layout.
contain elements placed below it.
Of course WinRail will assist you aligning the benchworks. Please choose
We recommend that you create every of the benchworks that later will on of the tools Align benchwork or Align benchwork and contained
overlap others in a separate file. As a last step you may then use the Add elements , depending on if you want to align only the benchworks or if
layout command of the Edit-menu to merge the benchworks - not only
you want to move the elements it contains as well.
because WinRail can't create frames for overlapping benchworks.
First click the edge you want to align of the benchwork you want to move,
The benchwork also contains the 3D-terrain. In other words, if you want a
then click the edge of the other benchwork.
3D-terrain you have to use a benchwork.
If the length of the edges is different, please place the second click close to
You can add a benchwork at any time via the Special-menu or by using the
the corner where you want the benchworks to be aligned.
tool Draw benchwork (Polygon) .
Fixed elements are fixed on the benchwork and therefore can be moved
Your benchwork may be of any shape, but it is recommended that you use with it.
two or more simple shaped benchworks instead of only one with a complex
shape.

Benchworks may be stored in "benchwork-files". These are stored in files 3.5 Fixed elements
with the extension .rad so that it is easy to recognize them, although the file
format is the same as the format of the .ral-files used to store the layouts. Moveable elements (this is the default) can be manipulated in any way.
The File-Save as command will offer this extension automatically if the file
contains only one or more benchworks, but no other elements. In contrast, fixed elements are good to ensure you cannot move them by
mistake. To take a pattern from the benchwork of previous versions of
Another kind of benchwork files are text files (like the library source files WinRail, you can draw visible borders with lines and set them as fixed.
used by the parts compiler). You will find an editor for these files (the BDM
Editor) in the WinRail start-menu. If you should wish to have a special construction as the unmoveable centre
of your layout, there are two ways to fix elements: Click on them with the
Position, size and shape of a benchwork can be changed at any time using Tool Toggle fixation or tag it, open the “Properties” tab and set a
the tool Tag benchwork .
marker at fixed.

If you want to move or rotate the benchwork including all elements you have Fixed elements cannot be
placed on it please use the tool Tag benchwork and contained elements - moved - neither by Drag-and-Drop nor by menu command
. - aligned
- rotated
You can add tags for the position of track sections and catenary masts - assigned gradients and heights
using the tool Benchwork-Edit/create track position. Track sections and
catenary masts placed on these positions will be positioned exactly and Fixed elements are fixed on the benchwork, and therefore can be moved
aligned accordingly. with it.

- 21 - - 22 -
If you wish to use Tools-Join track starting with a fixed element, you This, however, will slow down the output and the object will turn out to be
have to hold down the <Ctrl> key while clicking the second piece of track. rather angular, but nevertheless something will be displayed.
Connected elements are fixed then as well.
Some recent video drivers have been found to hang the computer when
You can toggle the display of fixations on the “Display” tab and choose a WinRail tries to draw a flex track. Until you have managed to get an
colour for them. updated driver from the manufacturer of your video card you might try
setting Draw flex track to slow in the same window. Some screen drivers
Instead of fixing the location of elements, you can group elements so offer settings for the hardware-acceleration (sometimes just called
"Performance-Settings). These settings may help also. Unfortunately even
that they can't be moved independently.
the latest Windows versions come with some faulty drivers.
Useful especially for catenary masts is the Tool Catenary-Dock to track
.
3.8 Stock, lists of materials, and prices

WinRail contains a small database which lets you manage your stock.
3.6 The clipboard Besides the well-known list of materials containing all the elements you’ve
used in your layout, there is a list of required materials. Here you can find
You can work with the clipboard as usual within Windows. Though WinRail out what you still have to buy.
is not an OLE server, it copies data as bitmap and metafile to the clipboard
so normally any Windows program should be able to use them. For flex sections, you can tell WinRail to take the offcuts into account as
long as it is longer as a minimum length you may set. If you have a flex
In the same easy way you can have data from other applications added to section that is shorter than the minimum length you have entered here, a
your layout. If the clipboard contains text, WinRail automatically will insert a shorter offcut will be used for it, however. This option will not be available if
text field. Graphics will be inserted in a container. the list of materials if sorted by layer.

To copy elements from one layout into another, you have two options: After having loaded the appropriate library, you can edit your stock to let
WinRail know the quantity of parts you already have - and the prices. You
- you load the first layout, copy the needed part into the clipboard, can check and edit them here. Also, the tool-tip windows will display the
then load the second layout and choose Edit-Insert . count of elements you have left, if activated on the "View" tab under Hints.
- simply start two copies of WinRail.
After that, your statistics are up-to-date and will display the current data.

Additionally you can fix the price of every element in your layout
3.7 Views (“Properties” tab). However, this price will be overwritten by the function
Statistics-Activate prices.
Windows cannot always correctly display a wide radius when a large scale
is given. Depending on resolution and driver you will see simply nothing or Generally, you should be careful when editing prices via the “Properties”
a “general protection fault error” will be caused. tab. Suppose you have changed the price for one element only, your list of
materials could display something like that:
In case WinRail should cause a “General Protection Failure” or equivalent 5 straight tracks @ $0.80 = $3.80
Windows error, please check the option Paint arcs by: Application in the
System dialogue (“View” tab). At first sight, that is false. But if you have changed the price for one track to
$.060, then it’s correct.

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WinRail will always use the currency symbol set in the Windows Control As they are not part of any library, you can enter specific information on the
Panel (Country or Regional settings). "Flex track" tab.

When your done with your layout and move on to the next one you may Once you have entered the length per unit you purchase, the
want to decrease your stock by the elements you have already used. You'll Statistics-functions will compute the number of units you will need; of course
find the appropriate command in the Statistics group of the "Features"-tab. you will have to add the length that you'll cut away...

WinRail stores the stock in a file named "stock.dbf" in the folder you have You'll find more functions dealing with flex sections on the "Flex track" tab.
chosen during the setup-procedure for editable files. Many popular
database and spreadsheet applications are able to read that file.

3.11 Gradients and level ground

3.9 Descriptions There are different ways to add gradients to a track:

Every element is connected to its item number and its description by default. The most simple one is to use the Tool Gradient . Just click the start and
Most elements also have a height, flex track and running wires have a end of the line you want to apply the gradient to, and enter the desired
length. This information may be hidden or moved to another position with values.
Tools-Move description . The context menu of this tool offers a
command to rotate the description. The description is always tied to the When you assign a height to an ending point with Tools-Height , the
element. If you move the element, the description is also moved. program can find out the gradient, if it is a section without junctions. The
section may have switches and crossings; however, each of them may only
The position of a description relative to the element it belongs to is set on be connected to two more rails.
the “Properties” tab in the “Texts” group. The lettering can also be
displayed at the track centre. Don’t forget to have the option Calculate gradient checked - otherwise only
the tagged element will be moved – and connected track as well, so there is
Finally you may enter your own free text with Tools-Textfield . Insert the no gradient but a vertical movement.
text by tagging the text field and then open the “Properties” tab.
If this option is disabled, there are still some sidings that you have to cut
If you don’t want to insert text while placing the text field, simply keep the off first.
<Ctrl>-key depressed.
The height-tool can also be used to set the height of all other elements.
Tag and move free text with the normal arrow . The context menu of this
tool contains a command to rotate the text. On the “Track” tab you can add gradients to tracks. This is valid only for
straight tracks, curves, even for flex tracks and for turnouts – but not for
crossings. If you don't want WinRail to apply gradients to turnouts, you can
switch this off in the System-dialogue.
3.10 Flex track
The program assumes that the gradient is always placed rectangular to the
Flex tracks can change shape and length, and therefore they don’t fit into direction of motion. So, if you take a board, simply place it on an incline and
any library. For this reason you find two tools in the tools menu: then put a curve on it, you will get incorrect results.

Tools-Insert flex track and Tools-Shape flex track . The input of the gradient is done in percent. A value of 100 thus
corresponds to an angle of 45 degrees. The gradient is always effected

- 25 - - 26 -
from the first end to the second. The first one is that which will appear at 3.13 Working with layers
the cursor position when using Tools-Place object . To have a slope,
simply enter a negative value. The height will be automatically Layers are planes you can draw and put elements on. As you develop your
ideas, you can realize them step-by-step (normal track, track in tunnels,
calculated.
track on bridges and mountains, houses, roads etc.).
However, it is not always possible to enter a gradient: in a closed circle, for
WinRail offers 256 different layers, independent from gradients or level
example, you first have to disconnect a joint. The track line must be a
ground. Each layer can be tied with a name and a colour and separately
single line without crossings and sidings (to be exact, there may be at most
activated for display and printing .
two track sections to a turnout or crossing). You can't assign gradients to
turnouts and crossing - the same is the case for the prototype.
On the tabs "Home", "Properties" and "View" you'll find this icon: .
Please click on the small arrow to the right of it to choose visible layers.

3.12 Wires and Lines The layers are applied to the elements under the “Properties” tab.

With Tools-Wire/Line you can draw lines or connect wires. Wires have The layer assigned to elements to be inserted is called the active layer.
soldering points at their ends, lines don’t. By setting the diameter of the You set it by checking "Set default" of using the drop-down list in the toolbar.
soldering points to 0 on the “Properties” tab you can draw lines.
You can specify that only elements of the active layer can be tagged and
Wires are listed in statistics, lines are not. edited. This means that elements of other layers may be visible, but you
can't tag and edit them.
Select the wiring tool and click on the desired starting point. At the
You can't hide the active layer – to hide the layer that is currently active you
points, at which the line is to modify its direction, click likewise with the left
first have to activate another layer.
mouse button. At the terminating point you click with the right mouse
button. If you keep the shift key pressed, this will produce horizontal and
To change the layer of existing elements, choose the command Layer
vertical lines.
from the Properties menu. Another way is Element-Properties-General –
Wires can change their form subsequently also, by marking the line/wiring the layer is a property of the elements just like colour, line width and so on.
with the tool marking arrow, and then the ending or corner points, and
clicking and pulling with pressed mouse button. Whenever you choose visible layers you have the chance to assign
properties to layers, so that the colours are set accordingly when you make
When using a colour the first time, WinRail will ask for a name. These it the active layer.
names are used instead of article-numbers so that the statistics-functions
can give you an overview how much wire of each colour you'll need. You also may right-click the layer-list of the tool bar and choose the
Properties-command.
This name will be used anytime you add another line of this colour; you can
change this assignment on the “Properties” tab. Hint: It is not required to assign properties to the layers. When you activate
a layer with no properties assigned, the current settings just remain
You can assign the same name to different colours; all these different wires unchanged. Also you can change the settings of any element individually,
will be one item in the list of required material. no matter if the related layer has properties assigned to or not.

Lines are very useful to define the height of the terrain . On the "View"-tab under Customize you'll find commands to customize the
toolbars. There you'll find commands to show/hide each of the 256 layers to
be added to the toolbars

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 Now at least the mast is positioned right to the track, with the outrigger
pointing to the right direction. To dock more than one mast at a time, press
3.14 Catenary the <Control>-key when you click. A dialog box will open that allows you
even to create zigzag wires or to place the masts alternating on the left and
We recommend that you first draw your track layout, then place the on the right side of the track. The running wires will be added automatically.
catenary masts and finally apply the running wires - like the real railways do.
WinRail offers several features to assist you as much as possible. You can find more detailed explanations here: Tools-Catenary-Dock to
track .
Once the final track layout is ready, please load one of the catenary
libraries. Eventually you will have to adjust the library to your needs using WinRail automatically searches the current library for matching wire
the compiler; to edit, add and remove connections for running wires at segments, not only when wires are added, but also when the length
masts and span-bridges you may use the tool Edit position of running changes because one of the masts has been moved. If no matching
wire at a mast. segment can be found, no article number will be assigned. In the System
dialogue box you determine how exactly the segments have to fit to be
Also there is an almost infinite number of possibilities to combine the several accepted. On the “Catenary” tab you can choose different colours for wire
elements of the more advanced systems. segments with and without article numbers assigned.

Realistically the wires should be tensed straightly between the masts, but Wire segments that consist of more than one part will appear as a single
some model systems require you to bend the wires in curves. Therefore element with a single article number in your layout, but the Statistics will list
please first check the setting in the System dialogue (“View” tab); otherwise every part separately. For the systems that require you to cut the wires, all
WinRail will calculate wrong lengths for curved wires. If your system uses segments except for the shortest ones have been declared variable in the
bent wires, you have to dock the masts to the track (see below), to get libraries, unless stated otherwise in the manufacturer's instructions.
correct results.
WinRail first tries to find a matching segment of fixed length, and only if no
Hint: The running wires are always drawn as straight lines, only the length is such segment can be found, the shortest matching variable segment will be
calculated differently. chosen.

The libraries contain catenary masts, eventually span bridges (that are The wires are handled like rubber-threads: when you move a mast, the
handled like masts internally) and running wires. length of the wire will change - and WinRail will try to find a matching
segment in the current library.
The wires are not available from the element-list; instead WinRail
automatically tries to choose a matching wire segment. To see which wire To assign art.-nos. manually, you can either use the Tool or first tag
segments are contained with the library, please open Statistics-Edit stock the wires and then call assign art.nos. to running wire on the “Catenary” tab.
(“Features” tab).
The only way to tag running wires is to tag all masts they are connected to.
There are already masts included with the span-bridges, although only one This is because most operations don't make sense on a single wire - without
article number will be shown in the layout (but in the statistics). being connected to masts it will just fall down on the track causing
accidents...
Now you can start placing catenary masts along the track and tense
running wires. This is the hard way. The only disadvantage of this handling can be seen on the “Catenary” tab:
some options of the “Properties” tab are repeated there so that it is possible
Better dock the masts to the track - if your system uses wires that are to make different settings for masts and wires.
bent in curves this is required to get correct results!

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Instead of clicking every single catenary mast with the arrow-tool while 4 3D - An Overview
keeping the <Shift>-key depressed to tag multiple masts, you may either
- click the second mast while pressing <Shift> to tag all The purpose of WinRail is to make the process of planning a layout faster
connected masts and wires between them or and more effective. A 3-dimensional visualization of your layout is only a
- click the first mast while pressing the <Control>-key to tag few mouse-clicks away. However, you can spend as much time as you
all connected masts and wires. want to add details.
Please keep in mind that masts may have more than one catenary
connection-point. WinRail assumes that wires are connected only if they Follow these steps to create the terrain:
share the same connecting point!
1. Place a benchwork on your layout if you have not done that already. The
Now you may move the masts along the line as required using the terrain is part of the benchwork(s), therefore you will not get a terrain if there
command Element-Move docked elements . is no benchwork.

2. Set the size of the workspace to the size of your layout, if you didn't
Some catenary systems include certain elements for crossings. They can
define a benchwork nor limited the size of the workspace when you created
be added to your layout using the special tool.
the file .

3. In the input box 3D in the tool bar below the menu bar you specify the
distance in which points will be created that make up the terrain. Every
3.15 The alignment bar
point requires about 40 Bytes of memory.
Here you can see the appropriate clipping from the icon
4. WinRail can use the height of the existing tracks to create the terrain. If
bar of WinRail. You can use it to call alignment
there should be other areas for which you like to specify the height, tag
functions for tagged elements by clicking them with your
these areas with the Drawing tool Rectangle and apply the desired
mouse.
height .
FixedElement elements will be taken in account when the surrounding
rectangle is calculated, but they won't get moved, as they are fixed. 5. Tag all these figures and call the command Adjust height of terrain
(“Features” tab).
Connected elements are treated as one as they can't change their positions
relative to each other. 6. Open the 3D-viewer (View-menu) to see what you have created.

When you have aligned the elements, you might want to group them so that 7. Choose the Terrain-tool to add colour and additional details.
the relative position of each element is fixed. However, this command will
also work on grouped elements.
8. For ramps, railway embankments or pillars for structures use
Ramp/Pillar (“Track” tab).
To align benchworks please use the tools Align benchworks or Align
benchworks and contained elements.
Another simple way to get the terrain is to create frames. If the terrain
hasn't been edited before, WinRail will create a terrain that matches the
frames.

Also you may load a text file containing the height profile of the terrain.

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There are thousands of structures available in the WinRail libraries; it would 5 Menu Reference
take years to create libraries with 3-dimensional versions of them. We are
pretty sure you wouldn't want to wait that long; instead a light version of the 5.1 The File-Menu
Parts-Compiler and an editor for creating 3D structures are included with
WinRail Standard (WinRail DeLuxe comes with the full compiler version and You open the file menu by clicking this icon in the title bar of the application
all source files) so that you can create your own structure libraries. window:

We, and of course the other users, would appreciate it if you would make
your creations available for others. Please send any of your 3-dimensional
structures you wish to share to [email protected]; we will make them
available for automatic download from our web-site
("http://www.winrail.com").

It is possible to scale the libraries, so any existing 3D-library can be used for
any scale
5.1.1 File-New
Opens a new, empty working sheet. If you’re currently processing a layout,
you will first be asked if changes should be saved. Then the window to
specify the benchwork will open

5.1.2 File-Open
Loads an existing layout for further editing. The file must be in WinRail
format (.ral) or a benchwork file (.rad).

5.1.3 File-Save
Saves the actual file. If it is the first time you have saved this layout, you will
be prompted for a name.

5.1.4 File-Save as
Saves the actual layout with a different name, to a different location - or in a
different format. WinRail supports writing the following formats additionally
to its own .ral-format:
- Bitmap (.bmp)
- Paintbrush (.pcx)
- JPEG (.jpg)
- Portable Network Graphics (.png)
- Windows-Metafile (.wmf)
- Enhanced Metafile (.emf)
- AutoCad (.dxf)

To insert graphics into you layout, please use the command Edit-Add
Graphics (“Home” tab).

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The extension .rad will be used for benchwork-files if the layout just contains 5.1.9 File-Set print region
benchworks, but no elements like track sections or structures. These files Just drag the mouse while the left button is pressed until the frame includes
may be used as a base for planning modules. the area you'd like to print. When you open a second frame, the first one
will be discarded. It is not possible to make changes to the existing print
5.1.5 File-Export tagged elements to file... range.
Will write the tagged Elements to a new file.
To remove the print region, please call File-Discard print region.
Choose Home-Clipboard-Paste-Paste file to add the contents of another file
to your current layout. It is possible to print the defined region scaled so that it fits on a single page.

Usually you will have tagged the elements using the arrow-tool, but for The command File-Print region=surrounding rectangle sets the print region
benchworks (= modules) please use one of the tools Tag benchwork or so that it includes all visible elements of your layout.
Tag benchwork and contained elements.
To start printing, please call File-Print .
5.1.6 File-Autosave
Here you can adjust whether your layout should be saved automatically. If 5.1.10 File-Discard print region
so, you can adjust the intervals as well. Deletes the print region created by the commands File-Set print region or
File-Print region = surrounding rectangle.
5.1.7 File-Print
The file will be printed exactly the way you can see it on your screen. 5.1.11 File-Print region = surrounding rectangle
Sets the Print region so that it includes all visible elements of the current
Attention! That means: Current settings for zoom and layer are valid for layout.
the printed sheet as well! You can print everything, tagged elements
(Selection) or single pages. Also you can decide if you want to print all of 5.1.12 File-Quit
the layout or only the print region, if one has been defined. If so, you can Shuts down WinRail. First, you will be asked whether to save changes to
even print it scaled to fit on a single page. your layout.

In any case you can print a mirrored image by clicking the Print mirror
image-checkbox.
5.2 The Home tab
You can choose and setup your printer here as well - or you can make
these changes in File-Page setup. 5.2.1 Home-Clipboard
Offers commands to access the clipboard.
5.1.8 File-Page setup Also you may add another layout to the current one.
Here you can choose which printer shall be used and do the printer setup as
well. Of course, the printer must be already installed in your system 5.2.1.1 Paste
configuration. Available options depend on your printer driver. Copies the contents of the clipboard into the layout. In addition to
its own elements and layouts, WinRail accepts graphics and text,
Adjustments for edges and overlap can be made. Overlapping means that which also can be generated with another application.
you have several pages which you can assemble to a larger plan. This
makes sense for large layouts in a reasonable scale. 5.2.1.1.1 Paste special
This embeds an object from the clipboard into the layout,
e.g. .bmp graphics from Paint or a description typed within
Wordpad. It is displayed then as usual, but later on you can

- 35 - - 36 -
 edit it using the source application again. This is invoked [For techies: Some applications like PaintShop Pro write a
by a double-click on the object, or you can tag it and pcx format including three colour planes. The Windows
choose Edit-object: Edit. Available options depend on the interface used by WinRail when opening such files, in
type of the object. contrast expects a one-colour-plane format.]

In some cases when the object is not displayed correctly, 5.2.1.1.4 Add layout
please open the "Other elements" tab and in the The contents of another WinRail file will be pasted into your
OLE-Container group deactivate Scale and click Original current layout. Once you have chosen a filename, the
size. shape of the elements contained in the file will be displayed
next to the mouse cursor so that you get an idea of where
5.2.1.1.2 Insert object your next mouse click will place them.
A new object is created and embedded in your layout. You
choose the appropriate source application (e.g. Paint, Please keep in mind that WinRail does not allow
CorelDraw! etc.) which then will be started. In contrast to overlapping benchworks.
Edit-Paste special, you don't already have an existing
object – you first have to create it in your source 5.2.1.2 Copy
application. A window is opened in your WinRail layout, Copies tagged elements to the clipboard – the selection will be
and menu items switch over to those of the source
kept in your layout.
application.
5.2.1.3 Cut
When you're done, choose File-exit and back to... The
Moves tagged elements to the clipboard – the selection is
object is now part of your layout.
deleted from the layout.
In some cases when the object is not displayed correctly,
please open the "Other elements" tab and in the 5.2.1.4 Delete
OLE-Container group deactivate Scale and click Original Deletes tagged elements.
size. On the "View" tab click customize toolbars to set another shortcut
for this command.
5.2.1.1.3 Insert graphics
A dialog box is opened, and you can search your disks for 5.2.2 Home-Library
graphic files which then can be pasted into your layout. WinRail is shipped with a large variety of libraries, offering different brands
and gauges of model railway material.
WinRail accepts following formats:
- Windows-Bitmap (.bmp) Here you load and configure these libraries.
- Paintbrush (.pcx)
- Windows-Metafile (.wmf)
- Enhanced Metafile (.emf) Click the small arrow at the bottom right of this group to get more
- JPEG (.jpg) information about the current library.
- Portable Networks Graphic (.png)
- GIF (.gif)

If you should encounter problems (especially using pcx

format) and WinRail refuses to open a file, please convert it
to .bmp. This can be done by loading it into Paint (the
accessories program of Windows) and saving it as *.bmp.

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5.2.2.1 Load library 5.2.2.2 Configure library
Loads a new library of parts. Most libraries contain elements that are rarely used, making it
difficult to access the elements you'd like to place in your layout.
WinRail will remember the folder being used the last time you
loaded a library and open it again. If you have loaded a library from Here you can hide elements you actually don't want to make use of.
a folder different to the default folders where the libraries were The elements will not be deleted from the library!
stored by the setup program, WinRail will display an additional
arrow in the Load Library button that will open a menu with an The information about which elements are to be displayed is stored
“Open default folder” command that will lead you back to the default in the library file; therefore, if you change the library using the
location. Parts-compiler, this information will be lost.

To switch between the loaded libraries, click the name below the 5.2.2.2.1 Scale library
selection bar or at the bottom of the selection window, respectively. Here you can change the scale of the currently loaded
library. The intention was to make the available 3D-libraries
To remove one of the libraries, choose "Element-Remove library" usable for different scales.

When saving layouts or libraries, options for currencies are taken We do not recommend to scale track libraries, because the
from Windows‚ control panel. dimensions of your layout will of course be incorrect then.

When loading, in case currency in the file and Windows' currency After scaling the library WinRail asks for a new filename.
settings don't match, you will be prompted for actual rate of Please take care not to overwrite an existing library.
exchange.
A library that once has been scaled can't be scaled again.
To update your layout with the changed prices, call Activate Prices Please load the original version and scale it again.
from the statistics-group of the "Features" tab.
If you cancel the "Save as" dialog, the changes will be lost
WinRail will detect changes to the library (for example if you run the once you load another library or close WinRail.
Parts-Compiler) and reload it automatically if required.
Sometimes people ask if it is possible to scale a layout to
This list of supported brands is constantly growing... If necessary, another scale.
the libraries will be updated, of course. This is performed
automatically when you are online from data held at In general it would be possible of course, but it doesn't
http://www.winrail.com. make any sense. Every track system is unique, so if you
scale an N layout to H0 you wouldn't get turnouts with the
The Brio library (wooden track for small children) has some different scaled geometry of the N turnouts. Therefore you'd have to
rules. Especially, most features dealing with flex track are disabled replace the turnouts and crossings, adjust the tracks and so
when using Brio track. on. It's easier to draw a new layout...

In case any innovation or your favourite component is missing, we 5.2.2.2.2 Run Parts Compiler
would be glad if you sent us appropriate information (e.g. The Parts Compiler is a utility that allows you to create or
dimensions), and we will update the libraries! change elements-libraries. It is a separate application with
its own help-file.
A list of the currently supplied libraries is at the end of this
documentation. This command runs the compiler and loads the source code
of the current library. This requires the files Partcomp.exe,

- 39 - - 40 -
 PartComp3D.exe and PCLib.dll to be located in the same 5.2.5 Home-Edit
folder as WinRail.exe, and of course the library source code
(.bdf or .b3d) must be located where the library file (.blb) is.
5.2.5.1 Search
Whenever you change the current library, WinRail will From a list of all elements used in the current layout, you can
reload it, even if you didn't run the compiler from within choose one to search for. You can have tagged one or all elements
WinRail. that were found. Now, you can manipulate them

The WinRail Demo-Version comes with a compiler that will

not compile libraries containing more than one element. In 5.2.5.2 Replace
other words, you can't re-compile the demo-libraries.
Replaces any element from the layout by one out of the current
library.
WinRail Standard ships with a compiler-version that only
compiles structures so that you can create your own
But: If you replace straight track by curves, the old connections
3-dimensional buildings.
can't be recovered, of course.
WinRail DeLuxe comes with the full compiler-version and all
the library source files.
5.2.5.3 Select
This function can simply tag every track, every building, every line,
every wire [...] or really everything without clicking around too much.
5.2.3 Home-Tools
Here you find the most popular tools for a first start. The Toolbar and tool
If you chose "Tag all elements in layer ..." a window will pop up
window contain all the available tools.
where you can choose one or more of the layers that actually are
visible. If currently only one layer is visible, the window will not
appear and all visible elements will get tagged.
5.2.4 Home-View
Here you globally (de-)activate the display of article numbers, descriptions,
heights and ties.
5.2.5.4 Invert selection
Selected elements become unselected and vice versa.
Also you can choose the visible layers and (de-)activate the detection of
short circuits.
For tagging everything not being a track, you first tag all tracks and
then invert the selection. That's easy, isn't it?
Other global settings may be edited on the "Display"-tab.

To edit the settings of single elements please look at the tabs "Properties",
5.2.6 Home-Update
"Track" and "Flex track".
Information about the version of WinRail you are currently using.

Search the internet for updates.

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5.3 The Features tab
Another option to change the order of the elements can be found under
5.3.1 Features-Placement
Sort by height. It ensures that the topmost elements are drawn last, so
5.3.1.1 Rotate Element that they are not covered by other elements.

Tagged element(s) will be rotated around the (common) centre. 5.3.1.5 Mirror
Mirrors the tagged elements along the right edge of the surrounding
5.3.1.2 Flip track rectangle. If you need the elements to be mirrored along the bottom of the
This tool is effective only on tracks that are connected on one end only. surrounding rectangle, just rotate the mirrored elements by 180°.
You use this option for curves pointing in the wrong direction or if you want
to connect a switch. In contrast to Tools-Flip track joints only the latest If you just need a mirror image for some templates, you may choose File-
added track will be affected. Print and activate the Print mirror image option.

Following are two examples for this function:

The result of mirroring a left turnout, for example, is a right turnout, in other
words, the result is a different turnout with a different article-number.
WinRail needs a template that matches the required dimensions of the new
element and will first search the layout and then the current library for a
matching template. If there are two or more different elements in the layout
or in the library, respectively, that match the requirements, WinRail will ask
which one to use. If no matching element can be found, you'll get an error
message, and the element will be omitted.
This command also can rotate that object that has just been docked to a Here is an example:
track section by 90°. WinRail will use the last setting for further elements to
be docked.

If you press <Ctrl>, the docked element will be moved to the opposite side
of the track section.

5.3.1.3 Move
A window is opened which will prompt you for relative coordinates (X and Y)
to move the tagged element(s).

5.3.1.4 Bring to front/Put to back

Generally, the order of elements is of no matter, but if objects are
overlapping, the one in the foreground makes the other ones partially
invisible - it will be selected first, too, when trying to tag any object
behind it.

If such problems should occur, use this function to change the order of
objects.

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5.3.1.6 Separate layer Use the tool Remove element from group to remove a single element
When you tag track sections using the Arrow-tool or the tool Tag benchwork from a group.
and contained elements all sections will get tagged that are connected to
the section you have clicked at.
5.3.3 Features-Adjust height of terrain
In most cases this will match your intention, but if you want to export a A simple way to set the height of the terrain is to place lines (preferably
single benchwork to a file, then this command allows you to cut all
in a separate layer), apply a height to them, tag them and call this
connections to other layers at once.
function. Of course this function will work for any other kind of shape or
This command is available only if you have tagged track sections that are object as well.
connected to sections in other layers.
Usually only the area under the line will have set the height accordingly, but
if you draw a closed figure, i.e. the line ends where it starts, the area under
5.3.1.7 Sort by height the surrounding rectangle will be set to the height of the line.
Makes sure that the topmost elements will be drawn last and therefore on
For a better visualization, WinRail will set the colour of each vertex
top of all other elements.
according to the height.

To add details or colours, use the terrain-tool . To view the result, open
5.3.1.8 Reset gradients and heights
the 3D-viewer.
One of the most frequently asked questions about WinRail was "How can I
reset all gradients and heights to 0?". You should not try to create ramps and roads with this feature; call
Ramp/Pillar instead.
The answer is this command. All tagged elements will be moved to the
height 0, also all existing gradients will be reset to 0. However, the latter
requires in some cases to loosen connections: for example in a closed circle 5.3.4 Features-Move docked elements
it is not possible to change the gradient of a single section, because this will This command moves docked elements you have tagged before
change its length when viewed from top.
along the track line.

You can move the elements until they reach a turnout, a crossing or the end
5.3.2 Features-Group/Discard group
of the track. The layout is always updated while you move the elements.
You can create groups of elements that are treated like one single element
when you tag and move them. This is useful in all cases when you spent a This feature is very useful for moving catenary masts.
lot of work to align several elements and want to lock them afterwards.

However, the Join track-tool will still work, as will the alignment- 5.3.5 Features-Colour
commands, no matter if called from the menu or from the alignment bar. Depending on altitude or layer, you can assign different colours to your
track.
You can fix the position of elements in the “Properties” tab.
If you choose According to height, you must define a range within the
Another option is to dock (non-track) elements to track sections, useful colour is valid. According to layer means, this colour is assigned to the
especially for catenary masts. complete layer.

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This affects existing elements only. For added elements subsequently, the 5.3.6.3 Create frames
defaults set on the “Properties” tab are valid. This command creates the required frames of the substructure.
The position of the tracks is taken into consideration as well as the
terrain, if the terrain has been edited already.
5.3.6 Features-Benchworks
If your layout contains one or more benchworks, frames will be
5.3.6.1 Create benchwork created only for the benchworks. Otherwise frames will be created
Here you can specify shape and dimensions of your benchwork. for the current workspace.

If the shape you need should not be supported, you may click Draw WinRail can't create frames for overlapping benchworks. You
other shape to activate the tool Draw benchwork (Polygon) to should export these to a separate file by tagging them with the tool
draw your benchwork or load a benchwork-file. Tag benchwork and contained elements and then calling Export
tagged elements to file. Once you have created the frames you
Your layout may contain as many benchworks as you need, but may import them back using Add layout.
WinRail does not allow benchworks to overlap.
If the terrain has not been edited, it will be created accordingly.
Click OK, then click the position on your workspace where you want
to place the new benchwork. If you intend to create frames later, You can then view the result in the 3D-view.
we recommend that you place the benchwork at the top left corner
of your workspace. The value in the input box 3D in the tool bar below the menu bar
defines the resolution used to measure the terrain (if the terrain has
If you decide to cancel the dialog, you should at least set the size of been edited already) or to create points in the terrain, respectively.
the workspace. This will define the range you can reach with the
scroll bars. You can position frames wherever you like, but usually you will use
a fixed distance between them: just enter the value and click Insert.
If you intend to stack benchworks, we recommend that you assign By clicking New you can add frames wherever you like. The
layers to it (“Properties” tab, group Shapes). calculation of the position of the frames always starts at the upper
left corner of your workspace.
The command Load benchwork for old WinRail 3 benchwork files
has been removed. If you still want to use such a file, please use You can specify if the lowest or the highest one of crossing tracks is
the command File-Open in the File-Menu. In this case the file has taken into account. In any case the position of all tracks will be
to have the extension .gpl. tagged at the frames.

The thickness of the material is used only to get the width of the
5.3.6.2 Edit Benchwork slots.
Here you can edit existing benchworks, once you have tagged them
using the tool Tag benchwork . The frames are numbered from left to right starting with V001 (V for
vertically) and from top to bottom starting with H001 (H for
horizontally). They are stored in a separate file that can be
It is possible to change the coordinates of the vertices as well as to
opened like a regular layout file so that you can print the frames
add and delete vertices.
in any scale up to 1:1. The name you chose for the file will appear
Of course a benchwork always must have at least three vertices. at the top of the list of the most recent files in the file-menu.

- 47 - - 48 -
 Any previously created frames will be deleted automatically. 5.3.7.4 List of required materials
This list displays only the elements which you still should buy.
And this is what a frame could look like:
5.3.7.5 Stock
Shows a list of elements you already have.

5.3.7.6 Edit stock

Here you enter the quantity of elements (track, buildings etc.)
already available as well as the according prices. Now, WinRail
Additionally the vertices of the frames are stored in a text file. This can determine what still is required - and the costs of all that fun.
file stored with the extension .txt in the same folder as the file with
the frames. This menu item refers to the currently loaded library. You cannot
add elements to your stock if they are not part of any library. Under
“View” tab in the Hints group you can activate the display of
5.3.7 Features-Statistics remaining elements in the yellow tool-tip windows that appear when
you move the mouse over an element
Any statistical list can be printed or copied to the clipboard for processing
with other applications. For flex sections, you can tell WinRail to take the When you are finished planning your layout you may want to reduce
offcuts into account as long as it is longer as a minimum length you may set. your stock by the elements you have used in this layout: This will
If you have a flex section that is shorter than the minimum length you have give you the correct amount of available in the next layout you might
entered here, a shorter offcut will be used for it, however. This option will want to start with.
not be available if the list of materials if sorted by layer.
To achieve this call the command Decrease by elements in layout
WinRail will use the currency you set in the Windows Control Panel that you reach by clicking the small arrow on the right of this button.
(Regional or country settings).
The other way around Add elements in layout will add the elements
in the current layout to your stock - for example in case you decide
5.3.7.1 List of materials (complete) to pull your layout down.
Shows a list of all elements used in your layout. Based on the
prices you entered, the total costs will be calculated. 5.3.7.7 Activate prices
If you have entered prices via Edit stock, they surely should be
If elements are tagged , only the tagged elements are listed. valid for your layout. Instead of editing prices on the “Properties”
tab for each single piece, this menu item will do that all at once.
5.3.7.2 List of materials (active layer)
Shows a list of all elements in the active layer. Based on the prices
you entered, the costs will be calculated. If elements are
tagged , only the tagged elements in the active layer are listed. 5.4 The Properties tab

Here you can edit many settings for single elements. On the "Display" tab
5.3.7.3 List of materials (visible layers)
you can edit the same settings globally.
Shows a list of all elements in the currently visible layer[s]. Based
on the prices you entered, the costs will be calculated. If elements
This may seem confusing in the beginning, but it really makes sense:
are tagged , only the tagged elements in the visible layer[s] are
listed.

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For example, while editing your layout you may want to hide all descriptions. Another way to set the height is the tool Height. Using that tool you also can
In that case you'll switch them off globally on the "Display" tab. Later you edit the gradient of track sections.
may want to print the layout, but display descriptions only for some of the
elements, not for all. To achieve that, you'll activate the descriptions on the
"Display" tab and deactivate them here for some elements. 5.4.3 Properties-Price
Here you edit the price of the tagged elements.
If you want to make the settings of the currently tagged element the default This means that this control is active only as long as elements are tagged
for elements to be inserted, you will find the command in the context menu that accept a price.
of the Arrow tool (right mouse button).
WinRail calculates the price of flex sections by the price per unit and the
actual length. You enter these values on the "Flex track" tab. This control
5.4.1 Properties-Texts then just displays the calculated price that can't be changed.
Here you choose if and how the lettering of the tagged elements (except for
running wires) will be displayed.
5.4.4 Properties-Layer
In order actually to display the lettering you'll have to activate them on the Moves the tagged elements into another layer.
"Display" tab as well.
If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted
If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted instead.
instead. If you have linked properties to this layer, then these will be used for the
elements to be inserted.
Position will open an dialogue window where you can set the position of the
lettering relative to the element. Negative values will move the lettering to If you activate Edit "active" layer only, then you can edit only elements in
the opposite direction. this layer. Other elements may still be visible, but you can't tag or edit them.

If you activate For tracks: in the track then all other options will be ignored. Usually one active layer is enough.
You should choose a font size that matches the width of the track However, if for example you want to place the running wire into a separate
(Display-Texts). layer, it is not possible to dock the masts on to the track sections because
the layer of the track sections is not active. In this case you should use
For running wires you can edit these settings on the "Catenary" tab. more than one active layer.

The layer chosen in the drop-down list below the tool bar always is the layer
5.4.2 Properties-Height used for elements to be inserted.
Here you edit the height of the tagged elements.

If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted 5.4.5 Properties-Fixed
instead. Here you choose if you want the tagged elements to be fixed or net. You
can't move fixed elements.
When you use the tool Place track and connect, then the height of the
sections you insert will be determined by the height of the sections you Another way to fix elements is to click the tool toggle fixation .
connect them to of course.
If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted
instead.

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The colour can be set only globally for all fixations in your layout. Actually none of the libraries that come with WinRail contains elements that
make use of these additional text fields. Therefore you won't see this page
In order actually to display the fixations you'll have to activate them on the unless you have changed a library yourself or view the frames.
"Display" tab as well.

5.4.8 Properties-Shapes
5.4.6 Properties-Lines Choose if you want to get the tagged shapes (rectangle, polygon, ...) or
Here you choose the width and the colour of the lines of the tagged benchwork filled with colour. Of course you can choose the colour as well.
elements.
If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted
If no elements are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted instead.
instead.
Edit arc opens a dialogue window where you can edit an existing arc you
Lines with the width set to "0" are always drawn one pixel wide, no matter created using the tool arc .
which zoom value you actually have set.
All other values are scaled according to the current zoom value. For a small
line width and a large zoom value this can cause the width of the line being 5.4.9 Properties-Assign layer to benchwork
smaller than one pixel, so that the line will not be drawn at all. Here you can assign layers to your benchwork.

If you have no intention to stack benchworks, you don't need to assign

5.4.7 Properties-Text fields layers, because by default a benchwork contains all elements placed on,
Here you can enter text and change the appearance and font. To above and below it. If you assigned layers, the benchwork will contain only
rotate a text field, click the Font button, then Rotate. elements that are placed in its range and in one of the assigned layers.

Macros are also available: You must assign different layers to benchworks that do overlap!

You can paste date (long or short), number and name of day, number and If you didn't assign layers to overlapping benchworks (not recommended!),
name of month, number of year and time – even separately hour, minute then a benchwork will contain all elements placed on or above, but below the
and second. Further, you can have displayed the total costs of your track, benchwork on top of it. Only the bottom most benchwork will also contain
supposed you have defined prices before. You can have the name and elements placed below it.
path of your layout file pasted, too – this makes it easier to find it later on.
We recommend that you create every one of the benchworks that later will
The height fields created using the Detect height of track-tool also are overlap others in a separate file. As a last step you may then use the Add
layout command (Home-Clipboard-Paste) to merge the benchworks - not
just specialized text fields, and you can edit the properties here.
only because WinRail can't create frames for overlapping benchworks.
The Parts-compiler allows additional text fields to be included with any
element; also the frames stored in a separate file contain such additional
5.4.10 Properties-Wires
text fields. For these additional text fields within an element you can specify
The difference between a line and a wire is simply the presence of a
font and colour individually depending on your needs. However, we
soldering point. If the diameter is set to 0, a wire becomes a line.
recommend the use of the defaults you can set on the Display" tab
whenever possible to save memory.
When using a colour the first time for a wire or a line, WinRail will ask for a
description. These names are used instead of article-numbers so that the

- 53 - - 54 -
statistics-functions can give you an overview how much wire of each colour This may seem confusing in the beginning, but it really makes sense:
you'll need.
If you want to make the settings of the currently tagged element the default
This name will be used anytime you add another line of this colour; you can for elements to be inserted, you will find the command in the context menu
change the assignments by pressing the Names-button. of the Arrow tool (right mouse button).

The "Mouse capture" value is also used by the Measurement-tool. This Drawing ties (sleepers) for example can reduce the drawing performance
value determines how the coordinates of a mouse click will get rounded off. significantly. Therefore it may be useful to switch the ties off while planning
The line point will always be set to the next value that can be divided by the your layout on the "Display" tab. When done you may switch them on again,
value you have set here. but perhaps you don't want to see ties for certain sections, for instance for
At a mouse capture value of 10 a click at position 104 will be rounded off to tramway track. For these sections you can disable the ties here.
100, a click at position 105 will be rounded off to 110.
Use of frames should be deactivated if the sections are on a bridge, for
You can use lines to define the height of the terrain: just draw lines to tag example.
areas with the same height, apply the desired height to lines (by entering the
height on the "Properties" tab, or by using the tool Height), tag the lines, Draw clearance activates the clearance lines. You have to use the
and call Adjust height of terrain. Clearance tool to calculate the clearance lines first.

Gradient applies a gradient to the track section. To flip the direction

5.4.11 Properties-Measurements please change the sign. Easier to use are the tool Height and the tool
You can set the font and rotate the font by 180°. The angle of the text will be Gradient .
adjusted according to the direction of the measurement, but please keep in
mind that only TrueType-fonts can be rotated. These settings apply to the sections that are currently tagged. If no sections
are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted.
Also you can hide the unit and the line, and set the number of decimals
displayed.
5.5.1 Track-Edit track
If no measurements are tagged you set the default for measurements to be All settings apply to the track sections that are currently tagged. If no
inserted instead.
track sections are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted
instead.
Clicking Information will display the coordinates of start and end.
Fill tells WinRail to draw the sections as filled outline. The colour can be
chosen from the drop down list right to this button.
5.5 The Track tab
Ties activates the drawing of ties in the track sections. The colour can
Here you find all settings related to sectional track. There is another tab for be chosen from the drop down list right to this button.
flex sections.
Both settings are effective only if they are activated globally on the "Display"
You can edit several settings for single elements here. On the "Display" tab tab as well!
you can edit the same settings globally.

- 55 - - 56 -
 Track joints will open a window where you can set the appearance of 5.5.3 Track-Features
track joints.
5.5.3.1 Parallel track
Close gaps will open a window where you can specify settings that apply This function generates a new track exactly parallel to an existing
when you close gaps automatically using the tool Connect track. one, which must not have any branches and has to be tagged
first.
The Connect tracks tool is able to close gaps with fitting pieces of track.
This also works for helices.
You can make some decisions before – if WinRail searched all possibilities,
it would take enormous amounts of time so you could say: ”It would have When you create parallels of a "normal" flex section, then these
been better if I'd done it manually...”
parallels will be connected to its parents. When you change the
parent's shape, the shape of the parallels will change as well.
If it should become too hard, just click Cancel and make some restrictions.

If you decrease the list of radii to be taken, this function will work much
5.5.3.2 Ramp/Pillar
faster. If in an arc all curves should be of the same radius, another
acceleration will occur. WinRail will remember these settings for each Suppose you have two different ground levels and some track that
library. runs from one level to the other. Now you might want to have some
kind of ramp.
Half-finished ovals can be closed automatically as well. WinRail first
searches for fitting curves and then inserts straight tracks. Sometimes, the Just tag the appropriate track section and call this menu item. A
results of this process could be a little bit ”funny” - so you can switch off this dialog box will pop up and you can specify the properties of the
option. ramp.

Finally, you can make things easier for WinRail by defining whether to use The additional extent on top is added on both sides to the width of
large or small radius first, and in which direction the arc shall be pointing. the track (without roadbed), or on all sides of the surrounding
rectangle of a structure, respectively.

5.5.2 Track-Roadbed Height of base is the position of the bottom of the ramp. The base
Here you set the width and the height of the roadbed and if you want a must be below the lowest element.
roadbed at all.
The angle of the slope can range from 5° to 90°.
The roadbed will be drawn only if it activated globally on the "Display" tab.
If you set different colours for Side top and Side bottom, the colour
The height of the roadbed only affects the 3D-view of course. will fade to give a better visualization of the height.

All settings apply to track sections that are currently tagged. If no sections The ramp (or a pillar) created is a separate element, not bound to
are tagged you set the default for elements to be inserted instead. elements you used to create it, treated like a structure you added
from a library. Thus, you can just delete the track and will get a road
then.

To view the result, open the 3D-viewer.

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5.5.3.3 Crossover/Ladder If you open such an older layout for the first time, this dialogue will
This menu item has two functions: appear automatically.

1.) You can have two parallel tracks connected using switches. If your layout should contain track of different gauges (for instance
2.) Ladders can be generated with up to 100 equidistant parallel H0 and H0e), then we recommend that you enter the most common
tracks. Any ladder will be terminated by an appropriate curve, so gauge first and later use this command to change the gauge of the
that the outlet is parallel to the other tracks as well. other sections.

You can define the distance between the tracks – of course not less
than allowed by the geometry of switches. Obviously, tracks cannot 5.5.3.5 Control vertical distance of track
be put closer together than directly connected! The distance a is (De-) activates the control of the vertical distance of crossing track
measured between the centre lines of tracks. sections.

The length of the inserted track (according to calculation) can be Controlling the vertical distance of crossing track sections requires
found directly in the dialog: Length of adjustment track. Later on, much performance, so you can switch it off here. Humans need just
you can have displayed its length by tagging it and then one view to see where tracks are crossing, the computer, however,
choosing information on the “Flex track” tab. Look for the line has to compare the position of every track with the position of every
Current length. other track. If tracks overlap (they don't necessarily have to cross
each other), the point of the crossing and the vertical distance at this
Example: point have to be calculated.

The red coloured tracks were calculated and inserted by WinRail. Helices made up of flex sections are excluded from this check; also
invisible tracks located in hidden layers. In complex turnout streets
often track sections get closer than usual. Therefore sections
connected directly or by just one additional section are excluded
also.

The "smallest horizontal distance" specifies how close the track

sections are allowed to be. Therefore you can also use this feature
to control the distance of parallel lines. However, to reduce
performance consumption, the value is taken into account only if the
surrounding rectangles overlap. The surrounding rectangles are the
rectangles you see when you tag the elements.
5.5.3.4 Change width of track
Changes the width of the tagged track sections. If necessary you can increase the size of the surrounding rectangle
by increasing the width of the divider lines of the track joints in the
Files that have been created using an older version of WinRail do Edit track group of this tab, by displaying the roadbed or increasing
not contain information about the gauge. WinRail uses this the width of the roadbed, or by increasing the width of the
information to calculate the length of the rails of flex sections and to tracks.
display the rails in the correct distance when the display of ties
(sleepers) is switched on.

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5.5.3.6 Cut at module border however, will always be the font for heights you have set on
the “Display” tab under Texts.
This command will cut all tagged sections at the module borders as if
you had used the tool Cut flex track . As this is possible only for flex The height fields will only display when this is activated on
the “Display” tab under Texts. No setting on the
sections, sectional track will be converted to flex track first.
“Properties” tab is required.
Turnouts and crossings can't be cut, so they will not be touched by this
feature.
5.5.3.7.4 Count insulated sections and insulations
Counts insulated sections and insulations. Optionally you
may remove certain types of insulations then.
5.5.3.7 Information

5.5.3.7.1 Detect length of track

This tool calculates the distance of the shortest way from 5.6 The Flex Track tab
one point of your layout to another point.
Length determines if and how the length of the tagged flex sections are
Just click the two points somewhere on your track sections.
printed. If no flex sections are tagged you set the default for flex sections to
If you click two different sections, they must be connected
be inserted instead.
somehow, of course.
To get the lengths actually printed you have to activate them globally on the
"Display"-tab in the Texts group.
5.5.3.7.2 Length of tagged track
The total length of all tagged tracks will be calculated. Distance basepoints determines the curvature of flex sections to be inserted.
For crossing switches, length of both curves and straights, This setting doesn't affect sections that already exist in your layout.
will be taken into consideration.

Use the tool Calculate distance to find out the distance

between two points somewhere on your layout.

5.5.3.7.3 Detect height of track

Click anywhere on a track to find out the height at that
place.

To find out where the track meets a certain height press The basepoints are located on a straight that has the direction of the track at
<Ctrl> and click the track section. A dialog box will open the end of the section. The tool Shape flex track moves these points
where you can enter the height you are looking for. along the straight.

The height will then be displayed in a special kind of text Sometimes, new sections of flex track can appear to be tied in a knot – this
field. You edit the properties like those of any other text is a function of the distance between the end points. This behaviour can be
field on the “Properties” tab Text fields. The default font, adjusted by use of this setting.

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 Information displays information about the currently tagged flex section. A straight or curved flex track will be generated – according to your settings
Which information will be displayed depends on the kind of the flex section. (length, radius and angle). After having confirmed, the track can by added
Among other information the length of the both rails will be calculated. to your layout by clicking the desired position.

You can cut any flex section anywhere.

5.6.1 Flex track-Types of flex track
All settings apply to the tagged flex sections. If no flex sections are For straight flex sections (that also may be created with the Tool Insert
tagged you set the default for flex sections to be inserted. flex track) a couple of features are available that make life easier:

Please enter article-number and description, also the length per unit and the Insert turnouts etc., move and rotate them, create
price per unit available at your dealer. The statistics then will calculate the crossovers or move a turnout accordingly.
required pieces and the price. Waste of track caused by cutting is not taken
into consideration – you'd better buy a bit more.
5.6.3 Flex track-Transition curve
Then the cost of the currently tagged flex section will be displayed as price
on the "Properties" tab. Before you add the first flex section to your layout we recommend that you
check the settings in the Type group on this tab (without an element in the
On the "Display" tab you can activate the display of the units of flex sections layout being tagged), although changes can be made at any time.
in the layout.
A transition curve flex track will be generated – according to your settings.
If you are using different types of flex sections in your layout you may want After having confirmed, the track can by added to your layout by clicking the
to save your settings by clicking Store type. This will add an entry to the desired position.
drop down list labelled Art.-no. If you choose a number from that list all
settings will be restored. To get rid of a type please click Delete type. Further information on transition curves can be found in the chapter
Transition curves in theory and practice. The original text was generously
The different types are identified by the article numbers. Therefore article supplied by Thomas Rödel. The related NEM standard can be found in the
numbers have to be unique. WinRail Help.

If you should load a layout that contains flex sections with an article number Unfortunately things aren't as easy as it seems when reading this text. A big
you have already stored, but with different properties, then the type found in thank you for his assistance with this difficult topic goes to Mr. Lieber in
the layout will be used as long as the layout is loaded. If you load another Austria.
layout, the previous values will be restored.
In fact the transition curves of the previous versions had been more or less
By clicking Store type you can replace the old values by the values found in wrong, unless very small angles had been used. For larger angles the
the layout. resulting radius could become too small, or a large portion of the transition
took place in the last millimetre of the curve.

5.6.2 Flex track-Shape flex track The formula for the calculation of the curve is y = m*x(Curve/10). The value
m depends on radius and angle.
Before you add the first flex section to your layout we recommend that you
check the settings in the Type group on this tab (without an element in the
It turned out that for any given radius and angle only one value for curve is
layout being tagged), although changes can be made at any time.
valid. The Curve value therefore now exists only to please some customers

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of the older versions who are used to it. Now WinRail will calculate the Texts
correct curve value for you. Running wires are tagged by tagging the masts they are connected to.
Therefore you can't tag them without tagging these masts.
It now is possible to create a complete curve consisting of a combination Therefore you can edit the settings you found on the "Properties" tab here
transition curve – curve – transition curve. Just check Create complete for running wires.
curve and enter the angle of the complete curve to be created. An example:

Line
Here you set the colour and width of the lines used to draw the running
wires.

Colour 1 will be used for running wires that already have an article number
applied to, Colour 2 will be used for running wires without an article number.

Lines with the width set to "0" are always drawn one pixel wide, no matter
which zoom value you actually have set.

All other values are scaled according to the current zoom value. For a small
line width and a large zoom value this can cause the width of the line being
5.6.4 Flex track-Helix smaller than one pixel, so that the line will not be drawn at all.
A helix (or spiral) consists of ascending, concentric circles – just like a coil.
Helixes are useful to surmount a great difference in altitude while keeping
gradient and required area quite low. Connections determine the appearance of the points where running wires
connect.
This function generates helices according to your adjustments. You can
define the radius (fixed values for normal curves, or you can use flex track),
the angle between inlet and outlet, total difference in altitude, difference per Features:
turn and left or right turn.
Layer moves the tagged running wires into another layer.
Calculated values can be printed to (have) cut appropriate boards.

You may change the properties of a helix made up of flex-sections later by All these settings apply to the tagged running wires. If no running wires are
tagging it and calling this command again. tagged you set the default for running wires to be inserted instead.

You may have to cut the helix off the layout to be able to edit all of the
properties. 5.7.1 Catenary-Assign article no to running wire
WinRail tries to assign a matching number from the library whenever you
insert a running wire or change its length.

5.7 The Catenary tab However, there are some reasons to initiate the assignment of
article-numbers manually:
This page will be shown only if catenary elements like masts are present
either in the current layout or in the active library.

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You may have moved a mast while a track library containing no wire 5.9.1 Display-Texts
segments was loaded. In that case WinRail was not able to find a matching In this group you can set the options to display part numbers, manufacturer
wire segment. code, height and length. A font for each of them may be selected.

You changed the catenary library This option is like a general switch - to see any description, you must enable
it on the "Properties" tab as well for the elements in question.
Before you call this function you have to tag the wires.
For lengths you'll find these settings on the tab "Flex track" or "Catenary",
The Tool Catenary – Assign article-nos. works on single wire respectively.
segments. If the library contains more than one wire section that might fit,
By default every track section can display its height at the ends of the
this tool allows you to choose between them.
section. Only these items are disabled when you switch off the height under
Element-Properties.
5.7.2 Catenary-Docking settings
The tool Detect height of track just creates a special kind of text
Here you enter the distance to the track centre for elements you dock to
field. These height fields are always displayed as long as the height is
track sections.
enabled here, no setting in the element-properties is necessary. The font for
these fields is set under Element-Properties as for any other text field. New
You can choose the width of the track, the width of the roadbed lines (if
height fields will always appear with the font you have set here for the
defined) or the clearance lines (if defined).
heights, however.

Optionally a fixed value can be added. This may be a negative value if you
want to place elements inside the track section.
5.9.2 Display-Track
Choose the appearance of the track sections: single line, outline or filled
outline.
5.8 The Other Elements tab
On the "Track" tab you can deactivate the filling for single sections and
This page will be shown only if images or documents that have been created choose the colour.
with other applications and linked to or embedded in your layout are tagged.
The same applies to ties (sleepers).
The options you have depend on the kind of object you have tagged .
For flex sections you may activate the display of the length per unit at which
You will get move information when you hover the mouse over the they are available at your dealer. You set the length per unit on the "Flex
commands. track" tab.

Also you can (de) activate the display of running wires.

5.9 The Display tab

5.9.3 Display-Roadbed lines
Here you find settings that affect the display of the layout and will be stored Here you decide if and how roadbed lines will be drawn.
along with it.

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Lines with the width set to "0" are always drawn one pixel wide, no matter Which one will be chosen depends. Even in the very small example above
which zoom value you actually have set. you can choose one out of four connections to insulate or cut to
solve the problem.
All other values are scaled according to the current zoom value. For a small
line width and a large zoom value this can cause the width of the line being For simple crossings (not for double slips, of course) WinRail assumes that
smaller than one pixel, so that the line will not be drawn at all. the crossing tracks are insulated.

For individual sections you can (de-) activate the display of roadbed lines If the display of roadbed is activated, the coloured lines of the short circuit
and set the width of them on the "Track" tab. detection may be covered by the slope lines, depending on the width of the
roadbed.

5.9.4 Display-Clearance Using the tool Change polarity you can flip the colour of the two rails.
Here you can globally (de-) activate the display of roadbed lines and set their
colour and width.
5.9.6 Display-Pages
Lines with the width set to "0" are always drawn one pixel wide, no matter
Page nos. enables you to decide if, where and how you want to get page
which zoom value you actually have set.
numbers printed.
All other values are scaled according to the current zoom value. For a small
line width and a large zoom value this can cause the width of the line being You may (de-) activate the display of page frames.
smaller than one pixel, so that the line will not be drawn at all.

For individual track sections you can deactivate the display of clearance Page preview will give you a preview of how elements are spread on
lines on the "Track" tab. multiple pages when printing.

You create the clearance lines using the tool Clearance. If a print region exists, it is used, otherwise you will see how the entire layout
would get printed.

5.9.5 Display-Find short-circuits If this menu item is active, the current zoom level has no effect on your
printing – it only moves the edges of the page.

This option is recommended for having a better survey only. You should
then switch it off again. Of course you can continue working as usual, but
there will be no updating of edges when inserting or deleting elements.

With DC track-systems certain layouts will cause a short-circuit, as

5.10 The View tab
demonstrated by the example above. Unfortunately it is not always that
easy to detect these cases.
Window-Overview opens a window that displays the entire layout. A
rectangle shows you the portion of the layout that is currently visible in the
This feature will assist you. As long as it is activated, the left and right lines
main window.
of the rails will be drawn using different colours. Also the connections
causing a short-circuit will be tagged by a red arrow.

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You may click somewhere to scroll another portion into view or move the It is also possible (but doesn't make any sense) to set the workspace to
mouse while the left button is pressed. values that are different to the size of the benchwork(s). If you move a
benchwork, WinRail will automatically adjust the size of your workspace
Window-Selection window shows or hides the element-selection window. accordingly.

You may hide (or show) the status bar and the rulers. The context menu of The System dialogue offers a couple of settings you will probably change
the rulers (right-click the rulers) enables you to set their width. only once, if ever.

The visible and active layers can be chosen. Finally you can make the settings of this tab and the "Display" tab the default
for new files or restore these defaults.
Customize toolbar, tool window and context menu. Please follow the
instructions shown in the dialogue windows.
5.10.1 View-3D Viewer
The Customize tool bar dialogue also enables you to assign shortcuts This window allows you to view and print your layout in 3D. You can rotate
(hotkeys) to the commands and choose another icon. and scale it as you need to. In orthogonal view all sizes are displayed
correctly: edges of the same length are displayed in the same size, no
You can globally (de-) activate the display of fixations and choose their matter if they are in the foreground or in the background. In perspective
colour. For single elements you can deactivate the display of fixations on the view elements in the background will appear smaller. Therefore in
"Properties" tab. perspective view the zoom-value is not more than just a hint.

You may assign sounds to some actions - the sounds will be played every
time the action is performed. Here is a description of the various icons:

Attention: Toggle display of terrain. To edit the terrain, use the function Special-
For unknown reasons on some machines it doesn't work to play sounds. Adjust height of terrain and the terrain-tool .
It may even happen that the machine hangs somewhat later. Therefore you
A Toggle display of article-numbers
should check if your computer plays sounds before you activate this feature,
D Toggle display of descriptions
especially before you assign sounds to Start application and Select tool!
H Toggle display of height
Toggle display of ties (sleepers)
You may hide the selection bar or change its size.
Toggle display of the coordinate-crosshairs
Workspace Toggle display of page frames. The page frames show you how your
Limiting the size of the workspace not only makes it easier to position the layout will be spread over the pages when printed with “display of entire
scroll bars. layout” off.
The maximum you can set is 3000 * 3000 m² (about 10,000 * 10,000 ft²). Enables the clipping planes. If the layout disappears as you enable the
Depending on the size of your layout, the values of the vertical ruler may
clipping planes, you should set the left, back and bottom-sliders to the
become unreadable. Click the ruler with the right mouse button to open a
leftmost value and the right, front and top-sliders to the rightmost value. To
context menu.
create frames you can call the command of the Special-menu.
Here you can set how to draw the terrain and the coordinate-crosshairs.
Hint: It is always possible to place elements outside the specified
workspace. Opens a window where you can change the light. Ambient light has no
direction - this is the "overall brightness" of the scene. Sunlight in contrast
has a direction. However, instead of a simulation of how the sun moves,

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depending on time of year and latitude, WinRail offers to set the height You may additional symbols for the insulations of 3-rail track.
(above the horizon) and the position (quarter). When the height is 90°, then
the position doesn't matter, of course. You may set colour and brightness to Also here you can choose the desired drawing accuracy. The higher
simulate sunrise, dawn, cloudy weather or even moonlight. WinRail doesn't accuracy requires more calculations and may reduce the drawing
provide shadows, however, because a layout contains very many details - speed.
today's PCs still are not powerful enough. The values you set are valid for the Zoom-value 1:1 and will be
scaled according to the zoom value. In other words, if you set the
Opens a window where you can choose the layers to be displayed. zoom to 1:10 and the accuracy to +/-0.5 mm, the effective drawing
Toggle display of entire layout. The slider “Zoom” can only be used accuracy is +/- 0.05 mm.
Thus WinRail switches to the lower accuracy automatically for
when display of entire layout is off.
Zoom-values greater than 10, because the effective accuracy is
Starts printing. The layout will always be printed using the current zoom
then limited by the resolution of screen or printer.
setting. If display of entire layout is on, the whole layout will be printed
centred on a single page. You can decide here how you want the Tool Clone (Pick object
Printer resolution may require an enormous amount of memory. In case you from layout) to work.
get an "Out of memory" error message, please reduce the colour depth of If you check Clone all properties, all settings of the original element
the screen. You can access this setting via the Windows Control Panel or will be copied. Otherwise, the settings made on the tab pages
by right-clicking an empty area of the desktop, then choose "Properties", "Properties" "Track" and "Flex track" will be applied.
page "Settings". Another way to copy the 3D-view to the clipboard is to
press <ALT>+<Prt Sc>. However, this way you get the image in screen
resolution which is much lower than the resolution of a printer. Further, you can decide whether arcs shall be painted by Windows
Here you can set the page frames, also, as known from the 2D-printing, or by application in case the radii are too large to be displayed
you can define an overlap, so that it’s easier to assemble the several pages correctly by Windows (please refer to Views for further information).
of a large layout.
Copies the layout to the clipboard, using printer resolution, as if it had Another driver-problem is addressed by the Draw flex track setting.
been printed with display entire layout on. This enables you to use and print If your computer hangs whenever WinRail tries to draw a flex track,
the drawing in other applications without loss of quality. choose slow (and safe) until you get an updated video driver.

The display of tagged elements and areas can be affected here as

well: You can choose filled or outlined.
5.10.2 View-The System dialogue window
If you have a slow machine, you may want WinRail to display only
5.10.2.1System the surrounding rectangles (frames only) then you drag elements.
Before you add Catenary to your layout, you should decide here if
your system requires the running wires to bent in curves or Hint: As usual, displaying complex graphical elements requires huge
(realistically) not. This enables WinRail to calculate the correct amounts of processor capacity. If you are using a high-performance
length. system: Congratulations – keep on working.

Attention: The setting Wire is bent in curves only takes effect when You can choose your favourite measuring unit – Inches or
the masts are docked to the track! Centimetres.

In any case WinRail will draw straight lines – this setting only
determines how the length has to be calculated by the software!

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 WinRail creates backup copies every time you open a file. These 6 The Tools
files are named "Copy of <Filename>". WinRail can load these files
like any other layout file.
6.1 Tools-Arrow
Here you can switch off the creation of these backup-copies or tell This tool is used to tag elements which will be manipulated afterwards. If
WinRail to copy the backup copy into the bucket bin. you tag one element, all connected track is selected, too. To have only one
element tagged, you first have to use Tools-Disconnect track or
The number of steps for Undo is set here, too. If you should get
Tools-Loosen track- or press the <Ctrl> key while clicking.
"Out of memory" error messages you should reduce this number.
To avoid moving elements by mistake when you click them because you
If you don't want WinRail to assign elevations to turnouts, you can
only want to edit their properties, you may want to use the tool Tag only
switch that feature off here.
instead.

5.10.2.2Tolerances Overlapping objects can be tagged successively by simply clicking – each

Here you can adjust the required precision to place the cursor when click selects the following element. To change the order of the elements
using tools. Additionally, adjustments are made how exact track please use the commands Bring to front and Put to back on the "Features"
ends must meet to be connected. tab.

You can set here how much the length of running-wire segments To tag a number of objects, hold down the <Shift> key while clicking each
may be off to be accepted by the routines that assign article object. For a special area, you can use rectangular selection:
numbers to the wire segments in your layout.
Move the cursor to one corner of the desired area, press (and hold down!)
And you can set the distance used for creating terrain points by the the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the opposite corner. Release
3D-features. the button. That's it!

To move objects, click and drag them to the new position.

5.10.2.3Grid lines/Coordinates
You may enable a grid on your working area and define how this If you drag a track section or a catenary mast, and you drag the element
grid will be shown, to have a better orientation. over a position tag of a benchwork, the mouse cursor will change to a target
butt, and if you release the mouse button the element will be placed and
Also you may set the origin of the coordinate system as well as the aligned accordingly. This will work even if you had tagged several
orientation of the axis. connected track sections. However, in that case the element you had
clicked at must be the one you want to be placed on the position tag. If you
do not want the element to be placed on the tag, please press <Control> and
<Shift>.

To tag running wires you have to tag the masts they are connected to.

To tag more than one catenary mast at a time, press the <Shift>-key when
clicking the second mast to tag all masts and wires between the two masts
you clicked, or press <Control> to tag all connected masts and wires.

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The context menu of this tool contains a command to rotate text fields. 6.5 Tools-Place track and connect
This tool lets you add new elements, which will immediately be connected to
the rest of the track.
6.2 Tools-Tag only
This tool works like the Arrow tool, but keeps you from moving elements The cursor changes its shape depending on whether track can be connected
by mistake if you just want to change their properties. at the current position or not.

In the System dialogue (reachable via the “View” tab) you can adjust the
6.3 Tools-Move description precision for positioning the cursor in order to get parts connected.
Clicking a description or part number and dragging the mouse with left
It is also possible to insert sections into an existing line of track. However, it
button held down will cause the description to move. The position of
makes sense only sometimes to insert a turnout, because you can't control
descriptions is tied to the object – if you now move the object itself, the
which of the existing sections will be moved. Therefore you should
description will be moved as well.
especially avoid inserting curved sections.
Text fields cannot be moved using this tool. You move them as track or
You even can insert straight sections, turnouts and crossings into straight
other parts. flex sections. An example:

The height fields created using the tool Detect height of track are just
special text fields and can not be moved using this tool.

The context menu of this tool contains a command to rotate text fields.

6.4 Tools-Place object

This tool adds the currently selected element to your layout. If you press
<Ctrl> while clicking, a dialog box will pop up. You can enter absolute
coordinates.

If you move the mouse cursor close to a position tag of a benchwork, the
cursor will become a target butt, and after you click the mouse button the
element will be positioned and aligned accordingly - of course only if the
element is a track section or a catenary mast. If you do not want the
element to be aligned please press the <Shift>-key.

If you placed a track section, possibly not the end you desired has been
placed on the tag. In this case please choose the arrow-tool and move
the desired end over the tag.

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6.6 Tools-Pick element from layout the second element they will be connected in that way, that the first-clicked
Clicking an object within the layout using this tool will choose just this as element moves towards the second. Of course, this will only work if these
actual element for Tools-Place element and Tools-Place track and pieces of track are not connected yet (indirectly).
connect. So, you don't have to go to the selection bar or the selection
Flex tracks are treated the same way. If you keep <Shift> depressed while
window.
clicking a flex track, no elements will be moved, but the flex track will change
its shape accordingly.
In the System dialogue ("View" tab) you determine if you want all properties
of the element to be copied, or if you want to use the defaults set on the tabs
So you can use this tool to fill gaps automatically with fitting pieces.
"Properties" and "Track".
If the clicked ends are already connected indirectly, WinRail will search for
fitting pieces to fill that gap. In this way, you can close circles and ellipses.
6.7 Tools-Measurement
Settings for this function can be made via Close gaps (“Track” tab). No
Inserts a measurement. Just click the two points you'd like to measure the special forms of track are added when closing circles if you also use the
distance of. The mouse capture set for lines will be used. libraries that came with this version of WinRail.

When you move the mouse close to a connection point of a track section If you want to fill gaps between two independent tracks, just hold down
you will notice a change of the shape of the mouse cursor. The <Ctrl> when clicking the second end.
measurement then will be placed exactly at the location of the connecting
point. Keep the <Ctrl>-key depressed to place a measurement close to, but Last, but not least, this tool can create a crossover and move the turnout you
not on the connecting point. clicked first accordingly, if it is surrounded by straight flex sections. Keep
<Shift>+<Ctrl> depressed when you click the second turnout to activate this
To measure the distance between track sections, press the <Shift>-key feature. Here is an example:
while you click the first track section. Then the shortest distance between
the point you clicked first and the second track section will be measured.

6.8 Tools-Insert ruler

Opens a window where you can specify the length and a few other settings
of the ruler.

After you have clicked OK you can place the ruler with one mouse click in
your layout and then tag, move and rotate it like any other element.

The ruler will not appear in the 3D-view!

6.9 Tools-Connect track

Two pieces of track will be connected. A connection is shown by a small
circle.

If ends are meeting at the correct angle, you will need only one simple click.
If there’s a gap between them, you click one element first. With a click on

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6.10 Tools-Disconnect track 6.13 Tools-Insulation
Different to Tool-Loosen track, one single connection is removed. Tags a track joint as insulated.

Instead of the usual circle, a cross (both rails insulated) or an arrow (only
6.11 Tools-Loosen track one rail insulated) will show up. The symbol will change every time you
click. To turn a cross into a circle, three clicks are needed.
Different to Tool-Disconnect track, all connections of the selected track
are removed at once. Examples:

To remove all connections of the line you click at, keep the <Ctrl>-key
depressed while you click.
The feature that checks for short circuits will take only track joints tagged
6.12 Tools-Flip track joints with a circle as connected, all others will be taken as completely insulated.
Can be used for elements connected at one end only. So you eventually In the System dialogue (“View” tab) you can activate additional symbols for
have to use Tools-Disconnect track. If you want to process the latest the insulation of three-rail track. Then eight different symbols are available,
added track, use Flip track on the “Features” tab. thus you may have to click up to seven times to get the desired symbol.

Example:
6.14 Tools-3-rail track
Using this tool you can add a second connecting point to the end of a 3-rail
track section, so that a narrow gauge sections fits when connected to the
3-rail track.

This also works for turnouts etc. that are only connected with a straight
section, even with asymmetric crossings when connected to straight flex
sections. See Tool-Place track and connect for an example.

This command also can rotate that object that has just been docked to a
track section by 90°. WinRail will use the last setting for further elements to
be docked.
Just click the end of a track section to open a dialogue window where you
If you press <Ctrl>, the docked element will be moved to the opposite side can enter the required values. If the track already contained an additional
of the track section. connecting point then you can edit it.

If the narrow gauge section should connect to the wrong (centred)

connecting point, please click the 3-rail section with the tool Flip track
joints.

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If a track on both ends has an additional connecting point then WinRail will If you want to connect to existing sections with a flex section that has a fixed
draw a third rail. radius, eventually combined with a straight section, please press the <Shift>
key when you click the second time:

6.15 Tools-Text field

Adds a text field to your layout. The size depends on the amount of text and
the chosen font.

If you hold down <Ctrl> when adding a text field, you will not be prompted for
input. In that case you can enter your text later on the "Properties" tab.
There you can also rotate your text. It is not possible to do that using
Tools-Rotate element!

Any other manipulation is done the same way as for track. The font can be It's possible to have a straight flex track between two other tracks if they are
changed using the Tool-Font or on the "Properties" tab. in a straight line. If the second track should not be aligned properly, press
<Shift><Ctrl> when clicking it. It will now be positioned correctly, and the
flex track will be inserted.
6.16 Tools-Font
To change the shape of the flex section, click it with the tool Shape flex
This is a way to change the font of text fields, article numbers,
track.
descriptions, heights and so on quickly without using the several tab pages.

Please note that all article numbers and descriptions always use the same 6.17.2 Shape flex track
font!
Internally, Flex tracks created with the tool Insert flex track are treated
as Beziér graphs with two anchor points and two base points each. The
6.17 Tools-Flex track anchor points are at the same time the connection to the next piece of track.
The base points are responsible for the curve-gradient of the track. They
6.17.1 Insert flex track are positioned on a line, which represents the straight direction of the flex
Before you add the first flex section to your layout it is recommended that track from the anchor-point. These base points can be moved to adjust the
you check the settings in the Type group on the “Flex track” tab (without an curve gradient of the flex track by moving the track bars in the dialog box
element in the layout being tagged), although changes can be made at any that opens when you click a flex track.
time.
Just try and play a bit with this function.
To insert a flex section two mouse-clicks are always required. Between the
two points you clicked at the section will be inserted. It is most comfortable
to click the ends of two sections that already exist - in this case WinRail will
connect the new flex section to the sections you clicked at, and of course the
ends of the flex section will point to the correct direction. You also may click
just somewhere on your workspace. Then, however, it is likely that you will
have to adjust the direction of the flex section. This can be done on the
page Position of the dialog Shape flex track that will pop up.

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Here is an example of how it works: please enter a value - then the sliders again will allow to move the position
by 1 metre around the new value you have entered.

6.17.3 Cut flex track

This tool cuts any flex section, no matter how it had been created, wherever
you want.

However, the shape of the resulting parts can't be changed any more
afterwards.

6.17.4 Move track

This tool moves track sections connected to straight flex sections in a
straight line. The length of the straight flex sections will be adjusted
accordingly. An example:

Right-click one of the sliders if you need to extend the range of them.

Click Optimize to make sure that the smallest radius is as large as possible.

Unfortunately there is no way to get a definite solution of this problem,

instead WinRail just tries several values. Therefore it is possible that a
second click gives different results, they may be even worse then the
previous try. In that case, just click Optimize again, or cancel the dialog and
try again.

The red dot in the track section shows you where the smallest radius
appears.

Also the length of the both rails is displayed. This may be helpful to cut the
section properly, but it is strongly recommended that you test-fit the section
before you cut!

If at least one end of the flex section is not connected to another section, the
dialog box will display the additional page Position where you can adjust
position and direction. The sliders allow you to move the position by 1 metre This will only work with straight flex sections created via Shape flex track on
in any direction. If you need to move the position by more than one metre, the "Flex track" tab!

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 6.18 Tools-Height
6.17.5 Crossover
This tool creates a crossover between two parallel straight flex sections. With this tool you can apply a height to any kind of element.
There must be a turnout in one of the parallels already. Then you just have
to click the turnout once. An example: If you click a track's end with this tool, a dialog box will pop up where you
can enter an altitude which will be valid for connected track as well if the
check box Apply this setting to connected tracks is activated. Then the
resulting gradient will be displayed.

Instead of this, you can choose Calculate gradient. It's possible to have Flex
track within a line; switches and crossings as well – but they must not be
connected to more than two ends!

An easier way to assign gradients, however, is the Tool Gradient .

Crossings can be assigned an altitude, but no gradient. They always have

to be in a horizontal position. If you also want switches always to be in a
horizontal position, you can tell WinRail on the System dialogue not to apply
gradients to them.

An example for a track with switches and crossings:

6.17.6 Convert to flex track
This tool converts sectionalized track to straight and curved flex track.

The whole line will to the next turnout/crossing or to the end of the line will be
converted. Therefore you perhaps will have to cut, the desired section
off the rest of your layout.

However, if you click a curved section while pressing the <Ctrl>-key, this
section will be converted into a formable flex section.

Now, altitudes were assigned – please realize all ends of switches and
crossings are on the same level!

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 The ends of the car move outwards, whereas the middle part moves to the
Use the tool Detect height of track to find out the height at a certain point inner side of the curve.
or where the track has a certain height.
The Clearance tool will run a virtual car on your layout that will draw the
More information can be found in the Gradients and level grounds chapter. clearance lines.

The calculations are very performance consuming, so you should be the

owner of a fast computer (800 MHz or more) or be very patient if you use
6.19 Tools-Gradient this feature.

Fortunately in most cases the simple roadbed lines are sufficient; this tool
Using this tool you can enter gradients without having to cut the track
makes sense only for platforms and other things that have to be placed as
sections off the layout as it is required using the tool Height .
close as possible to the track.
Just click at the start and at the end of the line you want to apply a gradient
to. After the second click a dialogue box will open where you can enter the You can watch the car while it runs over your layout, but this costs an
height of the two points of the gradient. additional amount of time, so you can switch it off. On the other hand – it is
fun to watch the car, and it will probably be necessary in the future to have a
Whenever you change a value, the resulting gradient or height, respectively, possibility to slow it down when the computers get faster.
will be calculated and shown.
The dialog box that pops up when you click a track section asks you for
More information can be found in the Gradients and level grounds chapter. several settings.

Very important are the dimensions of the largest car. Please enter them in
the window that opens when you click Define car.
6.20 Tools-Clearance
The defaults for the maximum width W are taken from NEM 301. You may
For straight sections you just have to measure the width of your cars to find enter other values, however.
out the required clearance. For curved sections, however, things get
difficult, as this drawing shows: Then you need the overall length L and the length L1 between the axles or
pins.

When the car has finished its trip over your layout, there are three lines on
each side of the track. It is not easy to build a smooth line with the largest
distance to the track centre from this, especially because for a computer a
line is just a set of single points. That's the reason for the
smoothening-settings.

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The larger the max. distance for line points after smoothening, the smoother 6.21.2 Draw benchwork (Polygon)
the line, but the more details get lost. This tool enables you to draw benchworks of any shape. Standard-shapes
(rectangular, triangular, U-, L- und surround) are created more easily using
When a point is found where the two neighbours have a larger distance to the Create benchwork command of the Special-menu.
the track centre, the point will be removed, if the distance is within Max dist
for smoothening. Click the corners of the polygon with the left mouse button, but the last
corner has to be clicked with the right mouse button. The line from last point
Again, smoothening means losing details, that's why there are no default to first point will be added automatically.
values that are perfect for any purpose and any scale. If you don't like the
resulting lines, just change the values and click Smoothen. Press the <Shift> key to create vertical or horizontal lines.

Delete removes existing clearance lines from the part of the layout you The position of the vertices can be changed at any time using the tool
clicked at.
Tag benchwork.
Start will run your virtual car over all track sections connected to the sections
you clicked at.
6.21.3 Tag benchwork
You choose the colours and if you want to get the lines displayed in your
layout on the "Display" tab. For single sections you can deactivate the This tool works like the arrow-tool, but only for benchworks. All
display of the lines on the "Track" tab. commands available for tagged elements will work as usual. Particularly you
may want to export the tagged benchwork(s) to a new benchwork-file (.rad).

To tag a number of benchworks, hold down the <Shift> key while clicking
6.21 Tools-Benchworks each object. For a special area, you can use rectangular selection:

6.21.1 Draw rectangular benchwork Move the cursor to one corner of the desired area, press (and hold down!)
Another way to create a rectangular benchwork is the Create the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the opposite corner. Release
benchwork-command of the Special-menu. the button.

Drag the mouse with the left button depressed to the desired size. Keep the After you have moved a benchwork, WinRail will adjust the workspace
<Shift> key depressed to create a square. accordingly.

You can change the size of the benchwork at any time using the tool To change the size of a benchwork, you may place the mouse on one of its
vertices and drag it. However, an easier and more accurate way to achieve
Tag benchwork.
this is the command Edit benchwork on the “Features” tab.
Use the tool Edit/create track position to add a tag for the position of
If you want to manipulate the benchwork and the elements it contains,
track sections and catenary masts. If you place elements on these tags, please use the tool Tag benchwork and contained elements.
they will be placed and aligned accordingly.

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6.21.4 Tag benchwork and contained elements After you have moved a benchwork, WinRail will adjust the workspace
Use this tool to tag and manipulate benchworks and the contained elements. accordingly.
Connected benchworks are treated as a single element (like connected track
sections) and tagged with just a single mouse click. If you want to manipulate the benchwork without the elements it contains,
please use the tool Tag benchwork.
Benchworks are connected if at least one element lies partially on one
benchwork and partially on the other one.

In other words, this tool works like the arrow-tool, but only for 6.21.5 Align benchwork
benchworks. All commands available for tagged elements will work as This tool assists you aligning your benchworks properly.
usual. Particularly you may want to export the tagged elements including
the benchwork(s) to a new file to create a separate module. First click the edge you want to align of the benchwork you want to move,
then click the edge of the other benchwork. If the length of the edges is
If you find that your benchwork is connected to others, but you want to tag different, please place the second click close to the corner where you want
only one of them, the command Separate layer (“Features” tab) may help the benchworks to be aligned.
you to loosen the connections to other layers.
If you want to align a benchwork and also move the elements it contains,
By default a benchwork contains all elements that are placed on, above and please use the tool Align benchwork and contained elements.
below it. If you have the intention to stack benchworks, you should assign
one or more layer(s) to it. Then the benchwork will contain only elements
that are placed in its range and in one of the assigned layers. 6.21.6 Align benchwork and contained elements
This tool assists you aligning your benchworks (and the elements they
To assign layers to a benchwork, tag it using the tool Tag benchwork,
contain) properly.
and use Assign layer to benchwork on the “Properties” tab.
First click the edge you want to align of the benchwork you want to move,
You must assign different layers to benchworks that do overlap! then click the edge of the other benchwork. If the length of the edges is
different, please place the second click close to the corner where you want
If you didn't assign layers to overlapping benchworks (not recommended!), the bemchworks to be aligned.
then a benchwork will contain all elements placed on or above, but below the
benchwork on top of it. Only the bottom-most benchwork will also contain Connected benchworks are treated as a single element (like connected track
elements placed below it. sections) and tagged with just a single mouse click.

We recommend that you create every one of the benchworks that later will Benchworks are connected if at least one element lies partially on one
overlap others in a separate file. As a last step you may then use the Add benchwork and partially on the other one.
layout command of the Edit-menu to merge the benchworks - not only
because WinRail can't create frames for overlapping benchworks. If you want to align a benchwork without moving the elements it contains,
please use the tool Align benchwork.
To tag a number of benchworks, hold down the <Shift> key while clicking
each object. For a special area, you can use rectangular selection:

Move the cursor to one corner of the desired area, press (and hold down!)
the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the opposite corner. Release
the button.

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6.21.7 Edit/Create track position Shape of lines can be changed later on by tagging with Tools-Arrow
Use this tool to add tags for the position of track sections and catenary and then dragging ends or corners to a new position.
masts to your benchwork. These tags are very helpful if you are planning a
module layout.

After you clicked with the mouse a dialog box will open that allows you to
correct the coordinates, as it is important for modules to be very exact. Also
you will have to enter the direction the track sections points to.
Other drawing-tools:
The coordinates you enter are considered to be relative to the upper left Arc
corner of the benchwork. Rectangle
Rectangle with round corners
Polygon
6.22 Tools-Drawing Tools Ellipse

6.22.1 Wire/Line For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized
Use this tool to create wires and lines. drawing application to create them and then use the paste commands of the
Clipboard group on the “Home” tab to add them to the layout.
The difference between wires and lines is that wires have soldering points at
their ends. If you set the diameter of soldering points to 0 (on the
“Properties” tab), lines are generated. 6.22.2 Arc
Adds an arc to your layout.
Unlike lines, wires are listed in your statistics, separated by colours. On
initial choice of a colour, you will be prompted to enter a name. Internally, When you click the desired location, a dialog pops up where you can enter
colours are represented by numbers only - it’s quite impossible to pre-define radius, angle, colour and so on. To change the shape later on, tag it and
names for 16.8 millions of colours... open the tab sheet Lines of the Element-Properties dialog.

This name is used to calculate the combined length required. It surely won’t Other drawing tools:
fit exactly, but it’s a good approximation to know how much of each colour Line
you should buy. By the way, if different colours are given the same name, Rectangle
statistics will treat them as identical.
Rectangle with round corners
Lines with a height applied are a great help to set the height of the Polygon
terrain. Ellipse

Drawing: Click the desired starting point and release the mouse button. At For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized
any point where the line should change direction, click once more. To finish drawing application to create them and then use the paste commands of the
a line, right-click. Clipboard group on the “Home” tab to add them to the layout.

To get vertical or horizontal lines or wires, keep the <Shift> key depressed
when drawing.

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6.22.3 Rectangle Other drawing-tools:
Drag the mouse with the left button depressed to the desired size. Keep the Line
<Shift>-key depressed to create a square. Arc
Rectangle
The properties are set under Element-Properties-Lines.
Polygon
In contrast to most other elements, you can't rotate these rectangles, Ellipse
because rotation is not supported by the Windows-GDI. If you need to rotate
the shape, please use the Polygon tool. For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized
drawing application to create them and then use the paste commands of the
If you use this rectangle to draw your benchwork you should assign a Clipboard group on the “Home” tab to add them to the layout.
separate layer to it and activate the option Edit active layer only under View-
Options to avoid that you tag and move it by mistake.
6.22.5 Polygon
Other drawing-tools: Drawing polygons works much like drawing lines: Click the corners of
Line the polygon with the left mouse button, but the last corner has to be clicked
Arc with the right mouse button. The line from last point to first point will be
Rectangle with round corners added automatically.
Polygon
Press the <Shift>-key to create vertical or horizontal lines.
Ellipse
The properties are set under Element-Properties-Lines.
For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized
drawing application to create them and then use the paste commands of the If you use this shape to draw your benchwork you should assign a separate
Clipboard group on the “Home” tab to add them to the layout. layer to it and activate the option Edit active layer only under View-Options
to avoid that you tag and move it by mistake.

6.22.4 Rectangle with rounded corners Other drawing-tools:

Works like the Tool draw rectangle, but the corners of the rectangles are Line
rounded. Arc
Rectangle
Keep the <Shift>-key depressed to create a square. Rectangle with round corners
Ellipse
In contrast to most other elements, you can't rotate these rectangles,
because rotation is not supported by the Windows-GDI.
For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized
In the 3D-view these rectangles are drawn without round corners. drawing application to create them and then use the paste commands of the
Clipboard group on the “Home” tab to add them to the layout.

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6.22.6 Ellipse/Circle
This tool draws an ellipse or a circle if you press <Shift>.
6.25 Tools-Catenary
The properties are set under Element-Properties-Lines.
6.25.1 Catenary - Dock to track
In contrast to most other elements, you can't rotate these ellipses, because This tool is useful when you want to place elements (not track sections!) in a
rotation is not supported by the Windows-GDI. certain distance to the track centre and aligned to the track. Catenary masts
are a good example but, although this tool has moved to the catenary-menu,
Other drawing-tools: it is not limited to catenary masts.
Line
Arc The default distance is the width of the track or the width of the slope, if a
roadbed width is defined. Under Special Docking-Settings you can change
Rectangle
this setting, so that for example the clearance lines are taken into
Rectangle with round corners
account.
Polygon
First choose an element from the library that is not a track section (WinRail
For more sophisticated drawings we recommend that you use a specialized comes with many libraries of catenary masts), then you can select this tool.
drawing application to create them and then use the paste commands of the Now just click the track section where you want the element to appear.
Clipboard group on the “Home” tab to add them to the layout.
Element-Flip track and Tools-Flip track will rotate the docked
element by 90°; keep the <Ctrl>-key depressed to move the docked element
to the opposite side of the track section.
6.23 Tools-Toggle fixation
When you use Element-Flip track WinRail will remember the last position
This is a quick way to toggle a fixation without having to open the and apply it to further elements you dock to track sections.
"Properties" tab.
To place several elements at equal distances along the track, for example
catenary masts, press the <Ctrl>-key while you click the track section with
the Dock to track-tool. A dialog box will open and ask you for the distance
6.24 Tools-Remove element from group between the elements. Then the elements will be placed along the track line
until its end or until the next turnout or crossing.
To remove only a single element from a group you could:
If you clicked an existing catenary mast, it will be used as starting point, and
- tag the group no second mast will be placed.

- use Discard group (on the "Features" tab) When you dock multiple catenary masts at once, the running wires are
tensed between them automatically.
- click the element while the <Shift>-key is pressed
For catenary masts you enter the distance between running wire and the
- and then use Group (on the "Features" tab) centre of the track. You even can enter two different values to get a zig-zag
wire (click Settings); additionally you can use two different masts, for
- or just click the element with this tool. example one with a long outrigger and the second with a short one.

- 99 - - 100 -
You can edit and move docked elements like any other element, but when 6.25.5 Catenary - Crossing
you move the track it belongs to, the docked element will follow. Some catenary systems provide special crossing segments.

In other words, clicking a docked element only tags this element, but clicking You can activate this tool to add such a crossing segment only under the
a track section tags the track section and all its docked elements. following conditions:

It is possible to dock elements that you already have in your layout. First - the currently loaded library contains at least one crossing segment
click the element, then click the track section.
- there is at least one crossing in the layout
There is another tool to loosen docked elements.
- the currently chosen element is a catenary mast.

Click the desired crossing the place the segment over the centre of the
6.25.2 Catenary - Loosen docked element crossing. Additionally four catenary masts will be docked to the crossing.
This tool loosens docked elements from the track section to which they
belong. If the length of the crossing segment is variable, the masts will be placed as
close as possible to the ends of the crossing. In any case the masts will be
Although this tool has moved to the catenary-menu, it can be used to docked to the crossing, even if the minimum length of the crossing segment
un-dock any kind of element, not only catenary masts. is longer than the length of the crossing.

6.25.3 Catenary - Add running wire

6.25.6 Catenary - Assign article nos.
Click the connecting points of two masts or span bridges to tense a wire
between them. WinRail tries to assign article numbers from the library automatically
whenever you add a wire or change its length by moving one of the related
WinRail tries automatically to find a matching wire segment in the currently masts.
loaded library.
However, there are a few reason you might want to initiate the assignment
manually:

- You may have moved a mast while a track library was loaded.
6.25.4 Catenary - Delete running wire
Because it didn't contain catenary elements, no matching wire
Just click a running wire to delete it. segment was found.

If you delete a catenary mast, all wires connected to it will be deleted as well - The is more than one matching element, and you want to decide
(otherwise they'd fall down on the track and cause accidents ). which one to be used

- You changed the catenary library

In these cases you can click the wire segments one by one to assign article
numbers to them.

- 101 - - 102 -
If more than one matching element is found, a menu will open to choose These are the commands offered in the context menu:
from.
6.26.1 Insert and/or edit point
Another way to assign article numbers is to tag them and then call Adds new points or edits existing ones. You will notice a change of the
Assign article nos. to running wire. mouse cursor as you hit a point. You can change the colour, the height, or
both; just check the appropriate boxes.

If you are editing an area, i.e. you opened a rectangle dragging the mouse,
6.25.7 Catenary - Edit connection of running wire at mast you have the choice only to edit the points included with the rectangle, or to
set the properties of the whole area covered by the rectangle.
This tool allows you to edit, create and delete connecting points at masts
and span bridges for running wires.
This dialog also allows you to delete points. However, the four points at the
outer corners of the terrain can't be deleted.

There are commands to shift colour and height.

6.26 Tools-Terrain

The best way to set the height of the terrain is to place lines or 6.26.2 Insert point with last recent setting
rectangles , apply a height to them and call Special-Adjust height of Adds a point with the settings made in the Edit point dialog most recently.
terrain . The distance between the points that will be created depends
on the setting you made in the 3D input box in the tool bar beneath the menu
6.26.3 Shift height or colour
bar. For additional details and colouring you will need the terrain tool.
Instead of setting all tagged points to the same height and colour, these
You should not try to add too many details with this tool, it is just designed to commands shift the values by an amount you have to specify, so that the
allow some fine-tuning. For ramps and roads use Special-Ramp/Pillar ; distance between the points will remain the same so that you can easily
move whatever you have created to another level.
for structures a light version of the Parts Compiler is included with WinRail
Standard (the full version is included with WinRail DeLuxe).
On a computer-screen, colours consist of three components: red, green and
blue.
As you activate this tool, you will probably notice that many details of your
layout will not be drawn to give you a better overview. Also, several
You can shift the overall brightness of the colours, which will change the
commands will not be available in terrain-mode.
value of each component by the same amount. However, it is also possible
to change the value of the three components independently.
WinRail maintains a list of points, each of them holding information about
height and colour. Height and colour between these points will be
interpolated.
6.26.4 Choose colour
WinRail offers a list of heights with corresponding colours that you may
You can add points or edit existing ones by double-clicking them or by
change.
choosing the appropriate commands from the context menu that opens
when you click the right mouse-button. To manipulate several points at once
In the area below the list you can see how the colours will fade between the
or an area, move the mouse while you keep the left button depressed and
heights. These colours will be used by the several functions that adjust the
then choose from the context menu. You can drag the selected points to
height of the terrain, especially when loading a height profile.
another location.

- 103 - - 104 -
6.26.5 Height lines Example:
Creates height lines in the vertical distance you have set. It is possible to ; Point at x=100, y=100, height = 50:
see the height lines permanently or only while the Tool Terrain is active. 100 100 50
; Line from x=200, y=100, height 50 to x=200, y=400, height = 100
This is an example: 200 100 50 200 400 100

6.26.7 Set colour according to height

This command will apply a colour to the tagged terrain-points .

WinRail maintains a list of height values with the corresponding colours. On

the bottom of the Window you can see how the colour will fade from one
value to the other. The height of the points does not have to match exactly
the values in the list; the colours will be calculated accordingly.

6.26.8 Delete point

Will delete point(s) from the terrain. The Edit point dialog offers this feature
as well.

However, the four points at the outer corners of the terrain can't be deleted.

6.26.6 Load height profile 6.26.9 Fill edges

Will load a text file containing coordinates and heights. These points will be Depending on the shape of the benchwork and the position of the "terrain
added or will replace existing points, respectively. points" it is possible that in the 3D-view the benchwork is not completely
filled with terrain.
The file may be created using NotePad or any other text processor. Please
make sure to save the file as plain text (.txt) with line breaks. This function tries to fix this by adding additional points at the edges of the
benchwork. WinRail did this automatically in previous versions, but for
Every line defines a single point or a line: complex shapes this may mess up the terrain. Also while you change the
<x> <y> <z> defines a point, shape of the benchwork many additional points would eventually be added,
<x1> <y1> <z1> <x2> <y2> <z2> defines a line. The X- and Y- most of them useless.
values are the coordinates as displayed by the rulers. The Z-value is
the height. Therefore we recommend that you call this function as the last step.

Lines starting with a semicolon are ignored. For complex shapes it might be necessary to call this function more than
once.
The values have to be in mm or in inches, depending on the setting in the
System dialogue (“View” tab).

For lines several points will be created. The distance depends on the value
set in the input box labelled 3D in the tool bar under the menu bar.

- 105 - - 106 -
7 Element Libraries 3D SBB Altbau loks (Swiss locos BUB S-gauge
in 3D) Builders in Scale H0 (US
Ade H0 structures)
The full version of WinRail is supplied at present with over 350 libraries of Aquaplay canal system Busch Feldbahn H0f narrow gauge
commercial model products. Well-known manufacturers are represented in Aristo-Craft G brass railway
all scales from Z to I. Since the list of the available libraries is constantly Aristo-Craft G steel Busch Structures Gauge 0
Aristo-Craft I Busch Structures H0
growing, inquire please, if necessary, if you have doubts whether your Arnold N Busch Structures N
system is already supported. Artitec H0 Structures Busch Structures TT
Artitec N Structures Busch Structures Z
We cannot guarantee the correctness of the libraries - the specifications are Artitec Z Structures California Model Co. H0 (US
Atlas Code 83 H0 structures)
usually based on catalogue data supplied by the product manufacturers, and Atlas Code 100 H0 Campbell H0 (US structures)
this is not always complete or correct. If a part does not fit, there are always Atlas H0 True-Track Carrera 20xxx
two possibilities: The library is not correct, or the manufacturer bungled Atlas N Carrera 124
somewhat. If in doubt, please draw the outlines of the component on graph Atlas N Code 55 Track Carrera Exclusiv
Atlas N Code 65 True-Track Carrera Profi
paper and send it to us, so that we can check the library and correct it if Atlas N Code 80 Track Central Valley Model Works H0
necessary. Atlas N Structures (US structures)
Atlas structures H0 Cibolo Crossing H0 (US
The Shareware (Demonstration) version is delivered with only a demo library Atlas 0 21st Century Track structures)
Atlas 0 21st Century 2-rail City Classics H0 (US structures)
(DEMO.BLB), and this contains a selection of H0/00 scale products. These Track Classic Miniatures H0 (US
are sufficient to demonstrate many of the capabilities of WinRail. Atlas 0 3-rail Realistic Roadbed structures)
Track CMR Buildings N
Where prices are contained in the libraries, these should be used with Atlas 0 Solid Steel 21st Century Cornerstone H0 (US structures)
Track Cornerstone N (US structures)
caution. There are no longer fixed prices in most countries. If required, you Atlas 0 Structures Design Preservation Models 0 (US
can update the prices according to those offered by your favourite supplier. Atlas 0 Track Accessories structures)
Atlas Industrial Rail 0-27 Design Preservation Models H0
If you wish to build-in to WinRail other models and accessories, or models Roadbed Track (US structures)
Auhagen Feldbahn H0f Design Preservation Models N (US
you have designed yourself, then you will need the Parts Compiler. A light Auhagen H0 and TT structures)
version of the Parts Compiler for structures only is included with WinRail Auhagen H0 Dietz G
Standard. The full Parts Compiler is included with WinRail DeLuxe. WinRail Auhagen N Digimoba switching table
DeLuxe also includes all the source for the standard libraries supplied with Auhagen TT Dyna-Model Products Co. H0 (US
Bachmann 00 Track structures)
the product. Contact your WinRail supplier for details of how to upgrade Bachmann H0 (Structures) Egger-Bahn H0e
from WinRail Standard to WinRail DeLuxe. Bachmann EZ Track H0 Electronic Symbols
Bemo H0 ESU ECoS components
Here’s a list of available libraries (Date: January 2018): Bemo H0e ETS Gauge 0
Bemo H0m ETS Tram Gauge 0
Bemo H0m Code 70 Faller AMS
3D Arnold N 3D Schreiber cardboard model Berliner TT Modellgleis Faller Car System H0
3D Backgrounds H0 railway ferry H0 Berliner TT-Bahnen Faller Car System H0 50mm
3D Car and Bus models N 3D Trix H0 Bloxxs Stahlbrücken I and IIm Faller Car System H0 Streets
3D Faller H0 Bridges and Arcades 3D Vollmer N (Steel bridges) 80mm
3D Faller N 3D H0 Signal Lamp Brawa H0 Faller Car System N 30mm
3D Heljan H0 3D H0 Tunnel Portals Brawa N Faller Car System N 53mm
3D Kibri N 3D N Signal Lamp Brio Wooden Railway system Faller Car System N Streets 40mm
3D LGB Signals 3D N Tunnel Portals and Bumpers British Finescale Finetrax N Faller H0 (new Article Numbers)
3D Pola N 3D Pola G Turntable and gauge Code 40 Faller H0 (old Article Numbers
3D Rolling Stock H0 Roundhouse British Outline Buildings and obsolete models)
3D Rolling Stock N G-scale and Gauge 1 Faller History H0
Structures Faller Military H0

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Faller N (new Article Numbers) Kibri Cars H0 Metcalfe Models & Toys 00/H0 Pilz Elite H0
Faller N (old Article Numbers Kibri N card models Pilz H0 Standard
and obsolete models) Kibri TT Metcalfe Models & Toys N card Pilz H0
Faller PlayStreet H0 Kibri Z models Pilz TT
Faller Playtrain 0 Kiss Special Line Catenary I Metcalfe Models & Toys 0 Gauge Playmobil
Faller TT (new Article Numbers) Kleinbahn H0 card models Pola G (new Article Numbers)
Faller TT (old Article Numbers) Krueger TT Micro Engineering G Pola G (old Article Numbers and
Faller Z (new Article Numbers) Kuehn TT Micro Engineering H0 (US obsolete models)
Faller Z (old Article Numbers Lebu IIm structures) Pola H0 (new Article Numbers)
and obsolete models) Lego Micro Trains Z Pola H0 (old Article Numbers and
Fides H0 Lego 9-Volt Minitec switching table obsolete models)
Fides N Lehnhardt Blechbahn Gauge 0 Minitrix N Pola N (new Article Numbers)
Fides Z, 0 and G tramway MKD H0 (French structures) Pola N (old Article Numbers and
Fleischmann Car Racing Lenz Gauge 0 Model Power H0 (US structures) obsolete models)
Fleischmann Model track H0 LGB Model Yard H0 card kits Rachvoll H0 Perfect
Fleischmann N without roadbed LGB nickel-plated Modellbau-Werkstatt Bertram Heyn Railino Nf
Fleischmann Piccolo Life Like H0 (US structures) Field and Forest Rail Railway Design Associates H0 (US
Fleischmann Profi track H0 Life Like N (US structures) Track System 624 structures)
Frateschi H0 Lima Code 120 H0 Modellschienenmanufaktur I Railway Design Associates N (US
Funaro & Camerlengo H0 (US Lima Standard H0 MSM I structures)
structures) Lionel 0 MTH 0 RealTrax Ratio H0
GarGraves Phantom 0 Lionel 0 (6-xxxx) MTH 0 ScaleTrax Ratio N
Gloor Craft Models H0 (US Lionel 0 FasTrack Ninco Racecar Regner IIe
structures) Lionel 0 Scale structures Noch Catenary Repa 0
Guts, Gravel & Glory H0 (US Lionel SuperStreets Roadway Noch Structures H0 Revalda IIm
structures) Llagas Creek Gauge 1 Noch Structures N Rivarossi H0
Halwa Z Luna Tram Concrete H0 Noch Structures TT Rivarossi N
Hartel Tramway H0 Luna Tram Concrete H0m O-Scale Models Gauge 0 Roco 0
HEGOB I Luna Tram Pavement H0 Peco 0 bh Roco geoLINE H0
Heki switching table Luna Tram Pavement H0m Peco 0 fb Roco Hobbyline 2.5mm brown H0
Heljan H0 Märklin 3600-series 3-rail H0 Peco 0 Roco H0 German silver
HMB 0 Märklin 3600-series 3-rail H0 Peco 0e Roco H0e
HMB G Märklin Alpha H0 Peco 83 Line H0 Roco N
HMB I Märklin C track H0 Peco G Roco switching table
HObbex Catenary H0 Märklin Catenary H0 Peco H0-00 (Setrack, Streamline Rocoline with roadbed H0
HObbex Catenary Gauge I Märklin Catenary H0 new design Code 75 and Code 100) Rocoline without roadbed H0
HObbex Catenary IIm Märklin Catenary I Peco H0e Rokal H0 German silver
HObbex Catenary N Märklin Catenary Z Peco H0m Rokal TT Roundhouse H0 (US
HObbex Catenary TT Märklin 0 (from the 1930s) Peco H0 structures structures)
Hornby Dublo 2-rail 00 Märklin I Peco I Streamline Gauge I Rokuhan Z
Hornby Dublo 3-rail 00 Märklin K track H0 Peco Im Ross Custom Switches 0
Hornby H0/00 Märklin M track H0 Peco N Fine Standard Code 55 Scalextrix car racing
Hornby International H0 Track Märklin Modellgleis H0 Peco N LineSide structures Scalextrix Sport
Hornby structures H0 Märklin Signals, Components H0 Peco N Streamline Universal Code Scheba IIm
Howard H0 Märklin Sprint car racing 80 Schreiber H0
Huebner I Märklin Structures H0 Peco N SetTrack Schreiber N
Jatt TT Märklin Tin-Plate Structures H0 Peco N structures Schreiber TT
JATT-Expert TT Märklin Z Peco SM-32 Streamline Narrow Schreiber Z
Jouef H0 structures Magnuson Models H0 (US Gauge Schuhmacher H0
Jouef H0 structures) Piko G SES switching table
Kato Basic N Marcway 0-gauge Pointwork Piko G Track Shinohara H0 Code 70
Kato Unitrack H0 Marcway 00-EM Pointwork Piko H0 55 Shinohara H0 Code 100
Kato Unitrack N Masten Heinz G Piko H0 Shinohara N
Kestrel N Mehano H0 Piko Hobby H0 Structures Smaltown H0 (US structures)
Kibri H0 Piko A-track H0 Sommerfeldt Catenary 0m

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Sommerfeldt Catenary H0 Trix Express H0 Large zoom values place high stresses on some video and printer drivers. If
Sommerfeldt Catenary N Trix Structures H0
Sommerfeldt Catenary TT Trix Structures N
the display functions well on a scale 1:10, but not with other resolutions, then
Spörle H0 Trix switching table it is possible that you have a problem with your video or printer driver.
SuperQuick 00-H0 card structures TTfiligran TT Sometimes it helps to select a different screen resolution. Perhaps also new
TDV G Viessmann Catenary H0 drivers are available for your hardware, which may have fewer errors. Ask
Technomodell H0e Viessmann Catenary N
Tekuna Gauge 0 Viessmann Catenary TT
your PC dealer or the manufacturer of your hardware.
Thiel G Viessmann GBS Switching Table
Tillig H0 Standard Viessmann Structures H0 If there are problems with printing, almost always it is the printer driver that is
Tillig H0-Elite Code 83 Vollmer Catenary H0 the culprit - the printout should be able to reproduce output which functions
Tillig H0-Elite Code 83 with Vollmer Catenary N
roadbed (dark) Vollmer G
on the display. Try in such a case with another printer driver or with another
Tillig H0-Elite Code 83 with Vollmer H0 level of print resolution.
roadbed (light) Vollmer N
Tillig Model Track H0 Vollmer TT In order to be able to help you with a program problem, we need if possible
Tillig H0e Vollmer Z
Tillig H0m Walker Models H0 (Roadway detailed information, above all: Which Function(s) you called, exactly what
Tillig TT System) occurred, and what, in your opinion, should have occurred.
Tillig TT integrated roadbed Walthers N (US structures
Tillig TT with roadbed (dark) Walthers Shinohara Code 83 H0 We are always grateful for suggestions for the further development of the
Tillig TT with roadbed (light) Weinert Mein Gleis H0)
Tomix N Weller H0 program! We ask, however, for understanding for the fact that we cannot
Tomy AFX H0 car racing Wenz Modellbau 0 answer all letters. We do read everything, and we always use all information
Townstreet H0 Wenz Modellbau 0e and suggestions when we are considering future developments of our
Train Line 45 Wenz Modellbau 0m products.
Train Line 45 Nickel Wenz Modellbau 0n3
Tram-Line by Wenz Modellbau 0n30
Modellbahntechnik Hof Whiteground H0 (US structures)
Tri-ang 00-H0 Wiad H0 Span Software Limited
Tri-ang TT Zank IIm Little Moss, Peacock Lane
Trix C track H0
High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6PL, England
Phone +44-1565-832999
Fax +44-1565-830653
Email [email protected] www.winrail.com
8 Help with problems

If you cannot solve a problem with WinRail, and have exhausted the advice
given in this document and the online Help, you may contact your WinRail
supplier for assistance. We will always try to help.

If some part of WinRail does not function, first terminate all of Windows, start
the computer again and run no other applications except WinRail. If the
error no longer occurs, then there is possibly a problem with another
application. Otherwise there are two possibilities: There is a problem with
your Windows installation, or with the interaction of Windows with your
hardware - in this case we can unfortunately help very little. Or there is an
error within WinRail. In any program there is always one more error to find -
this, of course, also applies to Windows itself.

Copyright © 2014 Span Software Limited

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