Black Sheep Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I'm at a stage in building my layout where I've got to rip up most of the track and am pondering what I might be able to fit in the same space, I'd also like to plan some future layouts while I've got the ideas in my head. I'm also desperately after things to do while my wife watches Britain's got talent!!!! I only have a mac available to me and my bank says I have no money so I'm looking for the best free software (would happily use a demo version) to have a play with. I intend to plan in N gauge if that makes any difference Sorry if this has been asked before, Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gingerbread Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 XTrackCAD is a possibility - it's available for the mac, but installation appears to be non-trivial (install X11 server first). Do you have the ability to run Windows programs on your mac (using parallels, bootcamp, wine, crossover, etc) ? David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted March 24, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2012 I only have a mac available to me and my bank says I have no money so I'm looking for the best free software (would happily use a demo version) to have a play with. Hi, For a Mac -- Linux is free, Wine is free, Templot is free, XTrackCad is free, and AnyRail is free for up to 50 track pieces. See: http://85a.co.uk/for...=946&forum_id=1 If you need an easy Mac installer for Linux/Wine, Crossover has a free trial period. Use AnyRail or XTrackCad if you are planning to use ready-made track such as Peco. Use Templot if you are planning to build your own track. regards, Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 I'm not set up to run windows, I am running the most up-to-date OSX so x11 might not be an issue, i'll give it a go, thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalhip Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I'm not set up to run windows, I am running the most up-to-date OSX so x11 might not be an issue, i'll give it a go, thanks. I run a Mac with OS Lion,I used boot camp to install windows 7 on it. I use Anyrail and some other windows specific programs on it.I don't connect to the internet from the Windows side so I've not had to install all the anti this,anti that programs and I don't get the irritating constant windows updates. I believe if you've got an OS earlier than Lion you can install XP in bootcamp. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 I'd rather not be switching operating systems as I wish to access my files and folders and browse the web while using track planning. I have X11 installed but can't get XtrackCad to open Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gingerbread Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 There's a couple of similar reports in a thread on the XTrackCAD Yahoo Group here, though I'm not sure how helpful that thread will be. Perhaps worth joining that group and asking there. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 got an older version of XtrakCad to fire up but it gets as far as running the terminal and stalls the newer versions just don't want to know, they make no effort to install, dragging them into the applications folder copies them across but thats about all it does. The site Gingerbread pointed me to doesn't seem to have much on it in the way of solutions and I'm unable to post as yahoo's site doesn't seem to allow me to finish the sign up process for my account. where's that pencil and paper gone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 right, downloading winebottler, going to try anyrail, might try the windows version of XtrakCad on it at a later date. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 I have Anyrail working now so will have a play with that, just got to get used to the software now Now have XtrakCad running under wine (windows version of xtrakcad) so able to use that. does anyone know if it's possible to drop a photo in as a background to work from? thinking it'll be easier working from the sketch than guess work Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philden Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I use railmodeller for OS X. Not free, but shareware, so you can test it out before buying. Regards, Phil. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Thanks for that Phil, seems to work nicely so will continue having a play (it doesn't seem to show any curves however in the peco N track, could be i'm working in streamline) anyone got any idea how to insert an image as a background in any of the above programs? trying to work from a signalling diagram thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted March 26, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 26, 2012 anyone got any idea how to insert an image as a background in any of the above programs? In AnyRail: 1. click Insert. 2. set the Width and Height dimensions larger than you want the image to be. 3. click Add Rectangle and then click on the drawing to create one at that size. 4. click an edge or a corner of the rectangle to select it. 5. click Tools > Lines and surfaces > Load image... 6. navigate to your image file. 7. Change the Width dimension to get the image to the correct size. It could be tricky to get it just right. In Templot there are full background image import and scaling functions, but Templot doesn't work with Peco track, sorry. regards, Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 I've run out of pieces on my current plan so thought I'd pay for Anyrail, the software key came quickly but doesn't work on the older version I'm running so downloaded the new one. installed it through wine / winebottler as before and it all seems to be as it should be, however it won't run, it starts loading and then crashes. Has anyone got Anyrail 5 running on OSX via wine? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 Received an e-mail this morning from Anyrail (well, the company behind it) with both a software key for the older version of Anyrail and, while they don't officially support running it using wine they do try to try to ensure it is compatible. They're currently looking into the issue to try and help me get version 5 running. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Smith Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 On my iMac, I have installed Wine/Winebottler, and subsequently Templot within it. A quick test tonight seems to show that Templot is functioning pretty well (I haven't tried everything, or printing yet), so up to now I am pretty happy as I need to re-draw the layout plan I am hoping to build since switching to a Mac from a Windows PC a few weeks ago. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
backofanenvelope Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Been using Templot on my Macs for donkeys and never had a problem with Virtualbox. Thought about messing around with Linux 'n' WINE but had a proper MS install in a VM. On Mavs now with Winblows 7 and all fine and dandy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brough Ranger Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I use railmodeller for OS X. Not free, but shareware, so you can test it out before buying. Regards, Phil. Phil How do you get on with Railmodeller? Do the libraries cover Peco Streamline Code 75 - I can't see which is which. Have you or has anyone else used it for EM? Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katier Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Railmodeller has a huge range of RTR trackwork including code 75, I use it on my Mac while using Templot on my PC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted February 16, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 16, 2014 Not sure that you could use it for EM as it only covers RTR track. I find it easy to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohnb Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I use RailModeller 4.1.8 with Mavericks OS which I use on a MacBook Air. Although I don't use Streamline, I have just had a look, and it does have the track rail set for Peco N Streamline. I like the program because if you have a query, you can talk to the chap who wrote the program. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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