Into the Hills
The majority of this text comes from the Help File embedded in the XTrackCAD program. My thanks to whomever contributed to it.)The Elevation Command
The Elevation command changes the elevation of track endpoints.After opening this dialog, either by clicking the Elevation Icon in the Toolbar
or selecting the menu item from the Right-Click Menu,
you can click on the respective endpoint to set its elevation properties.
Elevation types
An endpoint can have one of several elevation types:None - no elevation defined
Note: The endpoint on which you work is indicated with a big red dot.
Defined - a defined elevation at a specified height.
Click on the dot-point next to the item 'Define', you will see the present Elevation show up next to that end-point. Enter into the vale box next to the word Define just what the value is that you wish to set.
Note: If your preference is set to Metric present versions of XTrackCAD will use Centimetres for these values even though you are working in Millimetres. If you are set to English then the values will be displayed correctly. Throughout this Tutorial I have worked in Metric.
Hidden - a defined elevation but not displayed on the layout shows as
Computed - height is based on height of closest neighbors.
Grade - grade is based on height of closest neighbors, shown as a percentage.
In addition, Grade labels have an arrow indicating the upwards direction.
Ignored - endpoint is not considered in computations.
Not sure why you would use this option.
Station - assigns a name to the endpoint.
When you select the Station option a text box opens up for you to type in the name of that location, it might be a Station name, it might be a generic title for a curve or a gully. It might be used to designate a particular piece of track or structure nearby.
Note: Only one of these attributes can be assigned to an endpoint. For example, an endpoint can not be defined as a Grade and a Station at the same time.
More information
When an endpoint is selected on the layout by Left-Click, it is highlighted by a large red dot and its elevation type and values are displayed in the dialog.Additionally, Defined Elevation endpoints are indicated on the layout by gold colored dots. Ignored Elevation endpoints are indicated by blue colored dots.
Shift+Left-Click splits the track at the specified point and adds an elevation point. This action ONLY works when in the Elevation Mode.
The Grade at the specified endpoint is displayed next to the Grade radio button. For Defined Elevation endpoints, the grade on each side of the endpoint is displayed.
Defined Elevation endpoints are used to specify fixed heights of track endpoints. Typically, this would be where a grade changes or where clearances must be maintained. Computed Elevations and Grade markers can be placed between Defined Elevation endpoints. These values are not entered directly but are computed dynamically based on Defined Elevations of connected tracks. This allows labelling of elevations at intermediate endpoints without having the enter specific values. Computed markers can also placed between a Defined Elevation point and the end of a track.
All Elevation labels (including Grade and Station) are drawn on the layout in outlined boxes.
These may be moved by the Move Description command (see below for the exception) . Select the
Move Description Icon from the Toolbar or select the command from the Right-Click menu.
Once you have selected Move Descriptions, then hover the cursor over the values or grade boxes you wish to move, Click and Drag them to where you want them to show. generally this is to clear the Elevation values away from mid-track which is where they are placed by default.
For clarity all values displayed in this Tutorial have been moved before taking a screenshot of the item.
Examples:
In this Example we have a Branch Line that will rise around a mountain to form a timber siding.
After applying the Elevations and Labels our Branch Line diagram shows the End-point Elevation information. This image shows the diagram after using the Move Descriptions command to shift all the values and labels away from their default mid-track position.
Another option is to choose to display the Track Elevations. From the toolbar menu select Display then at the boxes headed Label Enable click on the box alongside End Pt Elevations to turn that option off and click on the box for Track Elevations to show that option.
Note: Track Elevation values are not able to be moved using the Move Descriptions command.
In case you were wondering the Station labels are also used to provide information for the Profilecommand. The Profile Command will be described in a future tutorial.
Next Page
Previous Page
Tutorial Index
CategoryUser
There are no comments on this page. [Add comment]