The XTrackCAD Wiki: Wish List for further development

Wish List for further development

This is the place to tell the team what you as a user would like to see added to XTrackCAD.

Features marked with (*) have been added to XTrackCAD and will be available in the next release. If interested you can already get them by compiling from CVS.

importing a scalable bitmap (GIF or JPEG) as a background.

importing from other programs. (3rdPlanit, DXF, SVG, ... )

exporting to other formats. (SVG, GIF, JPEG, ... ) Workaround Export to bitmap formats is possible via "Print to Bitmap". This generates BMP files on Windows and XBM on Linux. From there the usual tools like Paint Shop, GIMP, Image Magick, Irfan View can be used tp create GIFs, JPEG etc.

Doubling [2x] the size of the Text Box may draw attention to the program's requests for input. I know this is overlooked by novice users.

Likewise most Windows apps allow a user to reorganize their menu buttons by right-clicking on the title bar. Usually with radio buttons where if a command is seldom used it can be eliminated from the list. This would help me considerably in the right-click context menu where every command is listed & requires side-slipping to find some of the most common. I want desperately to change "Move" & "More"! So many wasted wrong choices. Frankly any command used only in the initial file setup should be removed.

In operations, I would like the enter-key to simply repeat whatever command I just performed and to use the escape key to end that chain. This is common usage in AutoCAD and my user preference and not the please, please of the previous items.
I want to simply click & highlight a track and drag it where I need it instead of issuing a command to move. Workaround This can be done by holding down the Shift key while dragging the piece.
This is likewise no big deal but is how I work daily. If it requires a typed key, why do we not use the function keys instead of the multi-alt-control-shift dexterity now used? I was never able to play the piano.

The "Connect" command is useless for any practical trackwork. "Join" does a better job. In fact I cannot get the menu button for "Connect Two Tracks" to function at all. Of course the "Join" command can likewise be frustrating since it oscillates between "Track radius is smaller than minimum" & "Beyond end of track" with just a whisper of mouse movement.

Along with tunnel track, we need a bridge track. Just pairs of parallel lines would do. ]II[

Mick C's Wishes

Two things that would make a much better programs, well three things now that I think about it:

Fit drawing to window
A pan that can slowly pan, so u can get what u want into the window
Some way that can connect tracks that are poorly aligned, you can do it with flexi track, but I have not been able to do it with an old version I am using.

Having said that I will update my version.

Berny A's Wishes

Well, not really a feature but a nice-to-have, I would wish a Wiki Category with (downloadable) example layouts and short explanations. There are some resources like this on the WWW, but since this is a layout program, the feature would be nice.
Actually I would also add a page with recommendations for loading gauge, track center distance and so on, just for easy reference (kind of like a compilation of NMRA standards).

When I uncheck a parameter file, it gets removed from the list, just leave it unchecked and keep it in the list (for easy later addition).

Having said so much, XTrkCAD is a great software!

James' Wishes

Ability to Lock Down an object so it is not moved by user or Connect Tracks command

Move Selected; Nudge (with arrow keys)

Move Selected; Constrain (move in X or Y only)

Move Selected; Center between...

Rotate Selected; Align With (object or table edge or drawn line)

Parameter Files dialog; need Up/Down buttons to reorder list

Make (appropriate) toolbar button "stick" when double clicked

Option to cause pointer to become large crosshair in drawing area (selectable angle would be great)

Switch pointer to "pan" mode while holding a certain key

A command to reveal all unconnected endpoints would be handy

The ability to add multiple lines of text in one block would be nice

Finally, I understand this is a multiplatform program, but the ability to use Windows cut and paste into the notes fields is sorely missed.

Puckdropper's Wishes

Scroll Bars on the main layout display.
The most popular parameter files enabled by default. (Perhaps atl100am.xtp and protoam.xtp for HO layouts)
Flip ends of last connected track.
Tools such as move and rotate should stay active. Workaround: Use the Sticky choices in the Preferences pull down to achieve this