====== ZRound Track Designer ======

===== Table of contents =====

  - [[#Introduction]]
  - [[#Feautres]]
  - [[#The main screen]]
  - [[#Available Parts]]
  - [[#Drawing]]
  - [[#Learn more]]

==== Introduction ====

**Track Designer** is a drawing tool thought to design Mini-Z and D-Nano track layouts. The layouts are build with standard 50cm RCP-Track tiles and different [[#Available Parts|standard kits]] are included.

Software is included into ZRound Suite but you can copy the binary (TrackDesigner.exe) and use it standalone (it doesn't needs installation). Also, it is available on www.zround.com downloads page.

==== Features ====

  * Define track layout in "tiles" or "meters"
  * Draw any size layout
  * Uses standard RCP Tiles and kits
  * Measuremet of track length
  * Exports "Simulation" layouts to use with ZRound Raceplay™ view
  * Export to file & clipboard as bitmap
  * Copy to "printer friendly" bitmap
  * Undo
  * Copy/paste blocks
  * Insert/remove rows/columns
  * Rotate/Mirror
  * Stock control (amount of different tiles used)
==== The main screen ====

Once you open the application the main screen is shown. It is a Windows MDI (multi-document interface) application, it means you can edit as many layout as you want into the aplication.

=== Main Menu ===
The main manu has several options with shortcuts on the tool bar bellow. 

{{:manuals:trackdesigner:commands.png|}}

Under the tool bar you can see the layout dimmensions, measurement units, cursor position and track length.

Next we will explain in detail all menu/options

=== File Menu ===
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:menufile.png|}}
^Command^Description|
|**New**|Create a new file|
|**Load**|Load a layout from file|
|**Save as...**|Save current layout with a different filename|
|**Save**|Save to file|
|**Save all**|Save all opened layouts|
|**Print**|Print current layout|
|**Background**|Use a bitmap as background((It can be used for non RCP-Track on an empty layout. You can draw the track path to measure the track length and to use the ZRound Track Simulator feature)) image for current layout|
|**Save as jpeg**|Save current layout as bitmap file (.jpeg format)|
|**Export to ZRound Track Simulator...**|Export current layout to a .zts file (ZRound Track Simulator). This file can be loaded into ZRound [[:manuals:ZRound:RacePlay|RacePlay view]]|
|**Close**|Close current layout|
|**Close all**|Close all opened layouts|
|**Exit**|Quit|

=== Edit Menu ===
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:menuedit.png|}}
^Command^Description|
|**Undo**|Undo last change, you can use undo several times to go backwards|
|**Copy Image**|Copy current layout to the clipboard as bitmap |
|**Copy Printable Image**|Copy current layout to the clipboard in a printer friendly color scheme|
|**Clear Marks**|Clear selection marks from tiles (unselect all)|
|**Flip Vertical**|Flip the layout vertically (top<->bottom)|
|**Flip Horizontal**|Flip the layout horizontally (left<->right)|
|**Rotate 90º**|Rotate the layout 90º|
|**Stock**|Shows the stock submenu (see bellow)|

{{:manuals:trackdesigner:stock.png|}}
^Option^Description|
|Add **Wide-L**| Add Wide-L kit tiles to the stock|
|Add **Diagonal**| Add Diagonal kit tiles to the stock|
|Add **Large Curve**|Add Large Curve kit tiles to the stock|
|Add **Wide Oval**|Add Wide Oval kit tiles to the stock|
|Add **Large Radius Oval**|Add Large Radius Oval kit tiles to the stock|
|**Clear**|Clear stock (set to zero tiles)|

=== View Menu ===
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:menuview.png|}}
^Command^Description|
|**Tile**|Standard Windows Tile presentation|
|**Cascade**|Standard Windows Cascade presentation|
|**Organize**|(unused)|
|**Background**|Show/Hide Background bitmap (see File Menu)|
|**ShowPath**|Show/Hide the path line drawing|
|**View Toolbox**|Show the ToolBox|
|**Display Grid**|Display grid when layout is saved/copied to clipboard|


==== ToolBox ====
You have a toolbox as floating window you can place where you want. The tool selected will be used into the layout when drawing

These are the available tools:

{{:manuals:trackdesigner:toolbox.png|}}
^Command^Description|
|**Arrow**|Select tiles|
|**Dropper**|Use the selected tile for drawing|
|**Ruler**|Draw the path to measure the track length and to give a way to the vehicles in the ZRound Track Simulator|
|**Pencil**|Draw using the current drawing tile|
|**Eraser**|Erase the selected tile|

The drawing tile is shown under the tools icon. If you click on the image, the tile will rotate 90º. 

=== Drawing the Track Path ===
Track Path line is drawn for two purposes:
  * To measure the track length. It is computed based on the route you draw. Different routes will give you differents track lengths
  * To show the path the vehicles will follow in an ideal route. It is used if you export the layout to ZRound Track Simulator. You can see a simulation by using the //play icon// (black triangle) at right in the main tool bar.

The line begin when you click the left mouse button and ends when you release it. :!:If you want to continue drawing you must use the shift key, otherwise the draw will start from the last click point.

The track path drawn in yellow by default. You can change its color by clicking on the left rectangle near the "Track Path" label.

:?: **Example**: Track path (yellow line) drawn on a Wide-L RCP Track with an estimate length of 8.32m for the route
{{ :manuals:trackdesigner:widelpath.png |}}

==== Available Parts ====
All available parts used to draw the layout are placed at left into the main window. There are different pages to make easy the location of standar and kit tiles.

All Kit pages have these options:
  * **Group Tiles**: When checked, the entire kit will be used to draw instead single tiles. The kit will be deployed in the cursor position.
  * **Mark**: Show a green point in the middle of the drawn tiles belonging the kit.
  * **Reset**: (unused)

Close to the tiles there are an edit box and a label. They are used to control the stock and usage of tiles. You can enter the number of each tile type you have or use the Edit/Stock menus to add all tiles belonging the different kits. When you use a tile it will be counted and shown in the label at righ of the tile type. When there is no stock it will be shown in red.

  * Standard tiles
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:partsspare.png|}}

=== Kits  ===

Kits are collection of tiles sold in standard packages with tile design different from standard spare parts. 
  * Diagonals
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:partsdiagonal.png|}}

  * Large Curve
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:partslargecurve.png|}}

  * Large Curve Wide Oval
{{:manuals:trackdesigner:partslargeoval.png|}}

==== Drawing ====
Designing is easy, it is done like you where drawing with any painting application. 

The selected tile for drawing from the available tiles/kits is used to draw when you click on the layout (and the pencil tool is selected). With every click the tile under cursor will be rotated 90º. When drawing straight tiles, the application will use standard curves to accomodate turns if you use a continue drawing line (without releasing the mouse button)

There are some //tricks// you can use to draw even easier:

  * Erase tile under cursor: **Ctrl-Click** (cursor will change to blank tile)
  * Use the tile under cursor as new pen: **Alt-Click** (cursor will change to "hand tool")

:!: Remember to use the context menu (left mouse button)

{{:manuals:trackdesigner:popup.png|}}
  
==== Learn More ====

  * Video: [[http://www.zround.com/request.php?31|Drawing with ZRound Track Designer]]