Hi all,
I just upgraded from Atlas RTS 8.0 to 10.0, and I was surprised to see on the Atlas website that the 8.0 version of the software was available, due to ‘popular demand’. I’m just wondering, why would an obsolete release of this software be popular enough to be downloaded instead of the latest version?
Cheers,
tbdanny
Because it works better then the newest release?
Yep. 10.0 released a few extra features, and some bugs in thingsthat caused it to lock up, even in older tools that were working fine in older versions, such as trak laying. They also changed the way flex track is done I beleive. I don’t recall all the new features, becfause I never used them. It’s much the same way as MS 2003 was favored over 2007for a while.
Dunno. The first 9 versions seemed primitive to me, so I doubt that the 10th release is any better.
Rich
It’d be nice if users were able to use track libraries from other manufacturers. Atlas’ widest radius is 24", has no real usable curved turnout in code 83, etc.
I upgraded from 8 to 10 and wish I hadn’t. If 8 is still available for download I may change back.
Dave,
Yes 8 is there. I just saw it this morning.
I have tried the 10th version. It lockes up when the layout is large. It locks up bad. Usually I have to reboot the computer.
But have you tried to use it? I got so many lock ups I could not even get a simple layout drawn. Tried 4 or 5 times before I gave up and deleted it.
Why would an old version have to be “obsolete”. Often new versions are not as good as the old (look at Windows Vista vs Windows XP). I’ve acutally found RTS version 5 to be not too much different other than how the flextrack is done. In many ways it is better than version 8. There is still an error in the library for the 18" 1/3 section radius curve that I don’t under why they haven’t fixed.
I use flex track templates. Take two switches and from a crossover ( two parrallel tracks). Then bring one end flush, so that both tracks on one end are even. Then copy and paste this template, so you now have two sets of switches. If you need to go up a size, then place the smallest provided curve as the inside rail at one flush end, and connect it to the other inside rail of the other flush end, and use flextrack as the outside rail. Shorten and optimize the radius on the flex track, and it should be 2" up from the inside track. IE, if you used a 24" radius, then you’ll make a 26". Disregard what the Atlas flextrak panel says the radius is, it’s not always right. Never has been.