XTrkCad Help

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I need some help with XTrkCad. I used the program to design my switch layout without any problems until I tried to print it full scale. No matter how I print it the track is set back from the sides of the paper about a 1/4". On top the track seems to print all the way to the papers edge. Am I supposed to trim back the sides to the track or butt the edges of the paper together and leave the gap in the track between pages? Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Dave

2

Did you check the “Ignore Page Margins” box? That is supposed to let you but the pages together, which will mean that there are gaps because the printer can’t print to the edge. That said, I feel like the last time I printed like that it worked in one dimension but not the other. I like to print the registration marks to bail me out in any case. I have found that differences in paper handling from one sheet to another make it risky to count on absolute positioning with them.

Not checking the ignore margins box means you’ll have to trim, but everything is printed. Take your choice.

3

I’ve tried all sorts of different ways with no luck. I will try printing on a different printer to see if the results are the same. Thanks Dave

4

Dave, XTrkCad will always leave the gap at the edges of your paper. Just butt the edges together and tape them. If you measure the grid printed on the paper, you’ll see you don’t want to trim the paper as this will alter the printed track plan dimensions.

Don Z.

5

Dave,

Don Z is right. Select “Ignore Margins” with 1:1 print. This does leave a gap along the paper edges, but that’s because printers don’t print all the way to edges – not a fault of XtrkCad. It’s easy enough to fill in the continuation of the track line from page to page, so it shouldn’t cause a problem.

I’ve found absolute accuracy using 1:1 to position my track.

6

That’s what I tried to say. With ignore margins selected some of the layout isn’t printer, so you can just put the pages together. With it not selected, all of the layout is printed, but you have to trim or otherwise eliminate the margins. I did seem to notice the last time I did this that the horizontal and vertical directions seemed different. I use the registration marks to make sure everything ends up right in the end.

7

Thanks guys. I will give it a shot.