Templot Info

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
<HTML>
   <style type="text/css">
     body { font-size:18px; margin: 16px; background-color: white; }
     
     a:link { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline; }
     a:visited { color:#0000FF; text-decoration:underline; }
     a:hover { color:#FF0000; text-decoration:underline; }
     
     span.f_BodyComic { font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', Verdana, sans-serif; }
     
     table.OuterTable { background-color:#FFFFFF !important; background-image:none !important; }

     span.f_abclast {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_abcnomargin {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_abcnormal {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_abcnormalnowrap {font-size:19px; white-space:nowrap;}
     span.f_clicks {font-family:Arial; font-size:17px; font-weight:bold; white-space:nowrap; outline:1px solid #B0B0B0; color:black; background-color:#FCFCF4; padding:2px 5px 3px 5px;}
     span.f_beginnerclicks {font-family:Arial; font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; white-space:nowrap; outline:1px solid #B0B0B0; color:black; background-color:#FCFCF4; padding:3px 4px 3px 4px;}
     span.f_embed {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_emphasized {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_greenpanel {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_greenpaneltop {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_ImageCaption {font-size:19px;}
     span.f_keys {font-size:19px; white-space:nowrap;}
     span.f_Merged {font-size:19px;}
     
     .highlight { background-color: #FFFF77; }
     
     hr {margin-top:18px; margin-bottom:18px; }
          
   </style>
   




<h1 class="p_Heading1"><span class="f_Heading1">Templot Explained &nbsp;- &nbsp;1. what is it?</span></h1>


<p class="p_subheading"><span class="f_subheading">1. what is it?</span></p>
<p class="p_abctop"><span class="f_abctop">What is Templot? If you are active in the model railway hobby, especially in the UK, you have probably heard or read about the Templot computer program for track design. But when I'm reading discussions on web forums and in magazine articles I often see misunderstandings about Templot and what it is for.</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 18px 6px 18px 12px;">
<table style="margin:0 auto; background-color:#ffffff; border:solid thin #c0c0c0; border-spacing:0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">
<td style="vertical-align:top; padding:20px; border:none">
 <div>
 <img style="width:100%;max-width:9px;height:auto;border:none" src="blue_bullet.gif">
 <span class="f_abcnormal"> Templot is a workshop tool for railway modellers who like to build their own track:</span>
 </div>
 <div style="text-align:center; margin-top:20px;">
 <img style="width:100%;max-width:800px;height:auto;border:none; margin-bottom:0px;" src="https://85a.uk/templot/companion/paul_boyd_workbench_800x484.jpg">
 </div>
 <p class="p_normalsmall" style="text-align:right; margin:0px;"><span class="f_normalsmall">Thanks to Paul Boyd for this photograph.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div><p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">Please read that again. Templot is a tool for the modeller's workshop. It is not a program to be used in a drawing office alongside hi-tech CAD design software and drawing packages. Templot belongs next to your soldering iron, snips and files and tubs of glue. <img style="width:100%;max-width:15px;height:auto;border:none" src="smile.gif"/></span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">Modellers use Templot to print track construction templates in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes. And to create layout designs using them - from a small shunting yard to a complex junction station on a sweeping transition curve. Sometimes as an exact scale track layout designed over an historic map. For more about what Templot can be used for, click <a href="templot_home.php" class="topiclink">about Templot</a>.</span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">Templot was created over a period of 40 years. Originally for my own use. Today it is provided and supported by one retired man in his spare time. Please bear that in mind when comparing Templot with other computer programs. <img style="width:100%;max-width:15px;height:auto;border:none" src="smile.gif"/></span></p>
<p class="p_abclast"><span class="f_abclast">For some history about how Templot came to be the way it is, see <a href="origins_intent.php" class="topiclink">origins and intent</a>.</span></p>
<hr style="height:3px; color:#999999; border-width:0; background-color:#999999;" /><p class="p_abctop"><span class="f_abctop">If you prefer to buy ready-made model railway track from makers such as Peco, DCC Concepts, Marcway, Atlas, Tillig, etc., then Templot has little to offer you, and you have probably come to the wrong place. There are many other computer programs available for layout design using such ready-made track. See for example:</span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">SCARM</span><span class="f_abcnormal">,  </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">XTrackCad</span><span class="f_abcnormal">  </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-size: 15px;">(free), &nbsp;  </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">AnyRail</span><span class="f_abcnormal">  </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-size: 15px;">(inexpensive, recommended), &nbsp;  </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Winrail</span><span class="f_abcnormal">,  </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">3rd PlanIt</span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="f_abcnormal"> </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-size: 15px;">(more expensive), &nbsp; </span><span class="f_abcnormal">and many others.</span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">But Templot isn't one of them. You can find them via Google, or ask on web forums.</span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">For example, this is </span><span class="f_abcnormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">XTrackCad</span><span class="f_abcnormal">:</span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal"> <img style="width:100%;max-width:626px;height:auto;border:none" src="https://85a.uk/templot/companion/xtrackcad_626x627.png"/></span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">Programs like this are called &quot;pick and place&quot; drawing programs. You select an item from a list, and then click or draw on the track plan in the place where you want it.</span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">Templot doesn't work that way. To find out how it does work, click <a href="2_yes_i_build_track.php" class="topiclink">next page</a>.</span></p>
<p class="p_abclast"><span class="f_abclast">(Only in Templot would the user guide start with a diagram from a completely different program. <img style="width:100%;max-width:15px;height:auto;border:none" src="https://85a.uk/templot/companion/smile.gif"/> )</span></p>
<hr style="height:3px; color:#999999; border-width:0; background-color:#999999;" /><p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal"><a href="0_for_beginners.php" class="topiclink">previous page</a> | <a href="2_yes_i_build_track.php" class="topiclink">next page</a></span></p>
<p class="p_abcnormal"><span class="f_abcnormal">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right; line-height: 1.20; margin: 0 6px 0 12px;"><span class="f_messagenumber">page last revised 11-July-2016</span></p>


<p align="center" style="color:#333333; font-family:'Verdana'; font-size:12px; text-align:center; border-top:1px solid #333333; padding-top:6px; padding-bottom:12px;"><b>link to this page:</b> 
<a class="page_link" href="https://85a.uk/templot/companion/1_what_is_it.php" target="_blank" class="weblink">
https://85a.uk/templot/companion/1_what_is_it.htm</a></p>

</div>



</HTML>