<color #ff7f27> Templot Explained  -  3. what am I looking at?</color>

So Templot generates and prints templates. What you are probably looking at is this - a turnout template:
{{:playground:pasted:20241109-150814.png}}

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**There are just 3 basic types of template in Templot:**

1.plain track templates:

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-151004.png}}

A length of plain track.

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2. turnout templates:

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-151230.png}}

A length of plain track into which a turnout has been inserted somewhere along it. Only one turnout per template.

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3. half-diamond templates:

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-151359.png}}

A length of plain track into which half of a diamond-crossing has been inserted at one end. These templates are almost always used in pairs to create a full diamond-crossing or slip, like this:

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-151447.png}}

Let's forget about half-diamond templates for now. There is a lot to learn about turnout templates first.

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{{:playground:pasted:20241109-151633.png}}

When Templot starts up the template generator engine starts running, and initially it creates a left-hand B-6 turnout template, curved onto 10 chains radius. We shall come back to what all that means later. 

<color #ed1c24>Important information</color>

In the information dialog box you will see that by default the scale is set to ‘T-55’. This is a very unusual gauge T-55 (5.5 mm/ft scale, 1 inch track gauge). Almost no-one models this gauge. Templot can do any scale or track gauge. But on the screen they all look very similar, so it is easy to forget to set your required scale and gauge before you start. 

If you wait long enough (several minutes), you will see this message pop up:

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-153944.png}}

You can, if you wish, click the <color #00a2e8>blue</color> bar "**continue with T-55 gauge**" to carry on without altering the gauge.

You will see this style of message often in Templot, with various coloured bars to click in making your chosen response. When in doubt, you can always safely click the <color #22b14c>green</color> bar, or press the ENTER key. (<color #22b14c>Green</color> generally shows the default action)

There are two different ways to change gauge. If you click on the <color #22b14c>green</color> "change gauge and scale" button, you will open this dialogue

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-155202.png}}

This gives a lot of information and options, but it is normally easier to click on the **gauge** menu item

{{:playground:pasted:20241109-152920.png}}

Choose the gauge you wish to work with. As soon as you have saved your first template, Templot will load it on start up and the gauge will switch to the one used in the saved file. If you open Templot and do not choose to open a saved fil, you will need to set the gauge again.

Finished track plans can be converted to a different scale or gauge afterwards, but for geometrical reasons the conversion is seldom entirely perfect. So it is good to get into the habit of checking your gauge is correct before starting work.


 Now what? Click [[https://85a.uk/templot/companion/4_where_do_i_start.php|next page]] for the answer.