The Layout Party!

Something I havent mentioned that goot asked today is 'how do I  move the screen around'.

A very good question, and something I should have realised back in tutorial 1.

By default with xtrkcad, you start with a zoom level of 8:1.  If your layout size is medium - large, this means you can only see the bottom left corner.  If you want to see the top right conrer, how do you get there?

Well, there are 2 ways, and you'll need both at different times.  The first, and most obvious, is the map window.  Now this window almost always seems to be in the way and can be a right pain in the butt, but trust me when I say its invaluable.  You'll notice in this map window that there is a blackened out rectangle in it.... if the entire window is black, it means you can see the whole layout, so zoom in a bit to see what I mean....  by left clicking in the map window and dragging the mosue around, you can move your view of the layout in the main window.  Easy enough...

So, what if you'r laying a piece of track thats larger than the displayed size in the main window?  This means you;ve got your mouse button clicked so cant click in the map window...... Use the arrow keys while keeping the mouse button clicked.  The main window will 'jump' in the direction of the arrow button you push :)