The track layout editor may use various track systems (or brands) simultaneously. This dialog is used to provide the editor with some basic information about the track systems. The parameters can be altered at any time by typing in the new value and pressing “Update”. Please note that altering parameters may cause severe changes in track layouts that have already been designed using this track system.


Name

Name of the track system. This name may be changed whenever needed.


Track width

That´s the width of the track sections. Track borders are not taken into account here !

This parameter is not only used for display in the editor. If you´re using sections of different widths, a creation of layouts with more than two lanes is not possible.


Lane spacing

Distance between slots. Track systems of varying lane spacings may be combined if a useful adapter straight has been configured for one of the track systems.


Track border width

Width of the existing track border parts for this system.


Outer diameter of tightest curve.

This is the outer diameter of a circle created only from the smallest curved sections for this track system.


Banked curve banking

Only used for calculating lane lengths.


Scale

The scale is used for calculating speeds in races on tracks which use sections of this track system. It is also used when importing/exporting track system independent track libraries.


Import/Export

Using the “Export...” function, the description of the track system can be saved to a file along with the description of the sections. This file may be loaded again using the “Import...”-button.

Note that these configurations are saved to the slotman.dat file. So you´ll just use the Import/Export functionality to share track system descriptions with other SlotMan users.

Note that existing layouts may be altered when importing track system descriptions. This is done when sections that have been used in layouts are configured differently.

Normally you should import track system descriptions BEFORE starting to edit layouts.


If a particular track system is unavailable for import, this configuration can be made „by hand“. Just type in the name and the parameters mentioned above and press „Add”. A description of how to configure track sections follows.


Of course, track systems can also be deleted (button “Delete”). The program then tries to reconstruct all track layouts created with this track system using sections from other systems. If this fails, this may lead to track layouts that have to be removed completely.


Sections Available…

Opens the list of available sections16HEGC. Use it to enter the number of sections you own.


The remaining tabs of the dialog are used to add new or update existing track sections of the current track system. Moreover lists of all currently available packs of sections can be managed.


All additional tabs of the dialog become visible by checking the „expanded view“-option. They contain the following information:


Straights

Configure all simple straights of the current track system here. There are separate tabs for the definition of chicanes, crossovers, bridges and the like.

Press the „Display“ –button to open an additional dialog where the colour of this track section can be configured.

Add new track sections by typing in a name and the length and by pressing „Add“.


Power Terminal

On this tab the straight power terminals – typically there´s only one for each track system – can be configured.


Curves

This tab is used for configuring all curves of the current track system – excluding banked curves and curved crossovers. Up to five radii are supported.

For each curve type in the arc as a part of 180°. E.g. „6“ for a 30° curve.

Additionally the lane spacing is required, typically use the same as for the track system.


Banked curves

Banked curves are configured exactly the same way as normal „flat“ curves are.


Crossover Straight

Straight changeovers use an additional parameter „Slot length“. Type in the length of the slots which can be measured from one you own. The Lane length is used by the track editor to calculate the track length.


Crossover Curve

Curved crossovers are always 90° and have the same lane spacing as entered for the track system itself.


Shunts

Shunts always are straight sections with he possibility to change lanes. Supported types are “left -> right”, “right -> left” and “double”.


Bridges

Bridges always are straight sections. But their length doesn´t match the lane length exactly. If a track system uses bridges that are made of two parts, only one has to be entered here.


Chicanes

Those are also straight sections but their lane spacing changes over the length of the section. The lanes move together and away from each other until the original lane spacing is reached again at the end of the section.

If a track system supports different lane spacings, the adapters to change between them are no chicanes but special parts that are configured on a separate tab.


Loopings

Loopings move the lanes by the width of the track sections to the left or right. If a track system supports loopings to the left and right, both looping types have to be entered here.

The length given is the length the looping uses in driving direction, so can be 0 if the start and end of the looping are on the same place, only moved apart by the width of the track.

The diameter-parameter is only used for display purposes, the lane length is required separately.


Fly Over-Sections

A Flyover consist of a fly over-section that leads up a wall, one or more straights, a curve of 180°, the same straight types that were used before the curve, and a fly over section to return to a horizontal level.

To define flyovers, you´ll have to provide the following information:

Preferred curve: This is the curve to be used when a flyover is created in the track editor. The curve can be altered to another type once the flyover is generated.

Length: Length as seen from the top.

Arc: Arc in which the flyover leads upwards.

Slot length: Length of the flyover section´s slots.


Since flyovers consist of multiple sections in very similar combinations, the fly over section has a special status when used inside the track editor:

When a fly over section is being inserted, all other sections needed will be inserted, too.

When a straight or curved section is being altered inside a flyover, all other straights or curves inside that flyover will be altered, too.

When a section inside a flyover is deleted, all corresponding sections in this flyover are deleted, too. This may lead to the deletion of the entire flyover, if a curve inside it is deleted.


Special Parts

Those are straight sections that have an additional functionality. E.g. this may be an adapter straight, a jump, a lap counter straight and the like.

Parameters are lane lengths and widths and lane spacings at the beginning and end of the section.


Straight Curbs

Curbs are not necessary for the track editor´s base functionality. Some track systems don´t have any of those curb sections at all.

In the track editor curbs can be placed either by hand or automatically. Placing curbs gives better information about the space needed and also about which curb sections have to be purchased.

For adding straight curbs you´ll have to provide a name and the curb´s length.

Please note that curb end parts as they are used in some track systems are not straight curb sections and are configured in another tab.


Curved Curbs

All curbs for flat curves (no banked curves) are configured in this tab. Enter the covered arc as a part of 180° as well as the radius (1-5) and if this is an inner or outer border to this curve.


Curbs for Banked Curves

The configuration for those is the same as for flat curves.


Curbs Ends

Use this tab to configure curb end parts.

You´ll have to provide a name for the left and for the right end part as well as the type of the end part: Arc or straight.

“Arc”: The curb width decreases in a round shape.

“staright”: The curb width decreases linear and almost looks like a triangle.

In both cases the starting length measures the length between the start and the point from which on the curb width decreases. The main length is the length on which the curb width decreases.

In the track editor curb end parts cannot be set by hand but are created automatically.


Packs

This is the place where the various section packs that are available for a track system are defined.

This data is only used for the track editor´s „Wishlist“-functionality and so isn´t mandatory for the editor´s base-functions.

Track packs are created by providing a name and pressing „Add“. Then the track and curb sections can be moved from the lists on the left to the list on the right by using the arrow-buttons.

For each pack decide if this is a basic pack – and so includes cars, controllers and power packs, too – or not.

Please note that you´ll have to press „Update“ after making any changes to a pack.



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