The production of an OLE design, no matter at which design phase, will go through many stages - one of which includes the possibility of a change to the track alignment.
Historically, changes to a track alignment meant many hours, days or possibly even weeks of re-design in order to make the required changes to layouts, 3D models and cross sections. Using Lineardraft, this process has become entirely easier, incredibly less stressful and also dramatically quicker - simply by using 'Track Manager'.
Here's how!
- Ensure that all track files are referenced correctly into your design.
- Click the Track Manager button on the Lineardraft Toolbar to display the 'Track Manager' dialog.
The Track Manager dialog gives you quick and simple overview as to which structures are correctly or incorrectly associated with a referenced track alignment
The Structure column will display all structures that are currently placed within the design.
The Track Count column displays the number of tracks that each of the respective structures are associated to.
The Max. Delta column (value measured in metres) displays the total X and Y distance away that each structure is in relation to it's associated track. If an 'infinity' symbol is displayed, this indicates that the referenced track(s) that the structure is associated to can no longer be located.
The Within Tolerance column signifies if a structure is correctly (within tolerance) associated to a track. If a structure is associated correctly, then the field will be green and display 'True', otherwise the field will be red and display 'False'. The tolerance that is used here can be adjusted by altering the value that is displayed in the 'Tolerance' field towards the lower left of the 'Track Manager' dialog.
- Select the structure that you want to re-associate by ticking the corresponding checkbox in the structure list. The chosen structure will then be highlighted within your design.
TOP TIP!
It is possible to re-associate on a structure-by-structure basis. However, to re-associate multiple structures at once, click the 'Similar' button located towards the top of the dialog.
When this option is selected, all structures that are associated with the same left rail ID and right rail ID will be chosen and highlighted within your design.
The checkbox for each individual structure will be ticked and you will be able to re-associate all selected structures using the same single action.
- Ticking the 'Maintain Relative Foundation Height' checkbox ensures that the the top of foundation height, at each individual structure, is maintained to the relative value as described within your project presets. If the checkbox is left unticked, then the foundation height (Z height) of each individual structure will remain at it's current value.
- Click the 'Reassociate selected' button.
- Follow the prompts to Select the left and right rails (these should be the left and right rails of the new/revised track position).
- Once the right rail selection has been confirmed, the software will automatically begin to rebuild your model and re-associate each structure to the new/revised track position. Once complete, The Track Manager dialog will refresh and each of the re-associated structures will display a 'Max. Delta' of 0.000 and the 'Within Tolerance' field will be green and display True.
PLEASE NOTE
If wires and equipment exist within your design, then they will be automatically placed in relation to the new structure position.
If the re-association has taken the equipment out of its reach value range, then the allocated equipment will be automatically reassigned.
Therefore it's good practice to always check the allocation following a re-association.
Following a re-assocaition, if there is no longer any equipment displayed at a structure, then it is likely that the structure can no longer can support the equipment type.
Finally, depending on the size of your design, the model rebuild that takes please once the rails have been confirmed, may take up to a few minutes.
- To re-associate additional structures, please repeat the process as detailed above. If structures that have already been re-associated remain ticked, please untick these first by clicking the 'None' button located at the top of the dialog.