Hello, Attachments below are samples of what can be done using Excel for layout planning and other drawings. It may not be as detailed as some design sortware but can be faster, in the long run, than pencil and paper. By drawing in segments it makes changes easy. What scale you model it dosen't matter because the size of the grid can represent one inch or one mile. Make it fit what you need. Most of the layout drawings were done in about one week last July. Since then some small changes were made and a few details added to page one thru three. Page four, in work, will have photos to give some visual perspective of major scenes. The N scale layout is basically a twelve inch wide shelf placed around a spare bedroom with two removable bridge sections. Can be cut from 1-1/2 sheets of 3/4 plywood and foam sheet stack-up. The single track main, from Fayetteville to Fort Smith, features a passing track, small yard, locomotive facility, several spurs and two track staging with removable cassette sections. The other drawing is a motor car/speeder I plan on scratch building. I would like to thank "Karl" Brand for his help and photos on this project. Excel Guide is another attempt in providing instructions. Hopefully this one is better than previous try. I wanted to start this thread so other members and guests can have another option for designing layouts, buildings and anything else that comes to mind. As you can tell from my posts, I really like this software and think many others will too after playing around with it a bit. There is a 4 x 8ft. layout plan, in work, to give more assistance to instructions. Will post shortly along with other projects as they become ready. If anyone needs help or has questions please contact me on this thread or PM. Also I am open to any suggestions on how to make instructions more user friendly. Joe
Is there any particular part that is giving you problems? I remember having trouble at first learning the location of feature icons and what they do. It does get easier after a little practice. I will help any way I can. PLEASE ASK!!! Joe
Well if things could not more confusing, I down loaded a windows update and they changed the toolbar format on Excel. All of the features are still there but in a different location on the screen. Will post a update to privious instructions soon. Please be patient, will post as soon as I figure out what went where. I was in a car accident Wednesday, totaled the car, but only suffered an abrasion on my forehead, bad headache and am very sore from seat belt. Was very lucky no other cars were involved. Instruction update may take a few extra days as a result. Thank You, Joe
Hi, After several hours looking through the new Excel toolbars I have found that it does not support making drawings. The Students and Teachers version 2002/2007 is what was used to make previous posts. The new format is for high level accounting and business projects. I could not even find how to draw a straight line. Trying to reload old program so I can go back to work with my projects. Will stay in touch on reload and how to make sure it can be done on your computer setups. Sorry about the delay! Joe
HI, OK, back on the track again! I had downloaded a Office update by mistake. The current software you need is the Home & Student 2007. It comes with Excel, Word, Power Point and One Note for about $150 at Best Buy and Office Depot. You may hold off buying now though because one salesman said there is a Windows 10 release in June. Then again maybe able to get one cheaper with the store manager in May. Finally ready to post Page 4 of my layout design. It has several photos to give a visual perspective to a certain area of the layout. Would like to thank all the guys for the great photos posted on this website and others!!! Anyone who would like to use Excel for their layout plan please contact me and will help anyway I can. It can take a bit to get started but gets a lot easier as you go. Joe
