What is the Parts Compiler?

The Parts Compiler (included as part of WinRail DeLuxe, with a "light" version in WinRail Standard) is a program used for the development of the libraries.  You just have to create an ASCII-text file, containing detailed descriptions of each of the track or structure elements.  The compiler then creates a binary file that can be loaded into WinRail.

WinRail Standard includes a limited version of the Parts Compiler that can be used for defining structures, but not track elements.  WinRail DeLuxe includes all the source definitions for the libraries supplied with WinRail - these are a valuable source of ideas and techniques if you choose to define your own libraries.

Some examples:

This straight track is created by the following lines:

Straight "Fl-6101" "1/1" 200 30 ; Fleischmann 6101, length 200mm, width 30mm (incl. roadbed)

Price 2.25

EndStraight

Curves are just as simple:

Curve "Fl-6125" "R2 - 36º" 420 36 30 ; Radius 420 mm, 36º, 30mm wide

Price 2.90

EndCurve

Even turnouts are very simple, as long as the curved section is a simple curve without straight section attached:

Turnout_Left "Fl-6172" "elec. turnout left" 30 ; width 30mm

Straight 200 ; The straight section is 200 mm long

Curve 647 18 0 ; The curved section (18º) has a radius of 647mm and starts at the left-hand boundary of the straight section.

Price 34.20

EndTurnout

Crossings:

DoubleSlip_Left "Fl-6166" "Elec. double slip left" 30 18 200 210 647 ; width 30 mm, angle 18º,

; Length of straight track 200 mm,
; Length of crossing track 210 mm, radius 647 mm

Price 53.50

EndCrossing

The definition of structures works by defining geometrical shapes and coordinates:

Structure "Fa-342" "Edeka-Markt ""Friedrichsen"""

Price 46.00
Polygon ; As you can see, there are some more commands available that not only save work,

59 0 ; but also speed up the drawing.
162 0 ; Here, for example, the Polygon command was used to draw the surrounding of the building.
221 102 ; Internally within WinRail, it is translated into only one call to the Windows API.
162 204
59 204
0 102

EndPolygon
Line 59 0 162 205 ; bottom left to upper right
Line 162 0 59 204 ; bottom right to upper left
Line 0 102 221 102 ; and the middle line.

EndStructure