Templot's own documentation explains that it is not well suited to drawing out an entire layout
Hi Lambridge,
Just to clarify, what I mean by that is a complete layout design including scenics, structures, wiring, etc. Templot is about track design only, but it can of course produce extensive track plans, although I recommend users to become familiar with all the design features of individual turnout templates first.
whereas on xtrkcad you tell it the size of your room, then you can draw some baseboards complete with board joints and bracing, and start putting the track over the top making sure you avoid clashes between turnout operating units and board timberwork etc.
You can do all of that in Templot. See the "background shapes" dialog and the "draw with mouse" function. Here is such a plan in 0 Gauge posted recently by a user, showing the baseboard outlines:
But if you just want to draw (doodle) track plans that incorporate transition curves and reasonably accurate turnouts then xtrkcad is a lovely little plaything to have on the PC.
And having produced such a plan you can export it from XTrkCad and import it onto Templot via a DXF file. You can then use it as a design guide for "proper" P4 construction templates. See this page for an example of such ex-XTrkCad import being used as a guide in Templot:
http://www.templot.com/dummy/rene_tandem.htm
The grey tracks and baseboard outlines have been imported from XTrkCad:
regards,
Martin.