Common Questions

The app

Which Macs does Gauge Buddy run on?

Any Mac running macOS 15 or later.

Is there a version for iPad, iPhone or Windows?

No. Gauge Buddy is a Mac app.

Do I need an account or an internet connection?

No. There are no accounts, and the app works entirely offline.

Does Gauge Buddy collect any data?

No. The app has no analytics, no advertising and no telemetry, and your layouts never leave your Mac unless you send them somewhere yourself. See the privacy policy.

Track

Which scales are supported?

Z, N, TT, HO, OO and O. See Scales & Bundled Track.

Which track is included?

Kato Unitrack in N, Peco Setrack in N, OO and O, and Peco Streamline in every supported scale. The full list is in Scales & Bundled Track.

My track is not included. Can I add it?

Yes. You can import a track library from a file, including a spreadsheet saved as CSV. See Track Libraries.

Can I mix track from different manufacturers?

Yes, if the gauge matches. Joints between different track systems are noted in the issues list, because some combinations need transition joiners.

Are the dimensions accurate?

They are transcribed from the manufacturers' published specifications. They are nominal figures, and real track has manufacturing tolerances, so always test-fit before fixing track down.

Is Gauge Buddy affiliated with Peco or Kato?

No. Gauge Buddy is independent. The manufacturers' names are used only to identify compatible products.

Planning

Does it handle gradients, heights or 3D views?

No. Gauge Buddy is a 2D planner. It is exact about where things sit on the board and does not model height.

If there are no issues, will my layout definitely work?

It means the plan's geometry is consistent: pieces join, curves respect your minimum radius and nothing shares the same space. It cannot account for how the layout is built or what you run on it. See What the checks cannot tell you.

Can I plan a layout made of several boards?

Yes. See Baseboards.

Can I plan the room as well?

Yes: walls, doors, fixed obstacles, aisles and how far you can reach. See Rooms, Doors & Aisles and Reach Zones.

Can I trace over an existing plan?

Yes. Import it as a reference image and calibrate it. See References & Dimensions.

Output

Can I print at full size?

Yes, tiled across as many pages as needed. See Printing a Plan.

What can I export?

PDF, SVG, PNG, a CSV parts list and a CSV shopping list. See Exporting.

Does it tell me what to buy?

Yes. See Inventory & Purchasing. Prices are ones you enter yourself.

Files

Where are my layouts kept?

Wherever you save them. Each is a single .railplan file.

Can I send a layout to a friend?

Yes, if they have Gauge Buddy. Send the .railplan file. If they do not, export a PDF or an image. See Saving & Sharing Layouts.

Will my layouts still open after an update?

Yes. Older layouts open in newer versions.