old FP support info

[dianedebuda]

Did a lot of work with FP8.2 & FP10 several years ago.  Hated V11.  Had a lot of trouble with TurboFP V12 trial when it came out and ditched it.  Old support forums were quite active & great.  Have reloaded FP8&10 to use while converting to TurboFP.  Have forgotten stuff (like moving insertion toolbar from screen left to screen right - easy in V8 but can't do in V10?).  Looked around here & googled, but can't find any of the old support info anymore.  Did anyone ever find it?

[Robert W - "robban"]

Hi dianedebuda! Welcome to the forum!
What I have seen on this forum the old forum is taken down.
But I can recommend you to try out version 16 of TFP download a´the pro version it is a full program what expire after 13 day if you not buy the program.

One other thing you cant open FP10 files in the program, but there is way around that problem by export your drawing as dxf-file from FP10
and the import the same file in TFP16 and trace the drawing, look in this forum how to do, I have never done it my self.
/Robert

[dianedebuda]

I'd seen that the old site was gone from its orig location.  Didn't see anyone with a link over here either.  But have small hope someone archived it somewhere.  Pity if it has totally vanished...

Am in process of using trial for learning while awaiting delivery of my purchased version.

[Jack Zimmer]

Hi Diane,

Old forum is gone.

HGTV and Envisioneer are versions of TFPlan. HGTV has fewer options, Envisioneer has many many more options.

But, going over thier training tips online sure wouldn't hurt. Most HGTV vids are good. Some Envisioneer tips apply (none related to working drawings, sheet views)

HGTV Tips

http://www.softcity.com/article/home-hobbies/hgtv-ultimate-home-design/hgtv-home-landscape-home-design-remodeling-video-tutorials/zMTMxEzN 

Envisioneer Tips

  http://www.cadsoft.com/faqs.php 

Good luck, have fun.

Jack

[dianedebuda]

Hi again, my old FP3D friend Jack.

Mostly wanted the info in case there's "stuff" on the old FP3D that I don't remember why/how I did.  Do remember I had to use a huge number of levels, numerous invisible walls (which I don't see in TFP, so hopefully they're not needed with the new code base  Edit: See a post where Allan mentions a Room Divide tool which seems = invisible wall) and heavy use of filters to guide drawings.

That old forum was extremely active and I felt an invisible, 1-sided friendship with the high-profile posters like you.  Wasn't there a Nick or someone that was modeling a castle?  Although I was usually just a lurker, I found it great fun.

I'm getting v15 Pro right now because I was able to get a really good price from a trusted vendor for use with landscaping.  Expect to upgrade to v16 or whatever is current when I start the interior crud.  I used FPv8 for the exterior before I added a wrap-around deck to part of the house and before putting stone veneer on the house & (work) shop.  Used FPv10 for a house-sized shed that I designed based on the roof size needed for solar pool heater panels.  So I really haven't done any interior modeling yet.

I have a 35-year-old house that I designed to be built in sections - a "hobby that got out of hand" project that still has major sections still just "framed" without sheetrock, electrical, insullation, etc. inside.  We decided a couple of years ago when my husband retired to focus on making the outside look good and it's progressing slowly, but turning out very nice.  Will probably never be able to finish all the inside, but it's fun most of the time and it keeps me off the streets.

The site/terrain size for my "landscape" version will be much larger than the "interior" version, so I expect that I will maintain those plans separately.  Hopefully converson of v15 plans to v16 will be painless if I need to do that.  Couldn't believe the number of sites that are still offering v12 nor all the crack/warez hits I got with google...

[Allan Chesney]

Yes the Room Divide is effectivley an Invisible Wall but you will find you do not need to use it as much as in the old FP3D.  I have only used it myself a couple of times in total I think.

Nick is still around but if I recall there was some serious family illness that takes up most of his time. Recreating his 'castle' in TFP would be a major job I suspect.

You should not have any problem opening a V15 file with V16.  It will prompt you to convert the origianl or give it a new name - choose the latter just to be on the safe side!  Once converted V15 would not open it again of course.  You will find TFP is infinitely more flexible than FP3D.

I would suggest if you are planing to do the landscaping that you do it in the same model as the buildings themselves.  You are bound to want to see how it will all look together and you cannot copy paste between two models.  You could export the buildings as a 3DS and import it into the Lanscape one, but it is fixed - you cannot change anything. Also you may have to reassign materials, which is hard, as there are so many and each item is only a number, so it is almost impossible to tell what is what.  The landscaping functionality is much more extensive thant FP3D, as long as you getthe Pro version. Deluxe is very limited in many ways.

It is a shame that real could homes cannot be build as quickly (and cheaply!) as 3D models isn't it?

Allan

[dianedebuda]

Expect that all the exterior/landscaping stuff with the large terrain definition - thinking 400x400 or 500x500 (ft) right now - would complicate & slow down model(s) that I want to use for interior work.  I'm studying forum posts, manual & just generally messing around with the trial right now, but I'm already suspecting that I'll be having to do a lot of "tricks" again.  Examples: multiple gable styles on roof (stone on most, but lap & gap cedar on one), exposed cedar rafter tails, exposed beams.  Would actually like to show open valley flashing (roof tile) and fireplace cricket, but don't think those are going to be doable using TFP with reasonable effort.  Why?  I'm about to start putting on the tile, so I notice that sort of thing.  One of the problems of doing the work yourself & seeing details vs the purpose of the software to give an overall impression.

Today I'm focusing on trying out the terrain tools.  Big difference between FP & TFP there.  From the posts, looks like the preferred method is multiple plateaus.  No mesh & "Prepared Site" stuff.  Had mesh settings for selected spots for front of house using FP8, but nothing for side & back areas.  Going to have to do some measuring as well as trying to convert.  I've read about exporting terrain from FP10/11, but suspect it's not worth the effort trying it from FP8 since a lot of info is missing & it would make the TFP terrain impossible/difficult to modify.  Haven't tried it yet, but get the impression from the posts that terrain-based items don't do well with terrain changes, so it's important to "get it right" the first time when setting the terrain.

Sure glad I took the time to enter specifics like measurements, textures, color codes, etc. on an XL spreadsheet when I did the FP8 plans.

Cheers.

[Allan Chesney]

The terrain size should not be a problem and if you have so much on the terrain that it slows down, you can easily turn it off in the view filter while working on other things.  Slowdown is not the problem it was in FP3D although depends on your computer specs also of course.

Most of the things you have spoken about should not be much of a problem for TFP.  Multiple gable styles are certainly no issue - everyone can be different if necessay.  The roof automatically creates the timber framing so if they are turned on (automatically off) and no ceiling is used, then you have exposed beams internally automatically.  If the beams are unusual then you can customise Members and they can be 'Matched to Plane' so they exactly follow the roof slope, so that is not an issue either. The same could be used for valley flashing.  Not exactly sure what you mean by 'fireplace cricket' (rarely have fireplaces/chimneys in Australia!) but if you mean the peaked flashing behind a chimney then that is easy too - just a mini gable really.

The Terrain tools as you said are vastly different and rumour has it they could be replaced in a coming version.  The main thing to remember is that each slope or plateau ADDS that height to the previous one. The Plateau is easiest to work with as you can draw the contour lines with it but make sure the height setting is just the height of that contour line not the total height of the raised section as one contour height will add to the previous and the total height will increase accordingly. Remember you can enter a negative figure for the height setting also.  

Anything you import from outside is fixed - it cannot be edited in any way except total size and the texture. If the building is part way down an imported slope for example, then the slope will be inside the building also, unless the original import already has the recess for the building. An imported object can also be very memory intensive.

Hope it all goes well. Just ask if you get stuck.

Allan

[dianedebuda]

The rafter tails are exposed only on the outside, not inside and use a different material, size and spacing than the internal ones.  Haven't tried to mess with this yet and for the external/landscaping model, I could probably just change the framing specs if the rafters would show.  The documentation says you can have different gable options for each side, but my initial testing of a simple gable didn't allow that.  No matter which roof edge I selected, changing the gable appearance changed the selection for all gable appearances for the roof.  Not that it really mattered, since in 3D, it looked like the exterior wall material was used for the gable and the roof gable material selection was ignored.  But like I said, just initial testing & could be operator error.

The roof tool populates the valleys with tile.  I need "no tile" in those areas.  The valley surface level is noticeably lower than the top of the tiles.  Suppose I could do the roof with Surfaces, but probably not worth the trouble.  Yes, probably could try to use a dormer for the cricket.  Have the fireplace, but haven't used it in many, many years.  No big need here in Central Texas.  Still shows on the outside though.

What I really meant about the large terrain size was that I plan to use a lot of trees, plants and exterior detail = many objects.  Using a quad processor with 8 GB mem, so not really a wimpy box, but even Sample 1 doesn't load instantly...

From reading posts, I had already understood about the additive nature of the plateaus, but thanks for pointing it out again.

[Allan Chesney]

You would need to add the rafter tails separately anyway as the default roof framing includes the exterior frame.  The framing may suffice for your interior views but you will find that, on the outside, the framing will bleed through the roof and be visible, so you would have to turn framing off when rendering exterior views. You could use the Custom Member for Interior Accessories / Decorative for the rafter tails. It can be inserted, set to the angle and height you want and then you can right click and Duplicate and then drag the copy to its new position or select Array and say how many you want an how far apart and they will be inserted automatically.

The Gable ends on the roof are OFF by default. You need to tick the box for them to display AND set the wall to a fixed height. If the wall it is set to Auto Extend then the wall will extend to the roof and hence fill the gable. When setting the appearance of the gables you must select just the face you want to change. In plan view, when the roof is selected, make sure that the only green arrow is the one for the gable you want to change. If any other roof edges are green click them again to turn them red.  The Properties edit will then only occur on the green arrow edge.

If you are planing to use lots of trees, then things may slow, although your PC sounds as though it should be up to the challenge.  Some of the sample files are quite large.  You will notice on the program Read Me file it does suggest not having other programs open if possible.  The View filter can be used to turn off just the trees if editing become slow.  I have never had a slowdown problem and your PC specs are higher than mine so you should be OK.

Allan

[dianedebuda]

Before I got forum access, I had emailed Jack 'cause I was worried about those stupid rafter tails.  They're a pretty noticeable feature on all of the buildings.  In FP8, a kind forum soul built an object for me and I really didn't want to have to deal with that again.  Jack told me about the Custom Member method, so thanks for confirming it.

Turned off the wall auto extend & set to level.  Wall based gables are gone.  Can't find a box to turn on roof gables though.  Where is it?

So far, actually looks like slopes are going to work me.  What a surprise.  Maybe 'cause I live at the top of a gentle hill?

All programs want to be the only one alive.    I'm a mostly retired programmer & I said that too.  But I always have a couple of XL sheets open and a half dozen Explorer windows up.  At least the TFP box is not on the Web.  Am paranoid about external tampering there.

Thanks for your help.

[Allan Chesney]

You will find the 'Show Gable' tick box in the Roof Properties, basic tab from memory and the you set the texture for it on the Appearance tab of course.

I have had no memory problems and always have several browser windows open, Paint Shop Pro, Skype, an Access database and two or three TFP projects, at the same time, so it is not really an issue.

Have fun!

Allan

[Jack Zimmer]

More on Members Diane.

You can draw a line, select it and right click and then select 'Convert to: Members.'

You then get a pop up and can choose a tail rafter size. To do this you must right click in Members 'Catalog' pop up and select Add Element. Make sure to give it a new name.

Then using the Match Plane option, (select the member, right click, 'adust to planes') and click on edge of roof. The member will adjust to roof angle.

In a similar fashion you can create a Valley Flashing with Add Element and this time select Tapered 3 option (adjusting angles left and right to lay on roof). OR do the same and select D-Section going to Details tab and Rotating it 180 deg (flip it over), you now have a Ridge cap.

Jack

[dianedebuda]

I know my eyes are old and strained from playing with this for hours on end, but I do not see any checkbox on the Roofs Basic tab.  Honest.  If I look at properties for a gable edge, I see Roof Shape as Gable and Roof Segment listed as Gable.  No checkbox of any kind.  When I look at a non-gable edge, I see Roof Shape as Hip with no mention of gable anywhere.  Think I'm going nuts.

Have made it through Terrains in manual, so will be looking at lines & shapes tomorrow.  Thanks for the heads up so I'll study that area heavily.

[Jack Zimmer]

You have to be in Gable settings to see check box for display gable.
Jack