Additional Catalogs

[Doug.S]

Did you by chance check the catalog file size before and after?  if so did the catalog size grow substantially larger?

More importantly, did the load/start time of TFP now take longer or the program run slower because of load time for the larger library?

That was the explanation from IMSI design for having multiple catalogs.

I've left the catalogs as separate individual catalogs and use them separately as needed....the only inconvenience is to load, use, then re-load the std master catalog to use it.....cumbersome but easy to do and does take a minute or two.

I'm considering loading all my own special imported .3ds/.skp stuff to one of those other catalogs as they are small now and I'd always know where to find anything I loaded myself.  Tho I also have made my own folders for materials etc. in the std catalog.  I suspect I should make a backup copy of the std catalog from the start while it works OK and make progressive backups as it changes....just in case it breaks from a bad import and I need to recover...but I have not heard of a catalog disaster here in the forums as yet....so catalogs seem safe/low risk.

I guess we have opportunities to make things work whichever makes sense to each of us on our own for our own way of working.

[Robert W - "robban"]

Did you by chance check the catalog file size before and after?  if so did the catalog size grow substantially larger? Yes from abut 25 Mb to 97 Mb includ all catalogs and some other thing /Robert

More importantly, did the load/start time of TFP now take longer or the program run slower because of load time for the larger library? Take a litel longer time to start, if the program run slower have I not jet tested /Robert

That was the explanation from IMSI design for having multiple catalogs.

I've left the catalogs as separate individual catalogs and use them separately as needed....the only inconvenience is to load, use, then re-load the std master catalog to use it.....cumbersome but easy to do and does take a minute or two.

I'm considering loading all my own special imported .3ds/.skp stuff to one of those other catalogs as they are small now and I'd always know where to find anything I loaded myself.  Tho I also have made my own folders for materials etc. in the std catalog.  I suspect I should make a backup copy of the std catalog from the start while it works OK and make progressive backups as it changes....just in case it breaks from a bad import and I need to recover...but I have not heard of a catalog disaster here in the forums as yet....so catalogs seem safe/low risk. Good Idea but you can allways recover it from the cab-file in the download or cd if you know how to do it./ Robert

I guess we have opportunities to make things work whichever makes sense to each of us on our own for our own way of working. Now then I have put all I same catalog seems that be a bad idea, it is better to make a catalog whit favorits take some tim to do but i thinkit will be a good idea /Robert

[Dave Taylor (TFP Product Manager)]

Be careful when you merge catalogs.   You want to keep the file sizes down as much as possible. This is why these objects were kept seperate from the original (default) catalogs.
I would shoot for a max of 25-30mb per catalog max.

[Buzzer]

I've purchased and downloaded my version via Digital River, but I've no clue on how to download the additional catalogs. Any suggestions?

Sebastian

I also purchased and downloaded my version via Digital River, today  I follow Ana sugestion  and phone to IMSI/Design
800-833-8082 and I got a link by mail, 233 Mb exe-file.


To merge the new catalogs to master copy

1 Make a copy of master catalog!!!!
2 Open Catalog manager whit the copy of master catalog .
3 Click File
4 Click Merge whit Catalog then open the catalog you have chosen. (I have highlite whit yellow the merge area ther you catalog open)
5 Click on Elements and chose for thi exampel Appliances and now you will get this; look at catalog_manager_elements.jpg
6 Now you can chose to import all or specific item. If you chose to import item make shure that you have rigth Grupes.
7. You also have to merg the materials to you master copy. Click on Libraries and choce Materials.
It will look as image catalog_manager_libraries.jpg.
8. If you will import all material make chure that the filter is on all materials. Other vice it is the same as import item
9 Then you done, close the catalog you have open in period 4 do step 3 and 4 but use close.
10 Then click File and then Save Catalog and you ar done.
11 Close the Catalog Manager.

/Robert

Hi all,

I didn't need to call them to get the link for the additional catalogs. It was in a long paragraph at the bottom of the order confirmation email they sent. Just my two cent.

Cheers.

[Doug.S]

Since I bought my TFP from CadCourse on DVD it came with some extras...but the total of all catalogs was 113MB including duplicate master (imperial and metric)....compared to your download at 233MB...

Here is my file info....wondering if you have any different files and/or file sizes....do you have the same/different or more objects?... if we all bought from different places did we receive different catalogs?...and if so, wonder why? and if there is a way for us all to have the maximum objects.  Of course by now we all may have some slight variations if we have modified and added objects to our catalogs....(and also how bits are counted: 1024 or 1K)

TurboFLOORPLAN_Master Catalog Metric.bdb    27,105,855           9/4/2007 11:00 AM
TurboFLOORPLAN_Master Catalog.bdb              27,507,780          10/27/2007 7:40 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - Appliances.bdb                   336,548                 8/9/2007 3:41 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - Fixtures.bdb                   28,972,610     8/9/2007 2:19 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntAccessories.bdb          14,621,679     8/9/2007 2:34 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntFurniture.bdb                19,232,779     8/9/2007 3:54 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntLighting.bdb                    1,090,251                  8/9/2007 3:35 PM

[Robert W - "robban"]

Since I bought my TFP from CadCourse on DVD it came with some extras...but the total of all catalogs was 113MB including duplicate master (imperial and metric)....compared to your download at 233MB...

Here is my file info....wondering if you have any different files and/or file sizes....do you have the same/different or more objects?... if we all bought from different places did we receive different catalogs?...and if so, wonder why? and if there is a way for us all to have the maximum objects.  Of course by now we all may have some slight variations if we have modified and added objects to our catalogs....(and also how bits are counted: 1024 or 1K)

TurboFLOORPLAN_Master Catalog Metric.bdb    27,105,855           9/4/2007 11:00 AM
TurboFLOORPLAN_Master Catalog.bdb              27,507,780          10/27/2007 7:40 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - Appliances.bdb                   336,548                 8/9/2007 3:41 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - Fixtures.bdb                   28,972,610     8/9/2007 2:19 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntAccessories.bdb          14,621,679     8/9/2007 2:34 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntFurniture.bdb                19,232,779     8/9/2007 3:54 PM
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntLighting.bdb                    1,090,251                  8/9/2007 3:35 PM

All this is included in the exe-file: TurboFLOORPLAN-Home-Landscape-Pro-Extras.exe      244 992 768 or 233Mb (1024 bits count)
Element Catalogs\ 64 511 277 /6 files
Images - COLOR\ 44 047 598  / 228 files
Images - FRONT\ 125 990 070 /1 001 files
Images - REAR\ 471 922  /2 files
Images for Tracing - GROUND FLOOR\ 85 701 152 /1 000 files
Images for Tracing - SECOND FLOOR\ 39 766 391 / 596 files
----------------
This is included in filecatalog ELEMENT CATALOGS:
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - Fixtures.bdb                          28 972 610
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntAccessories.bdb                 14 621 679
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntLighting.bdb                      1 090 251
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - Appliances.bdb                       336 548
TurboFLOORPLANv12 - IntFurniture.bdb                     19 232 779
Understanding the TurboFLOORPLAN Catalog.pdf            257 410
------------------------------------
The Images Catalogs is a diffrent floorplans and In COLOR: 3-d extern images of the buildings I'm not sure if the images is actual photos of existing buildings or make by raytracing the most of this images is of very good quality.
I also get the extras for TurboFLOORPLAN-Home in this are the only the IMAGES catalogs only there are much more in TurboFLOORPLAN-Home-Landscape-Pro-Extras
Robert

[Doug.S]

It appears we have the same sets of files.

I looked at the color/front/rear/first floor/second floor etc files and also concluded they were for tracing and I didn't have much use for them so they are still on DVD for later use if needed.

[Robert W - "robban"]

I have find out that all etem you have in the drawing must be in the same catalog other vice the  program will crach.
This dll have somthing to do whit it msvcr80.dll
If you tray to delet a grupe you have merged whit your "standar" catalog will make the program to crach same dll is interference.
/robban

[Doug.S]

I have not mixed items from two catalogs lately....but did try that with the trial TFP12 and it worked for me without a crash

I just opened an alternate catalog, selected, inserted, switched back to master catalog, continued work and rendered and saved and it worked OK

I'll try again someday soon to re-verify but I'd expect it to work.

I have not ever merged any catalogs.

[Nik]

Hi, may not be relevant, but could you check which version or versions you have of msvcr80.dll ??

I'm thinking of 'classic' FP's problems with MFC42.dll. That came in several flavours, but one auto-installed by a now-old MS Office (year?) notoriously crashed several other programs due an un-documented tweak...

Searching this XP_SP2 Browser_PC found two msvcr80.dll files, both 612kb, but with versions...
8.00.50727.42
8.00.50727.163

Um, you will have to set 'show hidden/system files' option in search parameters...
(FX: Kicks himself after first search drew blank ;-)

[Robert W - "robban"]

I have the same that com with TFP  msvcr80.dll version 8.00.50727.762, I have test a litel more and find out if I set Texture Mapping: to auto most of the time then I render whit raytracing the program crach, but not whit face or box I use dxf import I down load frome Kohler CO, and I make a new catalog bdb-file.
/robban

[Doug.S]

I use dxf import I down load frome Kohler CO, and I make a new catalog bdb-file.
/robban

Does the Kohler Co dxf models render "smoothly"?   When I render the  TFP toilet and sink (inserted in a bath vanity cabinet) the surfaces (vertex faces) render as small triangles...rather distracting and I did not find any smoothing capability in TFP.  I thought about exporting toilet from FP11 and using in TFP or I'd get Kohler stuff if it renders well.

[Robert W - "robban"]

You look for you self, but I thin some is smoothly and some have  faces I have not try all ther is in one big zip-file 57 Mb I attach a zippad excel-file whit the range of Kohler dxf-file they have also the same dxf-files in  dwg format.
/robban

[Doug.S]

Thanks for your post and image and .xls file

I'd say that your Kohler dxf toilet seems about the same smoothness as I got from TFP....see pic attached 15-2c toilet  (some distortion because I used a wide angle camera in a small room)

Also see 15-2c sink which has vertex faces lit unevenly at q=3 and as I remember even at q=5 it was no better.  And also note the mismatch of counter-top between center section and cabinets on both sides...with all using same settings...and that same material applied to the sink to simulate a single piece "marbelite" type sink/counter-top  (cast polymer).

In comparison also see 9-0 toilet which is from FP10 and image quality (model smoothness) is better and its only a raytrace render....hence I'll try to export the model from FP10 and use in TFP12 and see if it is better......and/or export the TFP12 model and smooth or tessellate or subdivide the vertex model mesh, then re-import....when I find some time.

Kohler does have a large selection of elongated toilets..and their site has easy access to dxf and dwg models....thanks for the pointer.  Other suppliers also have models but I'm not at the stage of customer specified all plumbing/hardware/tile/wood/etc. as yet and not sure I'll need to get that exact...but it should look nice.

[Doug.S]

In comparison also see 9-0 toilet which is from FP10 and image quality (model smoothness) is better and its only a raytrace render....hence I'll try to export the model from FP10 and use in TFP12 and see if it is better

I exported the FP model as .dxf and imported it into TFP12 as dxf and replaced the TFP toilet and re-rendered...

- good news is that the imported dxf mesh is now visible in 2D view (TFP toilet went into hiding when I changed the materials, but since I deleted it and re-inserted it, and again changed the weave texture to porcelain, now shows with blue outline again....can't explain that)

- bad news is that the FP toilet did not render any differently...looks OK as basic render but vertex faceted for advanced render, even at q=5

PS I had that happen before with a vertex sphere for a convex mirror...replaced the vertex model with a native spline type model and render was perfect. Curved vertex models, even with lots of polys often renders faceted....more poly faces means a bigger model and smaller facets but still looks "checkered"