Trying out program & things don't seem to work

[milesarch]

I'm using the latest trial version, trying to see if it works for my needs. I think I'm going to be on here with a bunch of questions because a lot of things are not doing what I expect and HELP isn't much HELP.

I created a building with a roof, using the wizard. I put two dormers on the roof. I wanted to edit them because they were too high for the roof. But I couldn't select a dormer to edit the properties. I could only select the roof of it or sometimes a wall by itself. I then read what HELP said about deleting or moving, that is, I have to move each piece separately (Ok, that doesn't seem like a "smart" CAD program, but I'll keep trying). So I deleted the roof pieces and 3 wall pieces. There still remains an opening in the roof. Following HELP, I right clicked and selected the option to delete an opening, but nothing happens. The opening does not have handles, as HELP says it should. How do I remove the openings that the dormers made?

[Jack Zimmer]

Select the roof, right click , select cut opening.

Create a new opening bigger than the original.

Now 'remove opening' using the new opening.

If there is a place on this forum to report such bugs or inconsitances, you should post your finding there for the developers.

Z

[milesarch]

Jack, thanks for the advice.

However I got unexpected results. I cut out a larger opening, which was in the side of a simple hip roof. It cut a wonky kind of hole right down to the bottom and put hips on it. I tried to delete this opening per the HELP instructions, by clicking on any and all of the handles, but it will not be deleted. Can you or someone look at the attached file? Is this a bug? If so I don't see a forum for reporting that.

I'm also already skeptical about the program since I found something this wonky within five minutes of use 

[Jack Zimmer]

They have made dormers to be a completely independent , almost like a new 'building', that is why it is in 'parts' but also the reason why you can indepentantly edit walls, roof.

So, with the flexibilty comes the problem you are experiencing.

I have looked into this further based on the above observations and have to retract my previous solution.

Here is what is happening and it is as designed , not a bug.

When adding a dormer you get walls and roof, just as if you had drawn them by hand. This gives you flexiblity to adjust all aspects of the dormer and also to add windows. You are in control.

To modify you must move walls or drag roof edges, just like a mini model. I think that is fantastic!

Now to remove a dormer , you must do as you have said , delete the individual parts. The easiest is to go to 3D hold down the shift key and select all the walls and roof then hit delete.

The remain item to be 'removed' is the opening (whick is normally done by right click / remove opening command) BUT this is NOT an OPENING

What has happen when the dormer was inserted, the Roof Properties  / Solution Type / is set to cut opening around next story.

Simply change that Solution Type to 'Ignore Next Story" after deleting and your ready to continue on or add a new Dormer.

One other thing, the 'back side' of the Dormer must be 'open' so from the inside you can see out. The auto Dormer option then automatically draws 2 side and 1 front wall but the 'back side' must also be closed in order for a roof to be added. This would be a technique used in normal wall / roof construction.

So, what is used to close off the back side ?  A 'room division' line is used , which is in essence an invisilbe wall .

Make sure you go back to plan view and delete the little dotted line that is that 'room division' tool line.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br>

This is the final solution :-)   

Delete walls / roof of Dormer. In View filter set Roof to be not selectable. In plan view click on backside of opening to select that little line (room division) / delete it, then turn the roof back to selectable , grab the edge of the roof and drag it out and the opening will disappear.

[JoeW]

I have noticed that the TurboFLOORPLAN support page has a number of FAQ articles. http://www.imsidesign.com/Support/TurboFLOORPLANSupport/tabid/515/Default.aspx

[milesarch]

Gosh, I thought this program was being marketed as easier to use than TurboCAD 

Before I can try this, how can I simply restore this roof back to what it was before I put in the "roof opening"? I can't seem to select it with the tool that is supposed to remove a roof opening. I've tried clicking on every handle. I've also double clicked them and right clicked to no avail. Am I right in guessing I have to delete all or part of this roof and create a fresh roof?

It's beginning to look like I might have to start over a building or some part of it each time I get into this kind of hole (no pun intended) because UNDO is greyed out and doesn't work for any tool I've used so far. It didn't work to UNDO the dormer tool and it didn't work to UNDO the roof opening tool. That concerns me because one could lose a lot of time trying ideas that one can't easily erase. What I'm looking for is a design program has the ability to quickly try a lot of options in a building-realistic way and show them to clients. I know this sounds like a rant, but I'm assuming that the IMSI people are looking for feedback. If a CAD program is marketed as a "professional" program they really need to keep in mind what professionals need to do in order to provide their services in an economical way. Time is money.

Another question: is there a tutorial available for those who want to learn TurboFloorplan by some other means than trial and error? The wizard is nice but the options are too limited for my needs. I also need to find out how easy it is to create the buildings with precision, that is, to snap to an incremental unit or point instead of placing things at random as was done in the video demo.

[Robert W - "robban"]

I'm using the latest trial version, trying to see if it works for my needs. I think I'm going to be on here with a bunch of questions because a lot of things are not doing what I expect and HELP isn't much HELP.

I created a building with a roof, using the wizard. I put two dormers on the roof. I wanted to edit them because they were too high for the roof. But I couldn't select a dormer to edit the properties. I could only select the roof of it or sometimes a wall by itself. I then read what HELP said about deleting or moving, that is, I have to move each piece separately (Ok, that doesn't seem like a "smart" CAD program, but I'll keep trying). So I deleted the roof pieces and 3 wall pieces. There still remains an opening in the roof. Following HELP, I right clicked and selected the option to delete an opening, but nothing happens. The opening does not have handles, as HELP says it should. How do I remove the openings that the dormers made?

You dubble click on the roof in then You are in 3-d and the roof repair it self
robban

[Jack Zimmer]

Thanks Robban,

That is the easist way yet, delete walls / roof and double click to remove opening. Simple.

Z