3D Image View Switching Between Rendered and Something Like Wireframe

[allencar]

Hello All,

I am trying out TurboFloorplan and when I view using the 3D Camera View, the image switches from the Rendered view to something like the Wireframe with what I think may be every surface shown as a outline, See attached screenshots.  The plan is a very simple "house" using the House Plan Wizard with only outside walls and a tree (the included sample plans also have this problem but for troubshooting I created a much simpler house).  The image reverts to a normal 3D image when any of the movement controls are used (Fly Around, etc.)  It appears to change to the wireframe if I click anywhere on the 3D image.  The normal image also comes back if I zoom out (one step) with the mouse scroll wheel.  Has anyone else seen this problem or anyone know a solution?

Everthing else works fine, after I read the posts on 3D Real View Rendering.  If the Advanced Render fails, I can move the camera and it has worked everytime.   

I have an Athon X2 6000, 4GB DDR2 1066 RAM, Sapphire 512 MB Radeon 3650 PCI-E graphics on a Gigabyte GA-MA790GP with the AMD 790GX chipset running Windows XP Service Pack 3 and all updated drivers (as of today).  The computer runs the FurMark Fuzzy doughnut Open GL benchmark without any problem, so hardware compatibility should be OK.  I have played with a number of other home architect programs and I like everthing about this one except this one item.

Thanks,
Allen

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Allen, (great name!)

Welcome to the Forum.

Something like this was reported once previously http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,602.0.html and the user at the time seemed to have a related computer/graphics card, so I opened your model on my desktop (Nvidia Graphics and is still running V12.0 which yours is) - everthing worked normally for me!  I then opened it on my laptop (Radeon Graphics) which has the update to V12.1 applied and it was normal also. 

Of course none of these are exactly the same graphics cards and certainly not the same computer specs but it would indicate to me that the wireframe problem is related to the graphics rendering on computer itself, as everthing was normal for me.  I don't think you can apply the update to the trial version but that may not help anyway, as my non-updated version was OK.  The update (link at bottom of Forum) fixed a number of rendering / crashing issues including the 'move camera solution' you mentioned too I think.

Did you try turning off Hardware Acceleration? (Settings / Program Settings / Graphics). I noticed it was still on in your model. It does cause problems with some particular computers for some reason. HA is good for moving around but sometimes causes display problems.  The previous enquirer did not reply, so I do not know if that fixed his problem.  Worth a try - let us know if it worked.

Interestingly your wireframe view is not even the same as when I manually switch mine to wireframe (see image) - yours has many more facets.  I do not know what that implies - presumably something to do with the way the PC is dealing with the graphics.  Unfortunately I am not a computer technical person so can't offer any other suggestions.  Hopefully some others can offer different solutions if the HA does not fix it.

Allan

[Ricardo]

Hello allencar,

I have had the exact same problem as you and I did what Allan suggested by turning off the hardware acceleration in TFP and now it works a bit slower but its normal rendered view.

Might I ask what graphics card you are using? I'm using ATI 9600XT 256MB.

Happy holidays!

[allencar]

Hello Allan and Ricardo,

Thank you for the quick reply.  I thought I had tried turning the Hardware Acceleration off, but it looks like I got confused because that cured the problem.  So I will turn off HA to actually work with the plan and select objects for modification; and then if I want to reposition the camera and fly around I will use HA because the image moves around smoothly and fast.

I also noticed that the image was not exactly like the wireframe, that is why I added "Somewhat Like".  My guess is that each closed shape represents a surface in the 3D image, but a lot of them are normally hidden behind the outer layers.

Ricardo,
My graphics card is a Sapphire 512 MB Radeon 3650 PCI-E graphics.

Thank you,
Allen

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Allen,

I am glad that fixed the problem for you. We have asked for a simple HA on/off switch on the Status Bar (like the Collision one) so we are hoping that may be in the next version.

A new version of Envisioneer has already been advertised in a magazine, although not on their website yet, so hopefully a new TFP will follow shortly after its eventual release.

Allan

[Ricardo]

Ah yes the reason I asked for you're graphics card is because a friend of mine is using Nvidia's GeForce and he has no problems with it and he said ATI put some updates for drivers(he mentioned something with Catalyst Control Center) into circulation about a month ago which you cant turn of or on, so that might be the cause of this problem.

So I wouldn't be surprised if more ATI users come across this problem.

[kanewolf]

I see this thread is OLD, but I am having the same situation.  Yes, turning off hardware acceleration corrects the problem, but then WHY BOTHER having a decent video card.  I specifically added the video card to the computer to improve 3D rendering.  Video card is an HD 4550 with the latest ATI control center loaded.  I had no problems with the Intel motherboard graphics.  Definitely something about ATI catalyst drivers and Turbofloorplan (Kitchens and Baths in this case).  Any kind of movement in the model will "solidify" the objects but if you stop moving and bump the mouse cursor then the display reverts to wireframe.  So far, no option I have tried in the catalyst control center has any effect on the problem.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi,  Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear you are having trouble with Hardware Acceleration.  It seems that various combinations of video cards, drivers and PC combinations cause the problem and with some very different effects for different machines.  I have a desktop with Nvidia card and a laptop with ATI but the latter is 3 years old now and no sign of a control centre that I am aware of (haven't needed to look for one). TFP works beautifully on both with HA enabled all the time.

I have been thinking of getting a new laptop but the few experiences in this post may make me think twice about laptops with ATI cards, lest I run into the same issues.  I had them years ago with a previous PC and it was a real pain. I know how you feel!

I am not a technical person so I'm afraid I can't make any other suggestions unfortunately.

Allan

[kanewolf]

Is this forum monitored by the vendor or is this a user only forum?  I have seen other applications which the ATI drivers effected...  Does anyone know if the 3D rendering is done via the OpenGL interface?

[Allan Chesney]

The forum is a user forum although Dave Taylor the TFP Product Manager at IMSI pops in occasionally.

You could use Messages in the top menu of the Forum to contact him personally - he may have more information.

Another option would be to ask the question on the Envisioneer forum. It is the parent program and the 3D part is identical. Envisioneer and their forum is part of Cadsoft who are the originators of both programs, so they would likely have answers if anyone does. It is a very active forum and you would likely get a quick response. Cadsoft also have a lot of direct input.

Allan

[kanewolf]

Much abliged for the leads....

[luke890]

Hi there!

I know this topic is an old one but I have just bought a new computer and have been suffering from the same problem as this (really annoying when I want to add textures with the paintbrush tool). I noticed that Allen mentioned an update that may fix the problem. Is anyone able to direct me to this? If not, does anyone know of any other solutions?

I've tried turning off the Hardware Acceleration and whilst this works, it makes moving around in 3D view extremely slow!

Thanks in advance

Luke

[Dave Taylor (TFP Product Manager)]

I will follow up with CADsoft as with some of the newer ATI cards there were some problems reported and I believe Cadsoft was working directly with ATI for optimization. 
I have an older ATI card on my home system and have never had these problems. 
Also even if you have purchased a new system you should still look for an updated driver as the system or card may have been built prior to ATI
releasing an update for that card.

[Draftcad]

Hi there,

I didn't experience this problem with TFP using my main computer (with ATI Radeon HD 2600), however, I encountered some issues with graphic programs using my second computer (with Nvidia card)
You can try these steps, they helped in my case

1 - Check the website of your video card manufacturer and update the drivers
2 - Right click on the wallpaper (look for a place without icons)--> Properties--> Settings--> Advanced--> Open GL--> Compatibility Settings--> Force 16 bits--> Apply--> OK
3 - Set your video color depth at 24 or 32 bits ("true color")
4 - Go to www.microsoft.com/directx, and see what version is current and check if you have this version installed in your computer
5- Some NVidia cards show additional problems (in special the combination of Nvidia + Windows Vista)--> change the color settings from 32 bit to 16 bit

Hope this helps 

Pat / Draftcad

[Allan Chesney]

I noticed that Allen mentioned an update that may fix the problem. Is anyone able to direct me to this? If not, does anyone know of any other solutions?

Hi Luke,

Hopefully some of the other suggestions will have helped. 
There is a link to the update in the 'Patches and Updates' section at the bottom of the forum.

Welcome to the forum by the way!!

Allan