I am using TFP v14 and I am not too impressed. I am beginning to think it is a waste of money.
I have trouble drawing cavity walls.
I cannot draw walls with solid fill.
Every time I start a project I have to change the settings so that I can use metric maesurements.
And so it goes on.
Am I the only one having these problems.
I don't consider myself a whiz but I have not had these problems with other software.
I actually used Home Designer before deciding to use TFP and didn't have these sorts of problems.
TFP appealed because it had Aus/NZ walls, doors, windows etc.
Would appreciate any help, perhaps direct me to where I can get additional information.
Thanks, Colin.
Hi Colin,
Stick with it!! TFP is is an excellent program, it is just a matter of becoming familiar with how it works. I am continually impressed with what it can do. I have been using it almost daily since version 3 and, after all those years, I still find new things that it can do.
Cavity walls are no different to draw than any other, except that it must form a room for the exterior veneer to be added (as explained in answer to your first question).
To have walls with solid fill you must turn them on in the wall Properties and in Settings/Programme Settings/Drawing Aids (tick Enable Solid Fill). I think some walls may not have the solid fill capability but most do, as long as both places are ticked.
When you installed the program it would have asked you whether you wanted Metric, otherwise it defaults to Imperial. It is easy just to click Next, Next, Next and miss it (I did it too last time!). You can change this in Settings/Programme Settings/Units of Measure, but this only changes it in the project you are working on. To force it to use Metric, you can go to the Programme Settings again and on the General tab change the "Startup using Project Template" to the Metric one (it should be in the same folder). You can force it to default to some other settings too if you want (eg your own Location settings - wall height, floor levels etc) by making these changes and then saving these under another name and use that as the "startup template".
There are several ways learn the program functions quickly. The best way is to read the user guide from cover to cover (all 300+ pages!!!) but that is not particularly quick to do. I always recommend going through every tab in the Programme Settings and study each option, so you will know what can be changed if you want to. The default settings are usually fine for most things but once you start using it you may want it to work slightly differently - you will then know where to go to change it (eg Solid Wall Fill, Automatic Floors, Nudge distance - sets the arrow key movement distance, Background image etc.). Also study the Building Location Settings so you understand the vertical settings in the program.
This forum is a good source of information too of course. Use the Search for common words, as just about everything has been covered at some time and of course, if you cant find what you want and are stuck, just ask the question here. The best teacher however is practice. Just use a blank page and draw anything and everthing, trying out all the tools to see what the do. Turn the Tutor on (Help menu) for some quick help on the building tools. Don't forget the right click, as it gives access to many other functions in different situations and in dialog boxes, double click things, you will be surprised what opens up.
TFP is in fact a very technical program, capable of very elaborate work (eg http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,758.0.html (http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,758.0.html)), so never underestimate what it can do. A lot of it is hidden underneath what is really a simple interface, as lot of the technicality is not of interest to many users who maybe just want play around with the design of a house they are going to build, but the technical accuracy and functionality is there too, for the profressional user.
Hope some of that helps. Don't give up - it is a facinating program to use once you are familar with it.
Allan
Hi Allan,
After seeing some of the work you have done perhaps I will just have to persist.
Cavity Walls - Still problems as noted in my other posts.
Solid Fill - Found my problem. Had Programme Settings>Building Aids enable solid fill selected.
Wall Properties>Appearance; exterior surface was selected when I enabled solid fill.
Selected 2D core then solid fill and I got solid fill in 2D plan view.
Can I make solid fill normal or do I have to select for each wall?
Metric - Have changed template Programme Settigs>General as you suggested and now appears OK.
Allan, thank you for your assistance, it is very much appreciated.
Colin
Hi Colin,
Will leave the cavity walls to the other post.
If you want solid fill all the time, then change this setting in the wall properties in the Material 'tree'. Select the wall, right click and select Edit. it will use it all the time then when you select this wall unless you turn it off in Settings. That is why there are two controls for this.
To change the existing walls, select one, right click, choose Select All Similar, then select Properties and change the setting. An alternative, Select All Similar, then right click, choose Replace and replace the selected walls with the one in the Materials tree that you have changed to solid fill. If you do this, bear in mind that ALL the settings for the wall will change, so if you have tiles on the wall in a bathroom for example, they will change to whatever you have as the standard wall appearance.
Just wondered since you are using Australian/NZ walls where abouts you live. I am in the hills above Perth WA.
Allan
Hi Allan,
My thoughts were to use the solid fill as a work around so that the wall would show at the correct thickness.
I would prefer to have the 230mm/240mm brick veneer wall show as it should.
Have replied on other post re problems I still have and what I might try.
I live about 7km north east of Adelaide.
Colin
Colin,
If you are mainly concerned about the thickness, then just set any wall (core) to 230mm or whatever you want. The Core is the total thickness if no veneer is involved. You may also want to set the 2D core setting so it is not yellow, as it is a bit hard to see (Select in Line Style). Even a single wall will show the outside texture if it joins to make a 'room'.
As per the other post it may just be a Hardware Acceleration issue - turn it off and try before you reinstall.
The image shows how these two walls appear in my plan view.
Allan