Hi all, I have been an occasional user since FP4 and upgraded in a couple of jumps to FP11 (which was a rather disappointing version) and after a couple of years away I find everything has changed to TCFP12 so purchased the upgrade.
The old forum was very helpful and had most of the answers on file but the link is dead. I registered as a new user here because my log-in no longer works.
So are the historical threads still available? ???
Hi Roofless,
If you are referring to:
http://forums.imsisoft.com/forums/Main.cfm?CFApp=232
The site has been up and down recently and is currently available. Make sure in your options that you have 'Listed Threads' checked for 365 days to give you the last years summary for threads.
Also make sure that all forums (that you are interested in) are checked.
If you want some great tips for v8-11 (I don't have v12 so I don't know how relative this would be) Also see:
http://www.cadcourse.biz/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=117
Great Price for anyone wanting to learn Classic Floorplan. This is the version for the Book + CD.
Also support for v 9 and below has disappeared for imsi's website, reason as of yet, unknown.
http://www.imsidesign.com/Support/FloorPlanSupport/FloorPlanUpdates/tabid/494/Default.aspx
Terry
Quote from: Roofless on April 12, 2008, 06:27:04 AM
Hi all, I have been an occasional user since FP4 and upgraded in a couple of jumps to FP11 (which was a rather disappointing version) and after a couple of years away I find everything has changed to TCFP12 so purchased the upgrade.
The old forum was very helpful and had most of the answers on file but the link is dead. I registered as a new user here because my log-in no longer works.
So are the historical threads still available? ???
Good question! The old Forum has been up and down (mostly down) for a couple of weeks (see the Totally Off-Topic section). No one seems to know what is going on with it. I have just tried it again now but got the usual 'cannot be found' message. Then I tried finding it from the IMSIDesign Support page and did find it here: http://forums.imsisoft.com/forums/Main.cfm?CFApp=232. This link is different to the one in my bookmarks (forums. prefix) so maybe this is your problem also.
I started off with V3, stayed with V4 until V7 (5 and 6 big problems with new rendering engine - Lightworks) by V8 it was sorted and, other than V9, the later version were OK. Actually I think V10 was best but V11 turned out some very good results for me. V12 (TurboFLOORPLAN) is, as you no doubt realise, a totally different product really, although it does share some dialog boxes and basic functionality.
It is actually much more flexible than V11 but, as with all software these days, it has a few bugs too, although I would say these are very minor really. As always, a lot of reported bugs are just a question of the user not knowing how things are done. The main genuine problems are in the photo-realistic rendering. Basic (Raytrace) is fine but Advance (radiosity) rendering takes a lot of tweaking to get it right. It is capable of superb results but a lot of experimenting required.
You should be able to get most of the answers you need here, although we are all still learning from each other as in the old forum. Some of the techniques used in V11 and previous versions work in TFP too but many of the workarounds we came up with before are not needed in V12. The Search function in this forum is does a reasonable job so you should find the answers you are looking for - if not just ask.
Allan
I fully agree with Allan. Of course more flexibility in a program also means more to do and more to learn....but TFP12 help file and o screen help and design wizards make learning easier....and any earlier experience with FPxx readily applies to TFP as the basic concepts are the same, just new menus and mousing around as well as keystrokes.
I think the basic raytrace renders were a bit better in FP11 than TFP12.....but when setup working OK, TFP12 radiosity renders are much much better.
from above: "If you want some great tips for v8-11 (I don't have v12 so I don't know how relative this would be".....
The FP8 book/pdf/video was great for v8 thru v11 but has rather limited value for TFP12 except in a general sense of how to think about solutions....but the menus and process steps no longer apply....but I think Jack Zimmer has developed some newer materials....see CadCourse.com or .net
Hi Allan, you helped me out before, with a sloping section question I think. Nice to see Jack is still here too. And it is funny to see myself listed as 'newbie', I must have been playing with this for nearly 10 years!
I am trying to get a grip on TCFP12, everything is different but some things are easy now, the 3D function is much better. As usual the FP instructions are vague and we must figure it out ourselves.
Yes the program has changed but unfortunately it seems the support hasn't. It started out OK but it seems we have been left to ourselves again to sort it all out. You will find many of the previous version regulars are here too (and yes we still hear from Jack occasionally) along with ones from 3D Home architect which TFP V12 also replaced. Like you, we all started off as newbies though and I suppose we are since the program has really changed so much.
I have listed below some "secrets" and new features with this version - just to make you aware of them early if you haven't discovered them yet:
[1] Status bar - Toggles for Collison. snap angles etc
[2] Nudge tool - keyboard arrow keys will move things on plan and 3D. (Nudge distance on Settings/Program Settings/Drawing Aids)
[3] No copy/paste but can Right Click/Duplicate (it automatically pastes in same place so just drag the copy away)
[4] Right Click Replace - to change items in the model to a new item or new settings.
[5] Get into the habbit of double-clicking things in the dialog boxes, there are 'endless' levels of customisation.
[6] Hardware acceleration is still a problem on some PCs. If you get odd efffects then turn it off and try again. (Settings/ Program Settings / Graphics)
[7] Get used to checking the right click menu - many new things are available.
[8] To change the properties of multiples of the same item (eg Walls) you must shift click on each - drawing a line around them does select them but the Properties box is not available.
[9] You can now move groups of walls, rotate them, mirror them and the walls themselves are much more elaborate. (Rotation/mirror will only be available if Dimensions are turned off)
[10] For rendering read the thread http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,117.0.html
(http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,117.0.html) as it has the results of a lot of experiments to get this right and some of the bugs to watch for.
[11] Materials Paintbrush (Edit menu) will pick up a texture from one item and paste it onto another - quicker than opening the properties of each.
[12] You can put a roof, floor or ceiling anywhere (they do not have to relate to walls) - choose to insert 'By Picking Points'.
[13] Even textures can be shiny, transparent or emit light. They can also be rotated and moved on the object - doubleclick the texture.
[14] You can add your own photos of trees, plants, animals, anything and (although flat) they will always face the camera so the look right. (Photoboards) Can be quite effective if done right.
That will have to do for now - it was a while before I discovered some of these things so thought I would pass them on. Hopefully it will help you get into them quicker.
Regards,
Allan
Also, TFP12 plays nice with Sketchup and there are a large number of objects available free in Google Sketchup warehouse, including 2D (photoboard) and 3D people and collections for architecture and other "trades"