Hi-- I'm just getting started with TurboFloorPlan. I'm using it to design a kitchen/family room in my house. The basics are going well--I can create walls, cielings, floors and add doors, windows, and openings. Neat program!
Here is where I am stumped: I need to create soffits in the kitchen for the kitchen cabinets. I have tried adding custom members to the catalog. I created a rectangular solid member using the Catalog Manager. I added it to the catalog successfully, but I can't find the Members group in the Main Menu. So, I'm not sure I am on the right track or not.
Is there a tutorial that shows how to do this sort of thing? I've been through the Help file and User Manual, and I can't find anything on point. If there isn't a tutorial, I'd really appreciate it if someone could help me get started on this problem. Thanks!
Hi David,
Welcome to the Forum!!
There is a Decorative Beam in Interior Accessories / Decorative that you can resize and position anywhere. The only 'problem' with it is that to change its appearance you have to change every surface which is a bit of a pain when you just want them all the same.
An alternative are some Shapes and a mini tutorial how to insert them, at this address http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,315.0.html (http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,315.0.html). There are a few shapes and further down that post some extra ones I added (triangles etc) that may be useful for different things. If you use the same way in that tutorial to import your other "rectangular solid member" into the Interior Accessories, it should automatically be in the Group you put it into and will become part of your catalog.
I am not actually clear what you mean by "soffits in the kitchen for the kitchen cabinets". In Australia I find a lot of building terms are different, so I cannot offer any suggestions how to use these shapes to do what you want, as I do not quite know what it is. I am guessing it is a 'box' connecting the cupboards to the ceiling - if so the box shape should easily do the job. If you still get stuck and need more help just give me a description of what you you are trying to do (or someone familiar with the term from your part of the world may provide the suggestions).
Allan
Thanks, Allan--that looks like what I need. And yes, in the US, a box dropped down from a kitchen ceiling, to fill the gap between the upper cabinets and the ceiling, is often referred to as a soffit. I suppose that's because it bears some passing resemblance to a soffit on a roof.
Thanks also for all of your other posts on this forum! I've been going through them while learning TFP, and they have been very helpful.
Regards,
David Veeneman
Chicago USA
David,
There are other ways you could do that but I think the 'box' is proabably the easiest way.
All the best with it.
Allan,
Perth
Western Australia
BTW, congrats on the Team Australia women swimmers--very impressive!
I like swimming but I am certainly not in that class!!!!
Going to bed now - after nidnight!
Allan
For the benefit of subsequent readers of this thread: The box works great. The Move command does well for moving the box around along the floor, but you will need to right-click the box and select Elevate to move it up to the ceiling. Thanks again, Allan!
and if you turn collision detection off, you can make the box oversize and let it run into the ceiling, walls, and cabinets and not have to position it exactly...just don't let it poke thru a wall or it may show in the next room.
also sometimes called a valance (tho a valance is often open sided and put over windows) or cornice, look here for info and .3ds objects
http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,226.msg956.html#msg956