I finally was able to order version 14 through work for a discount and received the Program yesterday. I installed it on my vista PC and everything is working so far. I have one question. On the CD I got, it has some extras. Does anyone know if those are already in the catalog or am I going to have to import them in? I am assuming that since they are "extras" that I will need to add them to the catalog.
By the way, I complained about not receiving any upgrade offer on TFP 14 even though I have two previous version including v12. I received an offer at work where I haven't ordered anything from IMSI. Go figure. Maybe they think they can do a better business. It worked. I ordered for me at home.
I only have the downloaded version of V14 but I assume the 'extras' are the same as previous ones, which were all 3DS files. These, while you can resize them and change textures, they are not editable otherwise. I did not find many that were useable for the type of things I do, so only imported one. If you were to bring them all in 'just in case', it may inflate your catalog somewhat and cause memory issues, so I would suggest looking at them first before you import them..
As you start the import, you can see what they look like and terminate the import, then start the next one and so on. Some of the bathroom sets were not too bad but because you cannot edit them as such, if you wanted to move the shower or add a different basin in the vanity for example, so I was not able to use them. Your needs may be different of course.
Allan
Honestly, I am getting bummed out here. I purchased my Turbo v14 from Broderbund and have no luck contacting them about the CD-2 I did not get when they sent me the software. I' really do have a need for additional catalogs but can't seem to find them.
It appears that broderbund offers no support at all for turbo.....
Any help would be appreciated...
You could try IMSI Design support on this one. As the publisher of TurboFLOORPLAN they should be able to help. Personally I did not find many useful items and they are not fully editable, as are the ones supplied in the program itself, but of course that depends on what you are looking for.
There are many other items you can put into your catalogue from other sources. Search on Google for 3DS files. (Import via File> Import> Object Wizard or if you are likely to use the object repeatedly Right click in Interior Accessories, select Add Element and choose "Import geometry from file".)
BIM files however are better as they are more editable and come complete with textures. (File> Catalogue> Import BIM) They are often produced by product manufacturers themselves so reflect the object 'exactly'. Examples: http://www.green3dhome.com/GoGreen/BIMCatalogs.aspx (http://www.green3dhome.com/GoGreen/BIMCatalogs.aspx).
Beware of importing too many objects as it can slow the whole program down, depending on your PC of course. Some web available 3DS files can be VERY large. Beautiful models but VERY big in memory requirements!!
Within TFP it is very easy to make your own objects too depending what you want. You may find these posts useful:
http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,315.0.html (http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,315.0.html)
http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,763.0.html (http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,763.0.html)
http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,805.0.html (http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,805.0.html).
I have a number of objects I have made or collected also that I don't mind sharing - What sort of object were you looking for?
Allan
Thanks Allan,
I have had some luck editing existing object. For instance, turning a built in oven into a built-in dishwasher. Simply because there isn't a built in dishwasher in the catalog. (can you still buy a portable?)
I tend to get frustrated for instance when I require something as simple as a corner shelf that can be edited to my needs. Or any corner shelf at all....
Showing customers a 3d view of what their going to end up with is an essential tool in my business. Unfortunately, simply telling someone there's going to be a shelf right there, often leaves them confused.....
I appreciate your response!
thanks
!
You should have at least two dishwashers under Kitchen Appliances. They can easily be make to be built in simply by putting them into a cupboard with the front sticking out a fraction. You can also take a photo of the front of one, import it and apply it to a box of the right size and you have made your own (that looks exactly like yours!) and poke this into a cabinet too.
Corner shelves can be made out of many things, depending what they look like. I have included a few examples in the image. If you are only using the inside of the model, then you can just use the Custom Member from Interior Accessories and poke it through the walls across the corner, or the half round doormat as I have done. Oval square and round rugs could be used the same way.
In cabinets you can make a multi-shelf unit by using a cormer base unit and turning the doors and toe recess off. I have pushed this into the wall so that the shelves appear backless. Also you can turn the whole cabinet off by selecting the Counter Top option. This can be shaped to be triangular by chamfering or 'rounding' the corners.
Another option is to make a shelf (of any shape) by using a piece of floor or ceiling. Draw it "by picking points" to the shape you want and right click to Curve any edges if you require. Obviously make it thin and elevate it to the level you want.
You could also use the additional Shapes to make shelves (and all sorts of other things) http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,315.0.html (http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,315.0.html). In the same post you will find attached also some triangles. These can be made to be horizontal, after they are imported, and will form corner shelves that don't need to be imbedded into the wall.
Hopefully that has given you some ideas.
Allan
Thanks Allan,
Even though I have been using this software for some time now, clearly I have a lot to learn....
Dont worry, I have been using it for 10 - 15 years (since V3) and I still keep learning new things.
I forgot to mention before that you can also import shelves by right clicking in the Interior Furniture list and import sets of shelves - they are not corner ones though. It is an easy way to get a number of shelves and if they can poke through the walls then they could be used across a corner.
Allan