Can anyone recommend books, tutorials, etc to help us get started with FloorPlan 3D? The quick start manual that came with the software helps a little but I think we need a little more guidance then it provides. Thanks.
Hi, Welcome to the TurboFLOORPLAN and the forum!
I am not aware of any other instructional books etc for TFP other than the User Guide, the help screens and the Tutor (that comes on when you use each of the tools). There are of course the built in Wizards too.
To point you in the right direction however is difficult when I do not know how much you already know. Obviously reading the User Guide from cover to cover will give you an idea what to do and what can be done, but that is a lot of reading obviously.
The best way I think is to just play around with it. Don't try to draw your own house, just draw 4 walls, add a ceiling, doors, windows and roof (floor default to automatic), add internal walls, doors, furniture etc., then move things around, drag the walls to make rooms bigger etc. Switch to 3D view and do some walk arounds, right click on items, select properties and change colours, fabrics etc. Playing with it this way is the best way to learn and you don't have to worry about getting things the right size etc. Make a mess - just delete amd start again.
I would suggest first that you go to Settings> Program Settings and go through each of the tabs, read every option so you can see what can be changed to suit the way you work. I would not suggest changing any setting initially, as the defaults are usually fine, but if you know what can be changed if you need to, then you know where to go to change it (the background image, for example, may be the first thing you change).
While in the Settings menu go to Building Locations and have a look how that works - it controls all the vertical aspects of the model, height of walls, ceiling etc. The defaults are again probably OK but if you want different walls heights for example, do it here, then any wall you draw on that Location will be automatically the correct height. The roof will sit at the wall height (regardless of whether you have a wall there or not - you can draw a roof "by Picking Points" anywhere, but it will always sit at the wall height for that Location).
I don't know whether any of those things help - you may have already understood those points anyway. If you have specific questions or problems, just ask here and you will usually get a reply quite quickly.
Allan
Quote from: Allan Chesney on November 09, 2009, 02:46:16 AM
Hi, Welcome to the TurboFLOORPLAN and the forum!
I am not aware of any other instructional books etc for TFP other than the User Guide, the help screens and the Tutor (that comes on when you use each of the tools). There are of course the built in Wizards too.
Allan you forget one source of instructional resources, this forum even that sometime can be difficult to find what you looking for. ;D
/ Robert
Hi Robert,
Nice to hear from you again. Actually the Search option on the forum is not too bad. The problem is knowing what words to use to find what you want. I tried searching recently for something I had posted myself and I knew what word I had used, but it could not find it. When I did eventually find it accidentally, I discovered I had spelt the word wrong in the original post (transposed two of the letters)!!! Unfortunately the Search is not intelligent enough to interpret my spelling and typos!!
Allan
hi danharr
re your topic, as far as I have seen, following this forum since some time ago even as a "guest", just recently in, the best support you can get comes from the enourmous experience of Allan Chesney, and of course Doug.S, ROBBAN, and some other such positive forum-in people, but in case it could be helpful for you, please do not hesitate to contact with me and other users to ask for any question. practice is an unavoidable way to get-in TFP, as wisely pointed Allan Chesney, so I could, and surely others in forum, send you by e-mail at your request some examples of projects, tips etc. in order you be able to see specific cases. my e-mail is open.
regards, and good luck!
jmartin