V16 vs V17

[pastorlee]

I downloaded a trail of V17 Deluxe. It seems to me, that I have been hearing and seeing a few posts that V16 is better. Is it still possible to buy a version of 16 from IMSI. I don't mean E-Bay used or anything. I mean brand new, right out of the box.

Thank yall for the time.

[Allan Chesney]

V16 is no longer available from IMSI but you may still be able to purchase it is various shops who still have stock. TFP was produced by Cadsoft, based on their professional architectural software called Envisioneer. There are a number of other products around that are essentially the same as TFP, but with a different name (eg  Personal Architect or HGTV) and these are compatible with TFP and are in effect later versions. Personal Architect  for example would be the same as TFP V18 if the arrangements with Cadsoft had been maintained.

The current TFP V17 is based on Punch and is totally incompatible with V16. It depends on the user and their purpose in using the software as to which is the best. Both are very competent programs but do things very differently. Many appreciate the, intricate detail editing and especially the photorealistic rendering of V16 while others may prefer the more basic approach and speedy rendering from the new V17.  However, if you want to maintain compatibility with your previous work but want the added functionality of later versions, then you will have to switch to one of the other Cadsoft products.

You may find this post interesting also: http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,2803.0.html

Allan

[Terry Morgan]

I also downloaded turbofloorplan 17.0.6 demo. It doesn't have .wrl export which makes it useless
for me. I'm seeing 2 versions of version 16 at cadandgraphics, one is $20, the other is $40, does
anyone know the differences? From another post I gather they both export to .wrl?

Also, I have floorplan 8 from 2003, it's wonky but it seems to have many of the features of
the newer versions, what are the big advances since then? It also says I have 23 days to register but I get a 404 not found when I click on register.



https://sites.google.com/site/terrymorgan1213

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Terry,

Welcome to the forum.

The two versions are Deluxe and Pro but Pro is by far the better of the two. Functionality initially appears very similar but before long you would soon see the imitations. If you are doing any serious work go for V16 Pro. It certainly exports .wrl files - I am not sure however whether Deluxe does.

Like V17,  versions 1-11 were a completely different program and totally incompatible with V12 - V16. While these programs are very similar in appearance, the flexibility and functionality of versions 12-16 are far superior to their predecessors. V8 was possibly the best version of the earlier series but you will find V16 is a much more capable program. Almost total flexibility of every aspect of the building and landscape.

Because V8 and the later versions up to V11 are now so old and superseded by a totally different program, they would no longer be supported and hence the 404 error.

Allan

[zuijlen]

It looks like I also unknowingly wasted money on an update to v17. It's good to read that there are alternatives.

After getting used to TFP/Envisioneer I really liked the way the program was going and I am stunned that IMSI decided to move away from that approach.

The so-called conversion from v16 to v17 via DFX is of course a complete joke. So I guess IMSI just lost another dissatisfied customer. I will also refrain from recommending TFP to others.