Measuring issues - Rulers and piece by piece?

[bTal]

Hey all; first post.

I purchased TFP 2 days ago.

First issue: For the life of me, I can't find a way to turn "rulers" on. Every program that I know has rulers across the top and down the side and when you move your cursor, some box somewhere can show you where you are at. How do you turn that on for TFP? (please please please don't tell me it isn't a feature).

Second issue: Is there a way to place a window X distance from the corner of the wall? Say I'm laying out a plate, I run my tape and mark distances from the end/corner, I don't go 3', then put in a 3'-11 1/4" window, then go 3 1/4", then put in another window. How do you place things from a single point of reference? (going piece by piece by piece would leave a lot of room for error to slide in) If you can't, then if you build a sun room with 3 1/2" post on the ends and separating four (4) 3'-11 1/4" windows, is your wall 17'-5 1/2" or 17'-2 1/2" (doesn't account for 4' window opening)?

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great features (I purchased the program). I'm just frustrated with getting the right thing in the right place.

~ B

[Allan Chesney]

Hi, Welcome to the Forum.

You asked up not to tell you, so I wont tell you that a border rules is not available. However I will tell you what is:

A tape measure on the Tools menu.

The Grid switch on the Status bar and  Grid spacing on Settings / Program Settings with Snap To Grid toggle on the Status Bar.

The Commander Bar that can be set to Polar 
Or Cartesian so you can follow the X Y coordinates as you draw or type in the dimensions.

TFP is primarily for 3D visualisation not plans, the plan is really only incidental to creating the 3D model which is why what I say next re positioning windows may seen simplistic but works.

Most of up simply draw the outside perimeter walls to the approximate dimensios by watching the floating dimensions them move them to the exact dimension. You can also click the sizes to change them.

Windows and doors - just drop them in anywhere then slide them into position again watching the floating dimensions. The latter can be set to show window centres or distances. You can Nudge them exactly into place if necessary with the arrow keys. Set the nudge increment in Setting / Program Settings.

Since the program is mainly for quick 3D visualisation extreme precision is not required but never the less is still achievable by fine tuning the Settings.


Allan