I need some help reading a .BLD file.

[tanstaafl.]

Years ago I went through the trauma of going from the .BMF format to the .BLD format.  Now I am faced with going from the .BLD to whatever the new format is for TFP 2015, because the new program won't read my .BLD files.

I can't go back to v12 because my Vista computer died, my new computer runs Windows 10, and v12 apparently won't run on any Windows OS later than Windows 7.

If some kind-hearted volunteer with a working TFP program that can read .BLD files would let me send him or her my .BLD file as an email attachment (2.2 MB), make and save a bunch of .JPG screenshots and email them back to me, I would be very grateful.  I need them to show to an architect for a feasibility study, and I can't learn the TFP 2015 user interface and re-create the file in the time in which I have the architect available.

Any takers?

Douglas Burnside

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Douglas,

Like you I went through the trauma of switching from BMF to BLD format, a change  forced by the fact that the code used could not be enhanced  any further to provide additional functionality. As in that case, TFP V17 and 2015 are a completely different program based on Punch software.

I would be able to create the images for you if you want (email: alches AT iinet  DOT net DOT au) but  you may  be interested to know that the original Cadsoft coded .BLD file format used inTFP V12-V16, is still alive and well as Personal Architect (www.personalarch.com). The functionality is the same as V12 but has of course been enhanced  considerably over the years since V16, so would be more like a V19 or 20 if IMSI had continued to use the Cadsoft program for TurboFLOORPLAN. Personal Architect will still open your V12 BLD file and since it works and looks essentially the same there would not be a huge learning curve for you if you wanted to go down that path.

Allan