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- ********************************************************************************
- FloorPlan 3D Version 7.0
- March, 2002
- ********************************************************************************
-
- Please review this document which contains last-minute product information and updates
- to FloorPlan documentation.
- It is recommended that you print this document for future reference.
-
- ================================================================================
- Contents
- ================================================================================
- 1.0 System Requirements
- 2.0 What's New In FloorPlan 3D Version 7.0
- 3.0 Internet Functionality
- 4.0 Internet Support
- 5.0 Upgrade Information for FloorPlan 3D Version 4.0/5.0/6.0 Users
- 6.0 Known Issues
- 7.0 Technical Support
-
- ================================================================================
- 1.0 System Requirements
- ================================================================================
-
- ╖ Supported Operating Systems: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows XP
- ╖ Processor: Pentium 166 Minimum, Pentium 200 Recommended
- ╖ RAM: 64 MB Minimum, 96 MB Recommended
- ╖ Hard Disk Space: 100 MB Minimum Installation, 140 Full Installation (All Symbols, TurboCAD Designer, TurboProject Express, Corel OCR Scan and Trace)
- ╖ Video Display: Super VGA Graphics set at 800X600, 1024X768 Recommended
- ╖ Color Display: 16-bit or higher
- ╖ CD Rom: 2X or highter
- ╖ Internet Explorer 5.5 or highter
- ╖ Pointing Device: Mouse
-
-
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- 2.0 What's New In FloorPlan 3D Version 7.0
- ================================================================================
- This version of FloorPlan 3D provides the following improvements and new features:
-
- Exclusive New Content -
- Offers extensive new content database including brand new 3D Symbols from Accessories
- to Windows. The database also contains pre-drawn 3D symbols.
-
- Deck Tool -
- Lets you create decks by drawing by hand or with supplied shape scripts, as easily as
- clicking to point out the location
-
- Balcony Tool -
- Create balconies indoors or out to double the use of your indoor or outdoor living space
-
- Fence and Gate Tools -
- Install fences and gates from the database or add custom sites t suit your design needs.
-
- Terrain and Site Preparation Tools -
- Allows you to recreate the terrain of your building site, as well as prepare a level
- graded site for your building.
-
- Added Stair Options -
- Add or delete sections to existing steps. Include circular or straight sections in your
- stair design.
-
- New Landscape Tool -
- Create a true-to-life landscaped area that lets your include berms and mounds in your
- landscape design. Choose from any of he extensive plant, tree, and outdoor accessory
- symbols to complete your landscaped design.
-
- Expanded Roof Tool that install Dormers and Skylights -
- Add dormers and skylights to your building project. Choose from a selection in the
- database of objects or add new style to compliment your design.
-
- Grouping and Alignment Tools - Group and align objects in your design to arrange items
- easily just the way that you want them.
-
-
- ================================================================================
- 3.0 Internet Functionality
- ================================================================================
- FloorPlan 3D capitalizes on the convenience of the Internet by using
- Internet Explorer 5.0. The first page (Front End) that you see when you
- launch FloorPlan allows you to start new drawings, register the program,
- get program updates and much more.
- The Internet palette gives you access to a searchable knowledge base,
- documentation, support and other useful online resources.
- To disable this feature please see the View menu.
-
- WARNING: If you choose to uninstall Internet Explorer, none of the
- Internet features in FloorPlan 3D will be available.
-
- ================================================================================
- 4.0 Internet Support
- ================================================================================
- FloorPlan provides an automatic update feature on the opening screen.
- This feature allows you to update to the current working version of
- FloorPlan 3D over the Internet. Simply click the button.
-
- ================================================================================
- 5.0 Upgrade Information for FloorPlan 3D Version 4.0/5.0/6.0 Users
- ================================================================================
- Please note that when you install FloorPlan 3D Version 7.0, it does not remove or update
- your copy of FloorPlan 3D v4, v5 or v6. FloorPlan 3D v4 and/or v5 remains on your system.
- You can continue to use both programs.
-
- ================================================================================
- 6.0 Known Issues
- ================================================================================
-
- Copy/Paste
- Only certain symbols can be copied; they can only be pasted within
- the same drawing, not from project to project.
-
-
- Groups
- Not all objects can be grouped. Those that can, must be of the same Type,
- for example, all Landscaping, all Dining Chairs, and so on. Objects only
- remain grouped while the group is active.
-
-
- Roofs
- 1) When you set properties for a multi-section roof in the Roof Properties
- dialog Size tab:
- use "Auto" for the Height value only in the last (highest section) row
- enter "0" for the Overhang value in all but the lowest section
- otherwise the roof may have Gaps in it.
-
- 2) When adding a new roof, it is impossible to assign default values to
- the roof so that different sides have different types (for instance,
- two sides as Gable and two as Hip on a four-sided roof). You must
- first place the roof, and then select the side and assign the desired
- type for them (a limitation of previous FloorPlan versions).
-
-
- Dormers and Skylights
- 1) When editing a roof which has Dormers or Skylights, the Dormers or
- Skylights may turn up in incorrect positions and not cut through the roof
- properly. The Dormers and Skylights cut through the roof when you
- switch to 3DView. So, place Dormers and Skylights in Plan View, switch
- to 3D View, then back to Plan View. Then the contours will display correctly.
-
-
- Landscape
- 1)There can be only one Landscape symbol in the project. If you want
- to add new Landscape symbol, delete the old one before you add
- the new one.
-
- 2)There is no smoothing utility with the Landscape tool. If you want
- a smoother terrain surface, add an appropriate number of Nodes.
- Select the Terrain, right-click and select Add Nodes from the
- Local Menu.
-
-
- Positioning Symbols on a Landscape
- To place symbols at a desired height on a Landscape,
- change "Distance off Floor" value for these symbols,
- change "Location" value for the floor before inserting the
- symbols (you may want to make a separate location
- just to insert these symbols over the landscape).
- place a Prepared Site on the Landscape first,
- and then place the symbols on the Prepared Site.
-
-
- Deck, Balcony
- 1) You cannot turn off banisters on any side of a Deck or Balcony.
-
- 2) When Decks or Balconies intersect a wall, they are created on both sides
- of the wall.
-
-
- Decks
- A stair can be placed on any side of the Deck. Select the desired side,
- right-click and select Stair ON in Local Menu.
-
-
- Driveway
- There are no limitations for the position of this object. So Driveways can
- intersect walls or any other object or symbol.
-
-
- Selector
- You may have difficulties when selecting objects that are placed on top of
- each other. For example, selelcting a Landscape with a Driveway on top
- of it. In this case, use the Edit|Select by Object Type menu item.
-
-
- Photorealistic
- Although the time required for generating an image has been reduced in
- version 7 (for the default Raytrace mode is almost one half the time
- compared to version 6), it still takes a long while to generate the image.
- The quality of the generated image is highly dependent on the number
- and brightness of the light sources. Try generating an image that pictures
- a small area first (move closer to the subject), then adjust the brightness of
- the image (Tools|Options Photorealistic tab)
- of the light sorce (right-click light, Edit Properties, Properties tab).
- Then you can generate the image of the desired size with better results.
-
-
- Stairs
- 1) You can add New sections only to certain types of stairs. If the stair
- has already cut through the floor above, you cannot add a New section.
-
- 2) Adding a new section to the stair can be done only via the stair's
- Local Menu. Select a Stair segment, right click, and selelct Add section.
- You can choose either a Straight section or a Circle section.
-
- 3) In order to cut through the next floor, add the location (floor) first,
- then go back to the lower floor and place the stair. If you place the stair
- first, then add a new floor (location), the stairs will not cut through the
- upper floor (a limitation of previous FloorPlan versions).
-
-
- Roofs
- 1) When it is impossible to generate a roof with a complex configuration,
- FloorPlan will not create the roof, and you will not be able to see it.
-
- 2) A roof must be placed over rooms. FloorPlan creates a room when
- you enclose a space. You may have to edit walls - move them or draw
- new ones -- to enclose a space and place a roof over it. Remember that
- you can use Invisible Walls if you want one side to appear to be open.
-
- 3) To insert a roof, you must press the Insert Button below the database
- list, then click in the drawing -- even if the "Automatic Insert" option is set
- "ON". (a limitation of previous FloorPlan versions).
-
-
- Adding new 3DS symbols
- When the user adds new 3DS symbols in Plan View Palette, FloorPlan
- adds the new symbols only to the current project. To add them to the
- Database, use the Style Manager (Tools|Style Manager).
-
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- 7.0 Technical Support
- ================================================================================
- Whether you are just getting started, want to learn how to best use FloorPlan for a
- particular project, or want to push the limits of this powerful and efficient software,
- we've got the resources for you. To get up-to-date technical support policy information,
- please visit the FloorPlan web site at: http://www.floorplan.com/support/
-