FP3 PDF

FloorPlan Plus 3D
Online Reference Manual

Comprehensive Paperless Documentation from IMSI
FloorPlan Plus 3D ®
Version 3.0
ONLINE REFERENCE MANUAL
TM
1895 Francisco Blvd. East

San Rafael, CA 94901-5506, USA
Tel (415) 257-3000, Fax (415) 257-3565
IMSI (UK) Limited IMSI Australia P/L IMSI GmbH

IMSI House, Printing House Lane Unit 9, Huntley Street Bayerwaldstraße 46
Hayes, Middlesx, UB3 1AP Alexandria, NSW 2015, Australia D-81737 Munich, Germany
Tel (0181) 581-2000, Fax (0181) 581-2000 Tel (02) 319-7625 Tel (089) 637-3357, Fax (089) 637-3358
The material presented in this publication is copyright-protected © 1996 by IMSI and may not be reproduced in any form, by any method for any
purpose without the prior written consent of IMSI. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. It is against the law to copy
the software, except in accordance with the terms of the licensing agreement.
02FP3W30 0596
About this Document
IMSI is dedicated to providing comprehensive, searchable hypertext documentation
with links to its site on the World Wide Web. This Adobe Acrobat document has
full text search capability, hypertext table of contents and index, and an abundance
of hypertext cross-references.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a product of Adobe Systems Incorporated. IMSI does not
offer technical support for questions or problems related to this software product.
For help using the features of the Adobe Acrobat Reader, choose Acrobat Reader
Help from the Help menu.
This document contains links to the World Wide Web. These are available only
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asked to locate your browser. You can also specify your browser by choosing
Edit | Preferences | Weblink, then navigating to your browser location.
Click here to visit the FloorPlan Plus 3D web page.
To visit the Adobe web site, where you can look for updates of the Acrobat Reader,
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PROGRAM LICENSE AGREEMENT
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please read the terms of the following License Agreement carefully. You signify ac-
ceptance of the terms of this Agreement by using the product. If you do not agree with them, you should
promptly return the package; your money will be refunded.
International Microcomputer Software, Inc. (IMSI) grants to you a license:
1. To use the program on a single machine.
2. To make archival back-up copies of the program in support of your use of the single program on a single
machine.
3. To modify the program and/or merge it into another program for use on a single machine.
4. To transfer the program to another party if that party agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and you do not retain any copies of the program, whether in printed, machine readable, mod-
ified, or merged form. Except as expressly provided for in this license, you may not copy, modify, or transfer
this program.
5. If the software in this package is licensed as a Site License, it is licensed for use on several machines.
Additional master copies of the software may be made by the licensee, equal to the number of licenses
purchased.
The license is effective until terminated. You may terminate the license at any time by destroying the pro-
gram together with all copies, modifications, and merged portions in any form. The license will also ter-
minate upon conditions set forth elsewhere in this Agreement. You agree, upon such termination, to
destroy the program together with all copies, modifications, and merged portions in any form.
1. IMSI software is sold and licensed "as is." All warranties either expressed or implied are disclaimed as
to the software and its quality, performance, or fitness for any particular purpose. You, the consumer, bear
the entire risk relating to the quality and performance of the software. In no event will IMSI be liable for
direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the software. If the soft-
ware proves to have defects, you, and not IMSI, assume the cost of any necessary service or repair.
2. Thirty-day limited warranty on disks. IMSI warrants the enclosed disks to be free of defects in material
and workmanship under normal use for 30 days after purchase. During the 30-day period, you may return
a defective disk to IMSI, and it will be replaced without charge, unless the disk is damaged by accident or
misuse. Replacement of a disk is your sole remedy in the event of a defect. This warranty gives you specific
legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
3. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties of liability for incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
You may not sub-license, assign, or transfer the license or the program except as expressly provided in this
Agreement. Any attempt otherwise to sub-license, assign, or transfer any of the rights, duties, or obliga-
tions hereunder is void. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Managing Drawings and Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Creating, Opening, and Saving Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Save As . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Reverting to the Last Saved Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Export. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Exporting a DXF or Metafile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Exporting a Material List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Exiting FloorPlan Plus 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Chapter 2. Building and Drawing Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Precision Drawing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Snap-to-Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Using the Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Distance from Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Using Reference Points and Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Building Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Stair Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Straight Stairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Spiral Stairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Rail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Drawing Walls without Auto Dimensioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Drawing a Wall with Auto Dimensioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Wire & Pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Floor Covering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
FloorPlan Plus 3D User Guide
Drawing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Arc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Ellipse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Filled Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing Off . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing On . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Dimension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Chapter 3. Controlling the Drawing Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Redraw. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Zoom Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Zoom In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Zoom Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Zoom to Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Zoom to Extents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Levels and Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Edit Building Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Changing theView Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Current View Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Controlling the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Grid Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Chapter 4. Editing Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Selecting and Moving Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Pointer Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Selecting a Single Object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Selecting Multiple Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Deselecting Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Moving Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Select All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Deselect All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
v
Table of Contents
Reversing Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Undo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Redo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Paste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Edit Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Edit Tools Palette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Editing Hotkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Edit Tools Menu Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Rotate Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Scale Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Adjusting Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Edit Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Flipping Horizontal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Flip Vertical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Bring to Front and Send to Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Send to Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Bring to Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Chapter 5. Properties and Styles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Using Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Setting Default Properties of Drawing Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Setting Default Properties of a Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Setting Properties of Selected Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Property Bar and Properties Dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Property Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Properties Dialogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Common Object Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Line Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Floor Covering Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Wire & Pipe Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Wall Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Floor Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
vi
Stair and Railing Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9

Door and Window Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Dimension Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Text Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Working with Default Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Edit Default Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Adding a Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Editing a Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Deleting a Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Chapter 6. Printing Your Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Printer Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Print. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Chapter 7. Special Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Measuring Area and Perimeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Reversing the Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Converting Lines to Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Adjusting Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Chapter 8. Options and Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Interface Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Displaying and Hiding the Property Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Displaying and Hiding the Ribbon Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Controlling the Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Displaying and Hiding the Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Changing the Status Bar Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Tool Bar Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Hiding the Tool Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Floating the Tool Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Displaying the Tool Bar in its Default Position . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Drawing Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Maximum Drawing Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Number of Polygon Sides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Auto Wall Dimensioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Dynamic Text Sizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
vii
Table of Contents
Distance Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

Display Origin Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Set Cursor Origin Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
User Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Chapter 9. Symbols and Symbol Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Create Symbol Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
Rename Symbol Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Delete Symbol Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Write Symbol Catalog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Load Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Save Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Edit Symbol in Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Delete Symbol from Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Importing 3D Symbols from TurboCAD 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Associating 2D Symbols with 3D Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Break Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Chapter 10. 3D Viewer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Running the 3D Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Navigating in 3D Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Navigation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
View Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
View Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Turning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Spinning around the 3D Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Keyboard Shortcut Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Viewing Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Enabling and Disabling Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Brightness and Shading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Brightness Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Shading Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Exporting 3D Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Printing 3D Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Exiting the 3D Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
viii
Chapter 11. Roof Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

Running the Roof Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Starting the Roof Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Exiting the Roof Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Launching the 3D Viewer from the Roof Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
The Roof Editor Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
Working in Multiple Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Setting the Number of Viewports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Using the View Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Using the Reference Axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
The Any Viewport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Using the Roof Editor Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
Roof Editor View Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
Roof Editor Zoom Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
Zoom to All Extents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Roof Editor Zoom Command Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Grid Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Redraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Set Cursor Origin Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Roof Editor Drawing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Surface Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Dormer Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Chimney Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Skylight Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Roof Editor Editing Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
Pointer Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
Moving Objects in the Roof Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
Undo and Redo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
Align to Grid Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
Select Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
Select All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
Select All Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Deselect All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Roof Object Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Surface Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Dormer Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
Chimney Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
Skylight Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
ix
Table of Contents
Roof Editor Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16

New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16
Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16
Merge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-17
Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-17
Roof Editor Options and Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-17
Interface Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-17
Ribbon Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-17
Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-18
Roof Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-18
Reference Axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-18
Number of Viewports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-18
Reference Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-18
Roof Editor Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-19
Chapter 12. Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1

Curved Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Two Ways to Draw Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Sloping Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Ramps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Balconies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-6
See-Through Windows and Wall Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-8
Representing Floor Coverings in 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-10
Moving Quickly in the 3D Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-11
A Word About Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-11
Importing DXF into FloorPlan Plus 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-12
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1
x
1
Managing Drawings and Files
This chapter describes the FloorPlan Plus 3D commands that are accessed from the
File menu. These commands let you:
Create, open, and save files.
Import and export files to formats used in other programs.
SEE ALSO: The 3D Viewer and Roof Editor are covered in Chapters 10 and 11.
Creating, Opening, and Saving Files

Floor plans created in FloorPlan Plus 3D are saved in files that can be stored on a
hard or floppy drive. This section describes FloorPlan Plus 3Ds standard Windows
commands for creating, opening, and saving drawing files.
New
Menu: File|New Keys: <Ctrl>+<N> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Use the New command to start a new drawing:
1. Choose New from the File menu.
2. Choose Maximum Drawing Size from the Options menu.
3. Choose the size of your floor plan, then click OK.
Maximum Drawing Size sets the boundaries for the entire drawing and controls the
sensitivity of the scroll bars. It can be changed at any time. Choose the smallest
maximum drawing size you think you will need, and increase it as needed.
Precision for all drawing sizes is 1/16".
See Also: "Maximum Drawing Size" on page 8-4.

Open
Menu: File|Open Keys: <Ctrl>+<O> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Open command loads a previously saved FloorPlan Plus 3D drawing and
displays it on the Drawing Area, zoomed to the drawing extents (that is, showing
the largest possible view of the entire drawing).
To open a previously saved drawing:
1. Choose Open from the File menu to display the Open File dialog.
2. Use the Directories scroll box to navigate to the folder where the file is
located. Click a drive letter (for example [-a-]) to change disk drives, click
[..] to go to the next highest directory.
3. Select the name of the file that you want to open in the Files scroll box, then
click OK to open the file.
1-2
Chapter 1 Managing Drawings and Files
Save
Menu: File|Save Keys: <Ctrl>+<S> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Save command saves the current FloorPlan Plus 3D drawing to disk. If the
current drawing has not been previously saved, this command has the same effect
as the Save As command.
To save the current drawing:
1. Choose Save from the File menu.
2. If this is the first time you have saved this file, do the following:
Type the name of the file, with the extension .fp3.
Click Save or press <Enter>.
The Save command saves the file to the same file name each time subsequent to the first
save, overwriting the file previously saved. To leave the previously saved file unchanged
and save the current drawing under another filename, use the Save As command.
Close
Menu: File|Close
To close the current drawing, choose Close from the File menu. If the drawing has
not been saved since it was last changed, you will be given a chance to save it.
Save As
Menu: File|Save As
Use the Save As command when you are saving a drawing that has already been
saved to a new file:
1. Choose Save As from the File menu. The Save As dialog appears:
1-3
2. Type a new name for the file, with the extension .fp3, in the Filename text
box. You can use the Directories box to navigate to a different drive and
directory, if you wish to save the file in a different location.
3. Click OK or press <Enter> to save your file.
Reverting to the Last Saved Drawing

The Autobackup feature saves drawings every five minutes, by default. The
drawings are saved in a file called BACKUP.TMP, which is stored in your FloorPlan
Plus 3D directory (C:\IMSI\FP3, if you used the installation defaults).
NOTE: You can adjust or turn off Autobackup using the Preferences command in the File menu.
If Autobackup is on, this is how you revert to the last saved drawing:
1. Choose Open from the File menu to display the Open File dialog.
2. If necessary, navigate to the FloorPlan Plus 3D folder, then type the file
name backup.tmp.
3. Press <Enter> or click OK.
4. Choose Save As from the File menu to save the file under a new name.
1-4
Chapter 1 Managing Drawings and Files
Export
Menu: File|Export|Export Format
FloorPlan Plus 3D can export your drawing as a DXF file, a common CAD file
type, or as a Windows metafile (the most common Windows drawing file type).
FloorPlan Plus 3D has the ability to send a material list of your drawing to a text
file for use in a word processor.
Exporting a DXF or Metafile

To export a drawing to a DXF file or a metafile (.wmf):
1. Open the drawing to export.
2. Choose Export from the File menu.
3. Choose the file format to export to from the submenu.
4. Choose to export All Layers or Visible Layers, then click OK. Normally you
will want to export All Layers.
5. Type the name of the file to export to, then click OK.
Exporting a Material List

To export a list of materials to a text file:
1. Open the drawing that you want to export from.
2. Choose Export from the File menu.
3. Choose the file format to export to from the submenu.
4. Choose to export All Levels or only the Current Level, then click OK.
5. Type the name of the file (for example myhouse.txt) to export to, then click OK.
NOTE: FloorPlan Plus 3D objects, along with symbols loaded from symbol libraries and used in the Roof Editor,
are used to generate material lists. Shapes drawn using the other FloorPlan Plus 3D drawing tools (Line,
Rectangle, Polygon, Arc, Text, Circle, Ellipse, Fill Shape, and Freehand) are not included in the material list,
unless they have been saved to a symbol library.
1-5
Exiting FloorPlan Plus 3D

Menu: File|Exit Keys: <Alt>+<F4>
To exit FloorPlan Plus 3D, choose Exit from the File menu, or press <Alt>+<F4>. If
you have not saved your current floor plan, you will be given an opportunity to do so.
1-6
2
Building and Drawing Tools

This chapter discusses how to use the FloorPlan Plus 3D building and drawing
tools. The building tools let you add to your floor plan complete building objects such
as floors, stairs, and railings. The drawing tools can be used to create objects such as
lines and polygons, which can be used to create symbols for real-world objects.
Precision Drawing Tools

Floor Plan Plus 3D lets you create floor plans that are in some respects exact models
of the home that you are designing. For example, if a room you are drawing is
supposed to be 15 feet wide and 18 feet long, you may want your floor plan to contain,
and perhaps display, this information. To make your building and drawing objects
precise, you can employ several techniques, described in the following sections.
Snap-to-Grid
The most basic technique for drawing to scale is to use the grid. The grid is the
pattern of dots that you see on the drawing area when you first start FloorPlan Plus
3D. The grid points are separated by exact distances. If snap-to-grid is on, the
mouse cursor will automatically snap to the grid points whenever you draw or
edit. A simple way of drawing precise distances is to count the number of grid
points between one object and the next.
SEE ALSO: To learn how to turn the grid on and off, make the grid visible or invisible, and adjust the distance
between grid points, see "Controlling the Grid" on page 3-5.
Using the Status Bar

The Status Bar, when it is in Help mode, displays precise information about
distances and angles as you draw or edit. (You can click the H button to switch the
Status Bar into Help mode.)
message distance from Origin
help mode
status mode
The status message on the left side of the Status Bar displays the measurement of the
object you are currently drawing. For example, if you choose the Wall tool then click
in the drawing area, the message will display the length of the wall as you move your
cursor. When the wall is the correct length, you can click a second time to complete
the wall. This technique is most effective if used in combination with snap-to-grid.
The Status Bar displays two other types of information as well: distance from the
Origin, and distance from the Reference Point.
Distance from Origin

The Origin is a point in the drawing area marked by crosshairs.
Origin crosshairs
The Distance from Origin button on the Status Bar displays the horizontal, vertical,
or straight line distance from this point. If you want to draw several points at
specific distances from a single point, you can move the Origin to the point you
want to reference.
2-2
Chapter 2 Building and Drawing Tools
SEE ALSO: For information on how to move the Origin and specify what information is displayed in the
Distance from Origin button, see "Distance Display Options" on page 8-6.
Using Reference Points and Lines

Suppose you want to start drawing an object at a specific distance from a point. For
example, you might want to start drawing a vertical wall exactly 15 feet to the right
of another vertical wall. You could accomplish this by moving the Origin, but there
is a more efficient method called setting a reference point.
To start drawing an object at a specific distance from a reference point:
1. Click the H button in the Status Bar to display it in Help mode.
2. Choose a building or drawing tool (the Wall tool will do).
3. Click the right mouse button to set a reference point. As you move the mouse,
the distance from the reference point will be displayed in the left side of the
Status bar. A rubber-band will connect the cursor to the reference point.
4. When the cursor is at the correct distance from the reference point, click to
begin drawing.
Notice that after you begin drawing, the rubber band line stays in position. This is
the reference line. The reference line enables you to draw a line at a specific angle.
For example, you might want to create a wall at a 45 degree angle to another wall.
To do this, create the reference line along the length of the existing wall, then click
to start drawing the second wall. The angle of the second wall to the reference line
will appear in the status message.
2-3
reference line
wall drawn at 135 degree

angle to reference line
Building Tools
The FloorPlan Plus 3D building tools let you draw objects that specifically represent
typical parts of a floor plan, such as walls, floors, and doors.
Floor
Menu: Insert|Floor Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Floor drawing tool is used to draw any style of floor. To draw a floor:
1. Activate the Floor tool.
2. Select the style of floor you want in the Description box of the Property bar;
you can also select a new color and line style if you like.
3. To finish the floor, do one of the following:
Place your last click in the same position as the first click.
Right-click or press <Enter> to automatically connect the current point to
the first point.
Once you have drawn a floor, you can select it and click the Properties button to
edit the floors properties.
2-4
NOTE: Pressing <Backspace> erases the last point; pressing <ESC> aborts the floor.
Stair Tools
The Stair drawing tools are used to straight or spiral staircases. You can also use the
Spiral Stair tool to draw sweeping staircases.
Straight Stairs
Menu: Insert|Straight stairs Button Location: Ribbon Bar
To draw straight stairs:
1. Activate the Straight Stair tool.
2. Optionally set the properties of the stairs using the Property Bar, or by
clicking the Properties button and modifying the Straight Stairs dialog.
3. Click to place the current level landing (the bottom of the stairs). Click again
to place the upper level landing (the top of the stairs).
SEE ALSO: "Straight Stair Properties Dialog" on page 5-9.
NOTE: The arrow on the staircase indicates the up direction.
Spiral Stairs
Menu: Insert|Spiral Stairs Button Location: Ribbon Bar
To draw spiral stairs:
1. Activate the Spiral Stair tool.
2. Optionally set the properties of the stairs using the Property Bar, or by
clicking the Properties button and modifying the Spiral Stairs dialog.
3. Click in the drawing area to place the center of the circle around which the
spiral stairs will be built.
4. Click again to define the outer edge of the circle.
5. Click to define the starting point of the lowest stair.
2-5
6. Move the mouse in the direction in which you want the stairs to go up. For
example, if you want the stairs to rotate in the clockwise direction as they go
up, move the mouse clockwise in the circle.
7. Click the mouse at the angle where you want to place the last (highest) stair
in the staircase.
SEE ALSO: "Spiral Stairs Dialog" on page 5-10.
NOTE: The arrow on the staircase indicates the up direction.
TIP: To draw a sweeping staircase, open the Spiral Stairs dialog, set Pole Height to zero, and set the
diameter of the staircase to a relatively large number.
Rail
Menu: Insert|Railing Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Railing tool is used to draw a straight rail. Rails are often placed at the landing
of a staircase. It isnt necessary to draw railings on staircases; instead you specify a
railing for a staircase in the Spiral and Straight Stair Properties dialogs.
To draw a railing:
1. Activate the Railing tool.
2. Choose a style for the railing in the Properties toolbar, or click the Properties
button to specify railing properties.
3. Click to place the first point, then click again to place the end point.
SEE ALSO: For information on railing properties, see "Railing Properties Dialog" on page 5-12.
Door
Menu: Insert|Door Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Doors are always placed inside walls. To draw a door:
1. Activate the Door tool.
2. Choose a Door style from the Property bar.
2-6
3. Click on the wall where you want to place the door, then click again to
position the door on the wall.
Once you have drawn the door, you can change its properties by selecting the door,
then clicking on the Properties button.
SEE ALSO: For information on door properties, see "Door and Window Properties" on page 5-13.
Window
Menu: Insert|Window Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Windows are always placed inside walls. To draw a window:
1. Activate the Window tool.
2. Select a style for the window on the Property bar, or click the Properties
button to define the properties of the window.
3. Click on the wall where you want to place the window, then click again to
position the window.
Once you have drawn the window, you can change its properties by selecting the
window then clicking on the Properties button.
SEE ALSO: For information on window properties, see "Door and Window Properties" on page 5-13.
Wall
Menu: Insert|Wall Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Wall tool is used to draw exterior and interior walls in your floor plan. Walls
are the foundation for drawing doors and windows. The way you draw a wall differs
depending on whether the Auto Wall Dimensioning option is on or off. This feature
is located in the Options menu, and the menu item will display a check mark if the
option is on.
SEE ALSO: "Wall Properties" on page 5-7; "Auto Wall Dimensioning" on page 8-5.
TIP: When you are drawing a wall, pressing the <Spacebar> will change the alignment of the wall to the cursor.
2-7
Drawing Walls without Auto Dimensioning

To draw a wall without auto dimensioning:
1. Activate the Wall tool.
2. Choose a style for the wall from the Properties toolbar.
3. Click to place the start point of the wall.
4. Do one of the following:
Click to define the endpoint of the wall.
Press <Enter>, type values into the Wall Length and Orientation boxes in
the Draw Wall dialog, then click OK to close the dialog.
Once you have drawn a wall, you can select it and click the Properties button to
edit its properties.
Drawing a Wall with Auto Dimensioning

Auto Dimensioning allows you to draw a dimension displaying the length of the
wall immediately after you draw the wall. Choose Auto Wall Dimensioning from
the Options menu to turn this feature on and off.
1. Follow the steps in the preceding section to draw the wall.
2. Move the cursor away from the wall in either direction, then click to place the
dimension.
SEE ALSO: "Dimension" on page 2-14, "Auto Wall Dimensioning" on page 8-5.
2-8
Wire & Pipe

Menu: Insert|Wire & Pipe Button Location: Tool Bar
The Wire & Pipe tool is used to draw lines that represent wire and pipe. This
function is useful for showing wiring and plumbing inside walls, under floors, and
throughout a property. To draw wire or pipe:
1. Select the Wire & Pipe tool from the Toolbox or the Draw menu.
2. Select a style for the wire and pipe from the Property toolbar.
3. Click to define the starting point of the wire or pipe, then click again to
define the ending point.
Once you have drawn the wire or pipe, you can select it and click the Properties
button to edit its properties.
SEE ALSO: For information on wire and pipe properties, see "Wire & Pipe Properties" on page 5-7.
Floor Covering
Menu: Insert|Floor Covering Button Location: Tool Bar
The Floor Covering tool draws a filled floor covering. This function is useful for
covering areas of your floor plan with different types of material, such as tile, stone,
and carpeting. To draw a floor covering:
1. Choose the Floor Covering tool.
2. Choose a style for the floor covering from the Property bar.
3. Click to place each corner of the floor covering.
4. To finish the floor covering, do one of the following:
the first point.
Once you have drawn a floor covering, you can select it and click the Properties
button to edit the floor coverings properties.
SEE ALSO: For information on floor covering properties, see "Floor Covering Properties" on page 5-7.
2-9
Drawing Tools
The drawing tools give you freeform drawing capability. They enable you to draw a variety
of objects, such as lines, rectangles, and polygons, as well as text and dimensions.
SEE ALSO: With the exception of text and dimensions, the drawing tools share a common set of properties.
For information on these properties, see "Line Properties" on page 5-6.
TIP: Any drawing object composed of lines, such as a rectangle or polygon, can be converted to walls using
the Convert Lines to Walls command. See "Converting Lines to Walls" on page 7-2.
Line
Menu: Insert|Line Button Location: Tool Bar
The Line tool is used to create straight lines. To draw a line:
1. Activate the Line tool.
2. Click to set the lines starting point, then click again to set its ending point.
Rectangle
Menu: Insert|Rectangle Button Location: Tool Bar
The Rectangle tool is used to draw desks, tables, concrete blocks, tile, and other
rectangular objects. To draw a rectangle:
1. Activate the Rectangle tool.
2. Click twice to set the two opposite corners of the rectangle.
Polygon
Menu: Insert|Polygon Button Location: Tool Bar
The Polygon tool is used to draw regular polygons. Polygons can be used to represent
objects such as tiles, tables, spas, gazebos, and flagstones. To draw a polygon:
1. Activate the Polygon tool.
2. Choose Polygon Sides from the Options menu. Type the number of sides you
want the polygon to have, then press <Enter>.
2-10
3. Click to set the center of the polygon, then click again to set the position of
one of the polygons corners.
NOTE: Once you have set the number of polygon sides, this value will stay the same until you explicitly
change it; even if you exit and restart FloorPlan Plus 3D.
Arc
Menu: Insert|Arc Button Location: Tool Bar
The Arc tool is used to draw portions of a circle. To draw an arc:
1. Activate the arc tool.
2. Click to position the center of the arc.
3. Click at the point where you want the arc to begin, draw the arc, then click
again to position the arcs endpoint.
Circle
Menu: Insert|Circle Button Location: Tool Bar
The Circle tool is used to draw shrubs, pipe openings, tables, and other round
objects. To draw a circle:
1. Activate the Circle tool.
2. Click to define a position for the center of the circle, then click again to
define a point on the perimeter of the circle.
Ellipse
Menu: Insert|Ellipse Button Location: Tool Bar
The Ellipse tool draws circle-like objects where the width and height are not equal.
Ellipses are often used to draw tables, pools, and other oval objects. To draw an ellipse:
1. Activate the Ellipse tool.
2. Click to define a point for the center of the ellipse, then click again to set the
width and height of the ellipse.
2-11
Filled Shape
Menu: Insert|Filled Shape Button Location: Tool Bar
The Filled Shape tool is used to draw irregular polygons filled with a color and/or
pattern. To draw a filled shape:
1. Activate the Filled Shape tool.
2. Trace the outline of the shape by clicking on each vertex.
3. To finish the filled shape, do one of the following:
the first point.
Sketch
Menu: Insert|Sketch Button Location: Tool Bar
The Sketch tool draws continuous line shapes not easily drawn with the other drawing tools.
To create a freehand sketch:
1. Activate the Sketch tool.

2. Hold the mouse button down and drag to draw.
Text
Menu: Insert|Text Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Text tool is used to create text using any TrueType font available on your
system. There are two methods of drawing text, depending on whether the Dynamic
Text Sizing option is active in the Options menu. If the option is on, a check mark
will appear next to it.
SEE ALSO: "Dynamic Text Sizing" on page 8-5.
NOTE: Small text is displayed as rectangles, but will print normally.
2-12
Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing Off

If Dynamic Text Sizing is off, you draw text by specifying the position and angle at
which it is drawn:
1. Activate the Text tool.
2. Choose the text font and attributes in the Properties bar.
3. Click twice, defining a line that determines the position and angle of the text.
The Text dialog will appear.
4. Type the text into the dialog, then press <Enter>.
Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing On

With Dynamic Text Sizing on, you define the position, height, and angle of the text
by defining three points. This is useful if you want the text to fill a specific area:
1. Activate the Text tool.
2. Choose the text font and attributes in the Properties bar.
3. Position the cursor where you want the text to start (the base point), then click.
4. Move the cursor away from the base point to a distance equal to the desired
text height, then click.
5. Click again to place a point forming a line to the base point: This line (or
vector) determines the angle of the text. The Text dialog appears.
6. Type the text in the dialog, then press <Enter>.
The text will be drawn at the height specified in step 4 and at the angle specified in step 5.
2-13
Dimension
Menu: Insert|Dimension Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Dimensions are labels that display the measurements of other objects in your
drawing, although they can also contain text labels. You might, for example, want
to show the lengths of the exterior walls in your floor plan. To draw a dimension:
1. Activate the dimension tool.
2. Click the Properties button and use the dialog to set the form of the
dimension and to format the dimension text.
3. Click twice to define the beginning and the end of the dimension. Make sure
that the two points are right next to the ends of the object you are measuring.
The Dimension dialog appears.
4. If you need to, edit the text in the dimension dialog. You may want to use a
less precise number than the one displayed, or you may want to replace the
number with a text label. Click OK to finish the dimension.
SEE ALSO: "Dimension Properties" on page 5-14; "Drawing a Wall with Auto Dimensioning" on page 2-8;
"Auto Wall Dimensioning" on page 8-5.
2-14
3
Controlling the Drawing Area
The drawing area is the portion of the FloorPlan Plus 3D window in which you view
and draw your floor plan. FloorPlan Plus 3D provides a variety of commands for
controlling the drawing area. These include:
Redraw
Zoom commands
Levels and layers
View scale
Controlling the grid
Redraw
Menu: View|Redraw Key: <F5>
To save time, FloorPlan Plus 3D redraws as little of the drawing as possible when
drawings are being edited. At times, this may cause some objects to obscure other
objects. In such cases, you can use the Redraw command to redraw the entire
drawing. The Redraw command draws objects in the following order:
1. Walls and floors on lower levels
2. Floors
3. Floor coverings (Areas)
4. Walls
5. Doors and windows
6. Symbols and lines
7. Text and dimensions
NOTE: The Bring to Front and Send to Back commands (see page 4-10) work within the above groups.
SEE ALSO: "Levels and Layers" on page 3-3.
Zoom Commands
The Zoom commands let you go to a closer view of the drawing to see more detail,
or pull back to see the big picture. You can zoom in, zoom out, zoom to window,
and zoom to extents.
Zoom In
Menu: View|Zoom|Zoom In Key: Numeric <+> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Use the Zoom In command to view the drawing at twice its current magnification.
Zoom Out
Menu: View|Zoom|Zoom Out Key: Numeric <-> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Use the Zoom Out command to view the drawing at half its current magnification.
Zoom to Window
Menu: View|Zoom|Zoom to Window Keys: <Ctrl>+<Home> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Use the Zoom Window command to magnify a specific portion of the drawing:
1. Choose the Zoom to Window command (press <Ctrl>+<Home>).
2. Drag a box around the portion of the drawing you wish to magnify.
Zoom to Extents
Menu: View|Zoom|Zoom Extents Keys: <Ctrl>+<Backspace> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Use the Zoom to Extents command to go to the largest possible view that completely
includes all of the objects in your drawing.
3-2
Chapter 3 Controlling the Drawing Area
Levels and Layers

FloorPlan Plus 3D allows you to create multistory floor plans for buildings with as
many as 20 stories. Each story of the floor plan is called a building level. You can
work on only one level of your floor plan at a time. Levels higher than the current
level will always be invisible. Building levels lower than the current level can be made
either invisible or colored a single color to distinguish them from the current level.
Within each building level, drawing objects are automatically organized into layers.
Each layer can be made visible or invisible using the Layers dialog.
Edit Building Levels

Menu: View|Edit Building Levels Button Location: Status Bar (Status mode)
The Building Levels dialog lets you set options for each building level and choose
your current building level.
You can set the Building Levels options as follows:

Current level. Change the current level by selecting a level in the scroll box.
Height. Enter the distance from the floor to the ceiling for the current level.
Description. This field allows you to assign a name to the level currently selected.
Lower-level color. This sets the color that will represent the level's floors and walls
when they are viewed from a higher level.
Enabled. Uncheck Enabled to hide the level so it does not appear when you are
viewing higher levels. This also prevents the level from appearing in 3D.
3-3
Layers
Menu: View|Layers Key: <Ctrl>+<L>
Use the Layers feature to choose which layers of your drawing are viewed, printed
or exported. This is useful if you want to work on just one subset of the objects in
your drawing at a time. For example, you may want to work only on walls and
windows, ignoring all other objects. There are 13 predefined layers, and objects
are automatically placed on the appropriate layer. To use the Layers feature:
1. Choose Layers from the View menu (<Ctrl>+<L>), displaying the Layers dialog.
2. Click in the boxes next to the layers to make them visible (checked), or invis-
ible (unchecked). You can make them all visible by pressing the View All but-
ton, or all invisible by pressing the View None button.
Changing theView Scale

The View Scale determines the relationship between the size of drawing objects as
they are viewed and the size of the real world objects that the drawing models.
For example, assume the default View Scale size is 1 inch = 4 feet. This means that
an object that is one inch long on the screen models an object that is four feet long.
The View Scale is determined by the Measurement System selected in the Preferences
command in the File menu, the maximum drawing size set from the Options menu,
and the current Zoom factor. The following table lists the default view scales.
3-4
Chapter 3 Controlling the Drawing Area
System Drawing Size Default View Scale

U.S. 325 X 325 feet 1" = 4ft
650 X 650 feet 1" = 8ft
1300 X 1300 feet 1" = 16ft
2600 X 2600 feet 1" = 32ft
5200 X 5200 feet 1" = 64ft
Metric 100 x100 meters 1cm = 0.050m
200 x 200 meters 1cm = 0.100m
400 X 400 meters 1cm = 0.250m
800 X 800 meters 1cm = 0.500m
1600 X 1600 meters 1cm = 2.500m
Current View Scale

Menu: View|Current view scale Keys: <Ctrl>+<Z> Button Location: Status Bar (Status Mode)
To set the View Scale:
1. Choose Current View Scale from the View menu (<Ctrl>+<Z>), or click the
View Scale button in the Status Bar.
2. Type the desired View Scale value into the dialog that appears, then click OK.
Controlling the Grid

FloorPlan Plus 3Ds drawing grid provides an aid for alignment and the placement of
objects in your drawing. Grids also make it easy to draw a shape of a given length or
size. You can display or hide the grid, you can turn snap-to-grid on and off, and you
you can define the grid size, which determines spacing between the grid points.
When you set the Maximum Drawing Size, the grid will automatically be set to a
default size unless you change it. The following table shows default grid sizes:
3-5
System Drawing Size Default Grid Size

U.S. 325 X 325 feet 1ft
650 X 650 feet 2ft
1300 X 1300 feet 4ft
2600 X 2600 feet 8ft
5200 X 5200 feet 16ft
Metric 100 x100 meters 0.305m
200 x 200 meters 0.610m
400 X 400 meters 1.219m
800 X 800 meters 2.438m
1600 X 1600 meters 4.877m
SEE ALSO: "Maximum Drawing Size" on page 8-4.
Grid Size
Menu: View|Grid Size Key: <Ctrl>+<D> Button: Status Bar (Status Mode)
Grid size is the distance between grid points. To set the grid size:
Choose Grid Size from the View menu
Press <Ctrl>+<D>
Click the Grid button in the Status Bar, which must be in Status Bar
mode. (Press the S button on the Status Bar to choose this mode.)
2. In the dialog that appears, type the space that you want between each grid
point, then click OK. The grid will be redrawn at the new grid size.
NOTE: FloorPlan Plus 3D will not display the grid if it becomes too dense due to zooming or grid size changes.
3-6
4
Editing Objects
FloorPlan Plus 3D provides a variety of commands that allow you to edit objects in
your drawing. All of these tools are accessible from the Edit menu, and many of
them are also accessible through the Edit Tools palette and via hotkeys. In all cases
you must select an object before it can be edited. This chapter explains how to select
objects and edit them using the Edit menu, Edit Tools palette, and hotkeys.
Selecting and Moving Objects

You can select and move objects using the Pointer tool. To select and deselect all the objects
on the current building level, you can use the Select All and Deselect All commands.
Pointer Tool
Menu: Edit|Select Button Location: Tool Bar
The Select command activates the Pointer tool. You can use this tool to:
Select or deselect individual object.
Select or deselect multiple objects.
Move objects.
NOTE: Selected items are displayed as a simple red line by default. The selection color can be changed
using the Preferences command in the File menu.
Selecting a Single Object

To select an object:
1. Choose the Pointer tool.
Position the cursor on the outline of the object, then click. The object will
become a red outline.
Hold the mouse button down and drag a selection rectangle until it com-
pletely encloses the object that you want to select. Release the mouse but-
ton to select the object.
TIP: Sometimes when you are trying to select a floor that is drawn right next to, or under, a wall, you will
end up selecting the wall instead. To remedy this, choose Layers from the View menu and turn off all layers
except floors. Click on the edge of the floor to select it, then turn the other layers back on again. For
information on layers, see "Layers" on page 3-4.
Selecting Multiple Objects

To select more than one object:
1. Choose the Pointer tool.
Click and drag to completely enclose all of the objects that you want to
select in the selection rectangle.
Click on the outline of each of the objects to be selected while holding down
the <Shift> key. Each object selected will be displayed as a red outline.
Deselecting Objects
To deselect all selected objects, click anywhere in the drawing area other than the
outline of the object with the Pointer tool. (You can also choose Deselect All from
the Edit menu.)
If multiple objects are selected, you can deselect individual objects by holding down
the <Shift> key and clicking the outline of each object that you wish to deselect.
WARNING: When objects are deselected, they are redrawn. This could cause underlying objects to be
temporarily hidden by the redrawn object. To redraw the objects in the correct order, press <F5>.
4-2
Chapter 4 Editing Objects
Moving Objects
To move an object:
1. Select the object(s) that you want to move.
2. Position the mouse over the outline of the selection. Make sure that the
mouse is placed over the exact point on the object that you want to position.
For example, if you want to move the lower-left corner of a wall two grid
points to the right, place the mouse cursor at the lower-left corner.
3. Hold down the mouse cursor and start to drag the object. Once the object
starts to move, you can release the mouse cursor without dropping the object.
4. Move the mouse cursor to the position where you want to place the
object, then click .
TIPS: To achieve the most exact placement when moving objects, turn snap-to-grid off just before you start
dragging the object (press <Ctrl>+<G>), then turn snap-to-grid back on just before you release the object
(press <Ctrl>+<G> again). This allows you to grab the object at any point you like, then place that point
precisely on the grid. To move objects to another building level, use the Cut and Paste commands.
Select All
Menu: Edit|Select All Keys: <Ctrl>+<A>
To select all objects on the current building level, choose Select All from the Edit
menu, or press <Ctrl>+<A>.
Deselect All
Menu: Edit|Deselect All
To deselect all selected objects, choose Deselect All from the Edit menu, or simply
click the mouse in the drawing area away from the selection.
WARNING: When objects are deselected, they are redrawn. This could cause underlying objects to be
temporarily hidden by the redrawn object. To redraw the objects in the correct order, press <F5>.
4-3
Reversing Errors
FloorPlan Plus 3Ds Undo and Redo commands let you correct mistakes by undoing
and redoing as many as 20 of your previous commands. If you find your floor plan
isnt turning out as expected, you can back up to the point where things started to
go wrong and start over from there!
TIP: You can save a small amount of memory by reducing the number of Redo levels. Set this option in the
File|Preferences dialog. For information on this dialog see "User Preferences" on page 8-7.
Undo
Menu: Edit|Undo Keys: <Alt>+<Backspace>
The Undo command reverses your previous drawing or editing action. You can use
this command to back up through as many as 20 actions. The number of Undo
levels is set in the File|Preferences dialog.
Redo
Menu: Edit|Redo Keys: <Shift>+<Alt>+<Backspace>
The Redo command reverses the effect of the previous Undo command. If you back
up a number of levels with the Undo commands, you can move forward again
through the levels using the Redo command. This can help you find the exact place
from which to recommence work on your floor plan.
Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete

The Cut, Copy, and Paste commands are standard Windows functions that let you
copy or move objects via the Clipboard. The Delete command removes selected
objects from your drawing entirely, without placing a copy on the Clipboard.
NOTE: Windows and doors are placed on the Clipboard only if the walls that contain them are also selected.
4-4
Cut
Menu: Edit|Cut Keys: <Ctrl>+<X> or Button: Edit Tools Palette
The Cut command removes selected objects and places them on the Clipboard. The
objects can then be pasted onto other building levels, or into other floor plans, using
the Paste command.
Copy
Menu: Edit|Copy Keys: <Ctrl>+<C> or <C> Button: Edit Tools Palette
The Copy command makes a copy of selected objects and places the copy on the
Clipboard. The objects can then be pasted onto other building levels, or into other
floor plans, using the Paste command.
Paste
Menu: Edit|Paste Key: <Ctrl>+<V>
The Paste command places objects that have been cut or copied to the Clipboard into
your drawing. When you paste an object, it is selected and attached to your mouse
cursor. Click the mouse at the position where you want to release the selected objects.
Delete
Menu: Edit|Delete Keys: <Del> or <D> Button: Edit Tools Palette
Use the Delete command to remove items from a drawing. The Delete command can
be reversed with the Undo command.
1. Select the object(s) to be deleted.
2. Press the <Delete> key, or choose Delete from the Edit menu.
Edit Tools
The Edit|Edit Tools submenu contains a variety of tools for manipulating drawing
objects. Many of these commands are also accessible from the Edit Tools palette.
This section describes how to use the Edit Tools palette, summarizes the hotkeys
corresponding to the Edit Tools, then describes the tools individually.
4-5
Edit Tools Palette

Once you have selected an object for editing, access the Edit Tools palette by
pressing the right mouse button in the drawing area.
The Edit Tools palette includes ten buttons, most of which correspond to
commands on the Edit|Edit Tools submenu, discussed under "Edit Tools Menu
Commands" on page 4-7. The remaining commands are discussed under "Cut,
Copy, Paste, and Delete" on page 4-4 .
SEE ALSO: "Save Symbol" on page 9-4.
Editing Hotkeys
The Edit Tools palette buttons each have a corresponding hotkey. The following table
summarizes the special editing hotkeys and their corresponding menu commands.
4-6
Function Key Menu

Rotate <R> Edit|Edit Tools|Rotate
Scale <S> Edit|Edit Tools|Scale
Adjust Lines <A> Edit|Edit Tools|Adjust Lines
Edit Text <T> Edit|Edit Tools|Edit Text
Flip Horizontal <H> Edit|Edit Tools|Flip Horizontal
Flip Vertical <V> Edit|Edit Tools|Flip Vertical
Save as Symbol <E> File|Save as Symbol
Delete <D> Edit|Delete
Cut or <Ctrl>+<X> Edit|Cut
Copy <C> or <Ctrl>+<C> Edit|Copy
Edit Tools Menu Commands

The following sections describe the tools accessible from the Edit|Edit Tools submenu.
Rotate Tool
Menu: Edit|Edit Tools|Rotate Key: <R> Button: Edit Tools Palette
The Rotate command allows you to rotate selected objects to specific angles. The
closer to the center of the object you place the center of rotation, the more control
you will have over the angle. The Help bar displays the rotation angle.
1. Select the object using the Pointer tool.
2. Activate the Rotate tool.
3. Click on the object where you want the center of rotation.
4. Move the mouse to rotate the object and click to place.
4-7
Scale Tool
Menu: Edit|Edit Tools|Scale Key: <S> Button: Edit Tools Palette
The Scale tool allows you to resize objects. The Status Bar, when it is in Help mode,
displays the width and height of an object as you scale it.
There are eight handles on the selection rectangle surrounding the selected item.
The handles on the side of the selection rectangle will adjust the height or the width
of the item. The handles on the corners of the selection rectangle will adjust both
the height and the width.
To scale an object:
1. Select the item or symbol using the Pointer tool.
2. Activate the Scale tool.
3. Click on a handle.
4. Move the mouse to resize the item or symbol and click the mouse to set
the objects size.
TIP: When scaling from the corners, press and hold down the <Shift> key for proportional scaling.
Adjusting Lines
Menu: Edit|Edit Tools|Adjust Lines Key: <A> Button: Edit Tools Palette
The Adjust Lines command works with simple lines drawn with a FloorPlan Plus
3D drawing tool. To adjust lines within a symbol, you first need to use the Break
Symbol command in the Symbols menu, then select the line to adjust.
To adjust a line:
1. Select the line to adjust using the Pointer tool.
2. Activate the Adjust Lines tool. Handles will appear on the objects outline.
3. Click a handle.
4. Move the mouse to adjust the line and click the mouse to set the position
of the handle.
4-8
Edit Text
Menu: Edit|Edit Tools|Edit Text Key: <T> Button: Edit Tools Palette
Text is created using the Text tool or the Insert|Text menu command. Edit the text
style by selecting the text and clicking Edit in the Property bar. Edit the text string
with the Edit Text tool.
To edit text:
1. Select the text object to edit using the Pointer tool.
Choose Edit|Edit Tools|Edit Text.
Press <T>.
Right-click, then click the Edit Text button in the Edit Tools Palette.
3. Edit the text string in the dialog, then click OK.
SEE ALSO: "Text" on page 2-12, "Text Properties" on page 5-15.
Flipping Horizontal
Menu: Edit|Edit Tools|Flip Horizontal Key: <H> Button: Edit Tools Palette
Use the Flip Horizontal command to horizontally invert selected objects. When you
flip an object horizontally, you rotate it 180 degrees around a vertical axis.
To flip an object horizontally:
1. Select the object to flip using the Pointer tool.
Press <H>.
Choose Edit|Edit Tool|Flip Horizontal.
Right-click to open the Edit Tools, then click the Flip Horizontal button.
4-9
Flip Vertical
Menu: Edit|Edit Tools|Flip Vertical Key: <V> Button: Edit Tools Palette
Use the Flip Vertical command to vertically invert selected objects. When you flip
an object vertically, you rotate it 180 degrees around a horizontal axis.
To flip an object vertically:
1. Select the object to flip using the Pointer tool.
Press <V>.
Choose Edit|Edit Tool|Flip Vertical.
Right-click to open the Edit Tools, then click the Flip Vertical button.
Bring to Front and Send to Back

Within each level, drawing objects are stacked in the order in which they are drawn.
For example, if you draw two overlapping objects on the Wire & Pipe layer, the
second object you draw will be drawn in front of the first object you draw. You can
reorder objects using the Send to Back and Bring to Front commands.
NOTES: The last object drawn or selected will sometimes appear on top of all other objects, regardless of
layer. This means that the screen needs to be redrawn before the object will be shown on its correct layer.
When this happens, press <F5> to redraw the screen. If multiple objects on different layers are selected,
each object will be moved onto its respective layer.
SEE ALSO: "Levels and Layers" on page 3-3.
Send to Back
Menu: Edit|Send to Back
The Send to Back command moves a selected object or objects to the back of the
stack within a layer.
2. Choose Send to Back from the Edit menu.
4-10
Bring to Front
Menu: Edit|Bring to Front
The Bring to Front command moves a selected object or objects to the front of the
stack within a layer.
2. Choose Bring to Front from the Edit menu.
4-11
5
Properties and Styles

Every building or drawing object that you create in FloorPlan Plus 3D has a set of
properties. The properties of an object can include formatting settings, such as its
line style and color, and also information about the object, such as its description
and category.
Property settings can be saved in styles, so that you can apply preset property
settings to objects. FloorPlan Plus 3D has standard default styles for building objects
such as floors, stairs, and doors, which you can edit. You can save these default
settings in files and load them into drawings.
This chapter first discusses when and how you would use properties. It then looks
at the tools you need to set properties: the Property Bar and Properties dialogs.
Finally, it describes FloorPlan Plus 3Ds features for editing, saving, and loading
default styles.
Using Properties
There are three cases in which you would want to set properties.
To set the default properties of drawing objects.
To set the default properties of a style.
To set the properties of a selected object or objects.
The following three sections describe how you would set properties in these
three situations.
Chapter 5 Properties and Styles
Setting Default Properties of Drawing Objects

Drawing objects (as opposed to building objects) include lines, circles, ellipses, and
so forth. When you create a new object using one of the drawing tools, the object is
drawn using the drawings default property settings for drawing objects. These
settings are saved with the drawing.
To set the default properties of the drawing objects, you first activate a drawing tool,
then set its properties. Objects that you then create with any drawing tool will have
the properties you selected. For example, suppose you want all of your drawing
objects to be green. You would:
1. Click a drawing tool, such as the Line tool, to activate it.
Choose green in the Color box on the Property Bar.
Click the Properties button, then choose green in the Color box of the
Line Properties dialog.
Until you reset this property, all new drawing objects in this drawing will be green.
Setting Default Properties of a Style

Building objects have a set of default styles, which are preset property settings that
you can choose from the Property Bar before you draw an object, or which you can
apply to a selected object. Styles allow you to choose standard property settings
with a single command. You can change the settings in the default styles, which are
then saved in your drawing.
The Floor Covering tool, for example, has several styles representing different types
of floor coverings, one of which is Carpet. Lets say you wanted to change the color
of Carpeting from blue to red. You would follow these steps:
1. Click the Floor Covering tool to activate it.
2. Choose the Carpeting style from the Description box on the Property Bar.
3. Choose Red from the Color box on the Property Bar.
Until you reset these properties, all new floor coverings created in the Carpeting
style in this drawing will be red.
NOTE: To edit all of the properties of a style, you must use the File|Edit Default Properties commands.
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SEE ALSO: FloorPlan Plus 3D has other features for editing, saving, and loading styles. For more information
see "Working with Default Styles" on page 5-15.
Setting Properties of Selected Objects

Every object that you create has its own property settings. When you create the
object, you use the default settings in your drawing. However, you can
subsequently format the object, overriding the default settings. This changes the
properties of the object only, and does not affect the settings for any object that you
subsequently create.
For example, suppose you want to create an accent wall, which will be the only
red wall in your house. To make the wall red in both 3D and 2D, you would follow
these steps:
1. Create the wall using the Wall tool.
2. Select the wall using the Pointer tool.
3. Click the Properties button, choose Red in both the 2D Color and 3D Color
boxes, then click OK to close the dialog.
4. Click away from the wall to deselect it.
This makes the particular wall red, but does not otherwise affect the settings in
your drawing.
Property Bar and Properties Dialogs

Common object properties can be set directly from the Property Bar. For control over
properties that are specific to the type of object, you must use the Properties dialogs.
Property Bar
The Property Bar is located just above the drawing area on your screen. You can
display or hide this toolbar using the Options|Property Bar menu command. The
Property Bar allows you to directly set common properties. It also gives you access
to the Properties dialogs via the Properties button.
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object type description color line style fill style to dialogs...

To use the Property Bar, use the pulldown list boxes on the toolbar to select settings
for a tool, style, or selected object(s).
The following list describes the controls of the Property Bar:
Object type. This text box tells you the type of tool or object to which the property
settings apply. If you have selected more than one type of object, the word
Multiple will appear here.
Description. Generally you click in this box to choose a style; styles that you have
created yourself will appear in this box. If you are setting properties of text, this box
contains the list of available fonts. If you are setting properties for drawing objects,
this box will be blank.
Color. Click in this box to select a color for a tool, style, or object.
Line. Click in this box to select a solid line, or from a variety of dot and dash line patterns.
Fill. Click in this box to choose a solid fill, or select from a variety of hatch patterns
to fill objects.
Properties. Click this button to access the Properties dialog for an object type, so
that you can edit more properties. This button is disabled if you have selected more
than one type of object.
Properties Dialogs
Each general type of object has a Properties dialog, which contains common
properties, as well as the special properties that are particular to that type of object.
You access the Properties dialog by activating a tool or selecting an object, then clicking
on the Properties button in the Property Bar. You can also access the default properties
of building object styles via the File|Edit Default Styles command (see "Edit Default
Styles" on page 5-16). The following is a list of the Properties dialogs:
Line
Floor Covering
Wall
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Floor
Straight Stair
Spiral Stairs
Railing
Door
Window
Dimension
Text
The following sections describe first properties that are common to many different types
of objects, then special properties that you view and modify in the Properties dialogs.
SEE ALSO: "Roof Object Properties" on page 11-12.
Common Object Properties

Several properties are common to many or all types of objects. The Floor Covering
Properties dialog, shown here as an example, contains these common properties.
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Formatting Properties
The Color, Line Style, and Fill Style properties can be set by clicking in the
pulldown boxes. These work the same way as in the Property Bar.
Description, Category, and Part Number

You will find the Description, Category, and Part Number properties in building
objects such as walls and doors, but not in drawing objects such as lines and
ellipses. The Description text box tells you the style of the object, which you select
in the Property Bar. You cant change the setting if you access the dialog from the
Property Bar. You can create and edit the Description, Part Number, and Category
of styles using the Edit Default Styles command.
SEE ALSO: "Edit Default Styles" on page 5-16.
Line Properties
The Line Properties dialog applies to any of the drawing objects, such as a straight
line, ellipse, or arc.
In addition to the common properties described on page 5-5, the drawing objects
have the following property:
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Last point connects to first. If you click Yes in the Last point connects to first field, any
selected freehand lines or arcs will be closed by a straight line drawn between the
beginning and end of the line. If you click No, then closed linear objects, like polygons
and circles, are opened up. This is advantageous if you want to open up a polygon or
circle, then edit it using the Adjust Lines tool (see "Adjusting Lines" on page 4-8).
Floor Covering Properties

The Floor Covering properties dialog lets you format the properties of objects
created with the Floor Covering tool. These properties are all covered under
"Common Object Properties" on page 5-5 .
Wire & Pipe Properties

The Wire & Pipe properties are used to format objects created with the Wire & Pipe
tool. These properties are all covered under "Common Object Properties" on page 5-5 .
Wall Properties
The Wall Properties dialog contains the properties of objects created with the Wall tool.
In addition to the common properties covered on page 5-5, Walls have the
following special properties:
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Height. The height of the wall from the base of the wall to the ceiling.
Thickness. The thickness of the wall.
Dist off floor. In some structures you may want the base of the wall to be higher than
the floor, such as in an arched passage. Set that distance here.
2D and 3D color. Walls can be displayed in different colors in their 2D and 3D
representations. Set both colors separately in these boxes.
Floor Properties
The Floor Properties dialog contains the properties of objects created with the Floor tool.
In addition to the common properties discussed on page 5-5, floors have the
following properties:
Height. The height of the floor from ground level.
Thickness. The thickness of the flooring material.
2D and 3D color. Floors can be displayed in different colors in their 2D and 3D
representation. Set both colors separately in these boxes.
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Stair and Railing Properties

Stairs and railings are the most complex building objects, and have a large set of
properties contained in three dialog boxes:
Straight Stairs
Spiral Stairs
Railings
The following three sections describe these dialogs.
Straight Stair Properties Dialog

The Straight Stair Properties dialog lets you precisely control the appearance and
dimensions of straight stairs.
In addition to the common properties described on page 5-5, the Straight Stair
dialog contains the following options. The meaning of some of these options is
shown in a diagram on the dialog.
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Width. The width of the staircase.

Total rise. The vertical distance between the floor and the top of the staircase.
Total run. The horizontal distance between the beginning of the first step on the
staircase and the end of the last step.
Number of steps. The total number of steps.
Dist off floor. The distance of the staircase from the floor. Normally this will be set to 0.
Calculated values. FloorPlan Plus 3D will automatically calculate the Rise, Run, and
Angle of the staircase based on the values that you enter in the other boxes.
Railing. Place checkmarks in the appropriate boxes if you want railing on the left
side of the staircase, the right side or both. Click the Railing Properties button to go
to the Railing Options dialog (see page 5-12).
2D and 3D color. Stairs can appear in different colors in their 2D and 3D
representations. Set both colors in these boxes.
Spiral Stairs Dialog

The Spiral Stair Properties dialog allows you to precisely control the appearance and
dimensions of spiral stairs. The meaning of some of these options is shown in a
diagram on the dialog.
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In addition to the common properties described on page 5-5, the dialog contains
these settings:
Pole height. The total height of the pole around which the staircase is constructed.
(Set this property to zero for sweeping stairs.)
Pole diameter. The diameter of the pole around which the staircase is constructed.
(Set this property to a relatively large value for sweeping stairs.)
Stair height. The distance from the floor at the bottom of the staircase to the top of
the upper surface of the floor at the top of staircase.
Min step angle. The minimum angle permitted between two successive steps.
Riser height. The vertical distance between two successive steps.
Starting angle. The angle of the lowest stair.
Ending angle. The angle of the highest stair.
2D and 3D color. Spiral stairs can appear in different colors in their 2D and 3D
representations. Set both colors in these boxes.
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Up direction. Specifies whether the staircase revolves clockwise or

counterclockwise in the upward direction.
Calculated values. The Step angle, Number of steps, and headroom are calculated
automatically based on the values that you supply. Make sure you have enough
headroom!
Railing. Check this box to add a railing to the outside of the spiral staircase. Click
the Railing button to access the Railing Properties dialog (see next section).
Railing Properties Dialog

The Railing Properties dialog gives you control over the appearance of railings,
which can be added to any staircase.
In addition to the common properties described on page 5-5, railings have the
following properties:
Height. The distance between the base of any baluster and the top of the railing.
Handrail width. The horizontal width of the handrail.
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Handrail thickness. The vertical thickness of the handrail.

Opening size. The distance between any two balusters.
Dist off floor. The distance between the base of the baluster and the staircase.
Normally you would leave this set to 0.
3D handrail color. The color of the handrail displayed in 3D.
3D baluster color. The color the baluster displayed in 3D.
Door and Window Properties

Door and Window properties are essentially similar.
In addition to the common properties described on page 5-5, doors and windows
have the following properties:
3D Symbol. Click the Load button to load a new 3D symbol for a window or door.
For information on loading 3D symbols, see "Load Symbol" on page 9-3.
2D Symbol. You can choose a 2D symbol for windows or doors from the scrolling list.
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Change orientation (door only). Click this button to reverse the direction in which
the door opens.
Width. The width of the door or window.
Height. The height of the door or window.
Dist off floor. The distance of the door or window from the floor. With doors, you
will probably want to leave this set to 0.
Constrain to width of wall (door only). Check this option if you want doors to never
be wider than the wall that contains them.
Dimension Properties
The Dimension Properties dialog gives you control over the form, color, and line
style of dimensions, and lets you set the properties of dimension text.
Formats. Click in this box to select the arrow and extension line type of the dimension.
Options. Use the Color and Line Style boxes to choose a color and line style for the
dimension. Click the Set Font and Size button to access the Text Properties dialog,
in which you can format the dimension text (see next section).
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Text Properties
The Text Properties dialog lets you format text objects and dimension text.
Fonts. Use this scrolling list to select a font for the text. Any TrueType font available
on your system can be used.
Options. Type the height of the text (in feet or inches) into the Size box. Use the
Color box to select the text color. Click the Italic, Bold, and Underline check boxes
to set the text attributes.
Sample. The Sample box shows what the text will look like with property settings
you have chosen.
Working with Default Styles

Each of FloorPlan Plus 3Ds building objects have a set of default styles. For
example, the Floor Covering tool has styles for representing hardwood floors,
grassy areas, walkways, and so forth. FloorPlan Plus 3D provides features for
creating, editing, and deleting styles. Once you have set default styles, they remain
active in the current drawing. You can also save the style settings that you edit and
create so that they can be loaded into other drawings.
This section describes how to use these features.
5-15
Edit Default Styles

Menu: File|Edit Default Styles
The Edit Default Styles item on the File menu opens a submenu that lets you edit
the styles of the following types of building objects:
Floor Coverings
Doors
Floors
Railing
Walls
Windows
Wire & Pipe
To edit the default styles for a building object, choose the corresponding item from
the submenu. The Edit Default Style dialog for the type of object you selected will
be displayed. As an example, here is a picture of the Edit Default Door Style dialog:
From this dialog you can add new default styles, delete existing default styles, and
edit the properties of existing default styles.
5-16
Adding a Style
To add a style:
1. Click the Add button. The Properties dialog for the type of object you
selected will appear.
2. Set the properties of the style in the dialog box, then click OK. The new style
will be added to the list.
SEE ALSO: For instructions on using the Properties dialogs, see "Properties Dialogs" on page 5-4.
Editing a Style
To edit an existing style:
1. Select the style that you would like to edit in the list of styles.
2. Click the Edit button. The Properties dialog for the type of object you
selected will appear.
3. Set the properties of the style in the dialog box, then click OK.
SEE ALSO: For instructions on using the Properties dialogs, see "Properties Dialogs" on page 5-4.
Deleting a Style
To delete an existing style, select the style in the list box, then click the Delete button.
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6
Printing Your Drawing

The Printer Setup and Print Drawing commands print your floor plans as well as views
in the 3D Viewer. If you have trouble with your printer, do one of the following
In Windows 3.1x run the Print Manager in the Main group in the Windows
Program Manager.
In Windows 95, choose Settings|Printers from the Start menu.
SEE ALSO: See your Windows documentation for more information on printing in Windows. See "Printing
3D Drawings" on page 10-8 for information on 3D printing. See "A Word About Printing" on page 12-11 for
a discussion of common printing problems.
Printer Setup
Menu: File|Printer Setup
Use the Printer Setup command to choose a printer if you have more than one
printer available on your system, or to set the properties of your current printer. To
select a printer:
1. Choose Printer Setup from the File menu to display the Printer Setup dialog.
2. Choose the appropriate printer from the Printer and Port list box.
3. Click Setup Printer to set printer options. The dialog or property sheets that
appear belong to the printer that you have selected. Click OK to return to the
Select Printer dialog.
4. Click OK to close the Select Printer dialog and accept the changes.
Print
Menu: File|Print Keys: <Ctrl>+ Button Location: Ribbon Bar
To print a drawing:
1. Choose Print drawing from the File menu, displaying the Print Options dialog.
6-2
Chapter 6 Printing Your Drawing
2. In this dialog you can set the following options:

Region. Choose to print the Entire Drawing or a Selected Area. If you choose
Selected Area, you will have to define two corners of the rectangle enclosing
the area before FloorPlan Plus 3D will start printing.
Color Conversion. Check the Map to Black to print in black and white only. Check
Color to print in color or shades of gray, depending on your printer.
Layers. Choose to print All Layers or only the Visible Layers. For information on
displaying and hiding layers, see "Layers" on page 3-4.
Print scale. Choose to print the drawing to Fit to Page or set the print scale by typing
in the 1"= list box (or 1cm=, if you have chosen the metric measuring system in
Preference, see "User Preferences" on page 8-7 ). For example, if you type 1' into the
text box, one inch of printed area will be equal to one foot of horizontal space in the
building that your floor plan is modeling.
3. After setting the print options, click OK to print your drawing.
6-3
7
Special Tools
FloorPlan Plus 3Ds Tools menu includes functions for:
Measuring areas and perimeters.
Reversing a floor plan.
Converting lines to walls.
Adjusting walls.
Learning to use these tools will help you create and edit floor plans quickly and easily.
Measuring Area and Perimeter

Menu: Tools|Area & Perimeter
The Area & Perimeter command enables you to get quick measurements of any area
in your floor plan. To measure an area and perimeter:
1. Choose Area & Perimeter from the Tools menu.
2. Click on each corner of the area that you want to measure, defining the
outline of the area. You can press <Backspace> to erase the previous point, or
<Esc> to abort the measurement.
3. To finish defining the area, do one of the following:
Click again on the first point to close the area.
Press <Enter> or right-click to draw a straight line from the current point
back to the first point.
4. The Area and Perimeter dialog appears. Click OK after noting the information.
TIP: If you don’t have Snap to Grid on, it may be difficult to close an area by clicking a second time on the
first point. In such cases it is better to right-click to close the measurement area.
Reversing the Floor Plan

Menu: Tools|Reverse floor plan Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The Reverse Floor Plan command lets you invert your entire floor plan, turning
it into a mirror image. To reverse your floor plan, choose Reverse Floor Plan from
the Tools menu.
NOTE: This command reverses the floor plan only for the current building level. To reverse a multilevel floor
plan, use the View|Edit Building Levels command. This provides some flexibility, allowing you to use the
reverse of one floor as the basis for another floor. For more information, see "Edit Building Levels" on page 3-3.
Converting Lines to Walls

Menu: Tools|Convert lines to walls
You may find it useful to sketch your floor plan using lines, arcs, or other drawing
tools, and then convert the lines to a series of connected walls. By using the arc or
circle tool, you can quickly create curved walls. When you convert the lines, you
will define the minimum wall length of curved segments in the series. To convert
lines to walls:
1. Select the line(s) to be converted.
2. Choose Convert Lines to Walls from the Tools menu.
3. Enter the Minimum Wall Length for curved segments. (In most cases you can
accept the default value.) Click OK to convert the lines.
TIP: Sometimes using this method will cause a straight wall section to not line up with an adjacent curved
or straight wall section. Use the Adjust Wall tool to change one wall’s baseline alignment. To do this, click
the Adjust Wall tool, click on the wall you want to change, then press the <SpaceBar> to “flip” the wall
over its baseline. In some cases you may need to turn off snap-to-grid so that you can freely adjust the
position of the wall’s endpoint as well. For more information, see "Adjusting Walls" on page 7-3.
7-2
Chapter 7 Special Tools
Adjusting Walls
Menu: Tools|Adjust walls Button Location: Tool Bar
After placing a wall, it is useful to change the length or angle of the wall. To adjust a wall:
1. Select a wall using the Pointer tool.
2. Choose Adjust Walls from the Edit menu.
3. Click toward the end that you want to adjust. The end of the wall will now be
attached to the cursor.
4. Move the mouse to adjust the wall, using the outline as a guide, then click to
place the end of the wall.
TIP: While you are adjusting a wall, you can “flip” the wall over its baseline, which changes the way it aligns
itself to the grid and to other walls. To do this, press the <SpaceBar> while you are using the Adjust Wall tool.
7-3
8
Options and Preferences

FloorPlan Plus 3Ds options and preferences let you set up FloorPlan Plus 3D to suit
the way you work. This chapter covers:
Interface options, which let you change the features of the FloorPlan Plus 3D window.
Drawing options, which let you set the maximum size of objects, and change
the way that FloorPlan Plus 3D draws walls and text.
User preferences, which give you control over a variety of FloorPlan Plus 3D defaults.
Interface Options
FloorPlan Plus 3Ds interface options give you control over the Property Bar, the
Ribbon Bar, the Tool Bar, and the Status Bar.
SEE ALSO: Other options related to the user interface can be found under "User Preferences" on page 8-7.
Displaying and Hiding the Property Bar

Menu: Options|Property Bar
The Property Bar is located along the top of the drawing window, just below the
Ribbon Bar. It allows you to view and change the property settings of the currently
active tool, or of currently selected objects.
To display or hide the Property Bar, choose Property Bar from the Options menu.
The menu item will have a check mark next to it if the Property Bar is visible.
SEE ALSO: "Property Bar and Properties Dialogs" on page 5-3.

Displaying and Hiding the Ribbon Bar

Menu: Options|Ribbon bar
The Ribbon bar is along the top of the drawing window, just below the Menu bar,
and can be toggled to provide icon shortcuts to menu commands. To display or hide
the Ribbon bar, choose Ribbon Bar from the Options menu. The menu item will
have a check mark next to it if the Ribbon Bar is visible.
Controlling the Status Bar

The Status Bar is displayed along the bottom of the drawing window. You can
display and hide the Status Bar, and you can change its mode from Help mode to
Status mode and back.
Displaying and Hiding the Status Bar

Menu: Options|Status bar
To display and hide the Status bar, choose Status Bar from the Options menu. The
menu item will have a check mark next to it if the Status Bar is visible.
Changing the Status Bar Mode

The Display Help Mode and Display Status Mode commands let you switch the
Status Bar between Help and Status modes.
Display Help Mode

Menu: View|Display help mode Keys: <Ctrl>+<H> Button Location: Status Bar
The Display Help Mode command switches the Status Bar to Help mode.
Display Status Mode

Menu: View|Display status mode Keys: <Ctrl>+<T> Button Location: Status Bar
The Display Status Mode command switches the Status Bar to Status mode.
8-2
Chapter 8 Options and Preferences
Tool Bar Display Options

The Tool Bar is normally displayed vertically along the left side of the drawing window.
It can be hidden, changed to a floating palette, or displayed in its default position.
Hiding the Tool Bar

Menu: Options|Tool bar|Disable
Hiding the Tool Bar makes it completely invisible. This is useful if you want to
temporarily maximize the drawing area. To hide the Tool Bar:
1. Choose Tool Bar from the Options menu.
2. Choose Disable from the Tool Bar submenu.
Floating the Tool Bar

Menu: Options|Tool bar|Floating
When the Tool Bar is displayed as a floating palette, you can freely drag it to other
positions on the screen. To float the Tool Bar:
2. Choose Floating from the Tool Bar submenu.
Displaying the Tool Bar in its Default Position

Menu: Options|Tool bar|Left side
The Tool Bar is displayed by default vertically along the left side of the FloorPlan
Plus 3D Window. To display the Tool Bar in the default position:
2. Choose Left Side from the Tool Bar submenu.
8-3
Drawing Options
The drawing options give you control over the maximum size of objects, and over
the way that certain objects are drawn. These options include:
Maximum drawing size
Number of polygon sides
Auto wall dimensioning
Dynamic text sizing
Maximum Drawing Size

Menu: Options|Maximum drawing size
Maximum drawing size determines the total dimensions of the drawing area, and
the maximum size of objects contained in the drawing area. The maximum drawing
size can be changed at any time. To set the maximum drawing size:
1. Choose Maximum Drawing Size from the Options menu, displaying the
Maximum Drawing Size dialog.
2. Choose the smallest dimensions into which your floor plan will fit, then click
OK to close the dialog.
NOTE: For most house plans the default size of 325 x 325 feet is more than adequate.
8-4
Number of Polygon Sides

Menu: Options|Polygon sides
The Polygon Sides option sets the number of sides of polygons drawn with the
Polygon tool. By default, FloorPlan Plus 3D polygons have five sides. To change the
number of polygon sides:
1. Choose Polygon Sides from the Options menu.
2. Type the number of sides that you want in the dialog, then press <Enter>.
SEE ALSO: "Polygon" on page 2-10.
Auto Wall Dimensioning

Menu: Options|Auto wall dimensioning
The Auto Wall Dimensioning option lets you create dimensions displaying the
length of walls immediately after you draw the walls. To turn automatic
dimensioning on and off, choose Auto Wall Dimensioning from the Options menu.
SEE ALSO:"Drawing a Wall with Auto Dimensioning" on page 2-8.
Dynamic Text Sizing

Menu: Options|Dynamic text sizing
The Dynamic Text Sizing option determines whether you can set the height of text
while you are drawing the text. To turn this option on and off, choose Dynamic Text
Sizing from the Options menu.
SEE ALSO: "Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing On" on page 2-13.
8-5
Distance Display Options

The distance display options let you control the Origin point in the drawing, so that
you can draw an object at a specific distance from that point. You can choose to
display or hide the Origin, or set the Origin to another position.
Origin crosshairs
NOTE: For distance information to be visible, the Status Bar must be in Help mode. Click the H button on the
bar to set it to Help mode.
Display Origin Point

Menu: Options|Display origin point
The Display Origin command displays or hides the Origin crosshairs, and at the
same time displays or hides the Distance from Origin information on the Status Bar.
In order for the Distance from Origin information to be displayed, the Status Bar
must be in Help mode (see "Display Help Mode" on page 8-2 ).
Set Cursor Origin Point

Menu: Options|Set cursor origin point
The Origin point is used to measure the distance from the cursor to a specific point
in the drawing. For example, to position the wall phone three feet from the exterior
wall, set the Origin point on the exterior wall and load the wall phone symbol. The
Help bar will indicate the distance from the cursor in the center of the wall phone,
to the Origin point. To set the Origin point:
1. Choose Set Cursor Origin Point from the Options menu.
2. Click to position the Origin point in the drawing. The Cursor Origin Point
dialog box will appear.
8-6
3. Click to choose one of the following options.

Horizontal. Check this option to display in the Status Bar the distance from the
Origin point to the cursor along the X axis.
Vertical. Check this option to display in the Status Bar the distance from the Origin
point to the cursor along the Y axis.
Straight line. Check this option to display in the Status Bar the absolute distance
from the Origin point to the cursor.
4. Click OK to close the dialog.
User Preferences
Menu: File|Preferences
The Preferences command allows you to set a number of FloorPlan Plus 3D defaults.
Settings are saved for future uses of the program, until you explicitly change them.
1. Choose Preferences from the File menu. The Preferences dialog appears.
8-7
2. Set any of the following options:

Undo levels. Undo levels can be set from 0 to 20, allowing you to reverse and then
redo up to 20 commands. Higher numbers of Undo levels require more memory.
Measurement system. Set the measurement system to Metric or U.S. (feet and
inches). You can choose to use fractions rather than decimal display. Choose the
number of decimal places to display (0-3) for decimal measurements.
Auto backup. Auto backup automatically saves the current file to the backup.tmp
file every 5 minutes. You can change the number of minutes between backups by
typing a new value into the Backup Every... box. You can switch Auto backup on or
off by clicking in the Enabled box.
Colors. Use the pulldown lists to choose colors for the Grid, Paper, Cursor, and Selection.
Cursor size. You can choose a Small, Medium, or Large cursor. Click the Aiming
Rectangle box to display and hide the Aiming Rectangle. The Aiming rectangle is
the small box at the center of the cursor.
Symbol libraries. The Symbol libraries settings determine the standard libraries
used for door and window symbols. You can load new default door and window
libraries by clicking on the Load buttons and using the Load Symbol dialogs.
3. Click OK to close the dialog.
8-8
9
Symbols and Symbol Libraries

FloorPlan Plus 3D uses symbols to simplify construction of your drawing. Instead
of manually drawing a refrigerator, for example, you can load the refrigerator
symbol from the Appliances symbol library. If you wanted to create a slightly
different refrigerator, you could edit the symbol and save it to the library with a
different name. You could also create your own symbol from scratch.
If you want to view the symbol in the 3D Viewer, you can associate your 2D symbols
with 3D drawings from TurboCAD 3D.
SEE ALSO: Click here to visit the TurboCAD 2D/3D web page.
The FloorPlan Plus 3D libraries are used to categorize symbols. FloorPlan Plus 3D
comes with several libraries, and you can create your own libraries as well. You can
also rename a library, delete a library, and print a catalog of the symbols in a library.
Create Symbol Library

Menu: Symbols|Create symbol library
To create a symbol library:
1. Choose Create Symbol Library from the Symbols menu. The Create Symbol
Library dialog will appear.
2. Type a descriptive name for the library, then click OK. A second dialog appears.
3. Type a file name for the library using the .lib extension (filename.lib), then
click OK to close the dialog.
Rename Symbol Library

Menu: Symbols|Rename symbol library
To change the name of a symbol library:
1. Choose Rename Symbol Library from the Symbols menu. The Select Symbol
Library dialog will appear.
2. Select the library name that you want to change, then click OK. The Rename
Symbol Library dialog will appear.
3. Type a new name for the library, then click OK.
Delete Symbol Library

Menu: Symbols|Delete symbol library
To delete a symbol library:
1. Choose Delete Symbol Library from the Symbols menu. The Select Symbol
Library dialog box will appear.
2. Select the name of the library to be deleted, then click OK. A confirmation
dialog box will appear.
3. Click Yes to remove the library name, file, and symbols from the disk.
Write Symbol Catalog

Menu: Symbols|Write symbol catalog
A symbol library catalog is a list of all the symbols in a library in the form of a text
file. To write a symbol library catalog:
1. Choose Write symbol catalog from the Symbols menu. The Select Symbol
Library dialog box will appear.
2. Select the name of the library to catalog, then click OK. The Write Symbol
Catalog dialog will appear.
3. Type the file name of the text file to be created (for example, furnitur.txt).
Once this file has been created, you can open it in any word processor, or in
Windows Notepad, and print it out.
9-2
Chapter 9 Symbols and Symbol Libraries
Load Symbol
Menu: Symbols|Load symbol Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Loading a symbol means to make a copy of a symbol in a library and place it in your
drawing. To load a symbol:
1. Choose Load Symbol from the Symbols menu. The Load Symbol dialog will appear.
2. In the Libraries box, click on the name of the library that contains the symbol
you want. The librarys symbols will appear in the Symbols list on the left.
3. Click on the symbol name to view the 2D symbol and its associated 3D symbol.
(If there is no associated 3D symbol, nothing will appear in the 3D box.)
4. Click OK or double-click on the symbol name to load the symbol into your drawing.
5. The symbol will now be attached to your mouse cursor. Position the symbol
with the mouse, and click to place it in your drawing.
NOTE: You will probably want to reposition, scale, and rotate the symbol after it has been loaded. See
Chapter 4 for more information.
9-3
Save Symbol
Menu: Symbols|Save symbol Button Location: Edit Tools Palette
You can create your own symbols by drawing objects with the drawing tools, selecting them,
then saving them to a symbol library. To save a symbol:
1. Use the Pointer tool to select objects to be included in the symbol.

Choose Save symbol from the Symbols menu.
Press <E>.
Right click to display the Edit Tools Palette, then click the Save button.
3. The Symbol Properties dialog will appear:
4. In the upper box, fill in the Description field. The Part Number and Category
fields are optional. Use the fields in the lower half of the dialog to set the
dimensions, color, line style, and fill style of the symbol. (Remember that you
can subsequently change the properties of a symbol after it has been loaded
into your drawing.)
9-4
5. Click OK to close the Symbol Properties dialog. The Select Symbol Library
dialog appears.
6. Select a library in which to place the symbol, then click OK. (If an
appropriate library does not exist, click Cancel and create the library using
the Create Symbol Library command.)
Edit Symbol in Library

Menu: Symbols|Edit symbol in library
The Edit Symbol in Library command allows you to view and change the properties
of a symbol in a symbol library.
1. Choose Edit Symbol in Library from the Symbols menu. The Edit symbol
dialog will appear.
2. Select the library and the symbol to edit from the lists, then click OK. The
Symbol Properties dialog will appear.
3. Edit the properties, then click OK.
SEE ALSO: For more information on editing properties, see "Properties Dialogs" on page 5-4, and "Save
Symbol" on page 9-4.
Delete Symbol from Library

Menu: Symbols|Delete symbol from library
To delete a symbol from a library:
1. Choose Delete symbol from library from the Symbols menu. The Delete
Symbol dialog will appear.
2. Select the name of the library and the symbol to be deleted. Click OK. A
confirmation dialog box will appear.
3. Click Yes to remove the symbol from the library.
9-5
Importing 3D Symbols from TurboCAD 3D

Menu: Symbols|Import symbol from TurboCAD 3D
The 3D Viewer automatically converts your Floors, Walls, Stairs, and Railings into 3D
representations. Doors, windows, and other symbols must be associated with 3D
symbols before they can be viewed using the 3D Viewer. The doors, windows and other
symbols that ship with FloorPlan Plus 3D are already associated with 3D symbols. If you
create your own 2D symbols, you will need to create corresponding 3D symbols, then
associate the 2D and 3D symbols, before you can view the symbol in 3D.
You can create your own 3D symbols using TurboCAD 3D, then import these files
into FloorPlan Plus 3D.
To import a 3D symbol from TurboCAD 3D:
1. Choose Import Symbol from TurboCAD 3D from the Symbols Menu. The
Select TurboCAD 3D Drawing dialog appears.
2. Double-click on the double period (..) in the dialog, continue to browse to
the TurboCAD 3D drawing you would like to import, then press OK. The
Select Destination File dialog appears.
3. Browse to the FloorPlan Plus 3D folder (which is c:\imsi\fp30 unless you
changed the folder name or installed to a drive other then C:).
4. Type in a name for the destination file, with the extension .3D. For example,
suppose you want to import a TurboCAD 3D file called urn.mdl. In the
Filename box type urn.3d. Click OK to save the converted 3D symbol file.
Associating 2D Symbols with 3D Symbols

When you have completed the file conversion from the .mdl to the .3d format, you
must associate the 3D symbol with a 2D symbol you have already generated. Once
you have done this, you can place the 2D symbol in your floor plan, then view the
associated 3D symbol in the 3D viewer.
1. Choose Edit Symbol in Library from the Symbols menu. The Edit Symbol
dialog appears.
2. In the Libraries box, select the custom library in which your symbol is stored,
then click OK.
9-6
3. When the Symbol Properties dialog box appears, press the Load button to the
right of the 3D Symbol field. Scroll through the Files list in the Load 3D
Symbol dialog until you see the 3D symbol. Select the file, then click OK.
Break Symbol
Menu: Symbols|Break symbol
FloorPlan Plus 3D library symbols are objects comprised of one or more lines or
shapes drawn with the drawing tools. Symbols can be selected, moved, and rotated
as a single object. To edit the individual lines and shapes that comprise the symbol,
you first need to break the symbol into its component parts.
To break a symbol:
1. Select the symbol using the Pointer tool.
2. Choose Break symbol from the Symbols menu.
3. Click in another part of the drawing to deselect the symbol.
4. Use the Pointer tool to select then edit the elements of the symbol.
5. You can optionally select the lines and shapes you have edited and save them as a
symbol, either under the same name as the original symbol, or under a new name.
NOTE: A broken symbol will not appear in Materials lists or in the 3D Viewer.
9-7
10
3D Viewer
FloorPlan Plus 3D includes a3D Viewer in which you can view a 3D model of your
2D floor plan. You set the view position and the light source, then move through a
model of your building to get a better idea of what the design looks like in real life.
You can customize your view by choosing different viewing angles, heights, and
shading options.
The 3D Viewer automatically displays walls, stairs, floors, and rails in three
dimensions. Symbols, including all doors and windows, display a 3D drawing file
associated with the 2D symbol. The symbols that ship with FloorPlan Plus 3D are
already associated with 3D symbols. If you create your own 2D symbols, you can
create 3D symbols using TurboCAD 3D, then associate the 2D and 3D symbols, so
that you will be able to view your 3D symbols in the 3D viewer.
SEE ALSO: For more information on importing 3D symbols from TurboCAD 3D and associating 2D and 3D
files, see "Importing 3D Symbols from TurboCAD 3D" on page 9-6 and "Associating 2D Symbols with 3D
Symbols" on page 9-6. Click here to visit the TurboCAD 2D/3D web page.
NOTE: The 3D Viewer runs in its own window, separate from the main FloorPlan Plus 3D window. When
you launch the 3D Viewer, the FloorPlan Plus 3D window is automatically minimized, but if you like you can
restore it and view the 2D and 3D applications on your screen at the same time. You can also press
<Alt>+<Tab> to quickly switch between one view and the other. For more information on working with
multiple windows, see your Microsoft Windows documentation.
Chapter 10 3D Viewer
Running the 3D Viewer

Menu: File|View in 3D Button Location: Ribbon Bar
To start the 3D Viewer:
1. Choose Run 3D Viewer from the File menu, or click the 3D button in the
Ribbon bar. The View marker will appear.
view marker
2. Position the marker at the position from which you would like to view your
floor plan, then click.
3. Move the mouse to rotate the view marker so that the wide end of the marker
faces the area of the floor plan that you would like to see, then click. The
View Floor Plan in 3D dialog will appear.
10-2
4. Set any of the following options in the dialog:

All levels. Displays all building levels and the roof.
Current level. Displays only the current level.
All layers. Displays all layers.
Visible layers. Displays only the currently visible layers.
Position of light source. Affects 3D colors in shaded views. The Horizontal angle
describes the position of the sun along the horizon with respect to East. The Vertical
angle applies to the time of day, or the suns position overhead, with respect to East.
Starting height. Sets the distance of the viewport from the floor.
5. Click OK to close the dialog. A 3D representation of your floor plan will be displayed.
SEE ALSO: For information on hiding and displaying layers, see "Layers" on page 3-4.
10-3
Navigating in 3D Space
The buttons on the 3D Viewer Ribbon Bar allow you to change your position and view
in the 3D space of your floor plan. You can also adjust the view with the keyboard.
Navigation Tools
You can move in 3D space using either the keyboard, or the navigation tools on the
Ribbon Bar. For a quick summary of the keyboard commands, see "Keyboard
Shortcut Summary" on page 10-5 .
TIPS: To temporarily increase the distance that you move when using either the navigation tools or the
keyboard, hold down the <Shift> key. Press the <+> key to increase the default step distance by one foot;
press the <-> key to decrease the default step distance by one foot.
View Height
Keys: and <D> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Click the Up and Down buttons, or press the and <D> on your keyboard, to
adjust your height in the 3D space.
View Position
Keys: Up Arrow, Down Arrow, <L>, <R> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Click the Left, Right, Fwd, and Back buttons to move on the horizontal plane of the
3D space. You can use the up and down arrow keys to move forward and back, press
<L> to move left, or press <R> to move right.
Turning
Keys: Left Arrow, Right Arrow, <Page Up>, <Page Down> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
To turn left, right, up, or down, click the corresponding button on the Ribbon Bar.
You can press the Left and Right arrow keys to turn left and right, or press the <Page
Up> and <Page Down> keys to tilt up and down.
10-4
Spinning around the 3D Space

Keys: <Ins>, <Delete>,<End>,<Home> Button Location: Ribbon Bar
You can rotate your view around either the horizontal axis of the 3D space, or
around the vertical axis of the 3D space, by clicking on the Spin buttons. Use the
<Ins> and <Delete> keys to spin left and right, and the <End> and <Home> keys to
spin up and down.
Keyboard Shortcut Summary

The following table summarizes the keyboard shortcuts for navigation in 3D space.
Note again that you can temporarily increase the move step by holding down the
<Shift> key. You can adjust the default step distance by pressing the <+> and <-> keys.
Key Action
Left Arrow Turn left
Right Arrow Turn right
Up Arrow Move forward
Down Arrow Move backward
<Ins> Spin left
<Del> Spin right
<Home> Spin down
<End> Spin up
 Move up
<D> Move down
<L> Move left
<R> Move right
<+> Increase move step
<-> Decrease move step
<Esc> Exit 3D Viewer
<Page Up> Tilt view up
<Page Down> Tile view down
10-5
Viewing Options
The View menu provides several options for adjusting your view of the 3D space.
Make layers visible and invisible, viewing only the specific layers that you are
interested in.
Set the brightness level of the light source.
Choose different options for shading the surfaces.
TIP: By setting the layers and the shading options, you can adjust the speed at which the objects on your
screen are redrawn. Read the following sections to find out how.
Enabling and Disabling Layers

Menu: View|Layers Keys: <Ctrl>+<L>
Turning layers on and off in the 3D Viewer is precisely the same as doing so in the
FloorPlan Plus 3D main window. For instructions, see "Layers" on page 3-4.
TIP: You can increase the redraw speed by temporarily turning off most of the layers while you are navigating.
When you reach a view that you want to examine in more detail, you can turn all of the layers back on.
Brightness and Shading

The colors assigned to objects are applied at their brightest shade. Flat surfaces
reflect all objects in this shade, at 100% brightness, without regard to the light
position. Choosing Shaded or Shaded with Outlines will darken surfaces with
regard to the position of the light.
The following sections describe how to set the brightness level and choose
shading options.
NOTE: You will need to redraw the screen before the effects of a brightness or shading change will be
visible. Click any of the navigation tools to redraw the screen.
10-6
Brightness Level
Menu: View|Set brightness level
The Set Brightness Level command lets you set the brightness of the light source to
a value between 0 and 100. To set the brightness level:
1. Choose Set Brightness Level from the View menu. The Adjust Brightness
dialog appears.
2. Adjust the brightness either by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the text
field, or by moving the slide bar. Click OK to set the brightness level.
3. Click any navigation tool to redraw the screen and see the effects of the change.
Shading Options
Menu: View|Shading options|Setting
To choose a shading option, first choose Shading Options from the View menu,
then choose a setting from the submenu that appears. Your choices are as follows:
Flat. The most basic; this option gives you an unshaded view without outlines.
Shaded. This option renders a view that is shaded, but shows no outlines. This
option gives you the best view of curved surfaces.
Flat with Outlines. Again, this option gives you outlines, but no light source.
Shaded with Outlines. This option gives you the best view of angular surfaces.
Hidden Lines. This option produces a black and white line drawing without color or
shading. This option provides the fastest redraw speeds.
10-7
NOTE: Remember that you will have to redraw the screen by clicking a navigation tool before your changes
will be visible.
Exporting 3D Drawings
FloorPlan Plus 3D has the ability to export your floor plan to DXF file format for
importing into TurboCAD 3D and other CAD programs. This is useful for further
design and advanced rendering of your floor plan.
To export to a DXF file:
1. Choose Export to DXF from the File menu. The Export to DXF dialog box
will appear.
2. Type the name of the file to export to (for example my3dplan.dxf), and select
the directory in which to save the file using the Directories box. Click OK to
export the file.
Printing 3D Drawings
The Print Setup command in the 3D Viewer is the same as the corresponding
command in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window. For instructions, see "Printer
Setup" on page 6-1.
To print a 3D drawing:
1. Choose Print from the File menu. The Print Options dialog appears.
10-8
2. Set any of the following shading options:

Shading options. Choose Wireframe if you want to print a 3D outline of the current
view, showing lines that are behind the currently visible surface. Choose Hidden
Line to print an outline of the currently visible surface. Choose Shaded or Shaded
with Outlines to print the current view with or without outlines.
Color Conversion. Map to Black is used to print black and white only. Choose Use
Color to print color or shades of gray, depending on your printer.
Layers. Choose to print All Layers or only the currently Visible Layers.
3. Click OK to print your drawing.
SEE ALSO: Chapter 6, "Printing Your Drawing" and "A Word About Printing" on page 12-11. For instructions
on setting the visible layers, see "Layers" on page 3-4.
Exiting the 3D Viewer

Menu: File|Exit Keys: <Alt>+<F4>
To exit the 3D Viewer and return to 2D planning, do one of the following:
Choose Exit from the File menu.
Press <Alt>+<F4>.
10-9
Chapter 11 Roof Editor
11
Roof Editor
Once you have completed the exterior walls of your house, you can design the roof
using the Roof Editor. You can either design your roof from scratch or edit one of
the roof files provided with FloorPlan Plus 3D. These have the extensions .rf.
Running the Roof Editor

The Roof Editor is really a separate application that is designed to work hand-in-
hand with FloorPlan Plus 3D. The following sections tell you how to start and exit
the Roof Editor, and how to launch the 3D Viewer from within the Roof Editor.
Starting the Roof Editor

Menu: File|Design roof Button Location: Ribbon Bar
To start the Roof Editor from FloorPlan Plus 3D, choose Design Roof from the File
menu or click on the Roof Editor button.
Exiting the Roof Editor

Menu: File|Exit & return to filename.fp3
To exit the Roof Editor, choose Exit & Return to filename.fp3 from the File menu.
(Filename.fp3 is the name of the drawing file that is currently open in the FloorPlan
Plus 3D main window.)
FloorPlan Plus 3D will ask you whether you want to Update your current drawing.
Click Yes if you want to save the changes you made in the Roof Editor.
11-1
NOTE: When you update a drawing file, you save a roof file with the extension .rf.This roof file is
associated with your floor plan file and has the same name. For example, if your floor plan drawing is
called myhouse.fp3, the associated roof file will be called myhouse.rf. For more information, see "Roof
Editor Files" on page 11-16.
Launching the 3D Viewer from the Roof Editor

Menu: File|View in 3D
To launch the 3D viewer from the Roof Editor, do one of the following:
Choose View in 3D from the File menu.
Click the 3D icon.
Starting and running the 3D Viewer from the Roof Editor is precisely the same as
from the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window.
SEE ALSO: For more on the 3D Viewer, see Chapter 10.
The Roof Editor Window

The Roof Editor window is similar to the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window,
however, there are some important differences.
11-2
Reference axes
View Bar
3D coordinates and absolute distance to reference point
Note the following differences:

The Property Bar is to the right of the Ribbon Bar.
There is no Tool Bar.
The Status Bar is always the same (it doesnt have any modes).
The screen can display as many as four different viewports, each with a View
Bar for controlling the view.
Each viewport can display reference axes, showing the orientation X, Y,
and Z dimensions.
Of these differences, by far the most significant is the introduction of multiple

viewports and 3D axes. The following section discusses these features.
11-3
Working in Multiple Views

The Roof Editor, unlike the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window, is a true 3D drawing
application. This means that, in addition to the dimensions of height (axis Y) and
width (axis X), you have a third dimension to consider, depth (axis Z).
This leads to some important interface changes, including multiple viewports,
changes in the way you position the Origin point (it is now located somewhere in
3D space!), and changes to the information shown in the Status Bar.
Setting the Number of Viewports

Menu: Options|No. of viewports|Setting
You can set the number of viewports to any number from one through four. To do this:
1. Choose No. of Viewports from the Options menu.
2. Choose a setting from the submenu that appears.
Using the View Bar

You can specify the view shown in any of the viewports by clicking one of the
buttons in its View Bar.
Using the Reference Axes

In the lower-left corner of each viewport is a diagram called the reference axes. The
reference axes show how the dimension axes are oriented within that viewport. The
normal view is the Front view, in which the X axis is horizontal, the Y axis is
vertical, and the Z axis is depth (depth is not represented in the Front view).
In the Top and Side views, the reference axes show how the dimensions are rotated
relative to the Front view.
The Any Viewport

The Any viewport represents all three axes and shows a 3D wireframe
representation of the roof. Notice that when you scroll in the Any viewport, the
drawing rotates, enabling you to view it from any angle.
11-4
Using the Roof Editor Status Bar

The Status Bar in the Roof Editor has only one mode. The button on its right side
displays the current position of the cursor on the X, Y, and Z axes, and the absolute
distance of the cursor from the Origin point.
TIP: Notice that if you move your cursor in the Front, Top, or Side view, the position on two of the axes will
change, but the position on the third axis will remain fixed.
Roof Editor View Commands

The View commands in the Roof Editor are similar to the corresponding commands,
but differ in certain respects because they have to work in multiple viewports.
Pan
Menu: View|Pan Key: <Ctrl>+
The Pan command is a way to quickly and precisely scroll so that a particular point
is moved to the center of a viewport. This command is generally a better alternative
than using the scrollbars. To pan:
1. Choose Pan from the View menu.
2. Move the cursor to a point that you would like to move to the center of the
viewpoint, then click.
Roof Editor Zoom Commands

Menu: View Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The function of the Zoom commands in the Roof Editor are the same as in the
FloorPlan Plus 3D main window. However, the way the commands work is
significantly different. Note the following differences:
The icons are slightly different in appearance.
After giving the Zoom In or Zoom Out command, you need to click in the
viewport in which you want to zoom.
The Roof Editor also has an additional command: Zoom to All Extents.
11-5
SEE ALSO: For information on the function of the Zoom commands in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window,
see "Zoom Commands" on page 3-2.
Zoom to All Extents

Menu: View|Zoom to all extents Keys: <Ctrl>+<Z>
The Zoom to All Extents command zooms all open viewports so that they show the
largest possible view that completely contains all of the objects in the drawing. To
do this, choose Zoom to All Extents from the View menu.
Roof Editor Zoom Command Summary

The following table summarizes the menu and keyboard commands for accessing
the Roof Editor Zoom commands.
Command Menu Path Keyboard Shortcut

Zoom In View|Zoom in <+>
Zoom Out View|Zoom out <->
Zoom to Window View|Zoom to window <Ctrl>+<Home>
Zoom to Extents View|Zoom to extents <Ctrl>+<Backspace>
Zoom to All Extents View|Zoom to all extents <Ctrl>+<Z>
Grid Commands
Menu: View|Grid size, Snap to grid, Show grid Keys: <Ctrl>+<D>, <Ctrl>+<S>, <Ctrl>+<G>
The Grid Size, Snap to Grid, and Show Grid commands are the same as the
corresponding commands in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main menu.
SEE ALSO: For detailed information on the grid commands, see "Controlling the Grid" on page 3-5.
11-6
Redraw
Menu: View|Redraw Keys: <F5>
The Redraw command manually redraws all of the viewports. This command is the
same as in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window.
SEE ALSO: "Redraw" on page 3-1.
Set Cursor Origin Point

Menu: View|Set cursor origin point
The Origin Point in the Roof Editor is located in 3D space, but you can use it in a
2D view if you want to set a point at a specific distance from a reference point. This
is helpful if you want to precisely place an object such as a dormer window or
skylight on the roof. The Status bar displays the absolute distance from the Origin
Point to the cursor. To set the position of the Origin Point:
1. Choose Set Cursor Origin Point from the View menu.
2. Move the cursor to the view and position where you want to set the Origin point.
3. Click to set the Origin.
Roof Editor Drawing Tools

The Roof Editor contains a tool for drawing roof panels, as well as tools for drawing
roof enhancements, which include dormers, chimneys, and skylights.
Surface Tool
Menu: Draw|Surface Button Location: Ribbon Bar
The surface tool is used to draw the surfaces, or panels, of the roof. A simple A-frame
roof, for example, would consist of two panels, meeting one another at a peak, and
contacting the top of the walls on each side. More complex roofs can have many
interconnecting panels.
11-7
To draw a surface panel:

1. Activate the Surface tool.
2. Drawing in the Top view, click at each corner of the area over which you
want to place the panel. (It is a good idea to have snap-to-grid on while you
are doing this.)
3. When you have finished all the corners of the panel, right-click. A square will
mark each vertex on the panel.
When you first create a panel, it is positioned flat at the base of the house, lying in
the X,Z plane. This is the reason that it is best to draw it in the Top view. Once all
of the roofs panels are drawn, you need to select all of the panels in either the Front
or Side view, then drag them to the level of the tops of the walls. You can then select
the nodes that form the roof peaks and drag them up until the roof slopes correctly.
To see the exact angle of the roof while you are adjusting the peak, turn on the
Options|Roof Angles option.
WARNING: If you are working on adjoining panels, the adjoining vertices may overlap, occupying the same
points. This can trick you into believing that you are finished when you really aren’t. It’s important to make
sure that you define a point for every corner of every panel. To build two panels with four corners each, you
need to click eight times, not six.
SEE ALSO: For more help with building roofs, work through the tutorial in the Building Roofs chapter of
the User Guide.
Dormer Tool
Menu: Draw|Dormer Button Location: Ribbon Bar
A dormer window projects from a sloping roof. It is typically found in upstairs
bedrooms and attics. To create a dormer:
1. Choose the Dormer tool from the Ribbon Bar or Draw menu.
2. Optionally click Properties to specify the size and color of the Dormer
properties. (See "Dormer Properties" on page 11-13 for details.)
3. Click on the roof in any viewport to place the dormer.
4. Check the position of the dormer in all views. You can rotate the Any view to
see the dormer in 3D at different angles. Select and drag the node at the base
of the dormer and drag it to adjust its position.
11-8
Chimney Tool
Menu: Draw|Dormer Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Positioning a chimney in your roof is a matter of defining its size, and knowing the
position of the fireplace. To create a chimney:
1. Choose the Chimney tool from the Ribbon Bar or Draw menu.
2. Optionally click Properties to specify the size and color of the Chimney
properties. (See "Chimney Properties" on page 11-14 for details.)
3. Click on the roof in any viewport to place the chimney.
4. Check the position of the chimney in all views. You can rotate the Any view
to see the chimney in 3D at different angles. Select and drag the node at the
base of the chimney and drag it to adjust its position.
Skylight Tool
To create a Skylight:
1. Choose the Skylight tool from the Ribbon Bar or Draw menu.
2. Optionally click Properties to specify the size and color of the Skylight
properties. (See "Skylight Properties" on page 11-15 for details.)
3. Click on the roof in any viewport to place the skylight.
4. Check the position of the skylight in all views. You can rotate the Any view to
see the skylight in 3D at different angles. Select and drag the node at the base
of the skylight and drag it to adjust its position.
11-9
Roof Editor Editing Commands

Editing in the Roof Editor is similar to editing in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main
window, with these significant differences:
There are minor differences in the way you select and move objects.
The Roof Editor has a powerful Align to Grid command.
The Roof Editor has some special Select commands.
The following sections will discuss these topics.
Pointer Tool
Menu: Edit|Select Button Location: Ribbon Bar
As in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window, the Pointer tool is used for moving
objects and selecting objects so that they can be edited or so that you can modify
their properties. However, note the following special points about working with the
Pointer tool in the Roof Editor.
You can select individual vertices on a surface by clicking on an individual
vertex. This also selects any coinciding vertices on adjacent surfaces.
You can <Shift>-click to add or subtract individual vertices to or from the selection.
You can select a set of vertices by dragging a selection window around them.
You can click on a line to select the entire surface or object.
SEE ALSO: For information on selecting and editing objects in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window, see
"Selecting and Moving Objects" on page 4-1.
Moving Objects in the Roof Editor

Objects in the Roof Editor are moved by their vertices or control points. If you are
editing a surface, you can move a single vertex, a set of vertices, or all the vertices
by first selecting the vertices that you want to move, then dragging and dropping
them to the target location. Chimneys, dormers, and skylights are moved as single
entities by a single control point. The conventional drag and drop method is slightly
different than the moving technique used in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window:
11-10
1. Select the objects or vertices that you want to move.

2. Place the mouse cursor over any vertex and hold down the mouse button.
3. Drag the selection to the target location and release the mouse button.
Undo and Redo

Menu: Edit|Undo, Edit|Redo Button Location: Ribbon Bar
Keys: <Alt>+<Backspace>, <Shift>+<Alt>+<Backspace>
The Undo and Redo commands in the Roof Editor are the same as the
corresponding commands in the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window. For information,
see "Reversing Errors" on page 4-4 .
Align to Grid Command

Menu: Edit|Align to Grid
The Align to Grid command snaps any selected vertex to the nearest grid points.
This is useful for cleaning up a rough sketch, making the vertices align more
precisely. To align vertices to the grid:
1. Select the vertices that you want to align to the grid.
2. Choose Align to Grid from the Edit menu.
Select Commands
The Roof Editor has three special Select commands:
Select All
Select All Surfaces
Deselect All
Select All
Menu: Edit|Select all Keys: <Ctrl>+<A>
To select all of the objects in the roof, choose Select All from the Edit menu.
11-11
Select All Surfaces

Menu: Edit|Select all surfaces
To select all surfaces (roof panels) in the roof, choose Select All Surfaces from
the Edit menu.
Deselect All
Menu: Edit|Deselect all
To deselect all currently selected objects, choose Deselect All from the Edit menu.
You can accomplish the same thing by clicking away from any object.
Roof Object Properties

All Roof Editor drawing tools have default property settings, and any object that you
create in the Roof Editor has its own set of properties. To set the default properties
of a tool, click the tool, click the Properties button, then modify the properties in
the tools Properties dialog. To set the properties of an individual object, first select
the object, then click the Properties button, then modify the objects properties in
its Properties dialog.
The following sections discuss the properties of Roof Editor objects.
NOTE: Roof Editor objects do not have styles.
SEE ALSO: For further information on setting properties, see "Using Properties" on page 5-1.
Surface Properties
To set the properties of a surface, activate the Surface tool or select a surface, then
click the Property Bar to display the Surface Properties dialog.
11-12
Use the Color pulldown list box to select a surface color. The Description, Part
Number, and Category fields are useful only if you are printing a materials list (see
"Exporting a Material List" on page 1-5 ).
Dormer Properties
To set the properties of a dormer, activate the Dormer tool or select a dormer, then
click the Property Bar to display the Dormer Properties dialog.
11-13
The following paragraphs describe the Dormer properties:

Description, Part Number, and Category. These fields are useful if you want to
export a materials list. See "Exporting a Material List" on page 1-5 .
Length. The dimension of the side of the dormer (see figure).
Width. The dimension of the front of the dormer (see figure).
Height. The height of the dormer (see figure).
Color. You can set separate colors for the dormer roof, window pane, window
frame, and siding using the Color pulldown lists.
Chimney Properties
To set the properties of a chimney, activate the Chimney tool or select a chimney,
then click the Property Bar to display the Chimney Properties dialog.
The following paragraphs describe the Chimney properties:

Length. The dimension of the side of the chimney (see figure).
Width. The dimension of the front of the chimney (see figure).
Height. The height of the chimney (see figure).
11-14
Color. Choose a color for the chimney in the Color pulldown box.
Skylight Properties
To set the properties of a skylight, activate the Skylight tool or select a skylight, then
click the Property Bar to display the Skylight Properties dialog.
The following paragraphs describe the Skylight properties:

Length. The dimension of the side of the skylight (see figure).
Width. The dimension of the front of the skylight (see figure).
Height. The height of the skylight (see figure).
Color. Choose a color for the skylight in the Color pulldown box.
11-15
Roof Editor Files

Roofs have separate files with the extension .rf. These files are associated with your
floor plan (.fp3) files, so that they can be seen together in the Roof Editor and in the
3D viewer. When you enter the Roof Editor from the FloorPlan Plus 3D main
window, the associated roof file will automatically be opened in the Roof Editor.
From the Roof Editor, you can:
Begin a new roof.
Load an existing roof file.
Merge an existing roof file into the currently open roof file.
Update the floor plan, saving the current roof file and associating it with the
current floor plan. It then returns you to the FloorPlan Plus 3D main
window.
The following sections discuss these features.
New
Menu: File|New Keys: <Ctrl>+<N>
Use the New command to close the current roof and start a new roof. FloorPlan Plus
3D will display a warning that any changes you have made to the existing roof since
the last update will be lost. Click Yes to continue.
If you subsequently update the roof, the new roof will be associated with the
current floor plan.
TIP: If you start a new roof then decide you want to revert to the old roof, choose File|Exit. When the dialog
appears, choose not to update before returning to the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window.
Load
Menu: File|Load
The Load command opens a new roof file, and closes the current roof file. After you
give the command, a dialog will appear warning you that any changes you have
made to the existing roof since the last update will be lost. Click Yes to continue.
If you subsequently update the roof, the roof that you loaded will be associated with
the current floor plan.
11-16
TIP: If you load a roof file then decide you want to revert to the old roof, choose File|Exit. When the dialog
appears, choose not to update before returning to the FloorPlan Plus 3D main window.
Merge
Menu: File|Merge
The Merge command brings in all the objects from an existing roof file and
combines them with the objects in the current roof. When you update, all of the
combined items will be included in the roof of the current floor plan.
Update
Menu: File|Update
The Update command saves the current roof to a Roof Editor (.rf) file, and
associates this file with the current floor plan (.fp3) file. It then returns you to the
FloorPlan Plus 3D main window.
Roof Editor Options and Preferences

The Roof Editor Options menu contains a number of display options that you can
use to modify the Roof Editor interface. The Roof Editor File|Preferences command
brings up a dialog in which you can set more options.
Interface Options
The following sections discuss the options that you can set from the View menu.
Ribbon Bar
Menu: Options|Ribbon bar
To display and hide the Ribbon Bar, choose Ribbon Bar from the Options menu. If
the Ribbon Bar is displayed, a check mark will appear next to the menu item.
11-17
Status Bar
Menu: Options|Status bar
To display and hide the Status Bar, choose Status Bar from the Options menu. If the
Status Bar is displayed, a check mark will appear next to the menu item.
Roof Angles
Menu: Options|Roof angles
To display and hide the angle of each roof panel, choose Roof Angles from the Options
menu. If the roof angles are displayed, a check mark will appear next to the menu item.
Reference Axes
Menu: Options|Reference axes
To display and hide the reference axes in the lower-left area of each viewport,
choose Reference Axes from the Options menu. If the reference axes are displayed,
a check mark will appear next to the menu item.
Number of Viewports
Menu: Options|No.of Viewports|Setting
For instructions, see "Setting the Number of Viewports" on page 11-4 .
Reference Walls
Menu: Options|Reference walls|Setting
Reference walls are the walls of your floor plan that are visible in the Roof Editor. To
set the reference wall options, choose Reference Walls from the Options menu, then
select an option in the submenu that appears. A checkmark will be placed next to
the menu item that you choose. The options are:
Disabled. Select this option to hide the reference wall in all viewports.
Top view only. Select this option to display the reference wall only in the Top viewport.
All views. Select this option to display the reference wall in all viewports.
11-18
Roof Editor Preferences

Menu: File|Preferences
To set the Roof Editor preferences, choose Preferences from the File menu. The
Preferences dialog will appear:
The following paragraph describe the preference settings:

Undo levels. Type a number in this field to set the number of undo level (the number
of steps you can undo and redo). Valid numbers are between one and twenty. Lower
numbers will save a small amount of memory.
Measurement system. Click in a diamond to choose either the Metric or U.S. (inches
and feet) system of measurement.
Autobackup. Click the Enabled button to turn the Roof Editor auto backup feature
on and off. Backup files are saved automatically to a file called roofback.tmp. Type
a number in the Backup every... box to set the frequency of automatic backups.
Colors. Use the dropdown boxes to choose colors for the foreground, background,
walls, and selection. The foreground color is used for unselected control points
(vertices), the Origin point, the reference axes, and the Grid.
TIP: To restore a roof from the last autobackup file, choose Load from the File menu, type roofback.tmp
into the Filename box, the click OK.
11-19
12
Tips and Tricks

This chapter discusses how to do some of the more exotic or trickier things with
FloorPlan Plus 3D:
Curved walls
Two ways to draw columns
Sloping walls
Ramps
Balconies
See-through windows and wall openings
Representing floor coverings in 3D
Moving quickly in the 3D Viewer
Printer troubleshooting
Importing DXF drawings into FloorPlan Plus 3D
Curved Walls
To draw a curved wall, you need to create an arc using the Arc drawing tool, then
convert the arc to walls using the Convert Lines to Walls command. To do this:
1. Choose the arc tool from the Tool Bar and draw a large arc (for instructions,
see "Arc" on page 2-11).
2. Choose the Pointer tool from the side tool bar and click on the curve to select it.
3. Choose Convert Lines to Walls from the Tools menu. A dialog will appear to
allow you to set the minimum wall length. Dont change this now, just click
OK. The curved line will be turned into a series of connected walls.
4. Click anywhere in the drawing to deselect the walls. You now have a curved wall.
Two Ways to Draw Columns

There are two ways to produce a column. The first is to load a column from the
symbol library. The second is to draw the column yourself.
To load a column as a symbol from the symbol library:
1. Click on the Load Symbol button on the main toolbar. This brings up the
Load Symbol dialog.
2. Select the Architectural library from the Library list.
3. Choose a column from the Symbol list, then click OK.
4. Move the cursor to position the column, then click to place the column in
your drawing.
The second way is to create a column yourself. To do this:

1. Select the circle drawing tool and create a small circle in the drawing.
2. Click on the Pointer tool and select the circle.
3. Choose Convert lines to walls from the Tools menu. A dialog will appear in
which you can enter the minimum wall length. Click OK to accept the default
setting. The circle will change into a collection of tiny walls arranged in a circle.
This is a column. Use the 3D viewer to look at your creation.
Sloping Walls
There might be a situation in which you wish to create one or more sloped walls.
In other words the wall will be shaped like this:
To create a wall like this:
12-2
Chapter 12 Tips and Tricks
1. Draw a horizontal wall (for instructions, see "Wall" on page 2-7). Use snap
modes to make sure that the wall is exactly horizontal.
2. To clearly demonstrate the technique, alter the thickness of the wall to three
feet. To do this, first select the wall, then click the Properties button. When
the Properties dialog appears, type 3' into the Thickness field, then click OK
to close the dialog.
3. Click the Roof Editor button to enter the Roof Editor, or choose Design Roof
from the File menu.
4. Choose the Surface Tool (for instructions, see "Surface Tool" on page 11-7,
or read the Building Roofs tutorial in the User Guide).
5. In the Top viewport, draw a roof section that just covers the wall. Put one
vertex of the roof panel just outside each corner of the wall.
6. Choose the Pointer Tool, then select the two vertices at one end of the roof in
the Top view.
7. In the Front viewport, raise one end of the roof section to achieve the angle of
slope you want. Do this by selecting the handles of the roof section at one end
of the wall and dragging them up. You can also raise the other end of the roof
section slightly if you dont want the top of the wall to slope all the way down
to the ground.
Ramps
You might want to include a ramp in your drawing. To accomplish this:
1. Choose the wall drawing tool.
2. From the Style pulldown box on the Property Bar, choose Banister Wall. This
is a shorter wall type that will work well for this demonstration.
3. Draw a rectangular house:
12-3
4. Go into the Roof Editor.

5. Choose the Surface tool, then build a rectangular roof section that extends
away from the house.
6. In the Front view (where you can see both the walls and the roof section),
raise the end of the ramp (roof section) that is next to the house to the top of
the wall.
12-4
7. Go into the 3D viewer and look at the result.
12-5
What you have achieved is a ramp that slopes up to the top of the walls. You can
even put walls under the sides of the ramp to enclose it if you wish because the roof
section will clip the wall to the same angle.
One problem with this approach is that the ramp will not appear on the 2D Floor
plan. You can represent it, though, with a rectangle using the line drawing tools. By
the way, the ramp does not have to be a rectangle. It could just as easily be a
trapezoid or any shape you can imagine and draw in the Roof Editor.
Balconies
A balcony is merely an extension of a second story floor. To make a balcony:
1. Start a new drawing and draw a rectangular house using the 6" Exterior Wall.
2. Make sure that the Status Bar is in Status mode by clicking the S button in the
lower-right corner of the Status Bar.
3. Now go to the second floor. To do this, click on the L:01 button on the Status
Bar. A dialog will appear that allows you to select the building level you wish to
work on. Select 2, then click OK (for help, see "Edit Building Levels" on page 3-
3). You are now working on the second story and the first story is shown in grey.
12-6
4. Build four walls right on top of the four walls you just created.
5. Choose the Floor tool, then draw a floor that adjoins to the walls on three
sides and projects outside of the wall on one side, forming a balcony. (For
instructions on using the Floor tool, see "Floor" on page 2-4.)
6. Choose the railing tool from the main toolbar and draw three lines (railings)
along the outside edges of the balcony.
7. Bring up the whole thing in the 3D viewer and you will see your balcony.
Of course there isnt a door to get out to the balcony, but this is a detail you can fix later.
12-7
See-Through Windows and Wall Openings

The windows in FloorPlan Plus 3D are not true windows. They dont allow you to
see through them. They are 3D objects placed on the walls to represent windows.
You might prefer to have windows you can see through. The best way to accomplish
this is to not use windows at all, but to leave spaces between short sections of wall
like this:
These are not windows proper, but floor-to-ceiling window openings.

Another method is to leave a space between walls as above, but then draw filler
walls at the top and bottom of the opening. To do this:
1. Draw a wall that exactly fills the empty space. (Youll need to have snap-to-
grid on to get this right.)
12-8
2. Select the wall and click the Properties button. When the Wall Properties
dialog comes up, change the height of the wall from 8' (default) to 2', then
click OK.
3. To complete the hole in the wall, draw another little filler wall right on top
of the one you just drew. Select it, click the Properties button, then change
the height to 3' and the Distance off Floor to 5'. Click OK.
Now view the floor plan in 3D. See the window?
You may also wish to make a large arch or wall opening. To do this:
1. Draw two walls on the same line, separated by a gap.
2. Draw a third wall between that connects the two.
3. Select the third wall, then click the Properties button. Change the height to 1'
(for example) and change the Distance off Floor to 7'.
12-9
Now use the 3D viewer to look at it.
TIP: You can create curved arches as well by importing arch symbols from the Architectural library. See
"Load Symbol" on page 9-3 for instructions.
Representing Floor Coverings in 3D

Surfaces created with the Floor Covering tool do not appear in the 3D viewer. This
is because floor coverings have 2D representations only. If you want to show a room
in 3D with green carpet, how can this be done? The easiest way is to use the floor
tool to draw the floor for the particular room only, then select the floor and set its
color to green. When you view it in 3D, the floor will be green.
12-10
TIP: It can sometimes be difficult to select a floor that is drawn right up against or underneath a wall. You
can use the View|Layers dialog (see "Layers" on page 3-4) to turn off all the layers except the floor, select
the floor, then turn all the other layers back on.
Moving Quickly in the 3D Viewer

If your drawing is large and brimming with symbols, you'll find that movement in
the 3D Viewer can get pretty slow. This is especially noticeable on computers with
slow processors. You can accelerate your movement through your virtual house by
holding down the <Shift> key on your keyboard while using the mouse to click on
the directional buttons on the Ribbon Bar.
It also helps if you set the View menu Shading Options to Hidden Lines Removed.
If even that is too slow, use the View|Layers dialog to temporarily turn off some of
the layers in the drawing. You might, for example, turn the Symbols layer off, then
move through the floor plan to the point you want to view. When you reach that
point, turn the Symbols layer back on.
SEE ALSO: For information on turning layers on and off, see "Levels and Layers" on page 3-3.
A Word About Printing

If you are having trouble printing, the most likely cause is a lack of printer memory.
Any of the following items are symptoms of inadequate printer memory:
Drawing prints in black and white, even though you configured it to print in color.
The drawing prints fine, except the text and dimensions are missing on part
or on the whole page.
An error message warns you that there is insufficient memory available for printing.
We can offer these workarounds:

Try setting the orientation to portrait in the printer options. In portrait you
should have no trouble printing, since in this mode the printer does not have
to load the whole image into its memory.
This solution is obviously inadequate if you really need a landscape print. If this is
the case, a sure-fire solution is to invest in another megabyte or two of printer
memory. Out of the question? Try one or both of the following:
12-11
In the printer settings set the color conversion to Map to Black. Color
drawings require up to four times as much memory as black and white. So if
you can dispense with the color, you should be able to print in landscape
without a problem. If you absolutely cannot give up color, your last resort is
to change the resolution on your printer. If it is set to 300 dpi (dots per inch),
reset it to 150 dpi. If it is set to 600, try 300, and so on.
SEE ALSO: For more information on setting the resolution on your printer, consult your printer manual.
Importing DXF into FloorPlan Plus 3D

DXF (Drawing Interchange Format) is a standard format for CAD drawing files.
Although there is no way to directly import DXF files into FloorPlan Plus 3D, there
is one way you can do it. First you will have to get your hands on a copy of
TurboCAD 3D, which you can order directly through our sales department by
calling 1-800-833-8082. Or click here to visit the TurboCAD 2D/3D web page.
Once you have TurboCAD 3D, follow these steps:
1. Import your DXF file into Turbocad 3D
2. Save the drawing as an .mdl file.
3. Open Floor Plan Plus 3D, and follow the steps described under "Importing
3D Symbols from TurboCAD 3D" on page 9-6 .
12-12
Index
Symbols starting from Roof Editor, 11-2

.3d, 9-6 view options, 10-6
.dxf
exporting, 10-8 A
importing, 12-12 Adjust Lines, 4-8
.fp3, 1-3, 11-17 Adjust Walls, 7-3
.lib, 9-1 align to grid, 11-11
.mdl, 9-6 angles, of roof surfaces, 11-18
.rf, 11-1, 11-16, 11-17 Any viewport, 11-4
.wmf, 1-5 Arc, 2-11
arch, creating in wall, 12-9
Numerics area, measuring, 7-1
associate
3D
exporting drawings to .dxf, 10-8 3D and 2D symbols, 9-6
increasing redraw speed, 10-4, 12-11 Auto Wall Dimensioning, 2-8, 8-5
Autobackup, 1-4, 8-8
keyboard shortcut summary, 10-5
light source, 10-3
navigation tools, 10-4 B
spinning in, 10-5 backup.tmp, 1-4
turning in, 10-4 balcony, creating, 12-6
view floor plan in, 10-2 Break Symbol, 9-7
view height, 10-4 brightness
view position, 10-4 of 3D light source, 10-7
3D symbol Bring to Front, 3-2, 4-11
associating with 2D, 9-6 building level, 3-3, 4-3
importing, 9-6 building tools, 2-4
loading, 5-13, 9-7 Door, 2-6
3D Viewer, 10-1 Floor, 2-4
exiting, 10-9 Floor Covering, 2-9
navigating in, 10-4 Rail, 2-6
printing from, 10-8 Spiral stair, 2-5
starting from FloorPlan Plus 3D, 10-2 Straight Stair, 2-5
Wall, 2-7 dimension

Window, 2-7 automatic, 2-8, 8-5
Wire & Pipe, 2-9 drawing, 2-14
properties of, 5-14
C Display Help Mode, 8-2
category, 5-6 Display Origin Point, 8-6
chimney Display Status Mode, 8-2
inserting, 11-9 distance from Origin, 2-2, 8-6
properties of, 11-14 door
Circle, 2-11 changing orientation of, 5-14
Clipboard, 4-4 drawing, 2-6
Close, 1-3 inserting, 2-6
column, drawing, 12-2 properties of, 5-13
Convert Lines to Walls, 4-5, 7-2 dormer
Copy, 4-5 inserting, 11-8
Create Symbol Library, 9-1 properties of, 11-13
cursor size, 8-8 draw
curved walls, 12-1 arc, 2-11
Cut, 4-5 circle, 2-11
dimension, 2-14
door, 2-6
D ellipse, 2-11
default properties, 5-2 exact angles, 2-3
default style exact distance, 2-2, 2-3
adding, 5-17 filled shape, 2-12
deleting, 5-17 floor, 2-4
editing, 5-16, 5-17 floor covering, 2-9
default view scales (table of), 3-4 freehand line, 2-12
Delete, 4-5 line, 2-10
style, 5-17 polygon, 2-10
Symbol from Library, 9-5 rail, 2-6
Symbol Library, 9-2 rectangle, 2-10
description (object property), 5-6 roof surfaces, 11-7
Deselect spiral stairs, 2-5
All, 4-3, 11-12 straight stairs, 2-5
objects, 4-2 wall, 2-7
Design Roof, 11-1 window, 2-7
wire & pipe, 2-9
with precision tools, 2-1
i-2
Index
Draw menu commands (Roof Editor) Deselect All, 4-3

Chimney, 11-9 Deselect all, 11-12
Dormer, 11-8 Edit default styles, 5-16
Skylight, 11-9 Paste, 4-5
Surface, 11-7 Redo, 4-4, 11-11
drawing Select, 4-1, 11-10
close, 1-3 Select all, 4-3, 11-11
export, 1-5 Select all surfaces, 11-12
maximum size of, 1-1, 3-4, 3-5 Send to Back, 3-2, 4-10
new, 1-1 Undo, 4-4, 11-11
open, 1-2 Edit tools, 4-5
printing, 6-1 Adjust Lines, 4-8
save, 1-3 Flip Horizontal, 4-9
save as, 1-3 Flip Vertical, 4-10
size of, 8-4 hotkeys, 4-6
drawing options, 8-4 palette, 4-6
drawing tools, 2-10 Rotate, 4-7, 4-8
Arc, 2-11 Text, 4-9
Ellipse, 2-11 Ellipse tool, 2-11
Filled Shape, 2-12 errors, reversing, 4-4
Line, 2-10 Exit
Polygon, 2-10 3D Viewer, 10-9
Rectangle, 2-10 FloorPlan Plus 3D, 1-6
Sketch, 2-12 Roof Editor, 11-1
DXF Export
exporting, 1-5 .dxf, 1-5
importing, 12-12 3D drawings to .dxf, 10-8
dynamic text sizing, 8-5 materials list, 1-5
metafile, 1-5
E extents, zoom to, 3-2
Edit
Symbol in Library, 9-5 F
Text, 4-9 file
Edit menu commands close, 1-3
Bring to Front, 3-2, 4-11 export, 1-5
Copy, 4-5 new, 1-1
Cut, 4-5 open, 1-2
Delete, 4-5 printing, 6-1
i-3
Roof Editor, 11-16 railings, 5-12

save, 1-3 roof surfaces, 11-12
save as, 1-3 skylights, 11-15
File menu commands, 1-2 spiral stairs, 5-10
Close, 1-3 stairs, 5-9
Design roof, 11-1 symbol, 9-5
Exit (3D Viewer), 10-9 text, 5-15
Exit (Roof Editor), 11-1 wall, 5-7
Exit FloorPlan Plus 3D, 1-6 windows, 5-13
Export, 1-5 wire and pipe, 5-7
Load, 11-16 freehand, see Sketch tool
Merge, 11-17
New, 1-1, 11-16 G
Preferences, 8-7 grid, 2-1
Print, 6-2 aligning roof to, 11-11
Print Setup, 6-1 in Roof Editor, 11-6
Save, 1-3 size of, 3-5, 3-6
Save As, 1-3 snapping to, 2-1, 11-6
Update, 11-17
View in 3D, 10-2, 11-2
Filled Shape, 2-12
H
Flip Horizontal, 4-9 Help mode, of Status Bar, 8-2
Flip Vertical, 4-10
floating the Tool Bar, 8-3 I
floor import
drawing, 2-4 3D symbol, 9-6
properties of, 5-8 Insert menu commands
floor covering Arc, 2-11
drawing, 2-9 Circle, 2-11
properties, 5-7 Door, 2-6
representing in 3D, 12-10 Floor, 2-4
format Floor Covering, 2-9
chimneys, 11-14 Line, 2-10
dimensions, 5-14 Polygon, 2-10
doors, 5-13 Rail, 2-6
dormer windows, 11-13 Rectangle, 2-10
floor, 5-8 Spiral Stairs, 2-5
floor covering, 5-7 Straight Stairs, 2-5
line, 5-6 Wall, 2-7
i-4
Index
Window, 2-7 metafile, 1-5

Wire & Pipe, 2-9 exporting, 1-5
interface options, 8-1 metric system, 3-5
mode
K of Status Bar, changing, 8-2
keyboard shortcuts move, 4-3
in 3D viewer, 10-5 in Roof Editor, 11-10
Zoom commands, 11-6 multiple objects, selecting, 4-2
L N
layer, 3-3, 3-4, 4-10 navigate in 3D, 10-4
enabling and disabling, 10-6 spinning, 10-5
in 3D Viewer, 10-3 turning, 10-4
Layers dialog, 3-4 view height, 10-4
level, building, 3-3, 4-3 view position, 10-4
levels, of undo, 8-8 New
light source, 10-3 floor plan, 1-1
brightness of, 10-7 roof file, 11-16
line No. of Viewports, 11-4, 11-18
adjusting, 4-8 number of polygon sides, 8-5
converting to wall, 7-2
drawing, 2-10 O
properties of, 5-6 Open command, 1-2
list of materials options
exporting, 1-5 in 3D Viewer, 10-6
Load interface, 8-1
3D symbol, 5-13, 9-7 Roof Editor, 11-17
roof file, 11-16 shading, 10-7
symbol, 9-3 Options menu commands
Auto wall dimensioning, 8-5
M Display origin point, 8-6
material list, exporting, 1-5 Dynamic text sizing, 8-5
materials list Maximum drawing size, 3-4, 8-4
exporting, 1-5 No. of viewports, 11-4, 11-18
maximum drawing size, 1-1, 3-4, 3-5, 8-4 Polygon sides, 8-5
measurement system, 3-4, 8-8 Reference axes, 11-18
measuring area and perimeter, 7-1 Reference walls, 11-18
Merge (roof files), 11-17 Ribbon Bar, 11-17
i-5
Roof angles, 11-18 of doors, 5-13

Set cursor origin point, 8-6 of dormer windows, 11-13
Status bar, 11-18 of floor coverings, 5-7
Tool Bar, 8-3 of floors, 5-8
Origin point, 2-2, 8-6 of lines, 5-6
displaying and hiding, 8-6 of railings, 5-12
in Roof Editor, 11-7 of roof objects, 11-12
setting position of, 8-6 of roof surfaces, 11-12
of skylights, 11-15
P of spiral stairs, 5-10
Pan, in Roof Editor, 11-5 of straight stairs, 5-9
panel (of roof), see surface (of roof) of style, 5-2
part number, 5-6 of symbols, 9-5
Paste, 4-5 of text, 5-15
perimeter, measuring, 7-1 of walls, 5-7
pipe of windows, 5-13
drawing, 2-9 of wires and pipes, 5-7
properties, 5-7 selected objects, 5-3
Pointer, 4-1 setting default, 5-2
in Roof Editor, 11-10 Properties dialogs, 5-4
polygon Dimension, 5-14
drawing, 2-10 Door, 5-13
setting number of sides, 8-5 Floor, 5-8
precision drawing tools, 2-1 Line, 5-6
preferences Railing, 5-12
in FloorPlan Plus 3D, 8-7 Spiral Stair, 5-10
in Roof Editor, 11-19 Straight Stair, 5-9
Print, 6-1, 6-2 Text, 5-15
3D drawings, 10-8 Window, 5-13
from 3D Viewer, 10-8 Property Bar, 5-3
options, 6-3 displaying and hiding, 8-1
Print Setup, 6-1 in Roof Editor, 11-3
printing
troubleshooting tips, 12-11 R
properties, 5-1 rail
common object properties, 5-5 drawing, 2-6
of chimneys, 11-14 properties of, 5-12
of dimensions, 5-14 ramp, creating, 12-3
i-6
Index
rectangle, drawing, 2-10 panning in, 11-5

Redo, 4-4 preferences, 11-19
in Roof Editor, 11-11 redraw, 11-7
levels of, 4-4 reference axes, 11-4, 11-18
Redraw, 3-1, 4-3 reference walls, 11-18
in Roof Editor, 11-7 Ribbon Bar, 11-17
redraw speed, increasing, 10-6, 10-7 running, 11-1
reference axes, 11-3, 11-4, 11-18 Select All Surfaces, 11-12
reference points and lines, 2-3 selecting in, 11-10
reference walls, 11-18 Status Bar, 11-5, 11-18
Rename Symbol Library, 9-2 View Bar, 11-4
resize objects, 4-8 Zoom, 11-5
reverse Zoom command summary, 11-6
errors, 4-4 roof surface
floor plan, 7-2 drawing, 11-7
horizontal, 4-9 properties of, 11-12
vertical, 4-10 Rotate, 4-7
revert to last drawing saved, 1-4
Ribbon Bar S
displaying and hiding, 8-2 Save
in Roof Editor, 11-17 drawing, 1-3
roof angles, 11-18 symbol, 9-4
Roof Editor scale
align vertices to grid, 11-11 of view, 3-4, 3-5
Any viewport, 11-4 Scaling tool, 4-8
application window, 11-2 screen, redrawing, 3-1
drawing panels in, 11-7 see-through windows, 12-8
files, 11-16 select
grid commands, 11-6 all objects, 4-3
inserting chimney, 11-9 in Roof Editor, 11-10
inserting dormer, 11-8 multiple objects, 4-2
inserting skylight, 11-9 objects, 4-1
launching 3D viewer from, 11-2 single object, 4-2
Merge, 11-17 Select All, 4-3, 11-11
moving objects in, 11-10 Select All Surfaces, 11-12
multiple viewports, 11-4 selection
number of viewports, 11-18 properties of, 5-3
object properties, 11-12 Send to Back, 3-2, 4-10
options and preferences, 11-17
i-7
Set Brightness Level, 10-7 surface (of roof)

Set Cursor Origin Point, 8-6, 11-7 displaying angles of, 11-18
Shading Options, 10-7 drawing, 11-7
shape, filled, 2-12 properties of, 11-12
size selecting all, 11-12
dynamic text, 8-5 sweeping stairs, 5-11
of drawing, 1-1, 3-5 symbol
of grid, 3-5, 3-6 3D, 9-6
Sketch tool, 2-12 associating 3D and 2D, 9-6
skylight breaking, 9-7
inserting, 11-9 catalog, writing, 9-2
properties of, 11-15 deleting from library, 9-5
sloping walls, 12-2 door, 2-6
snap-to-grid, 2-1, 3-5 editing in library, 9-5
in Roof Editor, 11-6 importing from TurboCAD 3D, 9-6
spin in 3D Viewer, 10-5 loading, 9-3
spiral stair saving, 9-4
drawing, 2-5 window, 2-7
properties of, 5-10 symbol library
stair creating, 9-1
properties of, 5-9 deleting, 9-2
spiral, 2-5 editing symbol in, 9-5
straight, 2-5 renaming, 9-2
sweeping, 2-6 setting default, 8-8
stair, sweeping, 5-11 Symbols menu commands
Status Bar, 2-2 Break Symbol, 9-7
changing mode of, 8-2 Create symbol library, 9-1
displaying and hiding, 8-2 Delete symbol from library, 9-5
in Roof Editor, 11-5, 11-18 Delete symbol library, 9-2
Status mode, of Status Bar, 8-2 Edit symbol in library, 9-5
straight stair Import symbol from TurboCAD 3D, 9-
drawing, 2-5 6
properties of, 5-9 Load symbol, 9-3
style Rename symbol library, 9-2
adding, 5-17 Save symbol, 9-4
deleting, 5-17 Write symbol catalog, 9-2
editing, 5-16, 5-17 system of measurement, 3-4
properties of, 5-2
i-8
Index
T Set cursor origin point, 11-7

text Shading options, 10-7
dynamic sizing, 8-5 Show grid, 11-6
Snap to grid, 11-6
editing, 4-9
properties of, 5-15 Zoom, 11-5
Zoom commands, 3-2
Tool Bar
display options, 8-3 Zoom to all extents, 11-6
displaying in default position, 8-3 view position in 3D, 10-4
view scale
floating, 8-3
hiding, 8-3 default, 3-4
setting, 3-5
Tool menu commands
Convert lines to walls, 7-2 viewports, 11-3
Any viewport, 11-4
Reverse floor plan, 7-2
in Roof Editor, 11-4
transparent windows, 12-8
TurboCAD 3D for Windows, 9-6, 10-1, 10- setting number of, 11-4, 11-18
8, 12-12
turn in 3D Viewer, 10-4 W
wall
U adjusting, 7-3
Undo, 4-4 alignment to cursor, 2-7
in Roof Editor, 11-11 arches in, 12-9
auto dimensioning, 2-8, 8-5
levels of, 4-4
undo levels, 8-8 converting line to, 7-2
Update (roof), 11-2, 11-17 curved, 12-1
displaying in Roof Editor, 11-18
user preferences, 8-7
drawing, 2-7
openings in, 12-8
V properties, 5-7
View Bar, 11-4 sloping, 12-2
view height in 3D, 10-4 window
View in 3D, 10-2 drawing, 2-7
View menu commands inserting, 2-7
Display help mode, 8-2 properties of, 5-13
Display status mode, 8-2 transparent, creating, 12-8
Grid size, 11-6 wire
Layers, 3-4 drawing, 2-9
Pan, 11-5 properties, 5-7
Redraw, 3-1, 11-7 Wire & Pipe tool, 2-9
Set brightness level, 10-7
i-9
Write Symbol Catalog, 9-2 to All Extents, 11-6

Zoom In, 3-2
Z Zoom Out, 3-2
Zoom, 3-2 Zoom to Extents, 3-2
command summary, 11-6 Zoom to Window, 3-2
in Roof Editor, 11-5
i-10

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FloorPlan Plus 3D

Online Reference Manual

ONLINE REFERENCE MANUAL

1895 Francisco Blvd. East

IMSI (UK) Limited IMSI Australia P/L IMSI GmbH

Chapter 2. Building and Drawing Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Drawing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

Chapter 3. Controlling the Drawing Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Chapter 4. Editing Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Reversing Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Chapter 5. Properties and Styles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Stair and Railing Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9

Chapter 6. Printing Your Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Chapter 7. Special Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Chapter 8. Options and Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Distance Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

Chapter 9. Symbols and Symbol Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Chapter 10. 3D Viewer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Chapter 11. Roof Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

Roof Editor Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16

Chapter 12. Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1

Creating, Opening, and Saving Files

See Also: "Maximum Drawing Size" on page 8-4.

Reverting to the Last Saved Drawing

Exporting a DXF or Metafile

Exporting a Material List

Exiting FloorPlan Plus 3D

Building and Drawing Tools

Precision Drawing Tools

Using the Status Bar

message distance from Origin

Distance from Origin

Using Reference Points and Lines

wall drawn at 135 degree

SEE ALSO: "Straight Stair Properties Dialog" on page 5-9.

NOTE: The arrow on the staircase indicates the up direction.

SEE ALSO: "Spiral Stairs Dialog" on page 5-10.

NOTE: The arrow on the staircase indicates the up direction.

Drawing Walls without Auto Dimensioning

Drawing a Wall with Auto Dimensioning

Wire & Pipe

1. Activate the Sketch tool.

SEE ALSO: "Dynamic Text Sizing" on page 8-5.

NOTE: Small text is displayed as rectangles, but will print normally.

Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing Off

Drawing Text with Dynamic Text Sizing On

SEE ALSO: "Levels and Layers" on page 3-3.

Levels and Layers

Edit Building Levels

You can set the Building Levels options as follows:

Changing theView Scale

System Drawing Size Default View Scale

Current View Scale

Controlling the Grid

System Drawing Size Default Grid Size

SEE ALSO: "Maximum Drawing Size" on page 8-4.

Selecting and Moving Objects

Selecting a Single Object

Selecting Multiple Objects

Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete

Edit Tools Palette

SEE ALSO: "Save Symbol" on page 9-4.

Function Key Menu