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Start Point
I tried to search for a definition of "start point" as used in the dialog box for item details.
I notice that, because there is no snap-to-lines or -grid feature available, the walls (for instance) do not align correctly with the grid layout. They often overlap for some reason.
Netherlands
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Re: Start Point
It depends on the type of object.
Walls: Walls have a startpoint and endpoint defined as X,Y coordinate pairs. The points refer to the center of each end of a wall. This means the line between the start- and endpoint is a line through the center of the wall. If you want to align a side of a wall to the grid you can move the wall using half of the thickness of the wall. Example: Your wall has the startpoint 0,0 and endpoint 100,0 and has a thickness of 10. This means that the centerline of the wall goes from 0,0 to 100,0 and doesn't align with the grid line at X=0. To move the wall so the top of the wall aligns with the X=0 gridline you move the wall half of its thickness down: Y+(10/2). You can add "+(10/2)" (without quotes) after both of the Y coordinates of the wall, Sweet Home 3D will calculate the new Y coordinate.
Furniture: Basically the same but the X and Y coordinates of furniture refer to the center point of the object. To align an object to a specific grid point you use half of the width to adjust the X position and half the depth to adjust the Y position. Of course you add/substract the distance to the gridline you want.
Rooms: Rooms don't have an X,Y centerpoint which makes it impossible to use the same calculations. However rooms do display the lenght of sides when you select the room and click-and-hold on a room-point. You can use that as a reference for moving a room. In most cases a room is inside a set of walls and it is easier to either recreate the room or right-click on the room and select "Recompute room points". This is especially usefull when you have moved doors.
Make sure you have installed the Advanced Edit plugin. It offers several functions that make moving, rotating, and resizing objects much easier. It also offers a function to manually edit the points of rooms and polylines.
And of course use the alignement functions in the right-click context menu to align furniture to other furniture.
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Re: Start Point
Thank you for that clear explanation. It is much appreciated, and it confirms my worst fear; someone designed architectural CAD software without an understanding of the industry. No one on the construction site ever measures from the centerline of a wall. It is always outside or inside measurements. Period.
I wondered what was wrong when I was attempting to line things up to the grid lines. What a sad situation. Having to use extra, non-default settings steps to perform a simple and normally-accomplished task is a huge mistake.
Netherlands
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Re: Start Point
...someone designed architectural CAD software without an understanding of the industry.
Sorry to disappoint you but Sweet Home 3D is not CAD software. It's interior design software. It is not intended to design building plans for a house, it's intended to casually create a house and focus on the interior design. Over the years it has grown with much functionality which could give you the idea that it is similar to CAD software but that was never the intention. You could say that Sweet Home 3D is about "looks" not "technical construction".
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Re: Start Point
Then that's just more confusing because it brings up the question of why design walls in such detail? Why not just paint a picture with some graphics program?
No, actually it is very misleading in what it does, and I'll bet you that many people use it to design floor plans. After all, it states it "...helps you draw the plan of your house".
But it is still beside the point; why 'center' a wall on a grid rather than using standard methodologies? There is no rational for that.
Netherlands
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Re: Start Point
Every few months this same discussion about walls rises again. It is what it is, there is no "outside" and "inside" of walls. What is the inside or outside of an interior wall? Walls have a left side and a right side, each on a side of the center line. That's the way the software is designed to allow texturing each side. And yes, if you learn the software you can create nice floorplans with it, pretty accurate too.
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Re: Start Point
An interior wall is a partition, and has two sides. But they are not 'inside' and 'outside'. An exterior wall has an outside and an inside. Totally different animals.
One may be able to create a floorplan, but still pretty worthless for construction purposes. And it is difficult to use because of the lack of snap-to-grid and its odd misalignment with the given grid.
Thank you for explaining where we stand with this software. And good to know it is so specialized. But it gets even more confusing as people add more things for it to do, but that will never make it very good for those other things.
A simple version of something like AutoCAD is what is needed, and such is used for architectural purposes, but so much more. And that type of software already does what SweetHome does. It is then reasonable to ask "Why learn multiple programs?". Modern users simply need a replacement for the existing non-intuitive programs out there.
Romania
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Re: Start Point
1.
An interior wall is a partition
Wrong! Keet has right. An wall is an wall. It's up to the user how it use it. I suppose you don't have different walls for different purpose under AutoCAD. If so it became very complicated.
2.
This means the line between the start- and endpoint is a line through the center of the wall.
In SH3D an wall is an line where you could set the thickness and pattern of this line. More than that, in the last few years, I've seen a lot of professional floor plans made with AutoCAD where ALL dimensions was draw from the middle of the walls. Fortunately SH3D offer a easy way to have all kind of dimensions for almost every thing including all around the walls.
3.
the lack of snap-to-grid
Indeed but it is useless. More useful is our Magnetism which help user to draw correctly at most common angles.
4.
It is then reasonable to ask "Why learn multiple programs?"
To keep their mind fresh and to save some money(~6000 euro for AutoCAD or ArchiCAD license). Probably this is the reason why you've try it.
5.
Sweet Home 3D is not CAD software
For me it is and it is more than that. It is very flexible and don't need too many specialized knowledge. I've released very good plans, in a short time, especially for the constructors when I've completely renovate my apartment. Of course the dimensions was on left or right or both sides of the walls.
6. "The shortest route is the familiar route." If you find SH3D difficult you will have to return to your more easy CAD programs.
---------------------------------------- A computer program does what you tell it to do, not what you want it to do. Murphy's Law When all else fails, read the instructions. Murphy's Law If you don't like "AS IS", DIY. Dorin's law
Croatia
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Re: Start Point
Keet and Dorin are absolutely right. I use the Sweet Home 3D version (Optical Shop 3D) in my daily professional work. With the development of the program for the purposes of my company, with this program I am able to do all the tasks without the need for another program with great precision. It is not difficult to make a very precise plan of a space and all this with only numerical inputs, you just need to engage your brain a little and understand how it is very simple.
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Re: Start Point
@MarioSambol, are you trying to be insulting and say I am not engaging my mind? That is not very nice. You appear to not realize that what you do in your work does not in any way define how others may do their work nor make your method better.
You also failed to define "the purposes of my company". This leaves us with no context to your meaning or example.
Further, something is simple only if intuitive.
@dorin, the dictionary definition of partition is: "Something that divides or separates, as a wall dividing one room or cubicle from another." As any building contractor will tell you, anyone that says otherwise is patently wrong. Period. There is no reason to try to mislead people with falsehoods. I realize that until one is in the industry and have learned the trade one may not know that this is the definition.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, they are not entitled to their own facts.
Further, the idea of a line as being a wall wherein the user changes the thickness of said line to create the look of a wall is beside the point. My issue had to do with the problem created on a drawing when the alignment of the side of a wall is not aligning as desired. That's all.
I might point out that your experience with AutoCAD (which appears anecdotal) is not the norm in my experience. Again, just another opinion.
Also, if snap-to-grid is useless, than why is it a major feature of so many types of programs, from work processors to CAD to graphics. Hardly useless!
Your final points totally missed the point of my comment. I am sure you could take a moment and recognize another possibility.
