Punch! software ARCHITECTURAL SERIES 18 V8 V2 User Manual
User’s Guide
Home Design
Architectural
Series 18
© 2005 Punch! Software, L.L.C.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
All rights reserved. This document, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under licen se and
can only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of the license.
Portions of the software described in this document © 1995-2005 Microsoft Corporation.
Except as permitted by such license, no part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Punch! Software, L.L.C.
Punch! Software, L.L.C. reserves the right to improve, enhance and revise its products without notice.
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 is a registered trademark of Punch! Software, L.L.C.
Microsoft Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names
mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers.
The information in this document is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without
notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Punch! Software, L.L.C. Punch! assumes no
liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document.
Second edition, 2005
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Part 1: Nuts & Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Window Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
A Quick Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
File Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Snaps and Annotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Controlling Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Plan Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Part 2: From the Ground Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Topo Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Foundation Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Floor Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Part 3: Utilities in Your Home Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Electrical Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Plumbing Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
HVAC Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Part 4: Working on Your Home’s Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Roofing Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Roofing Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Deck Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Deck Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Landscape Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Detail Plan Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide i
Contents
Part 5: Customizing Your Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Editing Your Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Working with LiveView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Personalizing Your Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Material Modifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Part 6: Design Aid PowerTools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
FloorPlan Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
PhotoView & PhotoView Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
DXF/DWG Export & Import . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Cabinet Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Elevation Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Framing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Estimator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Layout Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
RealModel® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Part 7: 3D Custom Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Window Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
File Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Drawing Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Drawing in 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Drawing in 2D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Converting 2D Objects to 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Editing 3D Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Controlling Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Applying Color and Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
ii PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Part 1
Nuts & Bolts
Chapter 1: Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2: Window Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chapter 3: A Quick Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4: File Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Chapter 5: Snaps and Annotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Chapter 6: Controlling Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 7: Plan Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Chapter 1
Welcome
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 is a professional-level home design system developed for anyone who needs
fast, accurate home drawings and wants the flexibility to view and edit their plan in 3D.
Uses for Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 include:
■ Architectural drawings
■ Presentations
■ Kitchen design
■ 3D visualization
■ Plumbing installation
■ DXF/DWG Import and Export
■ Electrical plans
■ Framing customization
■ Interior design
■ Landscaping
In addition, Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 contains a variety of useful PowerTools that each perform a
specific task. For instance, Framing Editor lets you customize almost every facet of your framing, like the material, spacing
and even the direction studs and trusses are to be placed and Layout Manager makes it easy to make professional
presentations of your designs to an architect or builder. Once you’re finished with your design, you can even record an AVI
movie to send to your friends, architect, builder and so on.
It’s simple to get started planning the home of your dreams. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the contents of
this manual, so you’ll know where to quickly find the answers. Be sure to see Chapters 2 and 3 for a quick tour of the
program and an overview of the screen layout.
The most important thing to do before beginning work with Punch! AS18 will be setting your display to 32-bit color. To do
this, right-click the Desktop, then click Properties on the pop-up menu. Click the Settings Tab on the Display Properties
dialog box, then select True Color (32-bit); if this is not available on your computer, select 24-bit.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 3
Chapter Welcome
1
Contents of Package
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 comes with
everything you need to install and use the software. The
package includes the following items:
■ Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 Installation
Set of two (2) CDs
■ PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s
Guide
■ Homeplan booklet
System Requirements
In order to run Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18,
it is recommended that you have a Pentium-based computer.
In addition, your system should include the following:
System Requirements
■ Intel® Pentium®,Celeron®, Xeon™ and Centrino™ or
AMD® Athlon™, Duron™ and Opteron™ Processor
■ Windows® 98 or higher
■ 64 MB of RAM
■ 1.4 GB of hard disk space
■ VGA video card displaying at least 800x600 with 16-bit
color (24-bit, if available)
■ CD-ROM drive
■ Mouse or other pointing device
■ 32 MB Video Card Memory
Tips for Users of Other Punch! Programs
Punch! AS18 will open all floorplans designed with
previously-released Punch! programs. One major difference
from very early Punch! programs involves the use of interior,
exterior and foundation walls. Walls drawn in some previous
Punch! programs, like Punch! Super Home Suite, Punch! 5 in
1 Home Design and Punch! Home Design Complete, may
import as interior walls, so these walls will need to be
customized in Punch! AS18. In addition, flooring may need
to be drawn on upper floors and some roofing sections might
need to be redesigned.
In addition, you will want to use the Punch! Topo Designer
PowerTool to update all topography drawn in previouslyreleased Punch! programs.
Designer”, which begins on page 41.
To update a file from a previous Punch! program
1 Make a copy of your file. Save the original.
2 Open the copied file.
For more information, see “Topo
3 Define your design’s exterior walls. For more
information, see “To convert interior walls to exterior
walls”, which begins on page 67.
4 Use the Wall Segment Properties dialog box to match all
roof sections.
For more information, see “Defining Gable
Wall Segments”, which begins on page 67.
5 Use the Automatic Flooring feature on the upper floors.
For more information, see “To control automatic
flooring”, which begins on page 66.
6 (optional) Draw flooring on the upper floors. For more
information, see “Adding Flooring”, which begins on
page 76.
7 Customize any complex roofing sections. For more
information, see “Using the Freehand Roof Tools”,
which begins on page 101.
Tip: The most important thing to remember when beginning
a new drawing is to complete your foundation or exterior
walls first. A completely-closed exterior perimeter will
ensure that floor square footage measurements will be
correctly calculated.
Installing Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18
To install Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18, you
must run Setup. You can’t install or reconfigure Punch!
AS18 by copying files directly from the distribution CD to
your hard drive.
To install Punch! AS18
1 Insert Punch! AS18 Installation CD #1 into your
CD-ROM drive. Installation begins as soon as you insert
the CD.
2 Follow the installation prompts that appear.
3 Insert Installation CD #2 when prompted to do so.
4 Click OK, making sure you do not change the drive at
this point.
Note: If installation did not begin when you inserted the
Punch! AS18 Installation CD #1 into your CD-ROM drive,
Autorun may be turned off on your computer.
To install Punch! AS18 if installation does not begin
automatically
1 Insert Punch! AS18 Installation CD #1 into your
CD-ROM drive.
2 Double-click My Computer.
4 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Registering Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18
3 Double-click the CD-ROM drive (most computers will
begin the installation at this point).
4 Double-click SETUP.
Registering Punch! Home Design
Architectural Series 18
Take a moment to register online during installation. After
registering, you are eligible for technical support and for
early notification when new product releases become
available.
Your serial number is conveniently located on the back of the
CD jewel case. You can also register your software by calling
our toll free number at 1-800-365-4832 or visit our Web site
at www.punchsoftware.com to register.
Speed Tips
You can “Speed Up” Punch! AS18 by changing some of the
program's default settings.
■ Close the LiveView window when you are not working
in 3D. No 3D calculations are performed when the
LiveView window is closed.
■ Choose the Quarter-View window size for LiveView
instead of Full-View to increase 3D rendering speed. 3D
rendering speed increases as the LiveView window
becomes smaller in size.
■ Turn off shadows. For more information, see “Adding
Lighting and Shadows”, which begins on page 165.
■ Set your Display Screen Settings to 24-bit (32-bit, if
available), 65,000 colors for optimum rendering speed.
■ You don’t have to wait for a 3D view to render every
time. Just click the mouse in the LiveView window to
interrupt rendering.
■ Hide the floors that are not being drawn. By turning off
the inactive floors, the program will not waste resources
on them.
For more information, see “To view the
working floor only”, which begins on page 32.
■ On the View menu, click Render Options. The Render
Options dialog box is displayed. The lower the render
quality, the faster LiveView will render your design.
Important System Settings
Some of your computer’s settings can impact Punch! AS18’s
efficiency. By changing one (or more) of these settings, you
can control how the program performs.
■ Set your Display Settings to 800x600 pixels and High
Color (24-bit) or True Color (32-bit). On your Start
menu, select Settings>Control Panel>Display>Settings.
■ If you notice that the 3D display is not clear, set back the
Graphics Acceleration. On your Start menu, select
Settings>Control Panel> System>Performance>
Graphics, then set the acceleration back one notch.
■ By default, all measurements display in Inches; to choose
Centimeters go to Design>Unit of Measure... select
Metric.
Display Settings
Punch! AS18 is designed to run effectively based on the
system requirements printed on the software packaging.
However, there are some specific settings you can select to
obtain the best display possible.
To adjust your display settings
1 On the Start menu, click Settings, Control Panel. The
Control Panel program group is displayed.
2 Double-click Display. The Display Properties dialog box
is displayed.
3 Click to the Settings page tab.
4 In the Colors list box, click True Color (32-bit).
Note: If 32-bit is unavailable, click True Color (24-bit).
5 In the Screen Area section, move the slider to display at
least 800 x 600 pixels.
6 Click OK. The new window settings are applied. You
may be prompted to restart your computer to apply the
new settings. If so, click OK or Yes.
Online Help
Punch! AS18 includes an extensive online help system. This
system includes all of the information found in the PUNCH!
Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide.
To access the online help files
■ On the Help menu, click Contents or press F1.
To access help for a specific part of your 2D
drawing
1 On the Standard toolbar, click the Selection Tool.
2 Click the Context Help Button.
3 Click the feature, object or plant that you want help
with. The Quick Access menu for that feature, object
or plant is displayed on the right side of the window.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 5
Chapter Welcome
1
To access video tutorials from Help
1 On the Help menu, click Contents or press F1.
2 Navigate through the Help System until the topic you
need is displayed.
4 Click the Tool Help listing on the pop-up window. Help
for that feature, object or plant is displayed.
5 (optional) Pressing F1 while many tools are active will
access the help file for that Tool.
Video Tutorials
Video Tutorials are available for drawing tools and other
commonly-used features. These tutorials can be accessed
three ways.
To access video tutorials from Tool Guides
1 On the Standard toolbar, click the Selection Tool.
2 Click the feature, object or plant that you want help
with, then click the Tool Guide tool. The Tips and
Tricks menu for that tool is displayed.
3 Click the Video Tutorial button on the Tips and Tricks
menu. A short video will be played showing how the tool
works.
To access video tutorials with a right-click
1 On the Standard toolbar, click the Selection Tool.
2 Click the Context Help Button.
3 Right-click the feature, object or plant that you want
help with. The Quick Access menu for that tool,
object or plant is displayed.
3 Click the Show Me button. A short video will be played
showing how the tool or feature works.
Technical Support
Before contacing Punch! Technical Support, please verify
that the answer to your question is not available from one of
the following resources:
■ Punch! AS18 User’s Guide
■ Punch! AS18 Online Help System
■ Video Tutorials
In addition, be sure to visit our online support page at
www.punchsoftware.com. There you will find a list of FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions). You might find the answer
you’re looking for!
Plus, the Punch! Online Community forums.punchsoftware.com - is available, where users can
post questions and trade useful tips and tricks.
If you cannot find the answer to your question at one of these
areas, you can email your question to Punch! tech support.
Punch! Technical Support can only answer questions related
to the features of Punch! Home Design Architectural Series
18. They cannot answer specific questions about home
building, local building codes and so on. You can email
technical support at techsupport@punchsoftware.com.
When contacting technical support, please provide:
■ Serial Number
■ Your computer’s operating system
■ Make and model of your computer
■ Video card manufacturer and model
■ Video card driver date and version
■ Video RAM
■ Display settings, including hardware acceleration
Technical support by telephone is free for 60 days from the
date of registration and $10 per call thereafter. When you
call, you should be in front of your computer with the
program running and have the above information handy. The
4 Click Video Tutorial on the pop-up window. A short
video will be played showing how the tool works.
technical support phone number can be found on our online
support page at www.punchsoftware.com.
6 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Chapter 2
Window Layout
The Punch! AS18 window provides an assortment of features that make it easy to create precise home plans. This chapter
describes the basic components.
In most cases, this chapter does not provide detailed information on standard Windows concepts or on specific menu items.
For information on standard Windows concepts, such as the mouse, the Control menu, the window border, the maximize
button, dialog box controls and so on, refer to Windows online Help.
title bar
menu bar
tips & tricks
plan tab
elevation
slider
standard toolbar
annotation and
dimension bar
virtual
ruler
measurement
tools
working floor button
plan toolbar
design window
LiveView
icons
context help button
snaps button
Preview Bar
vertical
scroll bar
Launch Punch!
PowerTool website
Launch
Punch!
Software
website
property
bar
status bar
horizontal scroll bar
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 7
Chapter Window Layout
2
Title Bar
The title bar extends across the top of the application
window. It displays the name of the program and the name of
the current drawing file. Using the buttons at the right end of
the title bar you can minimize, maximize, close or restore the
window. You can also maximize or restore a window by
double-clicking on the title bar. Double-clicking the Control
menu box at the left end of the title bar is a quick way to exit.
If the application is running in a window, rather than
maximized, dragging the title bar moves the entire window
on the desktop.
Menu Bar
You can choose menu items using either the mouse or the
keyboard. To use the mouse, click the menu name; when the
menu drops down, click the item you want. Menu items with
an arrow to the right display cascading menus when you
place the pointer over one of them. When you highlight a
menu item, a description is displayed on the status bar.
To use the keyboard, press the ALT key and type the
underlined letter in the menu name, then type the underlined
letter in the menu item’s name. If there is a cascading menu,
you must type another letter. You can also use the arrow keys
to move through menu items and press ENTER to select one.
The ESC key backs out of the menu items one level at a time.
There are single-key or key combination shortcuts for certain
frequently-used menu items. Each menu lists available
shortcut keys to the right of the item’s name. You can use the
techniques for choosing menu items in combination.
Tool Guides
Punch! AS18 makes it easy to get started by providing users
with tips and tricks for each Tool. Tool Guides provide
information about each tool and some general information
about the program. Tool Guides can be turned off and on to
suit your needs.
To access general tool guides
■ On the Standard toolbar, click the Tool Guid e
Tool.
To access tool guides for a specific tool
1 On any plan tab, click the tool you want to learn more
about.
2 Click the Tool Guide tool, the Tips and Tricks menu for
that tool is displayed.
To access tool guides for a part of your 2D drawing
1 On the Standard toolbar, click the Selection Tool.
2 Click the Context Help Button.
3 Click the feature, object or plant that you want help
with. The Quick Access menu for that feature, object
or plant is displayed on the right side of the window.
Plan Tabs and Toolbars
Clicking one of the plan tabs will activate the toolbar for that
plan layer. For example, if you select the Landscape tab, the
Landscape toolbar will appear. In addition, when you click
the small arrow next to the title of the tab, you have the
option of viewing or hiding other plans. This will be useful,
for example, if you want to see the foundation plan with
landscaping, but without exterior and interior walls.
To find out what a certain tool represents, hold the pointer
over the tool and read the description on the status bar at the
bottom of the window.
8 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
4 Click the Tool Guide listing at the top of the pop-up
window. The Tool Tips menu for that feature, object or
plant is displayed.
5 (optional) Click Back or Next to cycle through the tips
available for that feature, object or plant.
Elevation Slider
To turn tool guides on and off
■ To turn off Tool Guides, click (Turn-Off Tool Guides).
■ To turn on Tool Guides, on the Help Menu click Show
Tool Guides.
Elevation Slider
With Punch! AS18’s Elevation Slider you can easily
move selected items vertically off “ground level”.
This feature makes it a snap to make sure windows,
doors, plants and so on are in exactly the position you
want. Simply select the object or feature to be raised
and move slider by clicking and dragging with the
mouse. For a more information, see
Slider” on page 160.
“Using Elevation
Virtual Ruler
The Virtual Ruler works like a real-world tape measure. It
stores away in the corner of the window until you need it.
Then with one click it is displayed in the middle of the
window, where you can move it into any position necessary
to make a needed measurement. It then stores away until you
need it again. To move the Virtual Ruler, click and drag from
the center. To resize, click and drag on one of th e large blac k
dots at either end.
Snaps Bar
On the Snaps bar you will find tools that you will
begin to find indispensable. Each tool has a very
specific function and will allow you to place walls,
doors, windows and many other things exactly where
you want them - the first time!
see “Snaps and Annotations”, which begins on page
19.
From placing a window exactly 6'4" from a corner to
placing a table lamp exactly in the center of the end
table, you will begin to use Snaps in concert with
almost every other drawing tool in Punch! AS18.
For more information,
Annotation Bar
On the Annotation bar there are two tools for text,
straight and angled, and several tools to let you
dimension part of your design where automatic
dimensioning may not be available.
With these tools you will be able to measure and label
any part of your drawing. If you want, you can store
these labels on the Detail Tab so you have the option of
turning them off when you want to see your design in a
more unobstructed state.
“Snaps and Annotations”, which begins on page 19.
For more information, see
Measurement Tools
The measurement tools include associative dimensions,
window/door callouts and the shortcuts to calculate floor
square footage.
Associative Dimensioning are the measurements that appear
as you are adding features. For example, the Associative
Dimensioning feature will show how far from the ends of
each wall the window is positioned.
Drag
You are not constrained to vertical or horizontal, the Vertical
Ruler can be stretched in any direction necessary.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 9
When the Window/Door Callouts option is checked, the
measurements of all window and door openings will be
shown with the wall measurements and be displayed in the
floorplan view.
Selecting one of the three square footage options will cause
Punch! AS18 to make that calculation and display it in the
Status Bar.
Chapter Window Layout
2
Working Floor Button
Use the Working Floor button to switch the current view
based on the number of floors in your home plan. When
you click the Working Floor button, a pop-up menu is
displayed. Simply click the floor on which you would like to
work to switch the current working floor.
Status Bar
The status bar is located in the lower left of the window and
displays prompts, program messages and measurements. It is
a good place to look when you are holding the pointer over
certain buttons or menu items to find their function.
Scroll Bars
Scroll bars provide a way for you to pan across the drawing,
that is, to change the part of the drawing visible in the
window, without changing the level of magnification.
■ To pan the drawing in small increm ents, click the scroll
arrow that points in the direction you want to pan.
■ To pan in larger increment s, cli ck the control shaft,
between the scroll box and a scroll arrow.
■ To pan by a custom increment, drag the scroll box in the
direction you want to pan.
■ To position at a specific area of the page, right-click the
scroll bar and click the wanted area on the pop-up menu
that is displayed.
colors to your Dream Home it will be easier in the 3D Full
View mode.
Properties Bar
You can easily modify features you have previously drawn
by selecting them and editing their properties on the
Properties Bar. You can even set the Properties Bar to
automatically display when a feature is selected by clicking
Auto Activate.
Preview Bars
You can click and drag objects, templates, materials, colors
and so on from their Preview Bars onto your plan. The
Preview Bar changes to reflect your selection. For instance, if
you click the Plant Bar, plant options will be displayed.
Clicking one of the buttons on the PowerTool bar launches
one of the associated Punch! AS18 applications.
■ Launch Topo Designer. To learn more about Topo
Designer, see the chapter titled “Topo Designer”, which
begins on page 41.
■ Launch Material Modifier. To learn more about Material
Modifier, see the chapter titled “Material Modifier”,
which begins on page 181.
■ Launch Roofing Wizard. To learn more about Roofing
Wizard, see the chapter titled “Roofing Wizard”, which
begins on page 107.
All PowerTools launch in this same fashion, whether they
were written by Punch! Software, LLC or by a third-party
developer.
PunchSoftware.com
With the click of one button, you can visit the Punch! website
at www.punchsoftware.com or the Punch! PowerTool Store
at www.punchsoftware.com/PowerTool_store.htm
LiveView Icons
It is in the LiveView window where you see your
designs come to life! The default view is Plan Full
View. When you load Punch! AS18, this is the view
you will see. With the 3D Quarter View option, use most of
your window for drawing, yet be able to view your design in
3D. For a full explanation see
with LiveView”, which begins on page 161.
When you want to focus primarily on your 2D actions while
maintaining a clear view of the 3D design, select Split Plan/
3D View. Then, when you’re ready to add materials and
10 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
the chapter titled “Working
■ To automatically launch your browser and visit the
Punch! Software website, click the Connect to
Punch! button at the upper right of your window.
■ To automatically launch your browser and visit the
Punch! PowerTool Store, click the Connect to
Punch! PowerTool Store button at the upper right of your
window.
Chapter 3
A Quick Tour
To get the most benefit from Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18, you should take a minute to become familiar
with some of its basic concepts. This chapter describes a few settings you should know, as well as some of the terms used
throughout this guide.
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 is not just one software application, but several applications that can be used
together. Once you’ve mastered Punch! AS18, additional tools are available to customize your home plans: Estimator,
Material Workshop, PhotoView, RealModel and 3D Custom Workshop. Information on the use of all these tools can be
found in this User’s Manual.
With Punch! AS18 you can set a precise drawing scale, define units of measurement and set the reference grid. There are
also many performance settings you can apply to optimize drawing speed and 3D viewing.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 11
Chapter A Quick Tour
3
About This Guide
The text and graphics in this guide are tailored to help you
find the information you need quickly and get the most out of
Punch! AS18. Each section of this guide is divided into a
series of step-by-step instructions, making it easy for you to
scan a page to find exactly what you need. You can also refer
to the index for additional topics on the same subject, if
necessary.
Instructions for installing and using Microsoft Windows do
not appear in this guide. If you’re uncomfortable with your
knowledge of Windows or with the concepts associated with
a user interface object, you should review Windows online
Help before attempting any serious work with Punch! AS18.
Basic Terms
The following is a list of terms used throughout this guide.
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the language
used in this guide and to reinforce your understanding of
basic terminology.
Click
Pressing and releasing the left mouse button once.
Right-click
Pressing and releasing the right mouse button once.
Double-click
Pressing and releasing the left mouse button twice.
Click and drag
Pressing the left mouse button, holding it down and moving
the mouse simultaneously.
Drag-and-drop
Clicking to select an item, holding down the mouse button,
then dragging and releasing.
Graphic Cues
This guide uses several types of graphic elements. Some
show the window or a dialog box that will appear during an
operation. When this type of graphic illustration is used,
every effort is made to show the element exactly as it is
displayed on the window.
Graphic Cues Used in this Guide
Convention Meaning
mouse click that selects a point—the
number, when present, specifies the mouse
click’s position in a series of clicks
2
click and drag operation—beginning of
arrow indicates where to start; end of arrow
Drag
indicates where to stop
a right mouse click —the number, when
present, specifies the mouse click’s position
in a series of clicks
2
Punch! PowerTools™
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18
is PowerTool enabled. Punch! PowerTools
seamlessly add additional features and
functionality to your program to make it
easier to create your dream home!
Whenever more PowerTools become available, they are
offered to users at the Punch! PowerTool Store.
■ To automatically launch your browser and visit the
Punch! PowerTool Store, click the Connect to
Punch! PowerTool Store button at the upper right of your
window.
Scroll
Using the scroll bars on the sides of the application window
by clicking the slider box, holding down the mouse button
and dragging.
12 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Defining Your Lot Size and Topography
With Punch! AS18 you define lot size and all topographical
information in the Site Planner and Topography Designer
PowerTools.
For more information, see “Topo Designer”, which begins on
page 41.
Setting the Scale
Setting the Scale
Scale is the ratio between real-world size of objects and items
in your drawing and their size when printed.
The default drawing scale is 1/4" = 1', meaning that 1/4" on
your drawing plan equals one foot in real-world size. You
can customize scale settings at any time to suit your needs, as
well as print your drawing to scale.
To set the drawing scale
1 On the Design menu, click Plan Scale. The Plan Scale
dialog box is displayed.
2 Click a new scale setting, then click OK. The new scale is
applied to your plan drawing.
Setting Unit of Measurement
You can set units of measurement in Punch! AS18 by
selecting either English measurements in feet and inches or
Metric measurements in meters and centimeters.
To set the unit of measurement
1 On the Design menu, click Unit of Measure. The Unit of
Measure dialog box is displayed.
2 Click either English or Metric, then click OK. The unit of
measurement you selected is applied.
You can customize grid settings by selecting grid spacing,
grid style and whether the grid is hidden from view or
displayed.
Grid properties can also be set by accessing the right-click
menu with nothing selected.
To define Snap to Grid settings
1 On the Options menu, click Grid Properties or right-click
on your design window and click Grid Properties on the
pop-up menu that is displayed. The Grid Properties
dialog box is displayed.
2 On the Grid Spacing dialog box, type new measurements
into the Snap Grid section, then click OK. Items you
draw or drag-and-drop into the design window will now
snap to the measurements you defined.
Note: Initially, the grid is set at 12 in ches, maki ng it ea sy to
visualize each plan square as exactly one square foot, but can
be customized to meet your particular design needs.
Note: Snap settings can be set as low as 0.10 inch (English),
0.002 m (Metric), and still show visible movement along the
grid. Snap settings can be set as high as 500 inches (English),
12.70 m (Metric).
Using the Grid
With Punch! AS18 you can set specific grid properties that
aid in drawing your home plan. You can set points based on
the reference grid which is useful when you want to make
sure certain points are specified precisely.
Grid settings have a direct impact on the ease of aligning
objects, snapping objects to the grid and so on. When using
the Snap to Grid feature, items that are dragged and dropped
on the design window are automatically snapped, or placed,
to align with the current grid. By default, Snap to Grid is
turned on.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 13
To select grid spacing
1 On the Options menu, click Grid Properties or right-click
on your design window and click Grid Properties on the
pop-up menu that is displayed. The Grid Properties
dialog box is displayed.
2 Type new horizontal and vertical measurements in the
Grid Dots/Lines section of the Grid Spacing page, then
click OK. The new grid spacing measurements are
applied.
Chapter A Quick Tour
3
To change the grid style
1 On the Options menu, click Grid Properties or right-click
on your design window and click Grid Properties on the
pop-up menu that is displayed. The Grid Properties
dialog box is displayed.
2 Click the Grid Style page tab.
3 Click either Grid Dots or Grid Lines, then cl ick OK. The
new grid style is applied.
is disabled. To enable Snap to Grid, simply recheck the
menu item.
To display the grid
■ On the Options menu, click to check Grid Visible or
right-click on your design window and click Grid Visible
on the pop-up menu that is displayed. The grid is
displayed on the design window.
Note: Grid Dots/Lines can be set to as low as 1 inch
(English), 0.02 m (Metric), and still be viewable. Grid Dots/
Lines can be set as high as 500 inches (English), 12.70 m
(Metric).
To move objects/features along the grid
1 On the Standard toolbar, click the Selection Tool.
2 Click the object or feature you want to move.
3 Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, move the object
or feature into position.
Note: Each time you press an arrow key, the object or
feature will move one increment that you have set in
“To
define Snap to Grid settings” on page 13.
To turn off Snap to Grid
■ On the Options menu, click to uncheck Snap to Grid,
press CTRL+R, or right-click on your design window
and click Snap to Grid on the pop-up menu. The feature
14 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Chapter 4
File Management
When you start Punch! AS18, a new blank drawing file is displayed. If you are returning to work on an existing drawing,
you must open it, or display it on the screen. Opening a file involves clicking Open on the File menu and specifying the
name of the file you want to open. Once you have opened a file, you can edit, import, export, print, view and save it.
You can have more than one file open at a time. The exact number of files you can have open depends on the amount of
memory in your system and the complexity of the home plan file. When you open a file, Punch! AS18 displays it in a new
window.
The changes you make to a plan drawing occur only in your computer’s memory until you save them. To preserve a
drawing for later use, you must save it to a file. If you want to save a drawing using its current name or if you want to save
a new, untitled drawing, use Save. If you want to save a drawing using a new name, use Save As.
At any point during the design process you can import objects created in 3D Custom Workshop to further customize your
design. In addition, you can export a 3D LiveView rendering to make it easy to share your design with friends.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 15
Chapter File Management
4
Opening a File
Opening a file copies the data it contains into memory,
making it available for you to edit or print the plan drawing.
To open an existing file
1 On the File menu, click Open. The Open dialog box is
displayed.
2 In the File Name box, type the name of the file you want
to open, or search for the file by switching folders or
drives.
3 When you see the name of the file you want to open,
click to select it.
4 Click OK.
To see a list of recently opened files
1 On the File menu, highlight Open Recent. The Open
Recent listing is displayed.
2 On the Open Recent pop-up, click the file you want to
open. The file loads into memory.
Saving a File
When you open a file, Punch! AS18 copies the file to your
computer’s memory. As you work, you modify the copy
stored in memory. Any system failure or loss of power
destroys that copy. To save your work permanently, you must
save it to a file on a disk. A good rule of thumb is to save
every 15 minutes or after you’ve completed any work you
wouldn’t want to redo.
When you click the Save command, Punch! AS18 saves the
active drawing using the name and location you last gave it.
You can create more than one version of a drawing or save
copies on another disk for safekeeping. You can save each
version under a different name, or you can save them under
the same name in different folders or on different disks.
To save an existing file
■ On the File menu, click Save or right-click, then click
Save on the pop-up menu that is displayed or press
Ctrl+S.
To save a new, unnamed file
1 On the File menu, click Save As. The Save As dialog box
is displayed.
2 Type a file name in the File Name text box. Punch! AS18
automatically adds the PRO extension, unless you
specify another extension.
3 Click OK.
To save a file to a different name, drive, or folder
1 On the File menu, click Save As. The Save As dialog box
is displayed.
2 If you want to save the drawing under another name, type
a name in the File Name text box.
3 If you want to save the drawing to a different drive or
folder, click a different drive and folder, or type the
complete path in the File Name text box.
4 Click OK.
Closing a File
When you finish working with a file, close it to remove the
window from the screen and to free up your computer’s
memory. When you are done working in Punch! AS18, close
all your files and exit the program.
To close a file
■ On the File menu, click Close. If you have unsaved
changes in your plan drawing, Punch! AS18 prompts you
to save them before it closes the file.
To close all open files and exit Punch! AS18
■ On the File menu, click Exit. If any open drawings have
unsaved changes, Punch! AS18 prompts you to save
them before it closes their files.
Accessing the Pre-Drawn Homeplans
Punch! AS18 includes a wide variety of homeplans for you to
alter. The included homeplans are located in the directory
where you installed the program, in a subdirectory called
“Plans”.
To open a pre-drawn homeplan
1 On the file menu, click Open.
2 Navigate to the directory where Punch! AS18 is installed,
typically C:Program Files\Punch! Home Design
AS18\Plans.
3 Double-click the Plans subdirectory. The subdirectory
opens.
4 Click the plan you want to open. Click OK.
16 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Importing Files
Note: All plans included with Punch! AS18 are the
copyright of Wolfgang Trost Architects. The plans and 3D
computer images are for conceptual purposes only. You must
have any plans provided in, or generated by, Punch! Home
Design Architectural Series 18 checked by a licensed
architect before you build. Punch Software LLC and
Wolfgang Trost Architects are not liable for errors, omissions
or any other deficiencies in these conceptual plans. Complete
sets of building plans for these homes are available by
contacting Wolfgang Trost Architects at
www.wolfgangtrost.com
Importing Files
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 is 18 programs
in one. All of these programs integrate seamlessly; objects
created with Punch! 3D Custom Workshop and cabinets
designed in Punch! Cabinet Wizard are available for import
into your floor plan.
To import a 3D Custom Workshop object
1 On the File menu, click Import>Punch! 3D Custom
Workshop Object. The Import Punch! 3D Object dialog
box is displayed.
2 In the File Name box, type the name of the file you want
to open, or search for the file by switching folders or
drives.
3 When you see the name of the file you want to open,
click to select it.
4 Click OK. The object is placed in the center of your 2D
design.
Note: Double-click the object to re-open it in 3D Custom
Workshop.
Exporting Files
You can export a rendering of your LiveView window to
BMP, JPG, PDS, PNG, TGA and WMF format. Files can be
exported in Textured, Wire-Frame and ClearView modes.
The exported file will appear just as your LiveView window
does. Be sure to render your drawing in high-resolution
before exporting. Size is also controlled by how your
LiveView window appears, the larger the LiveView window,
the larger the file will be. For more information on
controlling the LiveView environment,
LiveView”, which begins on page 161.
By exporting your design to VRML, it becomes available for
viewing with a VRML viewer or through a web browser
(provided an appropriate plug-in is installed). These helper
see “Working with
applications and plug-ins are available as free downloads on
the Internet.
To export
1 On the File menu, click Export 3D>{format}. The Export
Image dialog box is displayed.
2 In the File Name text box, type a name. Punch! AS18
automatically adds the extension, then click OK.
Note: For instructions on printing this file, see “Printing a
3D LiveView Rendering” on page 18.
To export to VRML
1 On the File menu, click Export 3D>VRML.
2 In the File Name text box, type a name. Punch! AS18
automatically adds the extension, then click OK.
Sharing Files Using the Content Folder
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18 will look for
anything missing from a drawing in the Contents Folder.
Missing components could be custom textures, custom
plants, the topography grid files, PhotoView images, and so
on.
To share a design that has customized components, those
components need to be collected and placed in the Content
Folder, then the Content Folder will be emailed with your
home design plan.
Printing Floorplans
Punch! AS18 prints using the current Windows printer
drivers. You can, however, print using any installed printer.
Using the Print dialog box you can specify a printer or plotter
from those currently installed. Your can print your drawing
in color or in black and white; it can be printed to scale or
you can print it all on one page, whatever you require. Follow
these steps to print your 2D drawing.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 17
Chapter File Management
4
To print to fit page
1 On the File menu, click Print to Fit Page or press Ctrl+P.
A Print Manager menu will ask if you want to print your
drawing in color. Click Yes to print in color; click no to
print in greyscale.
Note: Gridlines will print if they are visible when the
drawing is printed.
2 The Print dialog box is displayed.
6 (optional) Change the paper orientation and size.
7 Click OK.
Printing a 3D LiveView Rendering
Punch! AS18 streamlines the process used to print the 3D
LiveView images. With just a couple of clicks, you can print
beautiful, full-color renderings of your design.
To print a 3D LiveView rendering
1 On the File menu, click Print 3D LiveView, then select
the quality needed. The print dialog box is displayed.
2 Click the printer you want to use.
3 (optional) Change the paper orientation and size.
4 Click OK.
3 Click the printer you want to use.
4 (optional) Change the paper orientation and size.
5 Click OK.
To print to scale
1 On the Design menu, click Plan Scale. The Plan Scale
dialog box is displayed.
2 Click the radio button next to the scale you want to use.
Click OK.
Note: Gridlines will print if they are visible when the
drawing is printed.
3 On the File menu, click Print to Scale. A Print Manager
menu will ask if you want to print your drawing in color.
Click Yes to print in color; click no to print in greyscale.
4 The Print dialog box is displayed.
5 Click the printer you want to use.
18 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Chapter 5
Snaps and Annotations
Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 18’s powerful Snaps Toolbar has many tools that make precision placement
easier. On the Snaps Toolbar there are a wide variety of precision drawing aids that will help in exact placement of walls,
doors, windows and so on.
Often, drawing a plan to scale is not enough to convey precise measurements. In such cases, you must notate the
measurements using manual dimension notes. Punch! AS18, by default, automatically displays dimensions as you draw.
This makes it easy to create accurate drawings from the start.
In addition to the Virtual Ruler you can use a variety of dimension tools available in Punch! AS18 to measure items that are
not automatically dimensioned. You can also obtain total square footage measurements for each floor of your home design
with the Square Footage menu item.
With the text tools you can add either straight or angled text to any area of your drawing. This feature is useful if you’d like
to name your home plan or add your address to the final drawing, for instance. You can select from any font installed on
your computer, as well as select style and size.
This chapter describes the dimension and measurement tools in Punch! AS18 and how to add text to your drawing.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 19
Chapter Snaps and Annotations
5
Snap to Endpoint
Punch! AS18 gives you the power of snaps. With snaps, you
can define exactly what distance interior walls are placed
from other walls or begin exactly at the end of the wall when
drawing a roof section. You can move through the Snaps
Toolbar with the Tab key. Each time you press Tab, the next
Snap Tool is activated, Shift-Tab reverses the process.
The following examples show a few ways that Snaps will
help you during the design process; each Snap Tool works in
concert with many other tools in Punch! AS18.
Accessing the Snaps toolbar
■ Click the Snaps On Tool. The Sna ps
toolbar is displayed.
To snap a wall from the end of another wall
1 On the Floor Plan tab, click the Interior Wall
Tool.
2 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Endpoint
Tool or press TAB.
3 Click a wall on the design window. The wall will “snap
to” the endpoint nearest where you clicked.
5 Release the mouse button when the wall length you want
is reached.
Note: Each Snap Tool defaults back to “No Snap” after it is
used; double-click the Snap Tool to lock it in active mode. If
you have locked a Snap Tool and use the Tab key to activate
another tool, it will be also be locked as active. To unlock it,
click “No Snap”.
Note: Walls are drawn from a centerline. When moving or
otherwise manipulating them, you are always working from
the centerline and snapping to them will do the same.
To snap a roof
1 On the Roofing Plan tab, click one of the Roof
Tools. The Preview Bar displays the pitches that
are available.
2 Click the roof pitch to select it.
3 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Endpoint
Tool or press TAB.
4 Click a wall on the design window. The roof will “snap
to” the endpoint nearest where you clicked.
4 Hold down the mouse button and drag. Notice that the
wall follows the pointer and automatically displays the
wall length.
5 Hold down the mouse button and drag until the cursor
touches another wall.
20 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
6 Press Tab to re-activate the Snap to Endpoint Tool. The
roof will automatically extend to cover the entire
perimeter.
Snap to Segment Centerpoint
4 Hold down the mouse button and drag. Notice that the
wall follows the pointer and automatically displays the
wall length.
5 Release the mouse button when the wall length you want
is reached.
7 Release the mouse button.
Snap to Segment Centerpoint
Snap to Segment Centerpoint will be useful when drawing
walls, placing doors or windows, and so on. You can move
through the Snaps Toolbar with the Tab key. Each time you
press Tab, the next Snap Tool is activated, Shift-Tab reverses
the process.
To snap a wall from the center of another wall
1 On the Floor Plan tab, click the Interior Wall
Tool.
2 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Segment
Centerpoint Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
3 Click a wall on the design window. The wall will “snap
to” the centerpoint of the wall.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 21
Note: Each Snap Tool defaults back to “No Snap” after it is
used; double-clicking the Snap Tool will lock it in active
mode. If you have locked a Snap Tool and use the Tab key to
activate another tool, it will be also be locked as active. To
unlock it, click “No Snap”.
Chapter Snaps and Annotations
5
To snap a window in the center of a wall
1 On the Floor Plan tab, click the Window Tool. The
Preview Bar displays the styles that are available.
2 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Segment
Centerpoint Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
3 Click a wall on the design window. The window will
“snap to” the centerpoint of the wall.
Snap to Object Center
Snap to Object Center will make placing items in the center
of rooms easy. Details down to placing a coffee table exactly
in the center of the floor rug just take a couple of clicks.
To snap a stairway to the center of a room
1 On the Floor Plan tab, click the Stairway Tool.
2 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Object
Centerpoint Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
3 Click a stairway on the design window. The cursor will
“snap to” the centerpoint of the stairway.
4 (optional) Customize the window properties as shown in
the section “To add a window” on page 72.
4 Hold down the mouse button and drag until the cursor
touches the outside perimeter of the room. Notice that a
red arrow is displayed showing the centerline of the
stairway. The stairway will automatically move to the
center of the room when the cursor touches the perimeter.
22 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Snap to Object Center
5 Release the mouse button.
Note: Each Snap Tool defaults back to “No Snap” after it is
used; double-clicking the Snap Tool will lock it in active
mode. If you have locked a Snap Tool and use the Tab key to
activate another tool, it will be also be locked as active. To
unlock it, click “No Snap”.
To snap a lamp to the center of a table
1 Click the Object Tab. The Preview Bar displays
furnishing objects.
2 Click the arrow next to “Objects” at the top of the
Preview Bar to display the object library list, then click
another object library.
3 Scroll to view the available objects. Drag and drop a
table and a lamp onto your design window.
4 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Object
Centerpoint Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on Snaps toolbar.
5 Click the lamp on the design window. The cursor will
“snap to” the centerpoint of the lamp.
6 Press TAB to move through the tools on the Snaps
toolbar until the Snap to Object Centerpoint is again
active.
7 Hold down the mouse button and drag until the cursor
touches the outside perimeter of the table.
Note: The lamp will automatically move to the cente r of the
table when the cursor touches the perimeter of the table.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 23
Chapter Snaps and Annotations
8 Release the mouse button.
Note: For more information on placing objects, see
“Objects Preview Bar”, which begins on page 170.
5
5 Click the planter on the design window. When you drag
the planter the cursor will “snap to” the cornerpoint.
6 Press TAB to move through the tools on Snaps toolbar
until the Snap to Object Cornerpoint is active again.
Snap to Object Corner
Snap to Object Corner makes it easy to grab an object or
other element by its corner and move it precisely into
position. You can use any snap tool in conjunction with other
snaps to move features and objects into the perfect position,
the first time.
To snap a planter to the corner of a deck
1 Click the Object Tab. The Preview Bar displays
furnishing objects.
2 Click the arrow next to “Objects” at the top of the
Preview Bar to display the object library list, then click
another object library.
3 Scroll to view the available objects. Drag and drop a
planter onto your design window.
4 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Object
Cornerpoint Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
7 Hold down the mouse button and drag, until the cursor
touches the outside perimeter of the deck.
Note: The planter will automatically move to the corner of
the deck when the cursor touches the perimeter of the deck.
8 Release the mouse button.
Note: For more information on placing objects, see
“Objects Preview Bar”, which begins on page 170.
Snap to Intersection
Using the Snap to Intersection control, you can position
walls, objects and other features where you want them the
first time.
To snap a wall exactly opposite another wall
1 On the Floor Plan tab, click the Interior Wall
Tool.
24 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
Snap to Perpendicular
2 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to
Intersection Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
3 Click a wall on the design window. The wall will “snap
to” the endpoint nearest where you clicked.
4 Hold down the mouse button and drag. Notice that the
wall follows the pointer and automatically displays the
wall length.
5 Release the mouse button when the wall length you want
is reached.
Note: Each Snap Tool defaults back to “No Snap” after it is
used; double-clicking the Snap Tool will lock it in active
mode. If you have locked a Snap Tool and use the Tab key to
activate another tool, it will be also be locked as active.
Note: Walls are drawn from a centerline. When
manipulating them, you are always working from the
centerline and snapping to them will do the same.
3 Click the perimeter of a circle or oval drawn previously.
The line will “snap to” an angle perpendicular to the
edge.
4 Hold down the mouse button and drag. Notice that the
line follows the pointer and automatically displays
dimensions.
5 Release the mouse button when the length you want is
reached.
Snap to Segment-Offset
You can easily place walls, objects, and so on, where you
want them the first time with Snap to Segment-Offset.
To snap a planter 18" from the corner of a deck
1 Click the Object Tab. The Preview Bar displays
furnishing objects.
2 Click the arrow next to “Objects” at the top of the
Preview Bar to display the object library list, then click
another object library.
3 Scroll to view the available objects. Drag and drop a
planter onto your design window.
4 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Segment-
Offset Tool. The Snap to Segment-Offset dialog
box is displayed.
Snap to Perpendicular
Snap to Perpendicular makes it easy to add a CAD line
perpendicular to a circle or oval. For instance, if you want to
draw a pathway at a perpendicular angle to a curved retaining
wall.
To snap a perpendicular line
1 On the Detail Plan tab, click the Line Tool.
2 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to
Perpendicular Tool or press TAB to move
through the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide 25
5 Type 18 in the text box. Click OK.
6 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Snap to Object
Cornerpoint Tool or press TAB to move through
the tools on the Snaps toolbar.
Chapter Snaps and Annotations
7 Click the planter on the design window. The cursor will
“snap to” the cornerpoint of the planter.
8 Press TAB to move through the tools on the Snaps
toolbar until the Snap to Segment-Offset tool is active.
9 Hold down the mouse button and drag until the cursor
touches the outside perimeter of the deck.
5
Note: Each Snap Tool defaults back to “No Snap” after it is
used; double-clicking the Snap Tool will lock it in active
mode. If you have locked a Snap Tool and use the Tab key to
activate another tool, it will be also be locked as active.
Adding and Deleting Points
You can add or delete points to walls, fencing, decks, and so
on at any time to quickly reshape them.
To add a point
1 On the Snaps toolbar, click the Add Point tool. The
pointer changes to reflect drawing mode.
2 Click on a wall, fence section, deck or anywhere you
want to gain flexibility.
To remove a point
1 On the toolbar, click the Remove Point tool. The
pointer changes to reflect drawing mode.
2 Click on any point you want to remove.
Dimensioning
Punch! AS18 automatically displays dimensions as you
draw, making it easy to precisely place walls, doors and other
items in your plan drawing. The powerful Dimension Wall
tool will be especially useful to add interactive dimensions
between walls, where they are not automatically generated.
Dimensions drawn with the Dimension Wall tool are
automatically updated when either wall is moved. You’ll find
this tool extremely useful when measuring between the main
house and the walls of other buildings, like a garden shed or
playhouse. In some instances, you might want to print your
plan drawing without dimension annotation. You have the
option of turning off automatic dimensioning if you don’t
want it displayed on the drawing page or as you draw.
To use the wall-spacing dimension tool
1 On the Annotation toolbar, click the Dimension
Wall Tool.
2 Click a wall on the design window to define the starting
Note: When the cursor touches the deck perimeter, the
planter will automatically move to the distance from the
corner of the deck specified in Step 4.
10 Release the mouse button.
26 PUNCH! Home Design Architectural Series 18 User’s Guide
point; hold down the mouse button and drag to the
second wall.
3 Release the mouse button to set the measurement.
To use the offset dimension tool
1 On the Annotation toolbar, click the Offset
Dimension Tool.
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