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1. How do I get help?
There are five different sources of help available for the TOP VIEW user.
Users Manual:
The Users Manual describes how to operate TOP VIEW. A copy of this document is available on the TOP VIEW CD. You can also download it HERE.
Tutorials:
The CD also contains a set of Tutorials, which you may find useful, especially when starting out with TOP VIEW. The tutorials can also be downloaded HERE.
On-line Help:
You have full access to on-line help within the program while running TOP VIEW. When the mouse is over a particular toolbar icon or menu selection, press F1. This will open the online help about the particular item.
Telephone Support:
If you still can not find the answers to your questions, we offer a comprehensive support plan. After you sign up, feel free to call us for fast and friendly telephone support where we will do our best to solve your problems. Our toll-free support line is 888-264-8865 to call Specwise and 800-818-2051 to call ASR. You can also go to the Help menu and select 'About Top View' for additional contact information.
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2. What are the first things I should do when running TOP VIEW for the first time?
Before attempting to input your first project, you should first do the following two things or TOP VIEW may complain a bit:
a. Create some materials:
It's a good idea to create at least one metal panel material. It is also useful to create ridge, valley, hip and eave details. If you have installed the default materials database, it still would not hurt to create some of your own because it's good practice and you will likely be creating some in the future. (See Setup Material for information on how to create materials.)
b. Modify the DEFAULT project template or create one of your own:
Project templates are used to initialize all new TOP VIEW projects. Now that you have created some materials, you can modify the DEFAULT project template to use this information, or even create a new project template of your own that uses this information. (See Setup Project Templates for information on how to create and modify project templates.)
After successfully completing the these steps, you should be able to forge ahead and begin creating TOP VIEW projects.
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3. How do I go about entering, estimating and plotting a project?
The following is the general order of steps you would take to enter a TOP VIEW project, from the entering stage through to the estimating and plotting stages.
a. Open a Project:
You must first create a new project (or open an existing one) before you can begin adding roof sections and estimating. (See Open Project for information on how to open a project.)
b. Enter roof section:
A project can contain many different roof sections that can be estimated. (See Add Roof Section for information on how to add a roof section to a project.)
c. Modify Roof Outline/Low Areas:
Change the position and properties of the roof outline and the low area to change the shape of the roof. (See the Change Menu for a list of modifications that can be made.)
d. Add Dormers and Cutouts:
(For Dormers, see Add Dormer. For Cutouts, see Add Roof Section.)
e. Enter or confirm roof section information:
Each roof section has it's own default information. Before estimating a roof section, you should make sure that the default information is correct and modify it if needed. (See Project Defaults, Change Defaults and Section Summary for information on how to enter and change roof section information.) Note that since all roof sections added to a project are initially created with default information based on the PROJECT section, you may want to enter the PROJECT section default information before entering any roof sections.
f. Verify the roof design:
Use the Estimate and 3D View to confirm the shape and panel placement of your roof section.
The above steps would be done for every roof section that you have in the project. Once you are satisfied that the roof sections have been entered correctly, you can then continue to generate reports and plot diagrams:
g. Generate Reports:
You can now generate various reports on these roof sections. (See Reports for information on how to generate reports.)
h. Plot:
Once you are satisfied that your project has been input correctly, you can plot it on a printer or plotter or even export a .DXF file which can be imported into various CAD programs. (See Plot for information on how to plot projects.)
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4. Do all roof sections in a project have the same default information?
When a roof section is first created it receives a copy of the PROJECT section's default information. Later, the section's information can be modified individually. Therefore, when using the Project Defaults option, you must first select the roof section whose default information you want to change. You can change the default information on more that one roof section at a time by using the Change Defaults and Section Summary options.
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5. What is the PROJECT section used for?
The PROJECT section is really only used for two main reasons. First, if you want to draw all of the roof sections in the project on the screen (instead of only one roof section), you should select the PROJECT section before drawing. (See Draw for further information.) Secondly, any new roof sections that are added to the project are initialized with the PROJECT section default information (See Project Defaults for further information.)
Other than that, the PROJECT section is really only used to specify that you are not currently in a particular roof section (which can be useful in some cases, such as when using the Measure Distance option or the Dimensions options).
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6. What is the project scale used for and what is the recommended value?
The project scale, which is entered upon creating a project (or changed using the Project Title option), indicates the scale of the project (in inches per foot). If you are using a digitizer to enter the project, the scale must be properly set to the scale of the drawing that you are digitizing. If the scale is set incorrectly, the digitized drawing will not be input at the proper scale.
However, if you are not using a digitizer, the project scale should just be set to a scale that will enable you to enter in the project comfortably within the maximum window. (See How can I increase the amount of space I have available to draw my project in? for further details.)
The recommended scale is 0.125 (1/8). Before entering the roof sections of a new project you should test to see how much room you have by moving the mouse around the maximum window and reading the coordinate box output. If you find that the present scale is not sufficient, you can change the scale using the Project Title option. It is important to note that if roof sections already exist in the project when the scale is changed, these roof sections will change in size. As a result, they may have to be re-entered.
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7. How can I increase the amount of space I have available to draw my project in?
There are a number of things you can do in order to increase the amount of space that you have available to draw your project in.
a. You can increase your window size by using the Window Adjust option.
b. You can increase your digitizer size by using the Setup Digitizer and Plotter option, thus enabling you to select a larger window using the Window Adjust option.
c. You can change the project scale by using the Project Title option. Note that the last two options (changing the digitizer size and changing the project scale) should not be done if you are actually using the digitizer to enter in the project. Also note that using the last option (changing the project scale) will change the size of currently existing roof sections in the project, so they may have to be re-entered.
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8. Why does TOP VIEW complain about not accepting a negative point?
You may find that TOP VIEW will complain if you attempt to add a point that is off the maximum window to the right or to the top. This is because that point is a negative coordinate and will not be accepted. To prevent this from happening, you should always make sure that you have enough room to enter your project before attempting to enter it. (See What is the project scale used for and what is the recommended value? and How can I increase the amount of space I have available to draw my project in?)
If you are going to enter a part of the project outside of the maximum window, make sure that part is to the left or to the bottom. You can always use the Move Roof option to move roof sections to the left and to the bottom to give yourself more room to add points on to them.
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9. Does the Snap Value affect values that are entered with the keyboard?
No, the Snap Value has absolutely no affect on values entered in with the keyboard. The Snap Value is only used when entering in points with the mouse or when moving the mouse with the arrow keys (or numeric keypad). Therefore, we suggest that you keep the Snap Value at a reasonable value (i.e. 12 inches) because this makes mouse input quite simple. If you were then to encounter a value with a greater precision than the Snap Value, simply use the keyboard to enter in this value.
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10. I'm having difficulty aligning a point relative to another point - Why?
There may be times when you're adjusting a point with the mouse and it just does not seem to want to line up with another point. (We will assume that you have not made the simple mistake of incorrectly keeping the Ortho mode toggled on when you did not want it to be.) For example, perhaps you are adjusting one end of a low area and you want the point you are adjusting to be directly above the other low area point. However, when you move the low area point with the mouse you can not seem to line up the two points straight up and down.
The reason for this is that when you use the mouse, the mouse is snapped to Snap Value horizontal and vertical increments from the Reference Point. It is possible that the point that you are attempting to line up to is not an even amount of Snap Value increments from the Reference Point.
One solution to this problem is to change the Reference Point to the point you want to line up to and then adjust the other point with the mouse.
Another solution is to keep the Reference Point where it is and use the keyboard to enter in the exact position of the point you are adjusting.
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11. How do I move a roof section exactly where I want it?
There are times when you may want to move a roof section to a very precise position, especially relative to another roof section. This usually occurs if you have entered roof sections separately and then want to fit them back together like a jigsaw puzzle. The following steps can be done in order to position a roof section exactly:
a. Begin moving the roof section:
Select the roof section you want to move and then select the Move Roof option. You should now be able to move the roof section around using the mouse.
b. Select the Locator Point:
Select the Locator Point on the roof section you are moving. The Locator Point is the point on the roof section where the mouse is currently located. It is initially the first point on the roof section. (See Move Roof for information on how to select the Locator Point.)
c. Select the Reference Point:
Select the Reference Point that you want the Locator Point to reference from. It is possible to select a point on another roof section. (See Reference Point for information on how to select the Reference Point.)
d. Position the roof section:
Now that you have the proper Locator Point and the proper Reference Point, you can simply position the roof section exactly where you want it by using the mouse or the keyboard. (See Move Roof for information on how to enter the new position of the roof section.)
Also note that the Attach mode can be very useful when moving a roof, especially if the Locator Point on the roof section being moved should be attached to an already existing point (i.e. another roof section point).
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12. When is the mouse position important when entering values with the keyboard?
In most cases, both the mouse and the keyboard can be used to enter or adjust points. However, when you enter points with the keyboard, it is important to note the current position of the mouse relative to the Reference Point to make your job easier.
The most common place where this occurs is when <A> is pressed during an option to adjust a point using the keyboard. The initial values of the horizontal and vertical offsets from the Reference Point are always the positive distances from the Reference Point to the position the mouse was in when <A> was pressed. Therefore, entering a negative value does not simply mean left/right or up/down from the Reference Point, rather it means "in the opposite direction from the Reference Point from where the mouse was positioned when the keyboard entry was initiated".
In order to always ensure that your points are entered correctly when using the keyboard, you should always first move the mouse in the general direction from the Reference Point that you want your point to be entered before pressing the key which initiates the keyboard entry. By doing it this way, you can always enter positive values, and know that your point will be correctly positioned relative to the Reference Point.
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13. How do I select a point that is really close to another point?
You may encounter situations where you will find it difficult to select a point (or edge) because it is situated extremely close to another point, and when you try to select the point with the mouse, the other point is inadvertently selected. There are three things you can do to overcome this problem:
1. Zoom in:
By using the Zoom, Zoom Current, Zoom In/Out Button or Map window options you can zoom in so that the points are further apart. Hopefully, the points will be far enough apart so that they can be easily selected with the mouse.
2. Change the selection box size:
Use the Settings option to change the selection box size. You may find that using a smaller selection box size will make mouse selection of points that are close together simpler.
3. Select the point using the keyboard:
All existing points can be selected using the keyboard, so if you still can't seem to select the desired point with the mouse, you should try selecting it using the keyboard. Most options allow you to press <F2> when prompting for a point which enables you to select the desired point with the keyboard.
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14. How can I select a roof section if I have difficulty to select it with the mouse?
The easiest way to select a roof section is to left click on the desired roof section. However, there are certain situations where this method may not be the easiest (i.e. the roof section is not currently in the window) or possible
(i.e. another regular roof section lies on top of the desired roof section).
An alternative method to selecting the desired roof section is to use the Section box which lists all of the roof sections. Simply select the desired roof section from the list and then press <Enter> or click the left mouse button to accept the selection. (See Screen Description for further information.)
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15. Why do I get a warning when I try to generate a report?
If the metal panel, detail panel or item material numbers do not correspond to an entry in the material database, the report will be unable to generate any meaningful data. Check the Section Summary to make sure the numbers match an entry in the material database.
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16. How can I make TOP VIEW output available for use in other programs?
You may find it useful to use reports and drawings produced by TOP VIEW in other programs. Here are some ways that you can make TOP VIEW output available for use in other programs:
Put output onto the Windows® Clipboard:
The Windows® Clipboard enables you to copy things from one program and paste them into another. Reports can be put onto the Windows® Clipboard by using the Reports option. The image of the current drawing area can be put onto the Windows® Clipboard by using the To Clipboard option. The image of the 3D View can put onto the Windows® Clipboard by clicking on the To Clipboard button in the 3D View window. You can paste the contents of the Windows® Clipboard into most other programs.
Generate a tab delimited report file:
A tab-delimited report file can be generated when producing a report. This file can then be easily imported into most spreadsheet programs. (See Generate Report for information on tab-delimited report files.)
Export a .DXF file:
You can export a TOP VIEW drawing as a .DXF file, which can then be imported into most CAD programs. (See Plot for information on how to export a .DXF file.)
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17. How can I do a Printer Plot to different paper sizes?
To create a Printer Plot to a specific paper size make sure that the following two things are done:
a. Select the correct paper size in the printer settings:
The printer settings specify what size paper the printer is using. You can modify the paper size by using the Printer Setup option.
b. Select the correct plot size when doing the Printer Plot:
When doing the actual Printer Plot make sure to select the proper plotting size.
With these two things set properly you should have no problems printing out to the desired paper size by using the Printer Plot option.
If you are using Borders and Headers, make certain that they are properly set up for the selected paper size. (See Setup Headers and the Border commands.)
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18. What types of information can I plot on my drawings?
The Plot option enables you to output TOP VIEW drawings. Your projects can be drawn in a variety of different manners, from the simplest (where only the roof section outlines are drawn) to the most detailed (where each individual panel is drawn). (See Plot for information on how to plot drawings.)
You can also plot a variety of different items on your drawings. Here are some of these items:
Notes and Dimensions:
You can use the Notes and Dimensions options to add simple notes and dimension lines to your drawings. You then have the option of plotting these when using the Plot option.
Borders:
Borders are groups of lines that you can plot on your drawings in order to make the drawings more presentable (i.e. title blocks). You have the option of plotting borders when using the Plot option. (See Setup Borders for information on how to create borders.)
Cut List report:
You are able to plot the Cut List report on your drawings when you use the Plot option. (See Edit Header Layout and Header Information for information on how to plot the Cut List report, as well as Plotting Settings for plotting options.)
Headers:
Headers are text information that usually consists of a name and a value. You can plot headers on your drawings when you use the Plot option.
(See Edit Header Layout, Edit Header Values and Header Information for information on how to plot various headers.)
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19. When plotting, how do I position my drawing where I want it?
Before using the Plot option to plot your drawing there are three things that you should do first to ensure that your drawing is reasonably placed:
a. Window Adjust:
Use the Window Adjust option to specify the general area of the project that is to be plotted.
b. Confirm Header Layout Drawing Area:
Use the Header Layout option to confirm whether the Drawing Area header is being used to center the drawing at a point other than the center of the page. (See Header Information for more information.)
c. Set Plotting Scale:
Use the plot preview button to see if your plotted sections fit inside the plotting area. If not, set the plotting scale so that the plotted sections fit onto the page.
Once you are satisfied that the above steps have been done correctly you can then use the Plot option to plot your drawing. The Plot option also further enables you to move objects in your drawing around before actually plotting so that you can position things appropriately. (See Plot for information on how to position objects before actually plotting.)
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20. Are there any files or folders I should be backing up on a regular basis?
With computers, there is always the possibility that some files or folders may be accidentally deleted from time to time, and in some grave cases (i.e. due to fire, theft, irreversible hard drive damage) you may even lose all of the information stored on your computer.
To help make these situations easier to deal with in the event they should happen, you should always periodically back up files or folders to floppy disks or re-writable CDs, especially those projects that you really would not want to create again from scratch. It would also be a good idea to store a second copy of the back up disks at another site.
There are 2 ways that you can use to back up your work:
1. You can use the Windows® Explorer program to copy all of these files and folders to a disk. By default, TOP VIEW stores most of the files and folders that it needs in the same folder in which the program resides (i.e. C:\Topview) This is the folder that the Open Project dialog box defaults to.
2. You can also use the Backup Project command to save a project onto a floppy disk. The number of projects that can be saved this way will depend on the size of each file and folder. Larger and more complex projects will, of course, take up more disk space.
Here is a list of TOP VIEW files and folders that you may want to occasionally back up:
TOP VIEW Projects:
TOP VIEW projects are stored in .DIR folders.
Materials:
The materials are stored as .M72 and .M73 files, which reside in the TOP VIEW folder.
Default Header Layout:
The default header layout is stored in the DEFMULT.HDR file that resides in the TOP VIEW folder.
Default Project Templates:
The default project templates are stored in .IFO files that reside in the TOP VIEW folder.
Borders:
The border information is stored in .BDR files that reside in the TOP VIEW folder.
Settings:
All of your TOP VIEW settings are stored in the TOPVIEW.INI file, which resides in the WINDOWS or WINNT folder on your hard drive.
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21. What are some of the TOP VIEW limitations I should be aware of?
The following lists some of the TOP VIEW limitations that you should keep in mind when entering in your projects. If your project exceeds these limitations, then you will have to split it into multiple projects. Similarly, if a roof section exceeds these limitations, then you have to split it into multiple sections.
Maximum number of roof sections allowed in a project (including Interior, Cutout, Dormers, Domes, Cones, Barrels and Barrel Dormers): 75
Maximum number of points allowed in a roof section: 99
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22. How can I fix aesthetic drawing errors?
Once in a while TOP VIEW may produce minor aesthetic drawing errors or draw things where you don't quite want them to be. These are simple drawing errors and will not affect your estimate at all. For instance, occasional panel lines may not be drawn, panel labels may be obscured, and so forth. There are two things you can do to correct minor aesthetic drawing errors:
1. Slightly adjust the position of various points:
Most instances of lines not being drawn occur when the line passes through a point (i.e. a roof corner). You may find that if you slightly adjust the point the line is passing through (even by as little as ½ inch in some cases) that you will be able to eliminate some of these line drawing problems. Since the point is only moved very slightly your estimate should not be affected.
2. Touch up the drawing in a CAD program:
You are able to export all TOP VIEW drawing as .DXF files, which can then be imported into most CAD programs. All drawing errors can then be simply corrected by using the CAD program. (See Plot for information on how to export a .DXF file.)
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23. Why isn't some of the Project Title dialog box information being saved?
In order for the Project, Address and Architect information in the Project Title dialog box to be saved there must exist corresponding headers in the Header Layout for the project. (See Header Information for more information.)
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