A few fundamental questions

[PWHolmes]

Help, I have just downloaded the freebee 3D Canvas to see if its worth purchasing a pukka version, I am familiar with Abacus TS Modeller but want to learn the modelling system that it (looks like) will be usable with Kuju RS.

I spent 2 hours last night trying to reset the axes of the wheelset I am creating that rotated by 90deg around the z-axis when I created a tube. How do I do this?? I have tried the "Shift" command as my tutorial tells me but it dont seem to do anything but give me a rather attractive shimmering blue rectangle round the wheelset and the letter "S" by the cursor. Whatever I do the axes seem to move with the axle and not stay put.

In Ts Modeller, there was a simple "Reset Axes" command - super.

Also, can I set the origin of the axes, and is it possible to change the colour of the backdrop from black to a more pleasing shade?

The trouble with the freebee is that there is no on-line help.

Paul
Dubai

[decapod]

In reverse order

Background colour - File/Properties menu.

The origin of the grid? tools/options Gird settings - I usually set the X and Z ranges to -10 to +10
The grid origin is actually irrelevant to the model.

Without the pro version (which has a normalise script) you would need to use the shift operation (90 degree shift Z rotation) instead of rotating the group to start with. This would keep the axes unchanged.

It does take a lot of effort to change 3D modelling tools - everyone has their favourites.
3DC is worth the effort because of all of the output options to MSTS, TRS, KRS and MSTS2 (FSX - although there are one or 2 minor changes I need to make when MSTS2 is released.

The free version is also quite limited, the pro version has a lot more operations.

[PWHolmes]

Thanks for that - I have decided to download 3D Canvas Pro.

Can I save it to disk as I prefer to have a disk copy so that I can reinstall if necessary?

What is the latest version?

Paul

[dkightley]

You should be able to save a copy of the installer wherever you wish...its a standalone exe file.

And you'll see what the latest version is when you download it....it'll be the latest version, unless there's a beta download as well, which will be for the next version.

[decapod]

You just get a licence code for the Pro version - make sure you keep lots of copies.

You can download the file as often as you like as well as any upgrades to the major version number.
7.0.2.3 is the latest but you'll get 7.1 and 7.2 free.
And always read the readme.txt file on any upgrade - you will need to enter the licence code after each upgrade.

8.0 would require a small upgrade fee but it's a long way off yet.

[PWHolmes]

Thanks Gents

[PWHolmes]

Further to the above....I have decided to buy 3D Canvas Pro.

HOW???????????????? The Amabilis Upgrade webpage (both for Plus and Pro) is unaccessible for some reason and I cannot find it on Digital River (although the Amabilis webpage tells me I may buy it there).

Have Amabilis gone out of business or summat, because if they haven't and they make it this hard for someone with a Visa card ready, they soon will.

I am desperate to try it but where do I go on the web to buy the damn thing??

Paul

[ianm42]

Hopefully, it is just a hiccup on the website. Richard's latest posting on the Amabilis website indicated he was away from home with intermittent Internet access, so it may be a day or two before he can get to give the server a kick. I purchased an upgrade last month on the Amabilis website with no problems. I was still using version 6.x.x.x and RS export capabilities need version 7.

Note that Richard plans to make a Train Sim version of 3D Canvas, with exporters to all the major sims, but at a lower cost than the full Pro version. It will not have some of the Pro features that, presumeably, are not needed by Train Sim modellers. No idea when that will be available though.

[decapod]

Version 7.0.3 was uploaded this morning.

If you're still having problems with the website, try e-mailing support "at" amabilis.com

There's an 8 hour time difference so you may get a reply later this evening.

[PWHolmes]

8 hours from the UK - I'm in Dubai so add another 4!!

Can someone tell me just HOW to use the shift tool to normalise the axes - I have just spent another 3 hours trying to do this - whatever I do the axes seem to rotate - I just cant get them to stay put!!

Paul

[PWHolmes]

Decapod,

Tried sending an e-mail - no response
Tried web-page - still not available
Tried to join Forum - still waiting to be moderated.

They were quick enough to get my cash off me - 69USD for a string of characters.

Not very impressed.

[decapod]

Can someone tell me just HOW to use the shift tool to normalise the axes - I have just spent another 3 hours trying to do this - whatever I do the axes seem to rotate - I just cant get them to stay put!!

You can hold down the ctrl key and use the shift tool to move the axes instead of the object.

Or use the shift operation on the object (using the same rotation values, then set the group rotation properties to shift it back.

The plugin/script makes it much simpler.

[PWHolmes]

Thanks, Decapod. The ctrl key - I must try that!

As you can see, I have been trying to upload 3DC Pro since Friday - no luck yet.

I am a bit miffed as I have paid for it and had put Saturday aside to learn it.

Paul

[decapod]

They were quick enough to get my cash off me - 69USD for a string of characters.

I missed this - is the string between 10 and 16 characters?

If so you just fire up the freeware version of 3DC, go to the help menu and select "Enter Licence Code"
Close down 3DC and restart and a lot more functions will appear.

[PWHolmes]

Right... I now have 3DC Pro. Basically I had a licence code but no instructions!! Richard got back to me and explained what to do.

However...sorry, Decapod, but you will have to explain to me in moron terms just how to rotate axes by 90deg. I have just spent hours trying to do it, whatever I do they just keep rotating together (eg the group and the axes) and return to the original orientation.

Basically, I am trying to build the wagon but now have the axes at the centre of the wheelset group but 90deg out around the z-axis. Whatever I do with the shift key, the ctrl key and the "Properties" box, I cannot get the axes to rotate without the object following suit.... TS Modeller had a superb and simple "reset axes" and "centre axes" command which just did it, no problem.

I have tried too many different sequences of keys to list them all here, I can get the blue box and the cursor with an "R"" next to it but it dont seem to do anything.

What is this script thing you referred to??

Paul