Room Arranger, version 8

This program is intended for designing room interiors. It allows you to place furniture, items and other objects. You can additionally move and rotate objects, change their colors and dimensions. But you can also plan your entire flat, house or a new garden.

This file serves as a help for the program and we recommend you to print it and eventually read it. Pressing F1 anywhere in the program will show this help focused on the appropriate chapter.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. License Agreement
2. Guide
   1. Install And Uninstall
   2. Getting Started, Creating the Room
   3. Adding Objects
   4. Object Selection, Creating New Complex Objects
   5. Polygons
   6. Editing from Side
   7. Layers
   8. User library
   9. Adding Labels
   10. Saving Into File, Printing And Export
   11. Explore in 3D
   12. Multi-Floor Projects
3. Dialog windows overview
   1. New Project Wizard
   2. Project Properties
   3. Room Walls
   4. Rooms in the Project
   5. Library and Start Page
   6. Object Properties
   7. Label Properties
   8. Object Listing
   9. Explore in 3D - Setup
   10. Print
   11. Export to Web Page
   12. Merge Projects
   13. Transformations
   14. Options
   15. Additional Object Libraries
   16. Import Object Listing
4. Keyboard Shortcuts
5. Localization

LICENSE AGREEMENT

EULA - End User License Agreement

This is license agreement is a legal agreement between you (an individual person or a single legal entity, "You") and Jan Adamec (the "Author") for Room Arranger (the "Software"). By installing this software you are agreeing to this license agreement.

1. Shareware/ Demo/ Evaluation License

2. Distribution of Shareware Version

You may also include this SHAREWARE version on any CD/DVD compilation as long as you:
a) only distribute the shareware version
b) do not charge for the CD/DVD (apart from normal handling/distribution costs)

3. Ordering the Full Version

A single user license permits a registered user (licensee) to use one copy of the Program only on a single computer at a time.

The usage by multiple users at the same time (on multiple computers) requires additional licenses. Additional licenses allow an institution or company to install or use the Program on multiple computers or on a server. It must be guaranteed that the Program does not run on more machines at the same time than there are licences purchased.

4. Ownership of the Program

5. Defects in the Program

6. Limitation of Liability

Installing and using the Software signifies acceptance and agreement to the terms and conditions of this license.

If you do not agree with the terms of this license you must cease to use the Software and remove the Software from your storage devices.

This Agreement is governed by the laws of Czech Republic.

Ordering

Once you register the Program you will receive a serial number that you can enter in Help->Register window.

Limitations

[Table of Contents]

INSTALL AND UNINSTALL

The program is distributed with an installation program. Leave "Additional Languages" checked if you want to install other languages (not only English) and then select the directory to install in. You can launch the program from the Start menu. If you already have an older version, you don't need not uninstall it (keeps registration) and the new version should be installed in the same directory.

In order to uninstall the program you must launch the Uninstall command from the Start menu (Start-Programs-Room Arranger) or select the corresponding item in Start-Settings-Control panel-Add/Remove Programs.

[Table of Contents]

GETTING STARTED, CREATING THE ROOM

At first, you should look at the example. Open it using the menu command Project->Open and select the file Sample.rap (distributed with the program). Shortcuts to the sample projects are also located in the Start menu. Try to study it and play with objects. Then you can create your own room using the menu command Project->New.

At the beginning, you should define the dimensions and the shape of the room. By default, the New Project Wizard pop-ups. If you are new to Room Arranger, start designing only one room. In the next step you will select the shape of the room and write the lengths of main walls. You can additionally change everything in the window Project->Project Properties.

All numbers in the program are in centimeters, but you can change it and, when planning airfield or the layout of new houses, the units can be metric or imperial. If you would like to change the unit and you have already started to design your room, you can convert the entire room including all objects in it to a different unit. You may also change the calibration of one pixel in 100% zoom (e.g. for inches it should be set to 2 and for centimetres to 1).

Whenever you see this button, you can open (press C key) a calculator for basic calculations. It can be also used to convert numbers in yards-feet-inches system.

See Project Properties window.

Walls

Measurement

Windows and doors are the first objects to be added to the room. You should place them very precisely.

[Table of Contents]

ADDING OBJECTS

Objects are added to the project by dragging the object from the library window to the main window. Try to find required object in the object libraries. If there is an object only with different size, you can change it afterwards. Otherwise you should choose from the Basic objects.
See Library window.

If you place the mouse cursor over the object in the project and wait a moment, a brief info about it will appear. And using a right-click, you can select one of the following commands from the pop-up menu:

1. Properties - edit the object properties
2. Follow the Link - show associated file or webpage
3. Duplicate Object - create a copy of the object
4. Remove Object - delete the object
5. Objects with Same Color - selects all objects with the same fill color as the color of selected object
6. Lock / Unlock - prevent object from moving
7. Group / Ungroup - create complex object from the selection (see next chapter)
8. Place to Layer - move object to the different layer (see chapter about layers)
9. Bring to Front ...
10. Send to Back - these functions are good for placing the objects on the top of another object (for example put TV on the cupboard, push a chest under the table,...). In that case, you must sort them with these two commands. These commands do not affect z-position.
11. Rotate 90 Degrees Right ...
12. Rotate 90 Degrees Left ...
13. Rotate 180 Degrees - quickly change the rotation

Tips: You can create a "Mirror Effect" by creating two grey objects that overlap by one pixel on the same surface (e.g. Overlap two similar rectangles and move one of them 1 pixel). This creates an interference pattern in the 3D view which gives the effect of a mirror.

See Also Object Properties and Label Properties windows.

Menu command Objects->Listing is dedicated to displaying the list of all objects in the project. You can remove objects or change their properties by clicking the right mouse button.
See Object Listing window.

[Table of Contents]

OBJECT SELECTION, CREATING NEW COMPLEX OBJECTS

Delete key is for removing the selected object, Alt+Enter shows its properties, Ctrl+R and Ctrl+L rotates the object. You can select other objects with Page Up and Page Down keys. You can also copy object to the clipboard Ctrl+C and then pasting it to another (or the same) project Ctrl+V. If you want to deselect the object, you can click anywhere on the free space in the project or press Esc or Ctrl+D.

In order to select more than one object you have two possibilities. To add or remove single object to/from the selection just click on it using left mouse button while holding Shift. To select objects in a region, you can draw a rectangle around them. To select all objects in the project except for doors and windows, press Ctrl+A.

Then you can change properties to all of these objects together. Furthermore you can align all selected with commands in menu Objects->Align or Distribute. Checking the Relative to Project there means that for example Align Left command will move all objects to the x-position 0 instead of aligning their x-position according to the left-most object.

Groups

Last performed change of position or properties of objects and the project can be undone by the command Edit->Undo or using a toolbar button.

[Table of Contents]

POLYGONS

Aside from predefined shapes and creating new objects via grouping, you can create your own polygonal shapes, which can be useful for modeling working surfaces. To start new polygon, drag it from Library window to the project. The polygon editor starts automatically.

During the initial drawing,

• Click to add new control point
• Click right mouse button to remove the last control point
• Double click to add the last point and finish the polygon

For editing the existing polygon, there are different possibilities:

• Drag the control point to change the shape of the polygon
• Click and drag on the polygon edge to add new control point there
• Right click on the control point to remove the point from the polygon
• Right click on the edge to select between straight or curved segment
• Flip or mirror the polygon using the toolbar buttons

[Table of Contents]

EDITING FROM SIDE

The default top view is good for basic design of the rooms. But sometimes you need to create precise 3D model of the kitchen or you are just creating new complex object with a lot of objects above another objects. Editing from side shows you the placement of objects along the z axis.

Start by selecting the objects you want to edit from the side, then press the toolbar button and select the view direction. Only objects with rotation 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees can be edited this way. And you can only move, resize or delete objects in this editing mode, you cannot add new for example.

[Table of Contents]

LAYERS

If you have large amount of objects in the project and some of them are placed on the top of others, you can split them to two (or more) layers. For example, if you have small cabinets under the long table and you want to see them and arrange them, the best thing is to have those cabinets in the separate layer and move this layer under the layer with the table. Another example is to dedicate one layer to the energy or water distribution. The last tricky example: the lowest layer contains carpeting, etc. - basic rectangles one unit high. You can hide it in order to see the grid.

At first, you will have to show layers window (View->Show Layers Window) and create a new layer. There is always at least one layer in the project and one of them is active (it is selected in the Layers window). New objects are added to this active layer. You can move the object to the different layer with the command Place to Layer in its context menu.

Layer order also affects the z-order (not z-position) of the objects in the project. All object from the higher layer are drawn on the top of the objects from the lower layers (change this order using buttons on the Layers window). To see the objects from the lower layer, you can hide higher layers unchecking the checkbox.

Removing the layer will also remove all objects placed in it. It is better to merge layers. If you want to remove only one layer out of three, hide the third one and Merge visible layers. All layer operations are undoable.

[Table of Contents]

USER LIBRARY

There are many objects in the main library, but you would like to add your own objects and remember their definition for later use. The User library is here just for this purpose. You can find it as a first library page when adding new object and you've certainly spotted it on the right side of the Object properties window, which serves for creating of the user library as well.

If you select some predefined object on the right side and press Load button, its properties will be transferred into the object from the project that you are currently modifying.

Similarly, pressing Save button will add (or update) the object to the library. Object is saved with some name, so try to input something reasonable, accurate and general at the same time.

The User library is stored in the file named UserLib.ral in the program directory. You should not edit it manually. It is much better to use menu command Objects->Browse User Library. Then you can:

• add new objects: fill in something on the left side and insert it using Save button to the library. You can transcribe some real paper catalogue this way.
• edit existing: select the object on the right side, press Load, edit it on the left and press Save.
• delete or rename existing: right-click on the object and select appropriate option.

If you have too many objects in your User library, you can divide it into pages. To add, remove or rename pages in User library, use small buttons in upper left corner of the window (+, -, ab). Then you can select any number of objects and transfer them into the new page (right-click).

Import button can be used to install new objects from files on the disk (downloaded from the web, from your friend, ...) and Export button is for creating such files.

See Object Properties and Additional Object Libraries windows.

[Table of Contents]

ADDING LABELS

There is a special object, which can be added to the drawing. It's Label. You can create new label similarly to any other object either from menu or using right mouse button. Unlike object captions, label can stay anywhere in the project. It can also carry more lines of text and, especially, you can select its font, which size is changed according to the zoom level in the project.

See Label Properties window.

[Table of Contents]

SAVING INTO FILE, PRINTING AND EXPORT

It is strongly recommended to save your drawing into the file from time to time. There are several commands in the Project menu for this purpose. You can open the files also using a double click in Explorer or any other file manager, or dragging the file into the program window.

You can also print your work (Project->Print). Select the paper orientation in your printer setup. In the bottom side of the window there is a schematic view on the paper and you can select (and edit) what shall be printed along the image.
See Print window.

Furthermore, you can save the result as an image (Export submenu, don't hesitate to use PNG format, everyone can open it and the image very small) or copy it into the clipboard and subsequently insert it into a text editor (like MS Word), add some comments and then print it. As a default, 100% zoom is always used for printing and export (the most accurate drawing). You can change it in Options.

You can also save and publish your project on the web. The program will help you generate the web page with the floor plan and the 3D scene.
See Export to Webpage window.

[Table of Contents]

EXPLORE IN 3D

In order to make any use of 3D view, you should set height and z-position for all objects in their properties. 3D exploration itself is made in a special window. Room Arranger generates several sights (viewpoints) of the project for you. You can go through all of them using keys F4 and F3. The first viewpoint is the start position you choose in the program.

- walking, the basic movement. Press and hold left mouse button, and drag the mouse forward, to sides or towards you. Dragging the mouse to sides while right button pressed makes steps to the side, and mouse wheel rotates the viewing angle up / down. You can also use cursor keys on your computer keyboard.
- flying. Same controls as in walking, you can additionally fly upwards or downwards by dragging the mouse forward / backward while pressing right mouse button.
- examine. Rotate the scene using left button, move it by right button, zoom in and out with mouse wheel.
- list of viewpoints defined in Explore in 3D - Setup window. You can also find Add viewpoint here, that serves you for saving the current view into the list.
- saves the current view into the image file.
- saves the entire virtual tour as a movie into AVI. You can choose whether to pause movie in viewpoints in the setup.
- when you make changes in the 2D editor, click this button to bring the changes into 3D.
- options and rendering quality settings, and access to windows that can reveil the information helpful when fixing problems.

In case the built-in 3D viewer does not fulfill your needs, you may install any VRML viewer and use instead of our own. Most of VRML viewers is offered for free. 3D navigation may be faster in them, but you may miss some features. You can select it as VRML plugin choice in Room Arranger Explore in 3D - Setup window. We recommend following VRML viewers:

Cortona: www.parallelgraphics.com
BS Contact VRML: www.bitmanagement.de

[Table of Contents]

MULTI-FLOOR PROJECTS

When your task is to design a house or any other multi-floor project, the most direct way how to do it in Room Arranger is to have more floors in one project. Such project can be made by:

1. Merging two or more existing projects (check Create new floor there)
2. Adding new floor in menu Project->Add New Floor or later in menu Floor->Add New Floor. The program then asks you if you want to copy the same wall setup as in the current floor or not.

You will possibly need to create openings in the upper floors, for stairs enabling people to walk from the lower floors. You can add floor openings in the Wall editor, either rectangular or elliptical (circular). The special care should be taken in Explore 3D setup. It is useful to design a set of viewpoints on each floor, to create a virtual walk-through the whole house and make the navigation much easier for the final presentation.

[Table of Contents]

NEW PROJECT WIZARD

Menu: Project->New.

To use New Project Wizard for creation of new projects, you need to check "Start new projects with wizard" in Options.

One room

If you want to design only one room, select this option.

Apartment

To design more complicated project, select this option.

Unit name

Unit. Wizard will adjust some project properties to fit the unit size (i.e. grid size, zoom 100%)

Next

If you've selected One room, the wizard continues with the window described in the next section. Selecting Apartment will enable you to enter total project dimensions along x and y-axis and opens the wall editor.

Shape

Select one of the predefined shapes of the room. If your room does not match any of them, try to select the closest one and then add other walls in the wall editor.

A, B, C, D, E, F

Dimensions needed to define the size of the room - lengths of the walls.

Name

You can enter the name of this room; it is used only in the room editor.

Floor color

Color of the floor.

Wall color (3D)

Color of walls used in 3D view.

[Table of Contents]

PROJECT PROPERTIES

Menu: Project->Project Properties.

Width, Height

Project dimensions. Width is the dimension along the x axis, height along the y axis. If the project contains only one room, change these values.

Unit name

Unit. Important when adding objects from the library.

Space around the project

Free space around the project, including space occupied by walls. Small button next to Top space will copy the Top value to all other values.

Edit Walls

Shows the window for advanced wall adjustment - if your room is not rectangular or you have more rooms in the project.

Wall thickness

Default wall thickness. All walls in the project has this thickness, but you can change them separately in Edit Walls.

Wall height (3D)

Height of the walls in 3D. If you want to select different heights for each wall, you need to go to wall editor.

Rooms

Shows the window for setting floor and wall colors - use when you have more rooms in the project, or you want to select different colors for walls.

Floor color

Floor color of all rooms. Go to Rooms window if you want to select different floor colors for each room.

Wall color (3D)

Color of all interior walls in 3D. Go to Rooms window if you want to select different colors for each wall.

Exterior wall color

Color of all exterior walls, used only in 3D.

Decimal numbers for object positions

If unchecked, object position can be only the whole number. For example, if you move with the object in zooms other then 100%, new position will be probably decimal number. You will need to check this option if you use foot as a unit. [default: off]

Grid

Properties of the grid that can be displayed under the project, it helps you to conceive of distances.

Zoom 100%

Decimal number. One unit will be N pixels long at 100% zoom; i.e. when you set this number to 3, zoom factor 300% will be now 100%.

Caption font

Font used for object captions. You can also select the font for priting.

Ground color

Base world surface color in 3D. The default is green grass.

Sky color

Base sky color in 3D. The default is blue.

[Table of Contents]

ROOM WALLS

Menu: Project->Edit Walls (F8)

The Wall Editor enables you to modify existing walls or add new ones.

Right click on controls points, walls and floor openings to modify their properties.

Accept Changes and Close (Ctrl+Enter)

To save any changes to the walls.

Reject Changes and Close (Esc)

To revert to the previous saved version.

Selection Tool (A)

• Drag control points or walls to modify walls.
  
• Right click on a wall to remove it, add a new control point (split wall) or change the wall properties.
  
• Right click on a control point to remove it or change it's properties numerically.
  

New Wall (W)

Adds a single line new wall with the default properties. The new wall will snap to existing walls.

New Wall Polygon (E)

Enables you to add a series of control points with walls between them. Click where you want the first control point and then click for the second and subsequent points. Double click or right click to end the wall.

New Floor Opening, New Eliptical Floor Opening

Add a "hole in the floor" for stairs. A necessity in multi-floor projects.

Transformations

Enables you to convert from metric to imperial measurements. See transformations

Build on Image with Floor Plan

You can load the image (photo of the floor plan) into wall editor, and then draw walls over those in the image. This can spare a lot of time needed for calculation of precise wall dimensions.

First you have to calibrate the image - tell the program the size of certain wall or line. This will set the proper size of the image in the program. The red dimension line will appear in the project that is used for calibration.

Show Objects

You can show or hide other objects you already have in the project. You cannot edit them, though.

Walls listing

Properties of the selected wall are displayed on the right. The last item is blank record prepared for adding a new wall.

From, To

Position of the start and end point in the project. Width and height of the project are automatically changed to fit the walls; it means that you don't have to keep walls in the project dimensions entered before. If you try to edit these values, the blue circle in preview will show you the location of entered coordinates.

Length, Rotation

An alternative way how to set To coordinates.

Alignment

Position of the wall with respect to the coordinates - it can be above them, going through them or below them.

Thickness

Wall thickness.

Height (From, To)

Wall height in 3D. Values at the start and the end point can be different - you can create an attic room this way.

Save

Confirm and save changes for selected wall.

Remove

Remove selected wall.

Pick x, Pick y, Pick xy

These buttons are here to help you find the position if the wall should be connected with another (existing) wall. First, select From/To and then click, which coordinate you want to pick. Then move the mouse cursor to the preview and select the point (highlighted with blue circle).

Preview

Selected wall has red color. You can also select the wall by clicking on it in this image.

[Table of Contents]

ROOMS IN THE PROJECT

Please see Sample Apartment project for rooms definition.

Rooms are automatically determined from the walls. When you create a closed polygon out of walls, the new rooms is created inside of them. Wall thickness is not taken into account, only its start and end points, so connect the walls coordinates properly (Coordinate pickers are recommended). You don't have to split walls in every room corner, intersections are created automatically.

There is also some more information about the project displayed in this window. Namely, it is the Statistics group with the area values of selected room and the whole floor. Another info appears when you place the mouse cursor above a wall in bottom part. Statistics for all walls and rooms can be exported using the dedicated button in this window.

Rooms

Select the room from the list.

Selected Room

Properties of selected rooms. You can change its name, floor color and wall color for 3D view. See Object properties for details on floor textures.

Name

Name of the room.

Floor color, Texture

Color or texture of the floor in the selected room.

Wall color (3D)

Color of all walls in the selected room. You can choose the color for each wall separately by clicking in the image in the bottom part of this window.

Statistics

Information about the selected room, displayed in selected unit. Room dimensions, walls perimeter and floor area. Total useful area is equal to the total project area (built-up area) with the walls and floor opening subtracted.

Insert areas to project

Adds labels with room name and area to the project for every room.

Export more statistics to clipboard

All the info displayed as hints in bottom preview window can be exported using this button. The text is placed to clipboard and is suitable for inserting to Excel table.

Preview

The border of selected room has red color. You can also select the room by clicking on it in this image.

[Table of Contents]

LIBRARY AND START PAGE

You can add the object to the project by dragging the object to the main window.

Home (F2)

Displays shortcuts to most common tasks and the list of all object libraries.

Search (F3)

Activates searching for the object within libraries.

Library selection

The library is divided into several pages; this is their listing. The first page is User library.

3D

Switches between top views and 3D images of the objects.

[Table of Contents]

OBJECT PROPERTIES

Type

Change the shape of the object. It is disabled for complex objects.

Caption

Text that appears on the object or the name of the object in the User library.

Width, Length (Depth), Height

Dimensions along x, y and z axis.

Position x, y, z

Position in the project. This point is marked in the preview as a red cross. If you want to use decimal numbers for object position, you have to enable it in program options.

Rotation

Rotation in degrees. You can adjust the rotation using the helper beside it and if you hold Shift key, the rotation will change in 45 degrees multiples.

Colors

Various colors. If you uncheck them, appropriate part of the object becomes invisible.

Style

Line style, dashed lines can be used for objects on the top of something else.

Snap to wall

Object must stay in/at the wall. This is valid for windows and door by now.

Link

File or webpage associated to this object. You can select a file with "..." button, and go to the target using the right most button (or with command in the object context menu). You can enter relative or absolute path.
Tip: if you select an image file for the Picture (Accessories library object), this image will replace default image in 3D view! However you have to distribute the image file together with the project (we recommend to use a relative path to image file). Note that Cosmo Player does not support JPEG images with EXIF.

ID

Any identification of the object. Can be catalogue or registration number.

Price

Enables you to give a value to the object which will be included in the Object Listing

User library

See User library chapter for details.

More...

Advanced

Enables you to apply a texture to all surfaces of an object which will be displayed in the 3D view.
The texture image is not tiled (repeated) and you will have to create a texture file the same dimension as the object in pixels if you want to maintain the original image format, otherwise it will be stretched to fit.
Tips: You have to distribute the image file together with the project (we recommend using a relative path to the image file). Note that Cosmo Player does not support JPEG images with EXIF.

If you only want a texture image on one side of a flat surface object, create Picture object (or Picture on the floor/ceiling) from Room Arranger Accessories library and select the texture file for the Link property.

Another way is to create a 1cm deep rectangle object with the same dimensions (x,y,z) as the area you wish to cover and apply the texture to that. Position this new object against the surface to be covered (do not overlap or you will get an interference pattern in the 3D view)

3D rotation is available only for rectangles and ellipses now.

Emission If the object is too dark in the 3D view, you can increase its brightness here. [default: 0]

Transparency Transparency of the object in the 3D view. 0% means opaque object, 100% is completely transparent (invisible) object.

3D Shape Thumbnail Definition of the image with the 3D thumbnail of the object. It has sense only for objects in the user library. You need to select the PNG file with thumbnails (there can be more thumbnails in one image) and index inside it. Thumbnails must have size 56x56. If you leave the filename empty, standard library thumbnails file is used. For example, see webselection library, available on the program webpage.

VRML Prototype Manual way how to include 3D objects created in applications like Autocad, 3D Studio, ... The object must be stored in WRL file and must be enclosed in a PROTO node. The size of the 3D model is set below as Width x Lenght x Height in metres. See the program webpage for an example.

[Table of Contents]

LABEL PROPERTIES

Position

Position in the project.

Rotation

Rotation in degrees. You can adjust the rotation using the helper beside it and if you hold Shift key, the rotation will change in 45 degrees multiples.

Alignment

Text alignment.

Font

Select label font.

Colors

Various colors. If you uncheck them, appropriate part of the object becomes invisible.

Text

Text, can have multiple lines.

[Table of Contents]

OBJECT LISTING

Displays the list of all objects in the project, but only from the visible layers. The default columns include the dimensions, location and price (if allocated) of each object. Check Group By Type to group similar objects in the list (this is not the same as grouping objects in the design).

Right click on an object to
- Change its properties including the price or delete it
- Select objects with the same color
- Lock the object
- Group or Ungroup the object with other objects
- Copy the entire listing to the clipboard and paste it into a text editor or spreadsheet using the Export Options.
- Add or remove columns from the list

See also: Layers, Object Properties

[Table of Contents]

EXPLORE IN 3D - SETUP

Menu: View->Explore in 3D Setup...

List of Viewpoints

You can define a path in your project and then let others to go through your virtual apartment on this predefined way. But if you don't want to, you don't have to bother with it and have only the initial viewpoint (Start) defined.

• Use Plus toolbar button to add new viewpoint, or add them directly from 3D Viewer.
• Right-click to change viewpoint properties.
• Viewpoint order is adjusted in the list.

Include top views

Add also standard viewpoints from the top. [default: on]

Walls transparency

Select if you want to see the walls. [default: solid]

Zoom

Zoom level of the virtual world. 200% means that 1 cm in the project will be 2 cm in the virtual reality. [default: 100%]

Look from height

Distance between the floor and eyes. [default: 160 cm]

[Table of Contents]

PRINT

Menu: Project->Print

Printer

Name of the selected printer.

Setup

Select the printer, paper orientation, print quality...

Print method

Vector method creates drawings in highest possible quality. It allows you to print the project over more pages. Bitmapped method is here only if vector method fails.

Print over more pages

If you check this option, you will be able to print one project over more pages (e.g. 3 x 2 A4 papers) in certain scale.

Maximize to single page

The drawing will be as large as possible according to the paper size and the presence of additional texts.

Scale

Print project in certain scale, i.e. 1:50 means 1 cm on the paper is 50 cm in reality. The highest possible scale for printing on single page is shown next to it.

Page border

Free space on the paper. [default: 1.5 cm]

Center horizontally, vertically

Position of the output on the page(s).

Print range

Select which pages should be printed when printing over more pages. Pages are numbered in rows.

Print in color

Print in color or only in gray scale. [default: on]

Insert crop marks

Prints marks for easier cutting the page borders when printing over more pages.

Title

Check it if you want to print some big caption above the image.

Draw scale

Check it if you want to print scale under the image.

Note 1, Note 2

Check it if you want to print some additional information using smaller font under the image. The project dimensions are filled to the Note 1 if it is set in Options.

Tip 2: if you use inches, the bitmap image may have too low resolution when printing in 100% zoom. Uncheck the option Export in 100% zoom in program Options, zoom in and print.

See also: Saving Into File, Printing And Export, Options

Print does not work after 30 days when you are still unregistered.

[Table of Contents]

EXPORT TO WEB PAGE

Menu: Project->Export->Web Page with 3D

Title, Subtitle

Texts at the top of the page.

Include 2D image

Check this if you want to have 2D image (floor plan) on the page.

Width, Height

Size of the image, keeps the aspect ratio of the project size (including space around it).

Label

The text under the 2D image.

Include 3D scene

Check this if you want to have 3D scene on the page. The viewpoints are defined in Explore in 3D setup.

"No VRML plugin" warning

As you know, 3D views are created using VRML technology and you need to have some VRML viewer installed on your computer. Something like this can be written on the exported page.

Width, Height

Size of the box with 3D scene.

Label

The text under the 3D box.

Page Font and Color

The font used for texts on the page. All colors are coded as hexadecimal RGB values.

Output

Select the target directory. The program will save there up to 4 files - the web page (index.html), the 2D image (Image2D.png), the 3D scene (Image3D.wrl) and the object library (library.wrl). If you want to publish the page anywhere, be sure to copy all those files. And if you will mention there that you used Room Arranger to create the page, it will be great!

Reset to Defaults

Fills default values to all controls.

See also: Saving Into File, Printing And Export, Explore in 3D, Explore in 3D - Setup

Export does not work after 30 days when you are still unregistered.

[Table of Contents]

MERGE PROJECTS

Menu: Project->Merge Projects

Current Project - Shift

Position of current project, drawn with black color in preview.

Merge With - Browse

Load the project (the file) you would like to add to current project.

Merge With - Shift

Position of loaded project, drawn with red color in preview.

Create new floor

Loaded project will be added as the new floor.

10 small buttons at the bottom

These buttons will set the shift of both current and loaded project as marked on them. The first 5 buttons set x coordinate, while remaining 5 buttons work only with y coordinate.
Note: wall thickness is not taken into account in these actions. Please adjust relevant coordinates in order to overlap connecting walls.

[Table of Contents]

TRANSFORMATIONS

Menu: Project->Transformations

Convert Units - From, To

If you select both units (from/to) and press Do it button, the entire drawing will be converted to result unit. It means that not only the unit name will be changed (see Project Properties) but also all numbers (dimensions and positions of all objects and walls) will be multiplied by certain coefficient.

Shift - x, y

Given numbers will be added to positions of all objects and walls.

Flip

Flip will mirror the project vertically (up/down), Mirror horizontally (left/right).

Scale

Dimensions and positions of all objects and walls will be multiplied by given number.

Rotation

The entire project will be rotated including all objects in it. The number has to be 90 degrees multiple.
Note: you will probably have to reposition the windows.

[Table of Contents]

OPTIONS

Menu: Configure->Options

Default unit name

Unit used for new projects. [default: cm]

Start program with the last opened project

If checked, the program will automatically open the most recent project you worked on. Else the blank room is created on startup. [default: on]

Auto-size window to fit

Change the main window size according to the size of the project and zoom factor. [default: on]

Open files in best fit

Start with the zoom in which the whole project can be shown. [default: on]

Can move objects without selection

If unchecked, first you have to click on the object in order to select it, then release the mouse button and then you can move it. [default: on]

Show layer name in object quick info

You can see the layer name in which the object belongs in the window that will appear if you fix the cursor on it. [default: on]

Show caption for new objects from user library

Set if new objects from user library should be created with the caption. [default: off]

Start new projects with wizard

Determines whether to show New Project Wizard or just Project Properties for new projects. [default: on]

Use integrated calculator

Calculator button automatically appears next to edit controls. [default: on]

Antosave

Use automatic project backuping and recovery in case of program crash. [default: on, 5 minutes]

Check for new version

Let Room Arranger to check the existence of new program versions. [default: on, 14 days]

Export always in 100% zoom

Use 100% zoom when Saving as an image and printing. This image can be very large and maybe won't fit in the computer memory. In that case uncheck this option. [default: on]

Add text with project dimensions

Draw text with project dimensions on the bottom left part on the image file or into the Note 1 when printing. [default: on]

Default object colors

Initial colors of the new object. And the default type of line ends for measurement line. Also the default caption font can be set here [default: Tahoma 8pt and Tahoma 12pt for printing]

[Table of Contents]

ADDITIONAL OBJECT LIBRARIES

Menu: Configure->Additional Libraries

You can share your user libraries with other people in your company or you can give it to anybody else over the world. Export is one option, but you can also provide the complete library.

To create this library, just copy your current User library file UserLib.ral (usually in C:\Program files\Room Arranger\UserLib.ral) to the new file with RAL extension (for example C:\Lib\BJ's Objects.ral), which is to be distributed. This new file contains all objects and library pages in your user library.

If you received new library in form of RAL file, you have two options. You can either copy it to the Room Arranger install directory (for example C:\Program files\Room Arranger\BJ's Objects.ral). In this case it will be loaded automatically after new start of Room Arranger. Or, if you want to leave the library in other directory (shared with other people in you local network), you have to specify it in the Additional Object Libraries window.

To edit the library, you have to exit Room Arranger and rename the library file to UserLib.ral (and possibly backup the old one) and start Room Arranger again.

+

Adds new external object library file.

-

Removes selected file.

Arrow buttons

Change the order of the libraries.

[Table of Contents]

IMPORT OBJECT LISTING

Menu: Project->Import->Object Listing

This command can be used for quick creation of large set of objects to the project or user library. The idea is to prepare the table with dimensions, names and other information in the Excel, save it to TXT file and import it in Room Arranger.

Source

Source file, TXT or CSV, ideally with values separated by Tab.

Separator

Separator used in the source file. Tab is considered as a separator by default.

Column Headings

Check if the first line on the file contains column captions. This line has to be skipped before importing.

Unit name

Unit of the values stored in the source file.

Assign attributes

List box is filled with the values from the first line of the source file. You have to select the meaning for each value (column) using the combo-box control on the right. Select -ignore- to skip this column.

Output to

Select if you want to store imported objects to the current project or to User library.

[Table of Contents]

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

LBtn = left mouse button, RBtn = right mouse button

Actions with Objects Key Action MouseWheel Scroll up / Scroll down Shift+Wheel Scroll left / Scroll right Ctrl+Wheel Zoom in / Zoom out at mouse cursor MouseWheel click Start scrolling RBtn Show pop-up context menu for object, project or wall LBtn Select object PageDown Select next object (order defined in Object Listing) PageUp Select previous object (order defined in Object Listing) Shift+LBtn Add object to selection / Remove object from selection Ctrl+LBtn drag Add objects fully inside the selection rectangle Ctrl+A Select all objects Ctrl+D Deselect (Clear selection) Alt+Enter, F4 Edit properties of selected objects Delete Remove selected objects LBtn drag Move selected objects / Select objects intersecting rectangle Shift+LBtn drag Move selected objects only horizontally or only vertically Arrow keys Move selected objects 1 project unit Shift+Arrow keys Move selected objects 5 project units Ctrl+Arrow keys Move selected objects 1 view pixel at current zoom Ctrl+Shift+Arrows Move selected objects 5 view pixels at current zoom Alt+Arrow keys Align objects' top, left, ... borders Shift+D Duplicate selected objects Ctrl+G Group selected objects (create new object) Ctrl+L Rotate selected objects left 90 degrees Ctrl+R Rotate selected objects right 90 degrees H Start creating new line M Start measuring Wall Editor Key Action Ctrl+Enter Accept changes and close editor A Pointing tool W Start creating new wall E Start creating new wall polygon 3DConnexion Devices (Space Pilot) Key Action Fit Zoom to best-fit T, L, R, F Start/Switch between sides in Side editor

Menu Commands Key Action F1 Open help F2 Go to Start Page F3 Search within library objects F5 3D viewer Ctrl+N New project Ctrl+O Open project Ctrl+J Browse projects Ctrl+S Save project F12 Save project to different file Ctrl+P Print Ctrl+T Project properties Ctrl+Z Undo last action Ctrl+Y Redo undone action Ctrl+C Copy selected objects to clipboard Ctrl+X Cut selected objects to clipboard Ctrl+V Paste objects from clipboard Ctrl+K Edit selected objects from side Ctrl+E Add label Ctrl+M Add dimension line Ctrl+H Add line / Zoom 100% (as defined in Project Properties) * Zoom to best-fit + Zoom in - Zoom out F8 Start wall editor F7 Show Rooms in the Project window Ctrl+PageUp Go up one floor in multi-floor project Ctrl+PageDown Go down one floor in multi-floor project Ctrl+W Explore in 3D - Setup L Define / Switch off local coordinates Ctrl+B Toggle library window Ctrl+I Toggle layers window F9 Toggle object listing window F11 Toggle alignment palette

[Table of Contents]

LOCALIZATION

Since version 1.11, the program is distributed also in other language variations, not only in Czech. Translations are provided by normal people (like you) who find this program useful and they want to support it.

If you want to join them and help with the translation into some non-translated language, contact us using e-mail rooarr@seznam.cz. You will have to translate only one text file (all translations are in the Language directory) and insert the correct constant into the LanguageID line (I will provide it). Just keep the same sense, the rest is up to you. Conversion of this help file is optional and not recommended.

Detailed instructions:

1. Before you start translating, always check the website to check if somebody else has not already done it! Download the latest version. We will gladly answer any your e-mail questions.
2. Look into the installation directory with the languages (typically C:\Program Files\Room Arranger\Language) at the existing translations using a simple text editor (Notepad, TextPad, UltraEdit...) and find the language closest to you, preferably English - i.e. file arr_en.lng. Create a copy of this file with the name derived from the new language name (i.e. arr_de.lng for German).
3. In that new file, translate all strings after ItemN=, change the language name on the top of the file and write any other number in LanguageID (we'll change or send you (if you want) the correct constant for your language). Please note that words after # character serve only as a hint for you to find the proper form of the words before this character. You can remove this comment (including #) after use.
4. Start the program and choose your new language. Go through all dialog windows, check the accuracy and see if all texts fit in the space dedicated to them. If not, try to use another phrase or abbreviation. When editing the language file with program running, you must reselect the language in the configurations or restart program to apply changes.
5. Send us your product; we are looking forward to it!
6. When working on newer versions of the program, you will have to translate about 30 new clearly marked items every time.

[Table of Contents]