The best thing to do is watch the video for a general idea, and refer back to this page for more details.

(the meshes are here)

Getting Started

To start.

• Install java
• Run this (mirror) file (double click on it in windows), wait for the app to download, and give it permission to run. It runs some native code, and writes a single config file to your home dir.
• When the following pops up, uncheck "full screen", then click okay (choose whatever resolution you like). stuck in fullscreen?

• There are lots of bugs, report them here.

3D Window Controls

(designed for nice demo videos, rather than being useful)

Space - stop/start spinning Q,Z - zoom W,S - tilt A,D - pan (T - show mesh) (L - lighting toggle)

2D Mouse Window Controls

Note: a 3 buttoned mouse is needed for most editing operations just now. Sorry.

Left - select, drag corners, & anchors. Double click on anchors for additional options. Control + Left click add stuff - click on a blank space to add a plan/global offset, or a line to add a point. Shift + Left click - delete points, delete all the points to remove a plan Right drag - move view Wheel - zoom view The Alt key will change the behavour of the corner-dragging - in plan mode it snaps to grid (if active), and profile mode it moves all points above the selected point as well.

2D Interface Introduction

The left window is the plan view. The right window is the profile view. Select an edge in the plan by clicking on it, in the left window. Selecting the "updates" button will update the 3D every time you change something. This can get slow. The go button just creates the 3D for the current design. After selecting an edge, assign a profile to it from the combo box above the profile window. Create a new profile using the new profile button. The plans must not self-intersect ("don't cross the beams"), or be inside out (or you'll get inside out buildings). Courtyards/holes in footprints must be defined in the opposite diretiction. If you add a new plan inside an existing shape, it should reverse the loop for you, but no guarantees.

Edit the profiles in a similar way to the plans, note that they can only move upwards, or horizontally (the "monotone restriction"). To get around this, double-clicking in a profile will add a global event (overhanging roof).

You can download a zip files of meshes.