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Creating Objects
There are many ways to create an object. As indicated elsewhere in this documentation, an object need not be something you can touch and feel (i.e. some built-matter) In TAD, one is able to work with spaces too. In fact, one can even insert pseudo-objects or objects that have no architectural meaning but are mere place holders (e.g. the viewpoint from where to look at the 3D scene, light locations, etc)
Objects may be 2D or 3D.
However; one always first creates a shape in plan on some reference plane (often the ground itself) and then extrude that shape later to get the 3D volume you want. In TAD 2D and 3D shapes co-exist. Of course, when you invoke the 3D Draft view command, only the 3D volumes would be visible.
Shapes from the web
From version 6.7.7.0 onwards, TAD now has the capability to import all kinds of shapes from the system clipboard. Once you invoke the creation floating dialog; you would see a largish TAD Shapes button. Click on that, and the browser on your computer would open to a website where you can sketch out TAD shapes
In future; more such websites would crop up at multiple locations. You can list out those URLs in a text file called tadshapeurls.txt It is in the same folder where you installed the main executable of TAD. Simply add to that list, as you find more websites that can yield TAD Shapes. We have created one here https://tad.in.net/goodies/tadsketcher0.5.html
The instructions for using that TAD Sketcher is available. Other developers can make similar utilities and you can use them to create shapes and insert those shapes into TAD
IMPORTANT difference between TAD and CAD
In CAD softwares; an architect would lovingly create the shape in the manner the architect wants; as he inserts that shape into the CAD environment. TAD does not work like that. TAD wants you to first create some shape or the other so that you can quickly get to other aspects of your design. You can lovingly edit all shapes later on; to get it to be the way you wanted in your mind. This is a paradigm shift. TAD, initially seems more non-visual and conceptual. We believes it frees your mind and asks your mind to think about other logic of your design; other than the visual.
The Create menu will bring up a tabbed dialog; from where you can create the starting shapes for the objects in many different ways. Once you become an expert; you can also use the Headsup Command Line to directly create shapes.
... more (this page will be edited soon)
Press F1 inside the application to read context-sensitive help directly in the application itself
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