The Ten Commandments of Platinum 8

"...neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" (Revelation 21:4-5 KJV)

I.
 Genealogy - Platinum 8 is supposed to be an update of Platinum 4.5.1 to the 8.0 compatibility level; however, more realistically, it is AS4000 losing a few features that came about in AS18, AS3000 and Master Pro, and minus some of the post-4.5.1 PowerTools. This means that while Platinum 8 has the PowerTool enablement and the new AS4000 custom features capabilities built in, it does not have the PowerTools to create new custom fences, doors, windows, trim, materials and the other items that AS4000 has. This is not too bad a deal though, as presumably you'll be able to buy those PowerTools you need at the Punch! online store (see Article IV below), and even without them, Punch! has included a lot of the most important types of custom items (like double doors, and flexible triangular windows) as custom samples.
 
After Platinum was brought up to version 8, then so too were Master Landscape Pro and AS18. They have the same features as Platinum 8 plus whatever features were introduced in their patronymic ancestor. In Article II below, a note of [MLP] or [AS18] indicates that the feauture that was left out of Platinum is included with the indicated product.
II.
 Features out - AS4000 features left out of Platinum 8:
  • No AS4000 wall accessory objects (though the accessory textures are there!)
  • Missing dimensions features [AS18, MLP]:
    • Offset dimensions
    • Diameter dimension
    • Dimension leaders
  • The snap tools and the associated toolbar [AS18, MLP]
  • Limited Detail tab features: no line thickness, fill or line type options [AS18, MLP]
  • PowerTools not included:
    • AS18:
      • Layout Manager [AS18, MLP]
    • AS3000:
      • Animator [MLP]
      • Fireplace Wizard [MLP]
      • Photoview Editor [MLP]
    • Master Landscape Pro (MLP):
      • Site Planner [MLP]
      • Plant Editor [MLP]
    • AS4000:
      • Window/door/fence/trim Designers
      • Section Detailer
      • Symbol Editor
      • Materials Workshop
  • The helicopter pivot point is not movable [AS18, MLP]
  • Missing precision helicopter and walk-through modes [MLP]
Note that all these are missing because they are deemed features of versions released after the original Punch! version, which this is notionally an update of. They are not left out accidentally. However, the User's Guide seems to have been copied more or less verbatim from the AS4000 User Guide, and a number of the missing items (like the snaps, dimensions and the PhotoView Editor) are explained in the manual - that is an error (or a gaggle of them), and is really, understandably frustrating for users.
III.
 Features in - Some of the "new" features in Platinum 8:
  • PowerTool enabled!!
  • AS18's shape conversion methods
  • AS3000's properties menu, with PowerTools, Objects, Colors, Plants, Textures, Trims and Templates tabs
  • AS3000's lighting features
  • AS3000's plan templates
  • AS4000's improved PlantFinder
  • AS4000's sun and shadows features
  • Infrastructure, including organizers but not PowerTools, for AS4000 custom features (doors, windows, fences, trim, materials)
  • PowerTools:
    • AS18:
      • Elevation Editor
      • Custom 3D Workshop
      • Framing Editor
      • Estimator
      • Cabinet Wizard
      • Real Model
      • Enhanced DXF Import/Export
      • PhotoView
    • Master Pro:
      • Deck Designer
    • AS3000:
      • Topographical Designer
      • Roofing Wizard
    • Other:
      • Materials Painter (see article V below)
[And other PowerTools for MLP and AS18 version 8.]
IV.
 Gettiong the PowerTools - At the moment (February 2005), there is a problem on Punch!'s online store which prevents Platinum 8 owners from buying PowerTools. (This has been reported as fixed by MAy 1, 2005.) It is expected that this problem will be soon overcome, as TKE's PowerTools are fully compatible with Platinum 8 and should be available for purchase, no doubt soon to be followed by most, if not all, of Punch!'s PowerTools, and those of other vendors as well.
V.
 The materials Painter - In lieu of the Materials Workshop, Platinum8 has the Materials Painter. This is a PowerTool derived from the capability in the older Platinum and forward called Texture Builder, which allowed the user to modify one of the existing Punch! textures and change its tinting and relative size horizontally and vertically. The Materials Painter similarly allows the user to tint an existing Punch! texture, but not change the relative size. The full-blown Materials Workshop in AS4000 allows for creating completely new textures from photo images. However, note that the Custom Materials Library and organizer is in place, so if one can create the texture files, and manipulate the appropriate .ini file, custom textures can be placed and used.

See? Short!

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This page last updated on Mon Nov 28 2005
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are trademarks of Punch! Software L.L.C.