There are often many ways to do a job. From a practical viewpoint, one way of analyzing the tools or methods to determine the best one to use is to examine them along a set of values that range from extreme flexibility at one end to extreme ease-of-use at the other. A easy to use method is one where the tool fits the job extremely well, and virtually the only control is an on-off button. There is little or no training involved in using such a tool; it was created to do the job. Where such a tool lacks is when it is so specialized that it cannot be used when the problem is slightly different, because it no longer fits.
A flexible tool, on the other hand, will do many different jobs. Such a tool is invaluable when there are lots of jobs to do, or the nature of tomorrow's task won't be known until tomorrow. Unfortunately, they are often difficult to use; the training may be involved, and the user to some extent must know how the tool works in order to adjust it and use it.
In Punch!, the last word in flexibility is the 3D Workshop. When you can't build what you want to from chunks of flooring, roofing or walls, the 3D workshop is there for you. Need a funny shaped piece of mask so a wall can be colored in a fancy way? The 3D Workshop can do that. It should be noted that it is also specialized as well, being well-disposed to create many of the common accouterments of modern living, but it has its limitations - just try using it to create an animal or human figure, or even a common boulder. However, in Punch!, and in the hands of a person who has learned to use it and with some artistic ability as well, the 3D Workshop is an excellent tool.
The Exterior Decorator aims at the other end of the spectrum. It targets a few simple objects from the huge range of possibilities the 3D Workshop can perform, and makes them very simple to produce. No drawing ability required - just specify a few parameters, and the object will be produced.
The Exterior Decorator targets six basic forms for creating: arches, beams, columns, corner pieces, sheets and rake fascia. These are made as flexible as possible within their class (for instance, the arch can include flat lintels), and all are prepared with an architectural use in mind, but the basic designs are so basic that there are no doubt a lot of uses these objects can be put to in order to perform common tasks. If and when it becomes apparent that the list of possibilities should increase, later updates to Exterior Decorator will do that.
Exterior Decorator and the contents of this help file are
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