Turbo Cad 21 Platinum Pro. 2 D Subtract

I am trying to teach myself how to use this software but am encountering a few problems. So far I have waded through the training guide without the Help Facility which does not want to load for whatever reason.

I have got to an excecise where I am trying to subtract a 2d closed object from another 2 D object prior to extruding it into a 3d solid, however, whenever I try to select the oblong I get the massage

"Selected objects are not valid for the operation". I have been trying for hours and am getting nowhere. Can anybody tell me why? or better still =how do I get offline help to work?

Hi Bob,

Make sure you are clicking the object you want to subtract from first.

Also, be sure they are exactly in the same plan, unless you drew them one after the other in th same plane without changing view, this may not be so.

Offline help should open the manual in Acrobat.

Neil

Hi Neil,

unfortunately I am at work offshore and the internet connection is useless. I can connect via my "Works" PC but not via my laptop so I can't open the help section.

I am certain that I have drawn both entities on the same plane at the same time. If I can be bothered again today I will try again. Thanks for the help.

Bob.

Hi Bob,

I'm also using V21 PP. The first time I use Help it gives me the option of Online or Offline (with Online pre-selected). I've found that if it gets into the state of Online, then I can't find an option for Offline, unless I close and re-open the drawing.

I suspect that your error message is the result of using 2D shapes that are not closed. A shape can appear to have no gaps in its border, but still not be closed in the TCAD sense - it will appear to TCAD to be a series of lines/polyline/arcs etc. Use the Join Polyline tool to join them together (if you can't find its icon, look in the Modify pulldown).

Another little gotcher is when the shapes are closed but are on different workplanes. This is a strange feecher of TCAD where entities appear to be co-planar to the workplane but TCAD insists they are not. If this happens (and it can even happen when you are working entirely in 2D mode), switch to 3D mode, select the entities, then use Modify|Place on Workplane. You can then switch back to 2D if you like, but I normally keep in 3D mode.

> Modify|Place on Workplane

Useful tip, thanks Gary.

Neil

Hi Gary,

that would make sense. I am familiar with AutoCad LT and know from experience that if you try to hatch something, unless it is a totally closed area you get some wierd results. I will give this a try and report back.

Bob

Hi Gary,

success! I wished I had thought of the Join Polyline function. At least the steam won't be coming out of my lugs when I try the next exercise in the tutorial.

Thanks,

Bob