Tip: The following steps assume you have created a one block building. Refer to Creating a One-Block Building for further information.
Note: The multi-block building in this Getting Started Guide is located at 200-298 Lomas Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Click on one of the starting aerial images (such as image 1). The aerial image appears in the Editor window with your building at the center.
- Evaluate the different shapes that compose your building. For example, the following building could consist of fiveblocks:
- One large square block for the bottom portion of the building
- Two smaller blocks to represent the drive-through tellers
- One block for the upper portion of the building
- A small block on the roof
- Click on a Block Bar (
) button that creates a block whose shape best represents your building. For example, click the Box button (
)to create a box block. The block appears near the aerial image of the building. - Position the block. Refer to Creating a One-Block Building (Step 2) for further information.
- Adjust the block. Refer to Creating a One-Block Building (Step 3) for further information.
- Position and adjust the block in at least one image per side of the building plus one image for the roof. The following shows the building with one block constrained:
- Click on the block that you just positioned. The block is selected.
- Click on the Position Bar button that represents the position for the next block. For example, click the "Place new block inline with selected" button to insert the next block at the same starting height as the first block. The following image shows the Position Bar:
- Click on a block button to create a second block, such as a box block. The next block appears relative to the first block (depending on the button pressed on the Position Bar).
- Position the second block. The second block's points will snap to the first block's lines or points when shapping is on (
) and you are positioning the block (snapping is off by default). Refer to Snapping Points to Other Points or Lines for further information. If you have trouble positioning the second block: - Press Ctrl+Z (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Z (Mac OS X) to undo the previous change while working in the Editor. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Y (Microsoft Windows) or Shift+Command+Z (Mac OS X) to redo a previously undone change.
- Move the cursor over the second block and Context-click (click the right-mouse button) to display a context menu for the block at any time. The context menu allows you to:
- Unconstrain a point or all points in a block so you can reposition the points.
- Disconnect a point that has snapped to a line or point on another block so you can try repositioning the points.
- Click in the "Viewer" link to look at the building in the Google Earth viewer to get a better understanding of block positions. The message "loading textured preview..." displays.
- Click on the block that you just positioned. The first block is selected.
- Click on the Position Bar button that represents the position for the next block. For example, click the "Place new block inline with selected" button to insert the third block at the same starting height as the first two blocks.
- Click on a block button to create third block, such as a box block. The next block appears relative to the first block.
- Position the third block. The following image shows the building with three blocks constrained:
- Repeat steps 10-13 for the remaining blocks. The following image shows the building with all blocks constrained:
Tip: It is often easier to create buildings from the ground up.
Tip: Press the > key to rotate a block 90 degrees.
Warning: Working on a 2 dimensions screen with multiple 3 dimensional wire-frame blocks can yield optical illusions whereby it appears that blocks are either above or below other blocks when they are not. Building Maker has position buttons used to constrain blocks at a specific height relative to the selected (or previous) block. So, no matter how you modify a roof block, as long as it was inserted using the "Place new block above selected" button, for example, it will always appear above the previous block in the final 3D building (even if it looks as though the block is arranged differently).
Warning: A block will appear at an unconstrained height if you do not select a position from the Position Bar prior to inserting the block.
The following image shows the building with two blocks constrained:
The following image shows the building with two blocks in the Viewer:
The following image shows the building with three blocks in the Viewer:
The following image shows the building with all blocks in the Viewer:
