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  • Resetting Vectorworks Preferences


    PVA - Admin

    While troubleshooting Vectorworks issues, oftentimes you may be instructed to "Reset your Preferences." This procedure is a faster way of restoring Vectorworks back to its default settings, without having to reinstall the software entirely. 

    It is sometimes the case that if resetting preferences does not resolve the issue, a reinstall may be required, but this approach is much less invasive and recommended as a first-shot troubleshooting step. These steps will also reset your Vectorworks serial number without needing to first open the software and change it from within the Vectorworks Preferences > Session tab.
     
    Throughout this article, you may see "Vectorworks 20XX" or "Vectorworks XX", these indicate that the folder or file has a version-specific name, so if you have Vectorworks 2023, you would perform the action on the "2023" folder/file mentioned as "20XX"
     
    This process will remove your serial number, so be sure to have it available when performing a preference reset so that you can enter it after launching Vectorworks again. You should also CLOSE Vectorworks before performing these steps, and if your serial number begins with an "E", make sure you have internet access at the time of reset. To maintain a copy of your preferences, follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS

    Resetting Preferences works the same across all versions of Vectorworks since Vectorworks 2009. However, each operating system requires a different set of steps to perform the reset. Select your operating system below to see the appropriate steps:
     
    Mac OS X 10.7 / OS X 10.8 / OS X 10.9 / OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) / OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) / OS 10.12 (Sierra) / OS 10.13 (High Sierra) / OS 10.14 (Mojave) / OS 10.15 (Catalina) / OS 11 (Big Sur) / OS 12 (Monterey) / OS 13 (Ventura)
     
    NOTE: On the macOS versions listed above, the Library folder for your User account is hidden. The easiest way to display it is to open Finder, then hold down the alt/option key on your keyboard while clicking "Go" from the menu bar, then selecting "Library" 
     
    The preferences, plant database, workspaces (etc.) are in the HD > Users > (User's Home Folder) > Library > Application Support > Vectorworks > 20XX folder. 
     
    Before continuing, close Vectorworks completely.
     
    1.    Go to: 'HD > Users > (User's Home Folder) > Library > Preferences' and throw away the files: 
    •    net.nemetschek.vectorworks20XX.plist 
    •    net.nemetschek.vectorworks.license.20XX.plist
     
    2. Go to: 'HD > Library > Preferences' and throw away the net.nemetschek.vectorworks20XX.plist file
     
    3. Go to: 'HD > Users > (User's Home Folder) > Library > Application Support > Vectorworks' and rename the 20XX folder to 20XXold

    NOTE: by renaming the folder, we are maintaining the original folder as a backup in case we need any files that are stored in that location.
     
    4. Empty the trash, then reboot your computer. If the trash will not empty because a file is in use, reboot before emptying it again.
     
     
    Windows 10 / Windows 11:
     
    Before continuing, close Vectorworks completely.
     
    1. In the Taskbar, type ‘regedit’ in the Search box and press Enter.
     
    2. On the left-hand side of the “Registry Editor” window you will see a few small icons that look like folders with tiny grey arrows next to them, you should see one folder labelled: ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER’ 
     
    3. Expand this folder by clicking the small arrow to the left of it. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the small arrow and expand it as well. 
     
    4. Scroll down until you see the ‘Nemetschek’ folder. Inside you will see a 'Vectorworks XX' folder. Right-click on the 'Vectorworks XX' folder and select Delete. Scroll down through the window until you see a ‘Vectorworks’ folder. Right-click on the Vectorworks folder and select Delete. 
     
    5. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders. 
     
    6. Next click on the arrow to the left of the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’ folder. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the arrow and expand it as well. Scroll down through the window until you see a 'Nemetschek' folder right click on this folder and Delete it. NOTE: If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you may need to also delete the "Vectorworks XX" folder from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Nemetschek as well. 
     
    7. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders and close the Registry editor.
     
    8. Right click on the bottom left of your desktop and choose File Explorer from the menu.
     
    9. Go to: "C: > Users > YourUsername > AppData > Roaming > Nemetschek" folder and rename the 20XX folder to 20XXold

    Note: by renaming the folder, we are maintaining the original folder as a backup in case we need any files that are stored in that location.
     
    Important: The AppData folder may be hidden, so you will need to click on the View menu in the File Explorer window and enable "Show hidden Files" in the View Ribbon.
     
     
    Older operating systems:
     
    Mac OS X 10.4 / OS X 10.5 / OS X 10.6
     
    The preferences, plant database, workspaces (etc.) are in the HD > Users > (User's Home Folder) > Library > Application Support > Vectorworks > 20XX folder. 
     
    Before continuing, close Vectorworks completely.
     
    1.    Go to: 'HD > Users > (User's Home Folder) > Library > Preferences' and throw away the files: 
    •    net.nemetschek.vectorworks20XX.plist 
    •    net.nemetschek.vectorworks.license.20XX.plist
     
    2. Go to: 'HD > Library > Preferences' and throw away the net.nemetschek.vectorworks20XX.plist file
     
    3. Go to: 'HD > Users > (User's Home Folder) > Library > Application Support > Vectorworks' and rename the 20XX folder to 20XXold

    Note: by renaming the folder, we are maintaining the original folder as a backup in case we need any files that are stored in that location.
     
    Windows 8:
     
    Before continuing, close Vectorworks completely.
     
    1. Right-click on the bottom left of your desktop, and a menu will appear.
     
    2. Click Run, then type in “ regedit ” (without "s) and press enter. 
     
    3. On the left-hand side of the “Registry Editor” window, you will see a few small icons that look like folders with tiny grey arrows next to them. You should see one folder labelled: ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER’ 
     
    4. Expand this folder by clicking the small arrow to the left of it. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the small arrow and expand it as well. 
     
    5. Scroll down until you see the ‘Nemetschek’ folder, inside you will see a 'Vectorworks XX' folder. Right-click on the 'Vectorworks XX' folder and select Delete. Scroll down through the window until you see a ‘Vectorworks’ folder. Right-click on the Vectorworks folder and select Delete. 
     
    6. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders. 
     
    7. Next click on the arrow to the left of the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’ folder. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the arrow and expand it as well. Scroll down through the window until you see a 'Nemetschek' folder right click on this folder and delete it. 

    Note: If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you may need to also delete the "Vectorworks XX" folder from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Nemetschek as well. 
     
    8. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders and close the Registry editor.
     
    9. Right-click on the bottom left of your desktop and choose File Explorer from the menu.
     
    10. Go to: "C: > Users > YourUsername > AppData > Roaming > Nemetschek" folder and rename the 20XX folder to 20XXold
     
    Note: by renaming the folder, we are maintaining the original folder as a backup in case we need any files that are stored in that location.
     
    Important: The AppData folder may be hidden, so you will need to click on the View menu in the File Explorer window and enable "Show Hidden Files" in the View Ribbon.
     
    Windows Vista / Windows 7:
     
    Before continuing, close Vectorworks completely.
     
    1. Click on the “Windows” button (AKA the Start Button or the “Pearl”)
     
    2. There will be a small data entry field at the bottom of this menu, right above the button, this is the combines Search and Run window, type in “RegEdit” (without "s) and press enter. 
     
    3. On the left-hand side of the “Registry Editor” window, you will see a few small icons that look like folders with tiny grey arrows next to them. You should see one folder labelled: ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER’ 
     
    4. Expand this folder by clicking the small arrow to the left of it. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the small arrow and expand it as well. 
     
    5. Scroll down until you see the ‘Nemetschek’ folder, inside you will see a 'Vectorworks XX' folder. Rename the 'Vectorworks XX' folder to 'Vectorworks XXold'. Scroll down through the window until you see a ‘Vectorworks’ folder. Right click on the Vectorworks folder and select Delete. 
     
    6. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders. 
     
    7. Next click on the arrow to the left of the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’ folder. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the arrow and expand it as well. Scroll down through the window until you see a 'Nemetschek' folder right click on this folder and delete it. NOTE: If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you may need to also delete the "Vectorworks XX" folder from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Nemetschek as well. 
     
    8. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders and close the Registry editor.
     
    9. Go to: "C: > Users > YourUsername > AppData > Roaming > Nemetschek" folder and rename the 20XX folder to 20XXold
     
    Note: by renaming the folder, we are maintaining the original folder as a backup in case we need any files that are stored in that location.

    Important: The AppData folder may be hidden, so you will need to press "Alt" on your keyboard, then go to Tools > Folder options and enable "Show hidden Files" from that dialogue box.
     
     
    Windows XP:
     
    Before continuing, close Vectorworks completely.
     
    1. Click Start > Run and in the dialogue box that pops up, type "regedit" and click Ok. 
     
    2. On the left-hand side of the Registry Editor, you will see a few small icons that look like folders with + or – signs next to them, click all the – signs except the one next to ‘My Computer’, you should see one folder labelled: ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER’ 
     
    3. Expand this folder by clicking the + sign to the left of it. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the + sign and expand it as well. 
     
    4. Scroll down until you see the ‘Nemetschek’ folder, inside you will see a 'Vectorworks XX' folder. Rename the 'Vectorworks XX' folder to 'Vectorworks XXold'
     
    5. Scroll down through the window until you see a ‘Vectorworks’ folder. Right-click on the Vectorworks folder and select Delete. 
     
    6. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders. 
     
    7. Next click on the + sign to the left of the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’ folder. Inside you will see a ‘Software’ folder, click on the + sign and expand it as well. Scroll down through the window until you see a 'Nemetschek' folder, inside you will see a 'Vectorworks 18' folder, right click on this folder and delete it. Note there is not a 'VectorWorks' folder under this HKEY. 
     
    NOTE: If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you may need to also delete the "Vectorworks 18" folder from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Nemetschek as well. 
     
    8. Click on the Minus signs for the 'Software' and 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER' to collapse these folders. 
     
    9. Go to: 'My Computer > C:\\> Documents and Settings > (YourUsername) > Application Data > Nemetschek > Vectorworks > 20XX’ and rename the '20XX' folder to '20XXold'
     
    Note: by renaming the folder, we are maintaining the original folder as a backup in case we need any files that are stored in that location.
     
    Important: The AppData folder may be hidden, so you will need to go to Tools > Folder options and enable "Show Hidden Files" from that dialogue.

    • Like 4


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    User Feedback


    Jim,

    I am having a lot of long hangups in VW1018 SP6 in Mojave, so I am trying to reset preferences.

    The address: 

    HD/Users/Library/Application Support/Vectorworks/2018

    does not show any of the .plist files above.  What I see is in the attached file.

    Please give a more complete address.

    vw 2018 files.png

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    • Vectorworks, Inc Employee
    2 minutes ago, BenG said:

    Jim,

    I am having a lot of long hangups in VW1018 SP6 in Mojave, so I am trying to reset preferences.

    The address: 

    HD/Users/Library/Application Support/Vectorworks/2018

    does not show any of the .plist files above.  What I see is in the attached file.

    Please give a more complete address.

    vw 2018 files.png

     

    Thats only where the user folder is. The plist files are instead under: 

     

    HD > Users > (yourusername) > Library > Preferences

    and

    HD > Library > Preferences

    • Like 1
    Link to comment

    Oops!, Now it says “ can’t load Vision Files” everytime I start up.  It seems to run OK after I dismiss that notice. How do I get rid of that?

    Link to comment

    Contnuing problems with VW18 & Mojave.  I tried everything I could find on these forum sites.  Finally, I completely deleted and reloaded VW18.  Some problems disappeared, others remained.  The most annoying is the dimension tool.  I cannot create or modify a dimn without a 5 min beachball.  I can't even click on an exising dimn without the BB.

     

    Any ideas?

    Link to comment

    Update.  I repeated the instructions to delete all the .plist files and restarted.  The system hung on tranferring old (2017) setups and I had to force quit.  However, the dimensions now work.

    Link to comment
    On 7/4/2019 at 6:19 AM, BenG said:

    The system hung on tranferring old (2017) setups

     

    Hi Ben, I provide Tech Support for Vectorworks users in New Zealand.

     

    Based on what you've said above it seems you're migrating your settings etc from Vectorworks 2017. I believe your Vectorworks 2017 Workspaces are either corrupt or the migration process bringing them into your Vectorworks 2018 is corrupting them. Try the following:

    1. Quit Vectorworks 2018
    2. Delete or relocate the 'Workspaces' folder in your Vectorworks 2018 User Folder (Macintosh HD/Users/[your_username]/Library/Application Support/Vectorworks/2018)
    3. Reopen Vectorworks and test.

     

    This should address the remaining symptoms. If not, please contact your local distributor for further assistance. 

     

    Third-party plug-ins could be responsible for your issues too. They need to be updated by the developer to ensure compatibility with every new version of Vectorworks. If you have these you could just delete or relocate the entire Vectorworks 2018 User Folder instead of just the Workspaces folder and test that result. 

    Edited by Jeremy Best
    Amendment. More info.
    Link to comment

    This KB article needs updating as it is 3 years out of date.

     

    • The last Windows version listed is Windows 10: Current version of Windows as of November 2022 is Windows 11.
    • The last macOS version listed is 10.14: Current version as of November 2022 is macOS Version 13 ‘Ventura’
    Edited by rDesign
    • Like 1
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