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Rossford

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Everything posted by Rossford

  1. I typically want my proposed contour labels lined up as G Troyer suggests, and have seen other programs that do that. I also like my existing contours somewhere near the edge of the sheet/viewport and/or just outside edge of grading areas. Ex and Proposed should be different sizes. It does seem like VW could give us landmark users a few more options to treat contour labels as we wish, not just manually move them around and resized them, etc.
  2. There is a rotate tool in the basic tool set. Click it and you will see a purple protractor, pick the end you want to stay constant, rotate to where you want, and drag it around. If you click on the OIP of line A to copy the degrees of the angle, then click on b and paste it in, you will get an exact angle. To get a line angle, you need the circular icon in the OIP checked, not the square one. OT, but I guess I have never known what those are called? And yes, it works on groups and other shapes, too.
  3. Does the "Add Surface" command do that? Its just a polyline, so you might have to draw a poly, add surface, and then convert to site modifier?
  4. Eric said there will be a site modeling only webinar in October. I will be there! (well, here at my desk, but watching......)
  5. Just watched Eric Gilbey's one hour webinar (which he says will be posted either on the main site or Service Select) and there were a few more features in Landmark and even site modeling shown there, which I somehow missed at the summit, some of which I think will be quite useful, too.
  6. Talked to Vlad at the Summit and he confirmed the major changes to Site Model included better handling of those cut off swales (said they had numerous requests, bug submits, and forum topics to go by, so they DO listen to us here!) He explained the tech of it, but I couldn't really grasp it. Also, works faster, and there is the contour edit mode, which actually edits the 2D line on the site model, but then auto converts it back to a 3D poly in the source data. The video shows him converting a corner vertex with the modify tools, to round off the lines. That smoothing does add vertices to the 3D poly, similar to how a cubic vertex would add to a 2D poly. Haven't played with it, but naturally worry we might want to still slightly simplify the resulting 3D poly. Overall, I think the faster processing and mesh improvements are great. Not 100% sold on the contour edit, as it seems limited to very small changes after site model creation. BTW, thanks for the tip on Top View over Top Plan View. I had consistently experienced the loss of Z value, and didn't know why.
  7. Hadn't thought about it, but point by point + or - X.X feet would be a nice tool. VW does have a CF analysis, with shaders similar to slope, but if you could call out individual points contractors staking out in the field would love it. Of course, for real precision work, they would probably still stick to surveyed levels.
  8. Now that's an idea I hadn't thought of, but seems perfect. Less steps than covert to 3D polygon, simplify 3D polygon, move to new layer, etc.
  9. I think you have to grab all of an object to get any of it. There may be a way to get partials, forgot right now. I usually use polygon and then trim contour lines or what have you outside the property I need.
  10. I do it often. Can control exactly what copies with show/snap or show/snap/modify for both layers and classes.
  11. " I've tried using FORMAT -> TEXT COLOR, but all that has resulted is more of my hair turning grey" Now, that's post of the year material......
  12. Teases are as addicting as cigarettes, you know!
  13. Man, I couldn't wait to wake up this morning! Sort of killed the buzz with no tease. So, I guess this project is a stripped tease?
  14. I took a stab.....here's another one on the simple scale, but what about deepening the hull of the site model?
  15. Wonder if class/layer could be added on the bottom line to give you one more place to look? Or, perhaps be in a small pop up box when you activate a tool?
  16. As to the VW summit, well worth going. My sense is VW knows most of us would like to go, but can't afford an every year deal. Every two years seems too far apart to maintain momentum, so they settled on 18 month intervals. As to bugs, etc., I don't know other software, so if they compare better on new releases, I can't comment. But in general, I like to remind folks that most products do improve over time, and some of these requests seem like you would have demanded the Wright Bros. come out of the gates with the 747......in real life business and new developments, it just doesn't happen that way. VW (and others) have to sell something to keep coming out with new and improved products. I know it can be frustrating, but sometimes, we expect too much. When I start turning out perfect drawings, I will critique the software more. Or, it is usually the shooter and not the arrow, no?
  17. Not sure, but it appears all your webbing is outside the squiggly site model border. Did you try a simpler polygon around the main four corners?
  18. Not sure if you are really using those numbers, but 1 could be 01, followed by 02, 03, etc. before hitting 10. For example, I name all my drainage pipe classes with a D prefix, as in, D-04 pipe, D-06, D-08, D-10, D-12, etc. The D keeps them in some sort of order I expect (not sure where a number first class might show up) and the "0" before the 4 and 6 inch pipe keeps those classes in numeric order, as I want to see them.
  19. I have drawn straight lines as polygons by adding a mid-point for 3 points instead of 2. Then it is a polygon you can measure. We do this for our drain lines which are linear, and we always check to make sure someone didn't cheat before selecting all of that class for measurements.
  20. You probably know this, but usually, you create a viewport on a sheet layer, and export that, rather than export from a design layer. My firm used Mini Cad and VW for several years before a local print shop clued us in to use PDF. We had been sending VW drawings direct to our HP printer, and of course, had to spool them before lunch or even at 5PM so they would be printed when we got back........sometimes, I think some of our old VW practices could go in some sort of VW Hall of Shame, but we are learning, LOL.
  21. Jim, Accept the fact that your post was poorly written....I think it was Abe Lincoln who told us to save possible internet posts instead of sending them right away, and then in most cases, delete it the next day (or some 1860's equivalent, thereof....) That said, we wouldn't mind if you used your mistake to go to superiors and tell them you owe to LA types to push all their neat, cool, new tools to the front of the line...... We can dream, no?
  22. Jim, Not exactly sure what your response means, but no biggie. Just out of curiosity, since NCA says he won't pay for training, what is typical of other software? Seems to me like there is ample opportunity to train and the VW community seems pretty tightly knit and energized.
  23. Jim W, Certainly NCA does make some good LA related software points. I do know a firm that uses VW, but also transfers to other programs for cut and fill calcs, etc.) Despite a few quirks and work arounds, I feel it is simpler to stay in VW for all work. It could stand improvement, and while I find it good for my needs, was also a bit taken aback to read your words that "'regardless of the fact that your industry isn't one we primarily cater to..." I did not know that! I know Theatre and Architecture have many more users (on the NYC subway last year, and a group in the next seat was talking up VW the whole ride!) but I have been waiting for some features, too (listed above, no need to repeat). May I suggest one of the sessions at the Summit be bringing together all LA users to sit around one table, perhaps with files in hand, to talk to developers about improvements we need to see? I know you have wish lists and what not, but it might be fun to see how others use it in an informal round table and exchange ideas.
  24. NCA, No doubt ACAD is the leading platform in the US, but I think VW leads in Europe. And, for the longest time, the website listed 500K users, but at the Summit last year, they said they now top 2 Million, having picked up many users in the recession, who found VW's combo of features and price hard to beat. I certainly have found it easier to use than ACAD, haven't really tried the others. That said, yes, I would love to work with them to make the grading tools better. I listed a few, like drainage tools, swales on polylines, not just straight, push-pull like Sketchup (and then use the slice tool to draw the contour lines). I agree, VW could think a little more like I do as a landscape designer. But, the Wright Bros. didn't come out of the gate with a 747 either, and I think they will get there. (However, I can retire in 4 years, so I hope its quick!)
  25. I wish there was a better swale tool that you could use with polylines. Haven't really worked with the contour tool. As mentioned, still grade with 2D polys, convert, etc. Also, need a drainage tool more than irrigation, at least for my work. No doubt the free form grading could use some advancement to think more like a landscape architect. Push pull like sketch up would be neat for minor adjustments. I think the road tool is fine, but only use it for paths which aren't as critical. If they do a true road tool, I would keep it for simpler layouts and rename it just that....the path tool.
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