John Meunier

Happy Holidays everyone, I have been thinking about our detail library, and finally have come up with what I think is the solution. I am posting the file for all to to critic. Description: Details are symbols. Details are drawn on an appropriate layer to which, when referenced into a working project file can be put on a layer with the same scale. Which that layer will then have a viewport made on a Arch D Paper. A worksheet is in the VW file to let the user know which details are in the drawing. Also a record format is attached to the symbol, so the name and detail number can easily be changed, through 2 way worksheets. Any thought's. Thanks

Thank-You, The definitions of the function are helpful, What I find the best help is when I have examples to explain and show how the functions work. There are helpful examples in the help document, but not enough. I will continue to push on, and experiment with new functions.

Good evening, What I would like to do is, have a script that retrieves the symbol name and applies it to a record field, Does any one have such a script created? What I am trying to do: Working on a detail library and I would like for there to be text in the symbol that refers to the name of the symbol, so graphically when printed the name is given. Thanks,

Our details are printed off on Arch D size sheets, and placed at the end of the set. Before we would duplicate a file with the details we need and delete the details we don't need. I like the idea of using symbols and reference importing them. I draw the symbol on a design layer with the appropriate scale. The trouble I am coming across is how to label the symbols so as to find them quickly. We have projects for town homes and apartments, foundation/floor details differ. I was thinking apartment details for one vectoworks file town home details for another. I am labelling the details the same as the titled, however I think the names are too long and would like to make them shorter. Any ideas?

What is your standard for naming the symbols? Say for foundation details floor details wall details rain screen and door details? using the masterformat numbers wont work, because I can think multiple details that could go in multiple categories. Is there a assembly spec similar to the masterformat. I could always, make my own prefixes. Any Ideas.

The second one seems to work, with the 2 extension names. Its perfect, Glad I said something. Cheers,

I can't download it. It comes up with an page cannot be found error.

Hello All, I am a beginner at VS. I would like to create a tool that does the following: Grade Slope image What is your advice for creating this object. My thoughts are: text object each end with a dimension parameter assigned to it. a line with a specific start and end marker, text centre on this line that would automatically calculate the slope percentage by grabbing the line length, and the user input data from the start and end grade. a Handle on each end so it can be repositioned, altered.

Is there any good books/manuals for vectoworks, to create new tools and to understand vector scripting? I know about the online help , it is useful, however I find it easier to read a book then a PDF.

Thanks Pat, Works Beautifully!

I use this script to set back to class, I have gave it a shortcut (shift command option a) and it sets the object to class or the pallette if nothing is seleted to class defaults. The only thing I would like to see improved in this script is the opacity and arrow to be set to class also. {Developed ?2003 Katerina Panagiotakis} Procedure Classdf; var x,y,xo,yo: Real; h,oh,h0,hp,hx,ha,hg: Handle; message:integer; begin ha:=LSActLayer; GetOrigin(xo,yo); Locus(-xo,-yo); h0:=LNewObj; hp:=GetParent(h0); DelObject(h0); if GetType(hp)<>11 then begin if ha<>nil then begin ha := FSACTLAYER; WHILE ha <> NIL DO BEGIN; SetLWByClass(ha); SetPenColorByClass(ha); SetfillColorByClass(ha); SetfpatByClass(ha); SetlsByClass(ha); ha := NEXTSOBJ(ha); end; end; end; if GetType(hp)=11 then begin hg:=FInGroup(hp); ha := NextSObj(hg); if ha<>nil then begin if Selected(hg) = true then begin SetLWByClass(hg); SetPenColorByClass(hg); SetfillColorByClass(ha); SetfpatByClass(ha); SetlsByClass(ha); end; ha := NextSObj(hg); WHILE ha <> NIL DO BEGIN; SetLWByClass(ha); SetPenColorByClass(ha); SetfillColorByClass(ha); SetfpatByClass(ha); SetlsByClass(ha); ha := NEXTSOBJ(ha); end; end; end; LSByClass; LWByClass; PenColorByClass; FillColorByClass; FPatByClass; ReDrawAll; end; Run(Classdf);

Doesn't Vectorworks already do Multi-Threading? I have a mac pro dual quad core xeon at home and in final quality renderworks, you can see 8 horizontal strips rendering. Is this not multi-threading at work?

It would be a nice feature to have Vectorworks support render farms. It would enable the use of the extra power that is just sitting, not being used.

Could it be a 2d projection? It is a check box on the viewports obj info.

This is how I set up any drawing for footings and foundation walls, for a one storey if the are more storey I add floor2 into layers and so on. Layers: Text-Floor1 (All text objects, sectioin lines etc.) Mod-Floor1 (All floor plan objects including foundation walls) Slab-Floor1 (floor slab wether its CIP, or floor joists, also any footings) Classes: Wall-Foundation Wall-Footing Wall-Int Wall-Ext-Shingle Wall-Ext-Vinyl Wall-CMU Floor-Concrete Any many more for stairs millworks and other objects. This allows for the most control whether it is a snap grey others for placing the footing under the foundation walls, I am able to see only the information that I need to work with at any one time. I do not group walls, or footing objects because I find it to cumbersome to go into a group to edit the objects then you need to show others well in a group. I use groups to isolate 3d objects that are part of a larger object. I leave "show others in groups" off so when I do have a group it is because I do not have a class for all of the individual object, but one class for the object. Custom light fixture, for example. The light fixture is on a class Light-Int, however the components of the fixture inside the symbol will be on class none, with textures set per object not class. Hope this helps

We have 5 computers in the office, some times not all computers are being used. Is there a program/software that would allow the use of the CPU's in the computers that are not busy to another computer in the office in order to speed up rendering time in vectorworks? How could someone go about modifying a current office in order to squeeze ever drop of processing power out of existing machines with minimal change, or purchase of expensive hardware.

Thank-You, Can't believe I missed this!

It is specific to all files.

You could make a custom image texture. However it wont show a projection for the cultured stone from the wall, so when rendering you want get the correct shadow line. What I do for cultured stone is draw a 2x6 wall for the framing. Then a 2x4 wall or the thickness of the cultured stone with lath and air space on the exterior of the 2x6 wall and set the height to 36"

All my viewports in all projects disappear. What I mean by disappear is, when I render a elevation or section viewport then go into annotations. The rendering vanishes and turns to a wireframe mode, very frustrating. I have "save viewport cache? on however it doesn't help. Any ideas? Thanks

Hi Jonathan, Thanks for the advice, however I was flipping through the pdf file just to see something new I could learn. It is always interesting to do something different or faster. Does any one know if the above image was rendered in Vectorworks, I like the quality to which the fountains where rendered.

I am just browsing the PDF document that you can download off the Nemetschek website http://www.nemetschek.net/training/free_resource.php Getting Started with Vectorworks Architect 2009. I am wondering if the image at the beginning of the PDF file and the end of the PDF file are rendered in vectorworks? If so how were the fountains created as well as the ripples in the water?

Excellent! I didn't see the button at the top of the page that allowed us to insert an image via URL. The image upload widget is a neat tool, works well. However I just save my images on my mac account in the public folder, then copy and paste the link.I may switch over to the image upload widget saves some steps.

Can you embed an attachment in a post instead of adding it as an attachment through the forum file manager?

Vectorworks 2009 has a number of profiles for mouldings created. It is in "Vectorworks 2009-objects building Architecture & Interior-Detail Molding Profiles copper beech millwork" Hope this helps.