Mark Taylor

That's exactly it. Thanks!

Ok, thanks for the locus point understanding. I was able to drop a locus at my drag point and then drag the group by that locus to a snap point of my choice. However, there has to be a better way to rotate things. I would like to use the locus point as the center of rotation, then use a rotate tool (that should exist somewhere) to choose another snap point or locus point and then drag that point to any other point of my choice and let go. In a most basic example: 2 random points, and a line segment which is longer than the space between the two points. I would like select, drag, and snap one end of the line without rescaling the line (locus seems to work for this). Then, I would like to choose the other end of the line in a some rotate mode and snap that point to the other random point, also without rescaling the line. Is that possibile?

Hello, dear Vectorworks geniuses! Ok, I have drawn an as-built shed with attached deck. I would merely like to choose a point, drag the group by that point and snap it to a vertex of a triangle. After that, I would like to rotate the group by dragging to a vertex of another triangle. Totally easy, right? However, I can't figure it out. Thanks!

Ahhhh.... I had "Use Layer Colors" set in the document preferences. Works now! Ouch!

Great, thank you. A little strange, but I'm still experimenting.

I checked the attributes and they are set to "class". I can edit the class to do fills in patterns, hatches, and gradients, but not solid color. Weird!

I'm trying to fill a triangle with a green color at 50% opacity. I edit what I think are the appropriate changes in the class but I wind up with a 50% white background. Any ideas?

I would like represent the canopy of a tree by drawing a circle or a shape and then converting it to a more symbolic somewhat random rough edge. Is that possible? If not, are there any suggestions? Thanks!

Very simple: I want to draw a circle, like a tree trunk, using data from the site notes with a center position and a circumference.

Brilliant! Thanks!

This seems like a no brainer, but I can't figure it out. I would like to draw a polygon in relation to another polygon that I drew. For example: 1. I draw a polygon. 2. I choose the polygon tool to draw a second polygon. 3. I click a vertex of the original polygon to get started. 4. I would like to snap the second point of that polygon an x and y distance from some other point on the original polygon. 5. I hover over the point that I want to reference and press "G" to get the datum circle. 6. The little datum circle appears but when I tab into the floating data bar the data is still in relation to the last point I clicked. This must be simple but I just don't see it. Thanks,

Ok, thanks for that piece of info. I will explore that as well.

Two years later... I lot has happened in the last few years. Thanks! I look forward to implementing this on the new project I mentioned in another post.

Ok, this is interesting. This makes sense to me. I like the idea of having a storehouse of classes with specific details about each item, and then using only a handful of layers to present the ideas. Regarding dimensioning and labels, what is the benefit of using sheet layers? Is it because those items are more important for printing? Thanks.

Yes, I will use the built in classes for the plants at first. I think I have a starting idea about how to work with classes and layers. I'm about to start designing a project for a working area of about three acres. This will be the first time that I really make use of Landmark instead of falling back on the more familiar TurboCAD. I don't like TurboCAD but I know it better. I will post my "findings" about classes and layers as I wrestle with making good use of them. Thanks, again.

Good point. I tend to get too specific than start to pare things down because, like you said, I wind up with to much toggling. Thanks.

Thank you, Tamsin! I think I'm getting a better feel for classes and layers. I'd like to ask for clarification of your explanation with the following example: Classes: Plant symbols and all attributes associated with line styles, weights, effects, etc. could go in a single class labeled "Plants". Layers: I could have a layer for Phase 1 Planting - Large Trees and a layer for Phase 2 Planting - Shrubs. Likewise I could have classes for building and construction items and then have some layers for Existing Buildings, Proposed Workshop, Proposed Deck, etc. Am I on the right track? Thanks also for the link for the Getting Started Guide. I didn't know that was there! I have watched the first few videos and I think it will be very helpful. I see you are the author of a book specifically for Landmark. I'll pick that up soon as well. Thanks again!

I'm trying to get a better understanding of the use of classes and layers. In my old software there were only layers. I used layers such as trees, shrubs, ground covers, plumbing, irrigation, existing structures (house, decks, surfaces), retaining walls, etc. I saw in one of the VectorWorks videos that class are the "what" and layers are the "where". So in my mind I would use classes for trees, shrubs, ground covers, central irrigation, field irrigation, retaining walls, etc. In this case, I don't really know how to use layers because I could just turn the various classes on or off for viewing and editing. I guess it would make sense with a building construction where something like the plumbing layout could be exposed per floor using layers or something like that. I would be very interested to know how other designers are using classes and layers in general and specifically in a landscaping drawing. Thanks!

I just upgraded to VectorWorks Landmark 2013. In the past I was frustrated by the clunky way that the VectorWorks Preferences were handled. I thought that 2013 would have fixed that. I manually copied the preferences file from the 2009 version to the 2013 version. That was the only way I could get that to work in the past, but it didn't work when using the newer version. Any ideas? Is there an upgrade/import feature? I have messed around with preferences a lot to make it work for me and have lost these settings over and over. Thanks,

I would like to represent an area of junipers with a rough edge. Can I sketch the area and then convert the line to various standard rough edges, or textures, or...?

"Use layer colors" was checked. I have unchecked this box and now everything works as expected. Thanks again Mike! You've answered several of my questions and I really, really appreciate it.

As a test I have drawn two triangles, one with the polygon tool and the other with the polyline tool. I would like to fill the shapes with, say, all red. I then choose "Solid" from "None" in the Attributes palette. That fills both shapes with white. But, however much I change the fill colors in the Attributes palette, the color remains white in the actual objects. The other fill options seem to work as expected and the opacity setting is still controllable. Any thoughts on this?

Move by Points! It works! Thank you!

I see how to duplicate an array and set the offset of each duplicate. How do I fit a bunch of items within a region? For example, how would I fit the centers of 5 2x6 joists within a 61" span, without bothering to use a calculator to calculate the 15.25" offset?

I did call tech support and received an explicit set of instructions to reinstall the software. I went through the whole process but it did not solve the missing "Connected Wall Mode" button (or choice) with the 2D or 3D Selection tools. This function would seem to be to utterly basic to design software, and yet it is missing. I have Landmark 2009, but the help file indicates that this is an included feature with Architect, Landmark, and Spotlight. Has anyone else experienced this problem?