Kevin McAllister
-
Posts
5,158 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Articles
Marionette
Store
Posts posted by Kevin McAllister
-
-
This would be very useful.
KM
-
I believe the preference toggle is new in VW 2013. The option seemed to be auto-enabled in older versions of Vectorworks by a recent Apple system update. I've noticed it when I've opened things in VW 2012.
Kevin
-
The auto-open feature is related to the operating system so perhaps its smart enough to find relocated files. (Vectorworks itself is not.) You can turn it off under Vectorworks Preferences>Session>Enable Mac OS Restore Functionality for Vectorworks.
KM
-
The easiest way would be to temporarily move the file out of its current folder. Vectorworks won't find it so it won't open it.
KM
-
Wow, that's an obscure preference! Not sure how anyone would find that.
KM
-
A text class style is essential. You should be able to override it for an individual object just like you can with any other attribute. It should be implemented in a way that's consistent with other attributes by class, not become yet another layer of interface clutter. You should also be able to assign a text style to a class.
Kevin
-
If you're rendering in hidden line mode, DPI shouldn't come into play for your version. I believe it would come into play with the combination of VW2013 and planar objects.
KM
-
Bob,
I don't have any 2D objects in the design layers, they are all on sheet layers and in annotations. My decision is purely about snapping. I work in a similar way to Bruce, and extrude in various views. Once and a while, I'll set a custom working plane if there's a specific need. Vectorworks needs 2.5D snapping, much like Cinema 4D. Often the 2D lines I draw are guides to create a shape. They can only exist is the screen plane or VW gets confused in its current form.
Kevin
-
NV don't have a good record with default setting choices.
I know, that's why it needed to be said :-)
I'm surprised you don't have a hash tag for this yet....
KM
-
I recommend screen plane. The snaps are just so much better behaved. Until this is addressed I can't see changing the way I work, even though everything I do is entirely 3D.
Kevin
-
I believe its been preselected in previous versions.
KM
-
This is an example of a preference that should be set to ON by default. I can't imagine why you would ever want Unified View turned off in a 3D workflow.
KM
-
This is why VECTORworks needs to have VECTOR based elevations and sections that can be printed without rendering to bitmaps. Why the heck are you having to render anything other than visuals?
Yes, yes, yes.
KM
-
There is definitely something different about how Sheet Layer Viewports render. I've had many problems and crashes myself. The weirdest anomaly I've seen so far - do a batch export PDF of various sheet layers with Viewports that need rendering, when the export is done every Viewport that needed rendering is displayed on screen, one on top of the other, even though they are on different sheets. Changing the pan or zoom of the screen resets things.
Kevin
-
I am surprised they are so out of touch as to how users are working with the program (well, I guess I'm more surprised that they're ok with this). It would be really easy to send someone around to major centres and meet with users. If the software doesn't work for users, who is it made for?
Kevin
-
I agree with Christiaan on both accounts. There are actually a lot of annoying default changes in VW 2013. My biggest is the implementation of a stacking order for Sheet Layers as the default. The stacking order is based on the order in which the Sheets were originally created. With list by stacking order as the default, every existing file I open in 2013 has to have its sheet layers physically resorted or I have to click on the sheet number column to temporarily re-order them. Why, why, why?
Kevin
-
So today I tried using some default content from the Entertainment library. I used a round banquet table, a covered chair and a couple of Eurotruss pieces. I put them together into a simple hall layout with seating for 500 (50 tables with 10 chairs each). These are the problems I found -
- chairs and tables are poorly made for rendering well. If you try and do a straight front elevation or section of the room using a sheet layer viewport and hidden line rendering Vectorworks crashes (my system is brand new, top end retina Macbook Pro). If you can only get beauty renderings and not the basic elevations from the model, what's the point?
- the table symbol had its origin centred on its 3D geometry, resulting in the tables being sunk into the floor. Why should I be fixing basics?
- The tables auto generate a "cloth" class but the elements aren't even set to by class in the symbol.
- the Eurotruss pieces (a straight section and a corner) don't even line up in front/side views the way the symbols are built. I should be able to drop it on the plan and it should line up in elevation.
Why is this stuff so poorly built? We, as users, are paying for it. The quality of this stuff needs to be improved to some basic minimum professional standards.
KM
-
Christiaan,
I think this is a great idea.
Kevin
-
Well it's not quite that simple, if Kevin likes the component model thing,then may I suggest try Inventor or Solidworks? which incidently doesnt do buildings very well.
Neither of those are really right for what I do. The advantage to Vectorworks (and the weakness for many of you) is that it is not strictly an architectural tool. This week I am drawing a stage set in a theatre, a temporary theatre within an existing permanent theatre, an event in a tent, and the table centrepieces for said event.....
I merely see the usefulness of Christiaan's request.
(For my own wish, what I would really like to see is walls/doors functioning properly in symbols and the ability to have a viewport look at various views of any symbol in a file without the need to place it on its own separate design layer (ie. symbols were listed in the layers drop down of the sheet layer viewport and could be turned on/off)).
Kevin
-
I tend to agree with what Christiaan is proposing. Design layers are a good tool for some things, but not really for a stacked model.
VW is missing the idea of a "component". What's is being suggested is the building model as a component. A component that viewports could look at or slice through in various directions. (I've tried to do my set pieces as a component using symbols but the workflow with walls/doors etc. in symbols is a no go.)
(For beginners who need to collaborate with Autocad users, removing the dependence on stacked design layers would make their lives much simpler.)
Kevin
-
The workaround is clunky. Other applications are smarter. Vectorworks should be smarter too. I bet you a large number of VW users switch between desktop (ie. external monitor) and laptop screens.
KM
-
Yes please!
KM
-
Attach the image to your post like you would any file. Submit the initial post.
View your post and click on the image link. Copy its web address.
Edit your original post. Insert an image tag from the tool bar and paste the web address you just copied. Resubmit your post and the image will appear in the body.
Kevin
-
If you happen to have selected the file icon in the Finder it can sometime cause problems like you describe as well. Vectorworks thinks that the System or some other App is using the file.
KM
simplify 2d polygons
in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests
Posted
2D and 3D polygons, as well as their polyline companions (2D polylines / 3D NURBS Curves), should all behave and be edited in the same way. There should be a universal toolset that works with all of them in the same way. This includes the simplify function you are looking for.
Kevin