P Retondo

Don't know what you are printing to, but my color printer has an option for converting to grayscale. It's a feature of the driver.

Alexandre, I couldn't agree more about what you find to be one of the best features of VW. But, to make it much better, I wish NNA would incorporate my suggestion about how the "source" 2D and 3D objects in the edit window space do not move when the generated object is moved. If you move an extrude, for example, you can't take geometry from the object's new position, copy it into the edit space of the source polygon, and expect it to align with the new position. No, you have to somehow create a way to translate the alignment. You can work around this, but the power of the 2D/3D interface is diminished.

Yovav, What platform do you use? I have no problem resetting perspective in 9.5.2 (WinXP and Win2000). Works beautifully (View->Perspective->Set Perspective).

You can do that, but since the programs are different and use layering and colors differently, you may have to fuss with things a little. I do a lot of work transfering things from VW to ACAD, and once a system is in place it can be fairly efficient. It's not seamless, however! I recommend getting the latest version of VW since the ACAD translation has improved with every version issued. Pay careful attention to all of the options in the export utility. Always export as .dwg, not .dxf. Beware of a couple of things. People have reported trouble with VW 10 and the latest Mac operating system, so you may want to read all the posts on this bulletin board to determine whether your current operating system is "safe". Also, if you use Paperspace, you will have to set up a system of xref's to successfully make changes in VW and export them as .dwg's. I recommend having a plot drawing that does nothing but take xrefs for formatting sheets; do your work on an xref file, which will automatically update your plot drawing whenever it is opened. Be sure to preserve the layer structure, and NEVER move the origin in VW. [ 10-31-2002, 07:47 PM: Message edited by: P Retondo ]

Cam, Are you saying that you then reinstalled VW 10 and it works okay?

Or, for better control, you can extrude a polygon from the side. Or you can use Boolean subtraction or intersection to change the profile.

I stand corrected, Katie is right that the join tool is there. Am I correct in remembering that it was gone for a while (version 9.0?), but was reinstated due to popular demand? The Connect/Combine tool is (in my opinion) the way to go, though.

In VW 9.5 the join tool has been re-engineered. It is part of the Connect/Combine tool, and it takes getting used to but works great. Instead of selecting two objects and using Ctrl+J, you select the tool and click on two objects. Pre-selecting the objects is not necessary. There are three modes for joining things which combine the old Extend and Join tools, and add other capabilities. I added a keyboard shortcut using the Workspace editor so that the "J" key activates that tool.

David, I'm curious to know what platform and operating system you are using.

I'm thinking about upgrading to version 10. Does anyone have any feedback on the conversion of VW 8.5 files to version 10? Are there glitches in the conversion? Converting from 8.5 to 9, for example, I had to edit every window and door to get them to "use wall thickness" correctly. How about issues of accuracy? Converting from 8.5 to 9, some dimensions were off, which I attributed to the shift from 32 to 64 bit numbers. Problems with 3D objects, especially those created with Boolean operations?

Hi Katie, Just checking in to see if you or anyone has a clue about this problem printing to the HP 1220C with JetDirect ethernet hardware. I can't use my color printer to print from VW 9.5.2. [ 10-22-2002, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: P Retondo ]

Don't have a solution to your problem, but for my own information I am curious about what operating system you are using?

Hi Katie, Thanks for the response. As I said in my post, I have installed the generic XP driver. The green check box was there. I cannot print to the HP 1220C. Is there possibly an issue with the JetDirect hardware?

Dear NNA, I've reported this problem before. Matthew and Robert McBride advised me to make sure my driver was the native XP driver. This did not correct the problem. Here's the situation: Win XP VW 9.5.2 P4 2.2G, 512 MB RAM HP 1220C using JetDirect on Ethernet Printing from VW 8.5.2 and from all other programs, including Adobe Illustrator, Word, Photoshop, are okay. Printing from VW 9.5.2 to other printers/plotter okay. When I attempt to print to the 1220C, I get a C++ runtime error warning (multiple times) and a complete VW shutdown ("abnormal termination"). I have reinstalled the XP driver for the 1220C twice and restarted the computer with no effect on the problem.

Cloud, I have found that sweeps in general do not behave as you would expect them to. I don't think they have the same kind of object format as other solids.

If your path has sharp bends in relation to the cross-sectional dimensions of your profile, the algorithm will not be able to process the calculation because the profile "turns in" on itself while going through your bend. Try using a small diameter circle, or change your path to have gentler curves, to test this answer. This phenomenon is related to using the "Offset" tool with a complicated polyline. You can get an odd result that "crosses over" itself. AutoCAD, by the way, has programmed around this problem with their offset tool - you always get an offset polyline that has eliminated the cross-overs. Something for NNA to consider - unless the new versions have fixed this! [ 10-02-2002, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: P Retondo ]

Actually, "disappearing" 3D objects is a common occurence, at least in the version I'm currently using (8.5.2) and earlier. The problem described is not necessarily the ordinary symbol behavior addressed in these replies. Previous posts on this topic exist, and the solution you mention (iso view) has been put forward in the past. Actually, I find that going to "Top view" works as well, healing both visibility, the incorrect positioning of handles, and inability to select the object. If you have "Num Lock" on, simply press the "5" key on the numeric keypad. This problem may have been fixed in version 9, I haven't used 9 enough to know. It's a seemingly random bug.

defjef, you can scale a hatch created from the menu command because it is a group of lines, plain and simple. However, scaling the group of lines alone will cause it to no longer fill the object it originally filled unless the object is scaled by the same factor. Also, scaling has no effect on the hatch pattern stored in the resource called by the scaling command.

Richie, quote: Originally posted by RichieHatch: Can you rotate a 2D view so that it is parallel to an object? You have been able to do that for a long time using the working plane tool - if I understand your question. The 2D view can be set to any orientation in 3D space.

Thanks, that is good news on the walkthrough tool! [ 09-25-2002, 12:43 AM: Message edited by: P Retondo ]

Defjef, There are apparently two ways of applying hatches in 8.5. One is by way of the attribute palette, which I believe is the method you are using. The other is the old way, via the hatch command on the pull-down menu. The second way applies the same hatches, but the result is a group of lines rather than a mystery entity. Beyond this, I don't have a great answer to your question. I have been able to place hatches in an appropriate position within a polygon using the old menu command method, because the insertion point can be controlled. It would be nice to have a hatch "preview" that would allow the exact placement of a hatch pattern by dragging before it is applied.

Is there a list of issues with 9.5 that are corrected with version 10? I am particularly interested in whether the realtime walkthrough tool now works.

I am stuck using VW 8.5 because the walkthrough tool, an essential part of my use of VW, is broken in version 9.5. VW 8.5 has accuracy problems, however, and I'd like some help or answers. 1. I have a project which started out at reasonable accuracy, but is now down to 0.00 accuracy (feet and inches units). I don't have widely ranging layer scales, but I think this loss of accuracy was triggered by a failed DTM calculation. I know by zooming out that I have an excessively large project space (white space). Is there any way to restore accuracy to at least 0.000? 2. Is there any hope of a patch to fix the walkthrough tool for VW 9.5? 3. Will version 10 work for me, whenever it comes out? Are you authorized to say when it is due?

I've been occasionally plagued with the failed subtractions bug when using VW 8.5.2. When this happens, typically a rectangular box shows up instead of the object. We have known for a while that selecting the object, then "editing" it (ctrl+[) and "exiting" ("done" button or ctrl+]) will fix things. Often, however, if the subtraction has been moved, duplicated, or mirrored, the rectangular box shows up in a strange spot and cannot be selected. I have found that by drawing a selection box around the empty spot where the object is supposed to be, it can be selected and edited to cure the failure.

Robert, Thanks for the cogent explanation.