RCrussellUK

Okay, this is more a case of my lack of experience rather than any abhorrent behaviour of the software. So please excuse my lack of knowledge and help me get my head around this. I have created classes for different walls, some refer to components of walls, some the whole wall. This is to create correct renders for the walls in 3d where different walls in the project have different conditions. Some walls have one overall render, some are composed of components. When it comes to plan, what I am after is a single bold line encapsulating the total thickness of the wall, including any components but not showing them (they have only been created for renders and do not show accurate depths of components which are not necessary for this model). All walls belong to a wall class, each well then has a style which uses the different classes to manipulate the 3D textures. I think I've organised this wrong, it was done on the trot as I was figuring things out as I went along. What do you suggest is the best way to be able to use different 3D textures on walls (some have layers, others are homogenous) and yet represent in plan and section a single wall line representing the wall thickness? You can see here my current plan view. Thanks again!

Ah great! I had tried something similar to this before, the key was having capped wall join mode on. Many thanks for your guidance. I've still not figured out the side wall of the window opening though. This is something persistent with plug in window object. I've been looking in the window settings for a clue.

Thanks for your suggestion. I've followed the instructions and unfortunately I end up breaking the model (Wall Join Four image) If I use L where you say use T join (Wall Join Three image) This should render okay and removes the wedge/flap of wall that pokes through onto the outside but is still not a tidy join in plan. Just noticed your link, will check that out now.

I have 2 questions about wall join conditions: 1. At the junction of three distinct walls, I don't seem to be able to avoid the perpendicular one forming a wedge to connect to the other two (image 1). This means that I get a little flap of said wall on other side where I am using a layer which does not cover the entire side of the main wall (image 2). 2. How do I control the wall surfaces on the inside of window reveals? Where for example I want my plaster to wrap around to the window frame (image2). Thanks again!

Surely this is a major omission... if NV do not supply a bay window plugin, could they not at the very least allow corner windows to join at both ends? Bay windows are such common things! I guess I could model each one individually. Or could I use some sort of faceted window wall coupled with a standard wall?

Good idea, I might give that a go!

I think I'll stick with the quick/simple version for now. I like the idea of creating a symbol out of them together but each door/step in this model is unique, so that would take too much time for what I need. Thanks!

Here in the UK Bay Windows are fairly regular features in existing housing stock. I encounter a fair few I will need to model. I saw somewhere you can buy a plug in to help with the process, which is a bit cheeky after spending ?2k on the software, is there really no way VW architect alone, helps with this window type? To use the bay as a window, I imagine I will need to produce it completed, as a hybrid/plug-in symbol? (I'm still only vaguely aware of what a hybrid/plug-in symbol actually is). This means modelling the entire thing as geometry and assigning materials to each component then transforming all into a component right? If any one can link to a good tutorial or previous discussion that would help with all of this I would be immensely grateful. This is tonights homework as part of a project to show a client in the morning! (Luckily they know and accept I am in the process of transferring to VW). Thanks again!

I realise that I'm asking a lot of questions. Here in the North of England they have a saying: 'shy bairns get nowt' now whether or not you agree, I'm a great believer in asking a lot of questions. I'm thrilled with how quickly I'm learning, and how each thing I learn seems to guide me to the next thing I need to know. So forgive me if my name continues to be prominent on these forums and hopefully some day it will be me giving some of the advice. My next question regards an exterior concrete step that leads up to a concrete threshold under the door. In the image you can see two concrete steps, the third step, within the wall, under the door (presently a brick part of the wall) is also concrete. How would I go about making this section of the wall concrete, retaining the integrity of the wall object... the way that leaps to my mind is a wall reshape and then insert a simple concrete extrude. Is there any other way that leaps to mind which might remain part of the wall object? Thanks again!

Was a 3D component. Using the Velux from the library I've managed to produce what I need for now. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. When I've got some extra time I will focus on the 3D symbol/plugin/hybrid creation process so that I can begin to create more custom content.

Thanks for the replies! I tried your test Skylight in my project Wes and that one works, so I'm guessing it's not the model environment, I may not be creating the symbol correctly. Will try some more.

I've followed this tutorial http://kbase.vectorworks.net/questions/458/Dormers+and+Skylights yet at the part where the window symbol is supposed to stick to the roof indicated by the change to a blue colour of the surface, my window will not stick or do anything... a little frustrating, maybe I switched something off? Any possible answers greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I have a fairly uneven ceiling, a couple of beams and a stairwell cutting through a room, producing some irregular features. What would you suggest is the cleanest way to model this? I have introduced a Ceiling Layer beneath the Slab of the above story, using a Solid Addition to created a shell which gives the 3D impression of a plaster boarded ceiling. I expect when I take a section, that I will need to clarify this on the sheet with some extra line work - is there a suggested method for generating the undercrofts of stairwells, boxing beams etc. Thanks!

It is!... simple, tidy, still a wall object. Which tool did you use to manipulate it, reshape?

Tried dragging it down, but couldn't seem to get hold of it. Deleted wall, redrew, dropped window back in, seems to work fine now. I guess it must have been an errant vertex.

I'll give it a go, thanks.

I have some sort of madness happening when I try to insert and manipulate a window in the wall of a model. I must have entered some really huge variable somewhere? As soon as I place a window in the front wall and try to change the view everything scrambles... please help me debug this! (had to delete some of the model to enable the file size, but you can see what's going on) Thanks!

I'll give them a go, couldn't quite figure out how you meant to do it, I don't quite understand how I can use T join on the corner? The T works vertically as well?? What would be useful and I think you're saying with the other option, is if the wall was joined flat agains the front wall, rather than with the mitred join... actually, now I write it, I'm sure there's an option to change the join like this somewhere?

I see it works with 'normal' windows, could it be greyed out because this is a corner window? Will try editing it as a not corner window then making it a corner window, see if that works.

I can see the types in the pull down menu's of the OIP but cannot seem to select them?

The second window as an opening has certainly worked in terms of modelling this correctly. For this work I did not need to extract any data, but it is a good question to consider. A window symbol can be discounted from the schedule though, right? So the opening version of the window could be ignored when creating information about the windows, and the actual window retained?

Not sure if these would work, the way I've made this is that it's a single wall type joined at the two corners ( L ) and I offset the front wall top to create the parapet. The capping is on the roof layer. I'm thinking maybe parapets should be considered separate walls - I remember glimpsing somewhere a post about stacked wall types? That way the parapet ends would not be dictated by the wall join mechanism applied to the lower wall?

Yeah, I think it will be best practice to try and and retain constraints between wall objects/dimensions and actual levels, maybe not so important on an as is model, but certainly I'm interested in developing good habits.

I put placeholder openings in my walls to refine later into particular windows, but don't seem to be able to edit sash types when window is in place... can window types not be edited in place? eg. I want to move from a fixed light to use a custom sash simply because I need to add a mullion.

This is for the model of an already existing building. It's a building that has been added to several times and so is providing an interesting challenge to model. Luckily I do not need to go into a great amount of detail with it, but the eclectic construction is proving a good exercise for my VW modelling. (I'm also working through Jonathan Pickups VW Architect tutorial manual which is so far, very good) Here I have arrived at a parapet wall giving a horizontal edge to the front facade of an ancillary building, masking a 1/8 fall of the mono roof. You can see my problem in the image, I have used a roof face for the flat roof. An un-styled wall, window symbol and a profile with extrude along path to create a simple wall cap/flashing. I do not need any more detail than this for the purpose of this model is to experiment with future alterations. What I'd like is for it to be tidier. As you can see, where the wall is lower and connected with the adjoining piece it has taken the 45 degree cut up the side of the parapet. I was thinking that I could create an extrusion to slot in the gap and add solid, but this seems a little inefficient for such a simple problem. Or another wall for the top section - perhaps this would connect correctly? Suggestions for a tidy way to do this? Thanks!