Robert Anderson

This is what using Database records is all about. Create a record format (p. 11-25 of the VW9 manual) and define the fields to hold the information you wish to attach to the objects. Then attach the record using the Data Tab of the Object Info palette (p. 8-3 of the VW9 manual) and you can add stuff to your heart's content. If you have a special purpose room tag, you can also define it as a symbol and use Link Text to Record (p. 11-30 of the VW9 manual) to update the text in the symbol instance placed in your drawing. Good luck -- and I hope this was helpful!

Heather, I'd recommend emailing a copy of a particularly bad example to bugsubmit@nemetschek.net along with this description. This will allow us to test the file and see what's happening.

All the libraries you mention are "standard" VectorWOrks libraries, not VectorWorks Architect libraries (all of whose names begin with a CSI number), so those libraries do not in fact autoclass, as class standards are not enforced in "plain vanilla" VectorWorks. However, I can send you a script that will set the default class of an entire library file to whatever you wish. Email me at randerson@nemetschek.net if you want it...

Autoclassing in VA9 is done using the libraries. Using the tools themselves in the "objects" palette will not provide autoclassing. Do you not see autoclassing when using the libraries in the Object Browser?

Do these files have transparent bitmaps in them?

The nudge command (shift + arrow keys) is hardcoded, so you won't be able to change it. (I'm a longtime user, and it didn't take me long to change. I think it's much more convenient now, being non-modal. I know there are others who feel differently, though...)

I'd like to suggest that since this is not an architectural or VWA-specific question, you may get more exposure to it if you post it in the "General" area, rather than in the architectural area.

It's a misprint, sorry. Should be Shift + arrow key (same on both platforms.)

Can you elaborate on the operation you typically are doing when you see this error message?

VWA already does this, and has since its first version. The Setup Assistant automatically creates elevation views on elevation sheets.

compusam, the DTM does indeed work. My suggestion is to post this question in the Civil/Landscape Engineering forum. That forum is moderated by Frank Brault, who is our DTM expert.

You asked a general "when" question which is difficult to answer. Let me encourage you to send (via email attachment) any VectorWorks file which causes a roof failure to bugsubmit@nemetschek.net. Feel free to email me personally a copy at randerson@nemetschek.net. These problems get resolved by sequentially solving enough "test cases" that currently fail.

Are you working on a new document or a document converted from 852?

It's not MM, it's just a different method from, say, ACAD. First you must have a record format defined in your document. Then you should attach it to the symbol definition. To attach a record to a symbol definition, see page 11-29 of the VW9 manual. If you are wanting to attach records to a bunch of symbols already in place, you need to force an update of those symbols that will attach a record to them. To do this, place a piece of text in the symbol definition while in edit-symbol mode. Then link the text to a field in the record. This will attach the record to all sym instances already in the drawing, and any future instances of that symbol. (You can delete the text after you have done this, the graphical presence of the text is what forces the update.)

If you're using VectorWorks ARCHITECT, then you should be able to make a schedule in a few clicks with the 'Records and Schedules' feature. If you're using VectorWorks, you'll need to take a look at the manual, chapter 16. Briefly: 1. A group of objects in the document can be specified by CRITERIA and will appear in a DATABASE ROW in a WORKSHEET; 2. These objects may have RECORDS attached to them. These records may contain any kind of information in FIELDS; 3. These fields may be returned to the database row corresponding to the object with the record attached. The database rows may be sorted or summarized using the little icons in the worksheet next to the worksheet menu. 4. Database rows can also return ATTRIBUTES of their corresponding object. Layer, class, pen or fill color, etc. etc. See pages 16-29 and 16-30 of the manual. Using these broad techniques, you can create a schedule, a costing, or whatever. It's not a 'one click' operation, but you knew that already. It is pretty fast once you understand how these things work....

VW's "one page" setting is smaller than the gross area of a page; it takes into account printer margins. As for printing a specified area, you should enable the 'print current view only' button in the print range. I may well be missing something, but I don't find this cumbersome. (We're always open to suggestion, though....)

I =am= getting back to you! I have followed up your problem with TS and am trying to provide further support. What additional information can you provide me? As I say, this is =not= a previously encountered problem. My first guess would have been a corrupted preferences file, but you say you're experiencing this on multiple machines, so I'm inclined towards a software conflict? Can you tell me any background (TSR) type software you're running on these machines? TIA.

What kind of system are you on? Have you used the ID tool successfully before?

The following script was posted some time back on the VectorWorks mailing list and is intended to give the user some control over the degree of gray in grayed layers: {************BEGIN VECTORSCRIPT***********} PROCEDURE GrayByLayer; { This script will traverse the active document and when it finds a layer whose display has been set to gray, it will set the layer color of that layer to a gray color defined by kGrayIndex. Then it sets the preference "Use Layer Colors" to TRUE and prints. Then it reverts to the original state of the document. CAUTION: This script saves the document in its original state! Note also that unlike the "gray layers" setting, this script will not automatically make the layer transparent, i.e., pattern fills in gray layers are preserved. } CONST kGrayIndex = 53; {this should be in the range of, say, 48 to 56} kBlkIndex = 256; VAR gLayerH,gVisLayerH :HANDLE; R,G,B :LONGINT; BEGIN DoMenuTextbyName('Save',0); gLayerH := FLayer; WHILE gLayerH <<> NIL DO BEGIN IF (GetLVis(gLayerH) = 2) THEN BEGIN layer(getlname(gLayerH)); ColorIndexToRGB(kGrayIndex,R,G,B); gVisLayerH := gLayerH; ShowLayer; END ELSE BEGIN layer(getlname(gLayerH)); ColorIndexToRGB(kBlkIndex,R,G,B); END; LPenFore(R,G,B); LFillFore(R,G,B); gLayerH := nextlayer(gLayerH); END; SetPref(11,TRUE); layer(getlname(gVisLayerH)); {This ensures that an invisible layer is not active} DoMenuTextbyName('Print',0); DoMenuTextbyName('Revert to Saved',0); SetPref(11,FALSE); END; RUN(GrayByLayer); {*************END VECTORSCRIPT************}

We are unaware of any problem like this. Can you describe the problem more fully? What are you usually doing when the problem occurs? Is there a particular tool or menu you are using when this problem occurs?

There is a parameter on the door object called Wall Line Scale that will (if set to less than 1) will reduce the line weight of the door from that of the wall. You can set the default setting of this parameter to any value you like by using the Create Custom Object... command. HTH.

On Mac, you can use Adobe Distiller (about $200?) or Print2PDF (inexpensive shareware, but less capable). On PC, you can use Adobe Distiller or other sharewares.

If you absolutely cannot get your files which include images to print, you might try exporting the entire file to an image file (.jpg or .bmp) and printing that with Photoshop or some such.

Howard, you should be aware that VectorWorks ARCHITECT also includes some electrical and HVAC design and production tools (circuiting, panelboard schedules, DOE-2 export, HVAC duct objects, etc.)

I can't reproduce this. Can you send me a file where this has occured?