Elite Exhibits

1. Create a Record Format. 2. Attached to Symbols. 3. Assign Values to fields based on specific symbol (Example Cost in dollars - Weight in pounds) 4. Place symbols on drawing. 5. Create Report / Worksheet. 6. Database Report lists Symbols in drawing. 7. Add Database headings to Show Symbol name, specific Record fields etcetera. 8. As expected, the Record Fields show correctly (... for example) Cost in dollars for each symbol. So ... Used the Sum Functioning for the Record Field "Cost" and it returns a simple count - i.e.: Number of Symbols in the column, NOT (... for example) the total Cost in Dollars. (The number at the top in the Database Header is also a similar "count") Question to answer: It would appear that the Sum function would need to be =Sum(E2.1 .. E2.18) to add the specific values in those Database E2 cells? Or am I thinking like this is Excel.? There are lots of Worksheet / Summation discussions in the Knowledge Base / Community, none that I have found to show how a list of specific Record Field Values are summed. Somewhere I am missing something. Intent is to create a Group of Symbols, with attached Costs in a Record Field, then have a DataBase Worksheet, show the Symbols, in the drawing, the per Symbol price, and a TOTAL price (or Total Weight, Total Shipping Volume etcetera) of the project as it proceeds in the design phase. The designer gets a quick sense of where they are compared to the budget. Any Suggestions (Thanks ... )

Agreed … Long wanted to have selectable "Lock" icon in the Obj Info Palette. As is common in other applications. i.e.: Scale Proportionally between the W and the H dimensions). This would allow the selection of the Center of the specified item, one modified dimension and the other dimension would change proportionally, without being required to know what it would be. There is a multi step method to do this … but not a simple one - Especially if you are manually sketching - Peter

Much appreciated … It appear that selection inconsistencies in VW have long thrown the process off. Example: Created a rectangle as a Layer Plane Object. It manually moves correctly in a perspective view, with the basic Selection Tool. 3d selection tool not required. Rotate the Layer Plane Object and it manually moves correctly in a perspective view, with the basic Selection Tool. Even if you make this Layer Plane Object into a Symbol. it manually moves correctly in a perspective view, with the basic Selection Tool. Just don't add a third dimension - Thanks again - Peter

I use the Fixed Point Resize Tool to reshape some objects. A rectangle from the center for example. It has a failing or two. If a Line, for example, one that was drawn from the center, is to be reshaped, from the center, it must be at an angle other than Zero or 90. Any angle, just not Zero or 90. Try it. 1. Draw a line, from the center, with an Angle of Zero. 2. Fixed Point Resize Tool. 3. Select the center of the line. 4. Attempt to manually reshape the line from an end point. 5. Fixed Point Resize Tool Fails. 6. Rotate the line with the most minute fraction of a degree 7. Fixed Point Resize Tool 8. Select the center of the line 9. Fixed Point Resize Tool works as expected, resizing the line from the center. Point is ? I have used the Fixed Point Resize Tool to resize some strange 2D shapes and groups "from the center", selecting a corner of the "bounding box". Problem is selecting the center of the "bounding box". Not sure this is a solution to what Kevin is looking for. - Peter

On a similar note … In a perspective view, should one be able to duplicate and manually move a symbol, or even a simple extrude, and have it remain on the Active Layer Plane? As an example, (see attached) when I place a 3D Symbol, in a perspective view, it appears to "float" across the floor (i.e.: the Active Layer Plane) maintaining perspective, until I double click. After this symbol is placed, manually moving it, does NOT keep it " on the Active Layer Plane". Holding the shift key restrains it in one direction, but not the others. - Still Puzzled - Peter

Or should I say excellent - Peter

Tim, excellant - thanks for the help - Peter

Nic … what specifics did you use to create the illuminated version of the SPAR sign … looks great! Peter

Although I have used VW / RW since MiniCad, recent "enhancement" features have caused additional steps to be required. Some where there were none needed in the past. I experience this when I cut and paste in place and get a result that is not as expected. (Please see the attachment) I assume I am not in control of the Working Plane(s)? 1. Original item was a Group with a Hybrid Symbol inside. 2. Part of the group should have been an integral part of the Symbol. 3. As drawn, it was in the correct XYZ position (a pair of oval feet) (1) 4. Top / Plan View 5. Select and Edit the group, 6. Select the two "Ovals" and cut. 7. Select and Edit the Symbol (The Symbol remains it the exact same position and orientation) 8. Paste in place … 9. Ovals are now off to one side. Not as expected with paste in place. (2) 10. Undo 11. Select the top center of the Symbol with the cursor "click" 12. Paste 13. Ovals are now positioned as expected. 14. Exit Symbol 15. Select Saved Perspective View 16. Check that … Oval are now half way up the side (Z) from where they should be. (3) 17. Edit Symbol 18. Front View 19. Select Ovals 20. Manually move ovals down into original position. 21. Exit Symbol 22. Allset Questions: A. Should "Paste in Place" work in all three directions as I feel it should ? B. Is there a way to "lock" the working plan to the ground plane, even if you switch to a front or side view? C. Is there a way to have 3D symbols stay on the ground plane, or move automatically down to the ground plane? (i.e.: Gravity?) Suggestions on what to do different ? Thanks in advance Peter MacBook Pro Retina OSX 10.8.5 VW / RW 2013 P5 (Build 208827)

My 2¢ - None Class is always on … Top / Plan (Keyboard Shortcut "5") is what we use for a "default view". We use Saved Views that ... only remember Class Settings, … are saved inside of a Symbol or Group Edit, … are temporary (Dummy Saved View), … jump to a desired view, without the current Class set up changing. …only change the RenderWorks settings for a quick rendered view. Recent job that went to Hamburg, had almost 75 Saved Views - A portion of these were to show the client what they would see in the finished state and some were the "Same View" with limited Textures to highlight specifics for the crew that would do the assembly. - Peter How do others manage this scenario? … there seems to be no way to "exit" a saved view, I'm thinking that one possible solutuion could involve creating a "Dummy" Saved view which has a set of visibilities applied to it so that a "default" view can returned to.

As the cost is not a small one, has anyone utilizing VectorWorks, subscribed to http://www.lynda.com and found it worth the cost ? - Thanks ...Peter

Example of Symbol count - Peter

On the same subject ... has the search in VW Help been "fixed" ? - Peter

Easiest method to "Count" anything is to make every item that you want to appear on an inventory list as a Symbol. Even if there is a single instance of that item. Name the Symbols logically, so that the items appear (alpha - numerical) together in the Worksheet, if you want to count them together. ie: Deck Section 96x48 black, Deck Section 96x24 black etc The Worksheet will list all the Symbols. The "summation" option will then group identical instances together. I will post a ready made Worksheet that counts symbols. Peter

It is ironic that some items can be created from the center and reshaped from the center ... Circle, Rectangle, while a Line can be created from the center, just not reshaped from the center ... with the cursor that is. The circle is a given based on its geometry. The Rectangle resizes from the center if the command key is held. This would be great if it served the same "resize from center" function on any shape.(See Claris CAD 1994) If the Rectangle is actually a Polygon of the same exact shape, the reshape from center does not work. The Fixed Point resize tool, however, offers some options. For the "rectangular" Polygon, it will reshape from center after you identify the center. ie:locating the intersection of the appropriate mid points. Finding the center of a "rectangular" Polygon is often an impossible process. Workaround: Cut and paste, onto another object, one with a known midpoint. Use that midpoint as a reference with the Fixed Point resize tool. For a Line, the Fixed Point resize tool "gets stupid". It will resize the line from center, only if the line is other than vertical or horizontal. Really not sure why this is ... Peter