Clint Alderman

It would be helpful if someone from VW Tech would reply: 1. Acknowledge the issue. 2. Explain why VW fails to render curves properly on screen. 3. Inform us if there will ever be a fix. On screen curves look great for early 1990s CAD. They are completely unacceptable today. Don't blame the graphics card. It's VW. I've noticed that when printing either to PDF or local printer, the output is great. So, why the on-screen issues? It's time to move this issue to the top of the development list.

With the release of VW 2013, some deserved praise is due to the leadership team, the development team, the marketing/sales team, the training resources team, and the web team - and whoever else was involved in an impressive release roll-out. Interest is usually and rightfully focused on the features, but how the story is told reveals something about the soul of a company. This is the third release (all via the web) I've seen, and each better than the former. This one is leaps and bounds better in that the information about this Vectorworks release has an obviously fresh, polished look and unified feel. And it's more than eye-candy. In particular, the quality and quantity of the 2013 training resources via the website are a pleasant surprise. These are new works and they are well organized to show off the new features in a practical manner. I've just began to work my way through them and wish I had more time. It is evident, this resource took a lot of upfront commitment, team coordination and dogged follow-through. Regarding features and functionality, we all have our wish list. Some things "finally" delivered, several surprises, and of course some wishes yet fulfilled. But things are definitely moving in a healthy direction with an apparent corporate-level commitment to advance the company product line along multiple paths. Very welcome news to quail rumors of stagnation or worse. At some point, I'd like to see the visual design excellence demonstrated in the web and print graphics spill over to a rework of the Windows GUI. It is so washed-out compared to the Mac Cocoa style. Something less 1990's, but please not the MS ribbon. Perhaps something professional and proven like the Tango project which Firefox, VM Ware and others use. I suspect a GUI refresh will come about before too long following the pending Windows 8 GUI disaster to descend on the masses. And especially after seeing a job well done on the core application development, new partnerships and the impressive audio-visual roll-out effort. So good job all. Pour a round or two, take a bow, and then get back to work on VW 2014... you raised the bar of this user's expectations, and it's appreciated.

Text wrapping still not working in VW2012...

VW includes a lot of resources and facilitates customized user-preferred standards. Now the however. The out of the box organization is less than self-evident. For new users, it's like hunting for Easter Eggs, but not as fun being an inefficient use of time. Too much drilling in and out of folders to explore what's buried in each folder. If you want to add a resource to your library, one has to decide whether to add to a type of objects or by vendor or some other way. What would be of tremendous help, especially in the USA and I believe Canada is to use CSI's Master Format numbering to categorize resources. Not sure how other Countries do this, but I imagine it's something well-documented like an ISO standard. Perhaps a development goal would be to offer a localized VW Architect tied to regional best-practices and workflows. Drawings and Specifications work together to form Contract Documents. Using the same naming and organizing conventions between the two is common sense, a big productivity gain, and an industry standard for decades in the USA. Of course AutoDesk Architecture offers excellent out of the box industry standards for the USA Commercial AEC workflow. But notice Graphisoft's ArchiCAD does this as well, and they are owned by the same parent company as Vectorworks. I was surprised how thorough Archicad is localized to the USA's AEC practices. It uses CSI's Master Format for resource classification, and like AutoDesk, it uses National CAD Standards for Class, Model and Sheet naming. So easy to find things. Perhaps your relatives at Graphisoft might help somehow. Using the same standards between consultants makes collaboration much easier. Same concept as IFC, a common standard... Yes, AIA/NCS is an option in the Naming Standard. I've tried it. While it's a nice start, there are too many resources which have VWArch class naming embedded. In not time at all, the two naming conventions are fighting each other in the same project. For now, the only sane thing is to use VWArch standard. It's too much for each user to rename all the resources. Only to have to do it over and over with each new release. This is why Autodesk and Graphisoft began to use a well documented industry standard. A localized version of Vectorworks would reduce the learning curve overhead of USA firms who want to make the switch to Vectorworks. Even the training material should be localized. As much as I admire the superior metric system, it distracts from the subject matter having to stop and make the conversions. Perhaps for now, publish both side by side. The 2012 Getting Started Guide for Architect switches, unannounced, between Feet/Inches and Metric in one Step of an Exercise. Such a wish would require a lot of developer work, but the long-term benefits and marketing potential should be evaluated. Examples Webpage with Master Format Numbers http://www.archtoolbox.com/representation/specifications/60-csidivisions.html PDF Document http://www.csinet.org/numbersandtitles

One thing a appreciate about the VW Team are all the various Tech Tips and Training Resources. One issue for new VW users is the time it takes to filter out resources which DO NOT APPLY due to outdated information, or a different version of VW is being explained. My request, at least as new help content is created, is to clearly state the release date and version of VW being used. It would be wonderful to see a webpage, such as: http://kbase.vectorworks.net/, which had categories by release date at least. Then some indication of which version of VW it applies to. If there is help content which was created for VW 2009 which still applies great, but using VW 2012 I would like to know I'm looking at information which might be outdated. I noticed in some of the What's New info for VW 2012, this was done with icons.

Just watched a great video regarding "Replace with Symbol" feature: http://kbase.vectorworks.net/questions/971/Replace+with+Symbol Notice the title of the movie: "Replacing Objects with Symbols in Vectorworks." I use Architect, so I figured the movie applied to my version. I opened up VW Architect to try this wonder feature, but the menu option wasn't there?! VSS Support informed me it was only included with VW Landmark. Bummer. That feature seems so basic to any drawing app. My other CAD and illustration programs have similar features. Wish a hotfix would be issued ASAP. Why not?

While creating a class, I'd like to be able to create a texture or to be able to browse to a resource file. Currently, one has to leave the class dialog, go to the Resource Browser to create the texture and then return back to the class dialog. Anything to reduce clicking, clicking, clicking of multiple dialog boxes would be most helpful. Perhaps something similar to Sketchup. Or, even better. Maybe rework the class dialog box like the new and improved door dialog box. Take care of everything in one interface. It would also be helpful if resources were better organized out of the box. For example, in the US, I like to use the CSI categories and numbering. It's an industry standard used by manufacturers, design professionals, and contractors since the 1970s. Thanks!

Yes, you described what I was thinking. Thanks for the answer.

I've placed a cased opening in a gypsum board and stud interior partition. The plan view looks fine using the Wall Detail dialog in Door Settings and adjusting the control point. However, I've created a Section Viewport through the room and cased opening, and the head view does not show the horizontal portion of the gyp bd as I would like. I'm using the Separate Cross Section option. The Merged Cross Section looks okay, but I'm hoping to see the components in section. Is there a way to make the section viewport create a correct view of the head condition?

Hi all, I'd appreciated some advice on project setup options and using the Location Planning Module. The Architect is using AutoCAD Architect and has separate model files for the site plan and each building. I've imported the various files into individual VW files. I don't need to exchange files going forward. It's about a 5 acre campus with three buildings, all one story. I'll be preparing sign location plans for the site and floor plans, plus detail elevations, and sections, etc. The sheets would need to have different scaled plan views for the site and floor plan location plans. Here are my questions: 1. Should I merge the VW files into one VW file with a separate Design Layer for Site Plan and Buildings? 2. Would I keep different Design Layers for Each Building or put all on one Design Layer? 3. If I combine buildings and site in one file, what scale should I set the site and building Design Layers? The Sheet Layers would need to be different scales, but the Design Layers need to be the same scale for snapping. 4. Or is it best to create separate VW files for site and Buildings? For context, the site view could be added via a Viewport into the Floor Plan VW file. Site Plan would just have outlines for the buildings. 5. I'm going to try using the Location Planning Module developed for Environmental Graphic Design. Any thoughts, suggestions, experience with this module? Thanks!

I'm using the 3D objects for base and upper cabinets. Looking for some suggestions to show the upper cabinets as a dashed line in the floor plan view. I thought assigning them to a class with a dashed line would work, but it remains solid. I have several manuals and tutorials, if this is covered somewhere, please give a hint. I'm using VW Architect 2011 with Renderworks. Thanks!

I've been wondering the same. Does anyone know? For example: Ext-2x4-Brick veneer (Walls~Slabs Style Imperial.vwx) Ext-2x4-Brick veneer (Walls~Slabs Style Imperial (no codes).vwx) It's like for most wall styles. I can't determine the differnece.

Yes, mere 2-D plan work. Most often, each consultant would have their own origin (0,0). So, we would bring their files in as X-refs and then reposition, rescale, to line up with our drawings. Usually, this was just for redlining and coordinating not for plotting. And Matt is spot on for most AutoCAD users - 3D? - what's that?! :-) And yes, when it comes to "Standards", it's like living with chronic pain. To be productive requires some pain-management.

Christiaan, I have the opposite experience, I know AutoCAD and I'm just learning Vectorworks. A little understanding of each application terminology, feature and workflow history is needed. At the end, I'll suggest a solution. The methodology the engineer is using is actually common for ACAD users who developed their office standards many versions ago when AutoCAD did not have multiple "Paper Space", aka "Sheet Layers" in VW. As mentioned above, it was common (and best) to use different files and external references to accomplish what VW does with Design Layers. Easier to line floors or consultant files and allowed multiple users to work on a project. Another common strategy (not best at all) was to just keep everything in one file with drawings spread all over the place and use "Blocks", aka "Symbols" as background info. As things changed, you would update the Block. Chaos! It sounds like the engineer is still doing this. As mentioned by Vincent, it's "backward" and prone for errors. With the introduction of Paper Space, most design firms updated their office standards to use multiple files with xrefs. Model Space was only for "real world" drawing and Paper Space was for sheet specific annotations and plotting. However, most engineers stuck with their old-school ways and it drove us designers nuts. Smart firms adopted the National CAD Standards. This is a USA standard. I think Europe uses an ISO standard. Even for AutoCAD users when collaborating with consultants, the best practice was for CAD Managers from different firms to meet and agree on a common CAD standard. Design firms that had their act together would provide templates of their standards to consultants or insist they use the NCS. The NCS brought sanity to collaboration between firms. So, what's the best way to use the engineers files? It depends on if this is a time exchange of information or an ongoing collaboration. If a one time thing: you will need to import the AutoCAD file into VW and move its "Layers, aka "Classes" to the appropriate VW Design Layer and line things up. Lots of work for you. Or convince them to rework their files for you. Good luck with that. If you intend to use this consultant frequently, You should meet with them and show them how VW handles information and ask them to consider adopting some of the practices in the NCS. It will make it much easier to import into VW and it's just a smarter workflow to use. There's still more work than I wish, but easier because most of the AutoCAD Layers (Classes) will convert to VWArch naming standard Classes and it's easier to place separate AutoCAD files on the correct VW Design Layer.

Thanks Peter.

I just got some help on this for VW 2011 from VW tech Matt Jurick. He emailed a 2011 version to me. The download page at the time only had VW 12 and VW 2008 version. The plug-in seems to be version specific. You might want to email him: MJurick@vectorworks.net or call 888-646-4223, ext673.

Curious how users decide when to either: + include site info and building info in one VW file. + or make a separate VW file for site, building, landscaping, signs etc. Pros and Cons would be helpful. Thank you!

PIO? I see PIO abbreviation mentioned frequently, but don't know what it stands for. I've searched the forum, KB & VW website and program help and PDF manuals... no definition. Something to do with objects. Still learning the lingo.

New to VW, I know what elevations and thicknesses I want. But, I'm confused by terms and diagram in the Model Setup Dialog. I have Pickup's VW Architect Manual, still confused. Does anyone have a link which explains all this? Q: On Mod-Flor-1, "Slab Thickness" refers to "slab" below or "slab" above? Q: Does "slab" include top of slab and plenum space? Q: I have no ceiling on Mod-Flor-2, it's exposed. What do I put for Ceiling Height? Q: Bearing plate height for roof? This dialog needs some GUI improvements.