Samuel Derenboim

Hi Everyone, Is it possible to round out integers in the new DATA TOOL? I'm trying to get room dimensions and want to round out the numbers for each dimension for simplicity. #Space#.#11_Length#x#Space#.#11_Width# Currently it shows up to 1/8" scale for dimensions. Is there a way to get the internal mechanism of spaces to show rounded numbers for room dimensions? perhaps something like =round (#Space#.#11_Length#) x round (#Space#.#11_Width#) Clearly that doesn't work, so i thought id just give an example 🙂 Thanks in advance!

@assemblyarchitecture Unfortunately It is a bug. But my workaround was to import the pdf's into the document and not reference them. It seems to hold the pdf file in the same format, only without auto update. I'm sure it will be fixed soon.

Hi Everyone, Just to add, after re-adding the pdf references, and formatting them, they disappear once more even after saving with the new VW 2019. So heads up, seems like this is a bug.

Why not just add an ID record for the furniture from the worksheet side and create a custom data tag that shows the id for the furniture? Wouldn't that be easier? I mean, you would see all the specifications there anyway when summarizing the items under finish, dimensions, mfg, etc... and then you would assign the id's for each item that would not match each other, even if under the same mfg / dimensions etc

What I generally do is create a separate specifications layer where all information regarding doors, windows and symbols can be used. I create an unstyled wall showing all doors and windows on it with the proper separation for the viewports - and just simply show all of them in two or three viewports.

Just curious, is it possible to use the datatag tool to ID the spandrel panel faces by material / dimensions? I can't seem to be able to find the database ID for curtainwall spandrel faces. This would be quite useful for creating paneling like so : my current solution is to use separate records in the annotative viewport : Any recommendations would be welcome! what are your workflows ? PS - the new DATA tag tool - Is FREAKING AWESOME! Way to go VW Team!!! Thanks in advance!

Don't use 3ds - as 3ds for some reason throws the walls all over the place. IFC works pretty well, but its a pretty lengthy process. Last way is through obj. You need a free 3rd party plugin for sketchup though. If any of them use sketchucation - tell them to download quad tools from the sketchup plugin database. That imports obj format, and pretty well as well might i add! Just my two cents.

For some reason upon converting a vw 2018 file to vw 2019, all pdf references in the drawing disappeared but remained in the references pallete. Two questions : 1. Is this a bug? 2. is there a way to get the pdf references out again into the drawing from the reference list? or do I have to drag them into the drawing once more? Thanks in advance!

Good afternoon everyone, can someone help me with a worksheet function? I am trying to pull out a record if a row and a column match a specific number or letter. Best i can describe is in the image below In this example - i am trying to pull out 24x36 in a work sheet if the record of column a and the row of 1 match in that cell. I am trying to do a metal panel schedule, and want to match the panel dimensions by row and column instead of putting all the information in rows. Has anyone ever attempted anything like this? the conditional statement of =if(symbol.record),statement is true, statement is false) doesn't seem to work for me, or I am (most likely)providing the wrong syntax to call out the information. Any suggestions please?

Good afternoon, Something i found to be a bit cumbersome, and was wondering if there is an already existing solution. I've grown to love the database management system of vectorworks when it comes to calling out record information. However, because some information in the database can be repetitive, and identical if say, the same records occur several times. Is it possible to merge records that are identical into one cell without having to repeat it. I know it works on a global level - meaning if i have 5 identical symbols in a design layer, i can summarize that information into one cell. However, if those 5 symbols for instance may have 2 identical records and 3 non identical records, it creates a cell for each record that isn't identical and doesn't merge the cells that are. Here is a diagram of what i mean. This would really help if this feature would be implemented. Instead of this

Good morning, Ran into quite an annoying bug this morning when trying to assemble a curved curtain wall. Process - first i created a curved polyline to be the shape of my wall then used the tool distribute along path in order for me to segment my wall into workable corners afterwards i followed the contours of the intersections between my lines and curved profile. After assembly the wall, I noticed I cannot modify all the walls height at the same, and more importantly, when i reselect the walls - i cannot edit them anymore, as if a glitch happened. I'm uploading a file for your review. Let me know if you can recreate the bug. Note - you have to do it from scratch. If i close the file and reopen it, it doesn't reproduce the error anymore. I've reproduced this already on two machines. Note 2 - If you try to modify the walls - it will show that it is a wall, but as if its stuck on a command. If you press ctrl-5, it resets the tool. very strange. Note 3 - even after the quick fix, i notice the problem translates to other tools. In my opinion this could be a memory leak. This bug is w/ Vectorworks 2018 SP 2. I haven't tried with others. Sincerely, Sam Wall Glitch.vwx

While i agree with the idea that it should be implemented with the viewport, my best guess is integrating existing tools is the quickest method to get what you need. I'm afraid an overhaul of the system would be required if they did it the way you wanted, and that means more time for development. we want to try to get the best features with the least time of development.

Does VW preload any files other than its native format when checking? when creating a library I have multiple files in the directories other than vector works for reference ( code related info) is that cached during startup I’d say I have a shared library? And if so, can it be ignored? i knew it was the caching, I just thought it had too many files in there.

+ 1 for me! I can’t work in multiple files for this reason at this time. At least multiple large files ( I noticed it did this when I had one large file open, and one small one) so thought it could be a caching or memory usage bug.

Oh, you mean something like dynamic elevation markers. Now I understand. i agree, currently there isn’t something like that you can do in an annotation viewport. Having a dynamic benchmark tied to levels/stories would be very useful. In fact if the can be interchangeable - I.e. change level / move the benchmark or change the benchmark move the level could solve a lot of problems. all that would have to be done is to have an option in the benchmark oip to tie it to a story / level (for display, not change) and another to tie that particular benchmark to that particular story/ level that if you move it vertically, it will change. - or when creating a section viewport they would already be integrated into that drawing. I just see pros and cons with both versions. Developing an idea for programmers to work around could prove to be challenging.

Odd, I've never had a problem, neither in 3d nor in 2d. I just double checked right now. Are you using the latest version?

Matt, in order for it to work, you have to use BIM. When you reference a live section in a BIM model, those elevation benchmarks will reflect the elevation. Also, if you are doing a 2 dimensional drawing, you can use 2 methods. 1st is use Y value relative to reference elevation. This means that the ground plan (0) elevation must be where y value is zero. In case you need to find it, notice on the benchmark elevation there is an x and y mark location (that is its location in the grid). Now change the number in the Y column to zero and youll notice that the benchmark automatically shows 0'-0" as its elevation. 2nd is to use a control point. So you change the location of the benchmark, but modify the control point to the ground plane in order for it to measure the distance from it. Both methods work, but the 1st one and BIM versions are automated.

Hi Andy, Thank you for the tip. I'm aware of this trick, but there are four main reasons this is a little bit of a cumbersome workaround 1. Cannot see the size of the text change while you're designing in design layer viewport. It would be important to understand the scale difference while youre designing that way you konw that it will be in the right locations and fits inside the rooms properly. 2. As text size changes from the Viewport scale, it tends to move. When it moves it can obstruct important elements in the drawing, and consequently you still have to go back to the design layer to change the location. 3. It doesn't export properly into Autocad. Meaning - any modifications you did to the plans will most likely not reflect in any other program. An embedded function inside the text style would and could take care of that. 4. It generally slows down workflow because you constantly need to check if this option is turned on. Its very prone to user error because a user can forget to go into the viewport options. Additionally, with the trick above - you can implement it one of two ways (using the chart). Either you set the class to have the custom size of the annotative scale that you need and use that class for annotation on that particular layer. That would mean creating one additional class and one additional text style at the appropriate size, and distinguising which classes needed to be used on which design layer viewport. (this eliminates flexibility) The second method is to provide the appropriate text styles representing each of the conditions as shown in the chart above. so that would mean if you use 1:1 scale, 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4", 1 1/2" scale for sheet layer viewports and say 1/4" and 1 1/2" for design layer - with 4 varying text sizes for annotation - that would mean you need 12 different text styles representing each condition. Unfortunately very laborious. That and, difficult to change font and variability globally as well. Note - this is similar to annotative elements in autocad, but i personally think it would be easier to implement if you just simply check an option to show viewport lettering size of the appropriate scale inside the text style as a drop down - you simply select the scale this drawing will be displayed in via sheet layer viewport scale.

When you use BIM, as far as i know, I've always used the elevation benchmark tool. It's dynamic, it sets the elevation automatically once you're in the sheet layer viewport annotation area. (when you double click a viewport in sheet layers - pick the annotation option) it will give you the opportunity to call out any elements of the elevations / section in real time. Hope this helps.

Also, in case anyone wants to use these as a reference, i'm adding a dynamic excel template for you guys to play around with text size. Let me know what you think. Text Size Reference.xlsx

Good evening everyone, Wanted to list a new request for future versions because i've been having a problem for a bit of time now. I've been standardizing my firms sheet standards, symbol standards, and template standards for drawing types. One thing that i have ran into while drawing in vectorworks is the problems with text scale and consistency of text size. To give a bit of background - we know that we have two different types of scales that we all draft in - design layers and post the information in sheet layers. Both however, are governed by scales. Design layers have a scale for line types, etc... and sheet layers reference design layers in the viewports. One thing that I love that Vectorworks did was the text style tool that standardized all text used in a file. Meaning, if you said that a text style for a particular drawing is to be size 12, you can use that text style consistently. However, the team didn't take into account one minor detail - Let's say your design layer scale is at 1/4" = 1'-0" and are using a viewport in a sheet layer viewport scale at 1/4" = 1'-0" with a text size of 12. The way VW is programmed - the nice thing about it is the size of the text stays consistent - it appears in sheet layer at 12 as it would for 1:1 scale. However, the complexity increases when the variables change. Let's say you have the same design layer scale at 1/4"=1'-0" but have a sheet layer viewport scale at 1/2"=1'-0" - what happens? the same size 12 text appears as size text 24 - because the viewport is showing the text 2 times the size of the design layer viewport. Now for the request - since we like to allocate different sizes on the sheet layer scale - is it possible for the text style scale to have an option to appear the size of 12 in the Viewport scale and scale the size of the text in the different design layer viewports accordingly? In the end - we inherently want all of our text to appear consistent throughout all of our drawings and the way we see from our eyes is at 1:1. So all we have to do is pick 5 or 6 different sized text sizes rather than dozens (if not hundreds) if we increase the variability of our text sizes in sheet layer viewport scale vs design layer scale. Heres a chart below for some more information regarding the ratios.

HOLY (*&#)$(*&#($*&#$ !!!!!!!!!!!! Gerard, you are THE MAN! This works like a charm!!! Just curious, did you learn to code in Vectorworks? or did you know python prior to??? How hard is it to learn? Either way, Gerard, This script is excellent. Don't know how to thank you enough. Gerard, Thanks with this tool, I would be able to create an ample resource for libraries for light fixtures, FF&E, proprietary specifications, and even custom callouts for details (if i can get the callout tool to work for symbol definitions). Do you work for Nemetschek / VW? I can share some of the libraries with you later if you like. Integrating this into project management saves a substantial amount of time on the production of CD's !

Gerard, that process is for a symbol instance. That’s the easy part. Now try importing the same symbol from the resource manager into another file, you’ll see the record information is empty in the symbol, and even if you apply it, the record fields need to be re entered. In in order to avoid that, you need to write what’s in the symbol instance (An example of what you’ve shown) to the symbol definition (resource manager). That way if you make a shared library in the resource manager you can drag and drop with the desired resource information without constantly having to refill it. Currently the only method of doing that is by right clicking every symbol definition and modifying its record information from the resource manager, which is very cumbersome, and wanted to ask vw or someone to help me make a script to write the information from symbol instances to their respective symbol definitions. any help from vw?? 🤓😇

Really? you have a script that can write instance record information to symbol definitions? You already have a ready script? or are you saying it's just possible ? I just wanted to add this request to the wish list since i too don't think this is an impossible feature.

It doesn't work exactly the way you mean. Yes, you can write record information to a symbol from a worksheet. The problem is - it will not write it to the symbol definition for use with different files or integration into the resource manager.