din

I'm having an issue in VW 2015 when quick saving (Apple + S) files opened off our server (which is a Windows 2012 r2 server with ExtremeZ-PP for Apple naming protocols etc.). When connected to the server using SMB, I get "The file save operation failed. Please try again, or save to a different location", with a VWTMP file created on the server. If I use "Save As" and save over the file, this works fine. When I'm connected to the server using AFP, this problem doesn't occur, but for various reasons, we prefer to connect using SMB as it is more stable. This problem also doesn't occur when I'm using VW 2014 connected to the server using SMB. Not sure if this is connected with the above file opening issue?

Thanks Tamsin, You were right - it was an issue with page-based hatch scales. We were using some old hatch patterns that had been set to this - when reset to world-based they rescaled properly in the detail viewport.

Christiaan, I've received 3D DXFs via Strucad from steel fabricators previously which I've been able to import into VW2009 and it's worked ok. The only issue is that the steel imports as heaps of 3D polygons which makes the file size pretty large. To reduce the impact on my master file, I referenced the steel structure in from a separate VW file, but the section viewports in the master took a long time to regenerate - this was probably a combination of all the 3D polygons and referencing in the steel model. Maybe 2013 might handle this better.

I've been getting to grips with using the detail viewports for the first time, and we have created a series of 1:5 detail viewports from a 1:50 section viewport - the design layers are also at 1:50 scale. However, these detail viewports retain the 1:50 hatch density for blockwork, concrete etc. rather than resizing to suit the smaller detail scale. I tried the viewport's "advanced properties" but couldn't find an option to change the hatch scale as you can do with normal viewports. Is the option to change hatch scale located elsewhere, or is it not yet possible to change this for detail viewports? - if this is the case, I think this makes the detail viewports of limited use for typical black & white construction drawings.

Think I might have this sorted out, using a series of exports to Sketchup. The 3D DWG seems to be the best way to export most of the VW geometry (since it retains classes for editing / control in Sketchup) but anything that doesn't export well is better exported seperately as a 3DS, then pasted back into the initial Sketchup model. I've attached a couple of images showing the VW original model and the end result in Sketchup (apologies for the design - it's a work in progress!) Here's the method I used - it's a bit of a hassle though! - First, export from VW Top view as 3D DWG with all layers on but doors / windows classes turned off (worked ok in 2009) - Imported this into Sketchup - each wall a component with a clear opening in it, but curved roof didn't import well ("degenerate faces"). VW classes retained as Sketchup layers. - Re-exported roof only from VW as a 3DS - geometry imported into Sketchup more accurately. - Turned off everything in VW model except for doors / windows class, and walls containing these - exported as a 3DS. - Imported into Sketchup (separate file) - each wall came in as a single component containing windows. I opened each component, selected a wall face, then right click for "select same material" then "select bounding edges" to delete the walls and leave the windows and doors. Copied this into the original Sketchup file to place doors and windows in the openings. The end result is useful for what we need in Sketchup - while the windows and doors aren't individually editable, they can be broken down further into individual components if you need to. Also, when importing the DWG & 3DS into Sketchup, make sure "preserve drawing origin" is ticked - that way the geometry from extra 3DS files will import into their right place.

Another difficulty with curved walls - is it possible to insert a PIO window into a curved wall and adjust the angle of the reveals to be perpendicular to the curve, rather than perpendicular to the window? The green lines on the attached image show the line I'm trying to follow, which would be the way the studwork would be placed in reality.

Not sure if I posted this in the right place the first time, as I didn't get a reply in the Architect forum... I know it's a less than ideal workflow, but we've been trying to find a reliable way to export from VW (2009) into Sketchup so that we can add materials and render etc (we don't have Renderworks), and use Sketchup environmental plugins (such as IES). We are trying to ensure the VW windows and doors are retained as Sketchup components, and that other objects retain their VW classes as much as possible. When I export as a DWG, the windows & doors come into Sketchup as components, but only the frame is visible - the mullions, transoms, door leaves and glazing are lost. When I have opened up the DWG in Autocad LT 2007, the mullion / transom / leaf geometry isn't visible, which suggests it's a VW export problem rather than a Sketchup import problem. We've also tried exporting as a 3DS file (combining coplanar faces to avoid triangulation), and all the geometry and surfaces come into Sketchup. However walls come in as a single group with the doors and windows within broken down into individual planes and lines which isn't that useful. Finally we've also tried importing as an IFC via the IFC2SKP plug-in, but this time although all the walls and doors came in a components, some of the walls were missing. I think the 3D DWG is the best approach, but is it possible (or wise) to convert the windows and doors from VW plug-ins into 3D symbols before exporting, or is there a better method to export to Sketchup which retains all the window and door details? One thought we have had is to export a 3D DWG first with the windows & doors class turned off, then follow on with a 3DS export of the walls with windows & doors on, which could then be extracted in Sketchup and pasted into the first drawing - a bit of a fiddly way I know!

Here in the office we're a bit worried about the Lion / VW 2009 situation, as we have a number of older G5 machines we are looking to replace. We would like to upgrade to 2011/2012, but these older machines need to be replaced first. We have tried out upgrading a MacBook Pro to Lion (which already had VW 2009 installed under Snow Leopard) and VW 2009 seemed to work fine with Lion, without encountering any of the problems noted on kbase. Has anyone encountered the VW issues on a new Mac with Lion preinstalled?

I know it's a less than ideal workflow, but we've been trying to find a reliable way to export from VW (2009) into Sketchup so that we can add materials and render etc (as we don't have Renderworks), and use Sketchup environmental plugins (such as IES). We are trying to ensure the VW windows and doors are retained as Sketchup components, and that other objects retain their VW classes as much as possible. When I export as a DWG, the windows & doors come into Sketchup as components, but only the frame is visible - the mullions, transoms, door leaves and glazing are lost. When I have opened up the DWG in Autocad LT 2007, the mullion / transom / leaf geometry isn't visible, which suggests it's a VW export problem rather than a Sketchup import problem. We've also tried exporting as a 3DS file (I know to combine coplanar faces to avoid triangulation), and all the geometry and surfaces come into Sketchup. However walls come in as a single group with the doors and windows within broken down into individual planes and lines which isn't that useful. Finally we've also tried importing as an IFC via the IFC2SKP plug-in, but this time although all the walls and doors came in a components, some of the walls were missing. I think the 3D DWG is the best approach, but is it possible (or advisable) to convert the windows and doors from VW plug-ins into 3D symbols before exporting, or is there a better method to export to Sketchup which retains all the window and door details?

Sorry, I forgot to add that the window/door geometry in the DWG isn't visible when I view the file in Autocad 2007 - this would suggest it's a VW export problem rather than a Sketchup import problem.

I've been trying to find a way to export from VW (2009) into Sketchup so that the windows and doors can be retained as Sketchup components, and that objects retain their VW classes as much as possible, so that I can add materials and render etc (as we don't have Renderworks), or use Sketchup environmental plugins (such as IES) When I export as a DWG, the windows & doors come into Sketchup as components, but only the frame is visible - the mullions, transoms, door leaves and glazing are lost. When I export as a 3DS file, all surfaces come into Sketchup, but the wall is a single group which includes the window components as planes and lines only (not grouped or a component). I've also tried other formats such as IFC, but haven't had any more success. Is it possible (or advisable) to convert the windows and doors from VW plug-ins into 3D symbols before exporting, or is there a better method to export to Sketchup which retains all the window and door details?

Thanks Jonathan, I changed the setting and it worked fine - our IT guys will be happy!

We have recently started using the full 3D capabilities of VW 2009, taking live section and elevation viewports off the model (rather than the 2D electronic drawing board approach we have used previously!) When editing the Annotations of section and elevation viewports on my G5, I am having a problem - the hidden line view disappears, replaced by a wireframe view with all faces triangulated around openings. This mess of lines makes annotation and adding extra detail in the Annotations layer really difficult! I'm pretty certain its a hardware issue, caused by my GeForce 6600 video card (which I understand was the base option for the Quad G5s) - I think the problem is the card isn't powerful enough to keep the hidden line view going. I've checked it out on other Macs around the office with later processors, versions of OS X and video cards - I could reproduce the problem on a G5 with Leopard and the same card as me, and a Intel Macbook Pro with its standard video card, but on other Intel Macs with Leopard / Snow Leopard and later video cards the hidden line view remained when editing the annotations. Unfortunately finances mean it will be a while before an upgrade to an Intel Mac (or VW 2011) is possible, but I've been trying to find out if a video card upgrade would solve the problem. I understand the options are limited for a Quad G5, but some refurbished GeForce 7800 GT G5 edition cards are available. Has anyone experienced a similar problem with VW 2009 and a G5, and will the Geforce 7800 GT solve the rendering problem I'm having?