Travis

I'm anxious to archive all the info related to a specific file together. I'm a little unclear about the notes databases. When a note is chosen from our common database, does it get imported into the file? Or is it only a reference to the database? The real thrust of my question has to do with archiving: if we had need to pull out an old file, what all should go in the folder to make sure the file would be useable in the future? I know we need to include a copy of all WGR'd stuff, just wondering if we should include the notes databases as well.

Is there a way for the components inside a symbol to always take on the class assigned to the symbol? I thought this worked using the "none" class, but it doesn't seem to.

The short answer is not really. This long, somewhat convoluted, thread does however include a reasonable workaround. http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001392 Good luck,

Michael, You can use hatches in viewports. A hatch can fill any 2D shape. Since a hatch is a collection lines (which are 2D by definition), they can only work in 2D "space". Reread Katie's post carefully. If you want to create an image ("take a picture") of a hatch, convert it to a texture to use on a 3D object, that is exactly how you do it. But it requires Renderworks. I presume by "the problem with tectures is that they do not export" you mean to Acad. In my limited experience, Acad doesn't handle most 3D objects from VW very well. Does Acad allow hatches to be associated with 3D geometry?

Now, be careful. If I wasn't wearing steel-toed boots, I might notice you're stepping on them! Once a hammer-swinger, always one. Great detailing, Jonathan. Even a half-decent attempt at humor. . . All the best,

John, My current file has 27 Sheet layers, 35 Design layers, about 50 Work Group Referenced layers (that's how we bring in our typical details) and over 100 Viewports. (Detail Sheets have 12 viewports per sheet.) The file is nearing 50mb in size. I seem to be able to move between layers and viewports with very little hesitation. You mention the software you're running, what about the hardware?

Try using the Marque to set the outside boundaries. I've had much better success getting what I want with it. Also, I always set resolution a bit higher than I expect for final output so I can still do some cropping/resizing and get good printed results. Good luck, [ 03-12-2005, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Travis ]

Peter, Having been a framer, that may be the wisest thing I've ever heard from someone on the other "side" of the blueprint. I'm reluctant to even share how much detail I put into sections. . .you guys would all think I'm nuts! ('course, you'd have to get in line)

John, I do the same thing (most of the time). . .use a viewport of the model for the elevation. But I always create the viewport on the Sheet layer (I know you can do it from the Design layer) and then enter to do Annotations. I've never once had the elevation marker change scale. I wonder if it's the methodology? (But I can't seem to recreate your problem on my system) BTW, during design development I have a Design layer (usually called 3D Model) that has all the various layers linked to it so I can quickly check to make sure things are coming together correctly. Often I set elevation markers there to help me keep things straight in my head without having to open the Layers dialog and look at the Z-ht setting. Hope some of this helps.

I'm not sure what you mean by "freeze" a layer. I'm worried whenever random things start happening. Too often it's turned out to be a corrupt file. See if you can recreate these problems in a new file. If not, you might consider copy/paste-ing the elements you've already drawn into a new file. If the problems can be recreated, I'd first uninstall and then reinstall the application. If they persist, I'd be on the phone w/Tech Support. Or maybe I'd call them first. . .your call. (all puns intended) Sorry, couldn't provide more direct answers. Good luck,

Thanks. It does. What I was really trying to draw out was whether you place your elevation marker (whatever style you happen to use) on the design layer (and then crop to keep it visible from the Viewport) or whether you just drop them in from Viewport-Annotations.

So, you two, does that mean you run one long elevation line (I like to use one of the dash-dot line styles) across all the elevations and sections and then crop them into individual viewports? Do you then drop in elevation markers on the lines in the viewport? Or do you place a set of markers between, perhaps, every other drawing segment on the design layer and just crop to the marker? I often place two elevations side by side on the Sheet layer and use one set of elevation markers in the middle. (Not uncommon, I don't believe) I think I like your idea, I'm just trying to visualize how best to do it. About the cost of electronic pencils. . .have you looked lately at a set of Rapidographs?! Almost makes the 30" flat-screen seem reasonable! ?T

John, Go to Preferences-Vectorworks, Display. Turn on Show Other Objects While in Groups. Good luck,

allegro, You can easily set Design Layer scales to anything you like by typing in the exact ratio (there are 48 1/4"-increments in a foot; 32 3/8"-increments; 64 of them if they're only 3/16" long). Interestingly, those scales ARE available in the Viewport OIP (there's even 3/32"), even though they're not "default" for Design Layers. Since you're likely to use Viewports to set your final "printing" scale, this should satisfy your need. Although it's recommended the design layers be set to the same scale used for final output, I've not had any problem using 1/4" or 1/2" scale designs output at 3/16" to 3/8". Good luck, [ 03-09-2005, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: Travis ]

Buz, Possibilities: 1) Pull down the Help menu, select What's This? Then select Create Viewport from the Views menu. 2) Check out chapter 20 of the VW manual. 3) To actually understand how to efficiently use Viewports, you might consider Jonathan Pickup's Essential Vectorworks manual. 4) Ask a lot of questions! Can I just (strongly) recommend you do as little drawing in Viewports as necessary. To use your ideas above, if you want to create a bathroom detail separately, perhaps you could place a layer link of the Main Floor Plan on your Bathroom Detail (design) layer. Set the Scale to whatever you'd like and then trace/fill in the details. When you're done, delete the layer link. My personal preference would be to simply turn on the Bathroom layer *and* the Main Floor plan layer (make sure the Bathroom layer is above in the stack, and set to the same scale ? Layers dialog). Zoom in and draw on the Bathroom layer. THEN create a viewport on the sheet layer that links to the Bathroom design layer. After setting scale and classes as you want, go into Annotations and place your dimensions, notes, callouts, etc. This might at least get you started. Good luck,

Michael, Having read any number of your posts here, I've genuinely wished we could spend a day in the same room. I'll bring my computer, you bring a project. Without knowing a thing about your VW vendor, it's hard for me to imagine you being more poorly serviced. Nearly everything you've asked about seems so very achievable, that I'm just confident enough we'd have a good time figuring things out. (Hopefully that's not merely arrogance speaking.) This, of course, doesn't address your wish for Sketching to be included in the basic Vectorworks package. I guess I don't have an opinion?I value the additional features of Architect and Renderworks. Nor would I be able to satisfy your desire for less "Americanization" (probably my biggest blind-spot, since I very much need things to work the way they do). Absent a near-future trip across the big puddle for either of us, I would encourage you to consider buying the Architect and possibly the RW packages and giving them a go for a couple of months. I could not disagree more with your CAD suppliers. The enhanced Wall and Roof features in Architect alone would likely pay for themselves in a few hours. (In fact, if I were NNA I'd have serious issues with those kind of comments from my representatives.) If the additional features don't add considerably, send them back for full refund (presuming your distributor honors NNA's policy). Please understand, I come without other CAD experience (unless you might consider MacDraft, but it's pretty weak). I made the decision to go with MiniCAD just as it became Vectorworks, jumped in with both feet, and haven't looked around much since then. I'll certainly have to take an accusation of going around with blinders on, but I can tell you that I (and many others, far better than me) have found VWA to be an extremely productive environment. I have two drafters working for me, both of whom were trained on AutoCAD, that comment frequently about how much more intuitive and productive they find VWA to be. I guess I'm just wishing there was a way to better help you build on the strengths, without ignoring the weaknesses, and feel like your productivity is more rewarding. Good luck,

Thanks, Robert. The logic, of course, makes sense. . .until you want to get around it! Peter, so do you leave the 2D "object" on the plan/model layer and assign it to a different class? (So it shows only when "turned on") Or do you then place it on your WD layer? Is it possible to group objects both within and outside of Robert's "container"? I might just try that. I'm trying to find out how far I can push the "live" section concept with classes & stacked viewports (so I can control line wieghts). I'm actually much closer to satisfaction than I first anticipated.

Can anyone think of a way, using classes, to show only an object (door in this case) in a wall? From a Viewport, for one section, I'd like to show a door without the surrounding line of the wall. Right now, I'm drawing a masking white line over the wall line. . .since I don't think there's a way to turn off the wall's class without also turning off everything "in" the wall. Thanks all,

Old axiom: You get what you pay for.

Dav13, Why not just create a layer link? If you need to trace at a differenct scale than the original model, make two layers visible with the layer link on the "back" layer. Each layer can have its own scale. It's possible that no link is necessary--just trace on another design layer that's above the original. Since, presumably, you're only going to trace a portion of the model, does it really matter that *you* can see all of it while you're tracing? If it does, clip a smaller shape (rectangle?) out of a larger one that extends beyond your view (size of screen, probably); delete the smaller one and give the larger one a solid fill (probably white). Bring this mask in front of the layer link. Now go to your "tracing" layer and you're off to work. We generally try to "work" in the Viewports as little as possible, doing all modeling and drafting on Design Layers. Good luck, [ 03-07-2005, 02:09 PM: Message edited by: Travis ]

Andrew, One more possibility to explore: If you draw your shape with the polyLINE tool, instead of the polygon tool, you can use the OIP to turn off all of the lines except the one(s) representing grade. This method offers the following: 1) Since you're using the polyline tool, you can add additional vertices (of any nature: bezier, cubic, arc, etc.) to help your line appear more "freehand". 2) Since you've drawn a shape, it can take a fill. (Now if there was only a convert to polyline tool. . .) Good luck, (add after rereading your original post) What if you simply used your "heavy" line to clip a rectangle? [ 03-07-2005, 09:17 AM: Message edited by: Travis ]

Rick, I don't believe symbols reference outside the file they reside in. You can use symbols like you say, but if you make changes to the original symbol, you have to replace it in the target drawing. . .it won't automatically update. Different methods for different results. Good Luck,

The problem lies in your print driver. It's misinterpreting the colors sent from VW. Trouble with telling *what* the problem likely is doesn't tell you *how* to solve it. Since we don't have HP printers, I'm not much help there. Changing the image format won't help at all. You need to be looking at the color settings in the Print dialog boxes. Or, more precisely, at the color algorithms the print driver is using to convert your data into tiny dots of color. I'd be checking HP's website for clues. Good luck,

John, The answer is to NOT rotate the "grayed" layer, the one that in fact resides in the referenced file. On the layer you're going to draw the elevation, place a layer link. Unlock it, rotate the link, and trace/develop your elevation. Since you haven't directly touched the "gray" layer, when it changes your rotated link will still be just fine. I just did a quick test run to verify and it works fine. Good luck,

We commonly verify then repair permissions on a weekly basis (as part of our backup routine). This has been a long-standing, ongoing problem. Since every other Adobe program is exceptionally stable (both on its own and when open with VW), I've finally convinced myself I need to uninstall Acrobat and start over. Thanks for your response.