Mark Mullany

Hello! Sorry to hear you are having issues with your exports, without the files it hard to say exactly what would be best, I'll pm you our support email if you want to share the files. Unfortunately AutoCAD doesn't have any way of handling our Layers, which is probably why they are seeing what they are, however heres something to try: Create a copy of your file as an Export file. Create a sheet layer and if it helps name it Model Space (the name isn't actually important). Lay out all the viewports you would want the AutoCAD user to see on their model space, you don't need to worry about staying within the page boundary. Make sure all the viewports have the same scale, it doesn't matter too much what scale so long as they ALL are the same (when they become 1to1 in the model space it uses the first viewport you made to scale them). It may help to Label your viewports if they are struggling to match them up their end. If there is anything you do not want them to see you can delete it in your export file (things like your title block, things that aren't ready yet, etc.) Run File> Export DWG. Ensure the following settings: Export: Active Sheet. Export Viewports as 2D graphics in Model Space. Check your 'model space' sheet. Set your other settings as you wish, I would suggest unchecking all the fill options for a smoother transition (AutoCAD users aren't normally big on fills and it saves them deleting them). Click OK. Ideally check the export in a DWG viewer, you can also import it back into Vectorworks. but that is another conversion. The Viewports may have become Block References or similar, the Autodesk user can explode these if they wish. If you would rather covert them into Lines in Vectorworks, then that is also possible: Take Horizontal Section Viewports of the plans you want - normal Top Plan gets re-rendered as 'hidden line' in this command - Sections are already 'hidden line' and give a better graphic for this operation. Select a viewport and run Modify > Convert > Convert Copy to Lines. This will give you a group of lines in the shape of your plan. You could then copy these to a design layer and rescale them (or I guess you could perhaps have run it on a 1to1 viewport). I would run this on sheet layer viewports for the neater graphic. Hope that helps!

The Driving Curve tool is only officially compatible with 2014 & 2015, both of which have themselves had their final service releases. I believe you can use a few example vehicles in AutoTurn without a paid subscription, alternatively you could build your own tool with Marionette, (worth a look anyway theres some cool stuff available on there!) or simply use Duplicate along Path if an approximation would be acceptable. You can also make a request here for an update to the tool should you wish.

A few years ago we introduced a collaboration with AutoTurn Online, you may find this a more comprehensive alternative. https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=93

@E|FAShould be there now!

Hi Jeff! I have an Ender 3 at home and use Cura to generate the print files. I did find that Cura couldn't handle a site model directly ( I suspect it was physically too big) so What I found worked was: Export the Site mdoel to .STL. Reimport the model back into vectorworks. Scale the model to fit my print plate. Export that to STL. Pop it it Cura which then managed to generate a nice print file. I happened to use a grid pattern but as I'm sure you are aware you can pick whatever fill you program allows. Print it out. This is on the lowest settings my printer can do. (I was just curious to see if it could!)

In the BIM nodes its the first one under walls.

Ah! thanks for the clarification

Thats great! thanks - I think I understand the list part - what do the series and string nodes do?

First Questions to the forum - 1. Is it possible to make a network that for instance If I input a value of 3 would then let me create 3 new layers with names from a preset list? And something similar for a number of windows in a wall. Cant quite find a node for it. 2. Cant seem to get wall joins to work at all - does it need to know its vector? That would make it a little difficult to change the starting geometry.

Hello, Just getting started with this Marionette - no previous programming experience at all. I've been figuring it out from the stuff others have done on this forum. Just to see if I could I've started little house based on a polyline. Would love to hear peoples thoughts or comments on setting up the scripting for this.

Good to know thanks

You can make a texture that uses the same repetition as a hatch (for bricks and other common hatches you can use the default render shaders just make sure you get the size right and make the 'bevel width' the same as the grout width if using Tiles as a shader) - you just wont have 'vector' based lines so you will need a high DPI to keep it crisp. You can then set the background render to a suitable render style and the foreground to hidden line. Tends to work best with a grey pen/grout colour as it softens the drawing and looks a little more like you used a pencil. Its not to everyones taste but hope it helps!

Try using the Attribute Mapping tool, it gives you a little square representing your texture that you can move, stretch, rotate as required its on the basic palette. All the best

Hello If you don't have components it wont make any difference the walls will joint at the edges. With components the structural element such as the timber frame would meet and the other components would wrap around that such as the plasterboard

Ricky check your callout preferences and make sure the Max Text Width is set to more than 0 (default is 51 I think) I had this last year in one of my templates somehow id messed it up! Luckily you can adjust it in Object Info too.

Hello heres what we do with our lights, Create a truss. Select the truss and then click Spotlight > Object Conversion > Convert to Light Position Name it Then set the Z for the truss. From the Resources place lights on the truss Place Focus points telling them the focus height. Tell the lights which points to focus on. In 2D they will not move or adjust at all this is as intended (you can rotate them if you wish) In 3D the lights will have automatically adjusted to point at the Focus point and when turned on and rendered in Fast Renderworks or higher you can see the lights shining on the focus try this and let me know where your having problems All the best

No - at least it didn't for me it just means when you open the save file you will have an incomplete render with the red 'out of date' tape around the viewport. I'd send you an image but my screen grab app is playing up.

What function of the camera are you wanting? If its easy access to the view in future try using saved views. (the little menu on the view bar with a piece of paper with a mountain on it is the saved views menu or use View > Save View. The Saved View menu or the Navigation palette then make it easy to switch between views You can use Hyperlinks (Dims/Notes) in 2013 to quickly access saved views if you want to create a more presentable way of navigating your drawings. If you want a design view from a camera select the camera click display camera view on object info then deselect the camera and you will be left in the cameras view and free to move around or create a saved view or viewport without affecting the camera. Otherwise i'm not sure if you can turn a view into a camera perhaps others will know Hope thats helpful!

I'd agree with most of the above but just in case we've overlooked the obvious just check that your fill is turned on in the Attributes palette - it tends to switch off after importing DWG files as they dont have fill in the same way

Wall styles, Render Styles etc become resources in your Resource Browser. It's probably best to create your own library file system (not in the existing one!) and add resources to it as you create them. These Library files can then be added to your favorites for quick access in any project. Between versions you can run the File > Batch Convert to upgrade your library files. You may then want to go in any libraries where the tools have had upgrades and reset them (e.g. 2012 stories for wall heights) A custom workspace can be helpful, letting you create your own palettes and shortcuts - though from what I've read this is best done on each release separately, possibly due to streamlining and reorganization of menu commands and such. I'm sure others will have comments on this as its not something I do. Best of luck

StructuralBIMguy - Thats fine then IFC isn't BIM its just a tool like everything else. If you are the construction team its probably very easy to coordinate with yourself! Thanks for the link I'll look into it when I get the chance - hopefully soon. DE-Tech you seem to have reached the same conclusion I did, as for the debate it always happens so don't worry about it. Best of luck!

DE-Tech I'm in Berkshire, hope your doing well! Vincent looks to have quite varied experience, but have a look at the various software in case studies, Vectorworks can be found here, http://www.vectorworks.net/bim/projects.php I'm sure the others have examples too, If you have the luxury of time, look into each and have a go if you can. (mail me privately and we can set up an online demo of VW if you like) Remember also that whatever you choose you will be using for the foreseeable future so go with what works best for you. I'm obviously biased but having come from AutoCAD I find Vectorworks much more in tune with how I do things.

Without wanting to get into an argument, there are far too many of those as it is. My understanding is the BIM manager coordinates all the information from the various parties, viewing and checking in IFC and making sure the right people get the right info a the right time. They dont have any need to make changes themselves or the authority in their role as BIM manager (unless they happen to be one of the construction team, but then they are making changes in their other role not as BIM manager) I kind of see it as a bit like project manager (ish), but you wouldnt want them messing with your structural drawings I could be wrong, and I'm sure in practice roles get blurry. As for the viewers, I'll admit to having little experience from that end (would love to get some if anyone knows of a good tutorial or something) but I do know that there are working projects out there who have successfully used them and there are some (generally very large) companies who saw the benefits early and have been using BIM for years so it must work.

Hello It sounds like a very sensible thing to do! Learning about BIM should be invaluable in the future. The main thing to remember is BIM is a process and VW and Revit and all the other packages are just tools involved in that process. The reason VW uses IFC is that this has been developed to be platform neutral so as to be accessible by all involved in a project - the basis of OpenBIM. Revit in my opinion are trying to make it seem as though you need only their products to achieve BIM, however its just not true. Not only do you not need everyone on the same software you dont want it! Its unlikely you want your plumber to be able to make design changes without your say so. IFC is a it like PDF, everyone can open it and extract information but only you can make changes. Also with the wide variety of software that can generate IFC the project BIM manager can merge your various models and do things like clash detection and energy analysis etc. What I would suggest it have a visit to the BuildingSMART website http://www.buildingsmart.org.uk Be wary of the various rants on forums - don't be afraid of BIM and realise that its not all or nothing (particularly in VW Architect) you can put as much or as little Information and Modelling into your projects as you deem necessary. The most important part is to collaborate!! The model may be pretty and the information may be bountiful but if you don't collaborate its all for nothing. You mentioned you an AT, me too! what region are you based in?

Oh I do apologise here it is in 2012