Jonathan Pickup

http://web.mac.com/jpickup1/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

what about the curved roof in my podcast?

be patient, NNA sent out information in January about the ability to run VectorWorks 12 on Intel Macs (it?s not recommended) and in that information they noted that they were surprised that Apple released the machines so early. expect your VectorWorks to run better when it becomes a Universal binary app.

there is a technique that may work to recover adamaged file. you can use the WorkGroup Reference command to link your old file to a new one. if this works then you can recover the damaged file. If you go to: http://www.archoncad.co.nz/resources/resources.php then you should find a tip called How to Save a Corrupt File download this file and try it out

I think that the Organization dialog box will be able to do this for you. There is an option for visibilities where you can select a class and then choose all the viewports that you want to change the class visibility on. So you could choose all the viewports together on the Organization dialog box and then check the classes and layers that are visible for those viewports. I often copy viewports where I want two the same...

i agree with Christiaan, we NEED to have some way to turn off the components of the wall. We don?t need to hide all the internal components, we need to B.A. able to leave just the structural part, or we need to be able to assign classes to the wall components so that we can turn off the insulation, or cladding or wall lining...

yes, you can have a separate assignment in each viewport, you need to have classes for each part that you want to control separately.

I also think you should upgrade and use the newer versions of VectorWorks. VectorWorks has not just become more complex, it?s become more powerful, and has come a long way since version 8. The viewports are very powerful and can greatly speed up your drawing. I believe that you should keep your computers and software up to date. These are the tools of your trade and need to be kept sharp.

you can make tiles from drawn objects, but you need VectorWorks Architect or Designer..

Or even better, use Section viewports to show the land as well...

if you use viewports to make your elevations, then you can edit the lineweights of the classes to adjust the line weights and line styles. So the things that you need to adjust need to have a class assigned to them. A detailed example of this and how to make the corrections in is my Essential Manual..

I usually work with the Snap to Grid turned off because I always use the Data Display Bar to control the size of the objects I'm creating, or I control the objects (like rectangles and circles) by double clicking on the tool. This keeps my objects the size I want. When I'm dimensioning I make sure that the Snap to Grid is off, so that I am sure that my dimensions are going to the object (make sure that Snap to Object is turned on). I also keep the sound on so that I can be sure that I have snaped to my objects, keep the screen hints on that you can see that VectorWorks is snapping to the object, snap to the end or corner of an object (never it?s edge) and turn on Associative Dimensioning so that if you change the shape or size of the object the dimension will update for you.

If you use the export image file you have several options: File > Export > Export Image File... This method will savve your image is several different file types including Photoshop. you can choose the resolution (dots/inch) to improve the quality. I?d use Photoshop with indesign. That way you can edit the Photoshop version and inDesign will update the link.

now you can safely run VectorWorks on a dual core Intel Mac...

Have you switched off the Show Default Content in the VectorWorks Preferences?

the standard roof is fairly powerful and can be edited either by double clicking on on it (to edit a roof plane) or you can reshape it with the 2D Reshape tool. When you can?t edit the roof enough that way, ungroup the roof and then edit the individual roof faces...

Can someone confirm whether these are part of Landmark? - Create Joists from Polygon - Roof Framer - Rafter tool - Wall Styles

objects from polyline creates walls using the last wall style, you have to make sure that you choose the wall stlyeyou want beore you use that command. The walls from polygon gives you a little more control over the walls, allowing you to change the wall height, thickness and class assignment of the new wall. It?s easier to figure out the new wall position relative to the ploygon, so for most people it?s easier and faster to use.

I recommend that you have as many drawings as possible in one file: [*]Have one layer for each storey of the building, and separate the information on each layer using classes (similar to layers in AutoCAD). [*]Use viewports and sheet layers to make drawings (like paperspace in AutoCAD).

the answer lies in how you want to assign responsibility to the staff. WGR (workgroup referencing) allows you to link files together, but you must be careful with the strategy that you use. If you one architect on each building then dividing the project up into buiidings is fine, but if it?s one big building that won?t work. Divide the project up by people?s area of responsibility.

the Create Walls From Polygon command is still there in the basic workspace : Modify > Create Walls From Polygon The command is not in the Architect workspace, but you can add it yourself, I did...

and download the file that Travis advises, I've used that technique several times to save a corrupt VectorWorks drawing

you can have space between the windows, and as symbols they could still be edited later

i think you have to convert the angle to degrees as well.

combine all the windows into one symbol