defjef

Thanks for the information. I have recently taken a position as a "senior" project architect with a midsized firm (?20 staff) and growing. They are producing their drawings in ACAD and are thinking of going into REVIT. The principal does not do any type of CAD, something I have noticed for architect's of that vintage (me) and rely on some IT person CAD manager to run produce the output. So far I may only have to do some details and no production work (red lining check prints) so I may draw in VW and export to ACAD or print them and let them draw them again (nuts) in their ACAD. I am wondering if this firm could actually change to VW efficiently. How do they handle the legacy docs and ACAD files which I assume are a voluminious. How do they retrain staff to do VW? Has anyone had experience where a firm who is about to move into BIM, object oriented, or 3D or some other level of CAD aside from 2D line to line production docs has done this successfully? Seems like there would be lots of inertia to overcome? Since firms do a lot of copy, paste and edit in order to be efficient, would changing platforms represent an inefficiency is this aspect as well? Are there "CAD Consultants" who can advise and manage such transitions?

What's Revit? Or what's the big deal about it? Can someone explain it in plain English? Sorry to ask here, but I want to know how it compares with VW. Thanks

OT, I have not been active on the forums for ages for all sorts of reasons, but one of them as been the meta issue, which I don't see addressed is getting real interoperability between CAD software. There has been an effort to keep chasing ACAD for better imports. It seems to me that this is still not going to give a one to one correspondence of the files. Some things are lost, compromised or "whacky" for lack of a better word. Since ACAD rules it seems that they are marching to the beat of their drum and VW is simply trying to provide an alternative, while giving import and "flawed" import/export capability. Is this ever going to change or get better? Is this capitalism and niche markets at play? Look at the implication of this compartmentalization of skills. How long does it take to be proficient in either of these CAD programs? How many do both equally well? How does one choose which one to invest their time and money in? For a young person who is setting out on a career, which product would you think would be more useful in the market place? Is anyone dealing with the implication, the meta issues here?

Software and PCs are tools for producing drawings. Drawings are used to communicate information, ideas, and instructions. Technology is seductive and addictive, but one needs to evaluate if the cost benefit has value to the objective. In one sense we are forced to keep updating because industry is not supporting older products and there are often no backwards/forward compatibility. When THAT happens we have no choice. And this is happening ALL the time. Apple did that with the OSX I believe... it is a guilf between generations of software and one is forced to abandon (or upgrade) lots of software to run on the current OS. It may be better, but the old products were working fine.. for the period when they were in play and highly touted at that! Rather than offer new huge programs, developers perhaps should use a modular approach so that users who don't need all the bells and whistles need not add these features... and those that want them can build them in. But I am not a software engineer and don't even know if this possible... even if it is conceivable.

The upgrade thing is a trap for all. Using software is about productivity and being able to share file formats with others. When you plot a drawing and issue it, to the person who uses the drawing, it matters not whether it was hand drawn, ACAD created or done by VW. What matters is that the document id readable and contains information. Architects and consulting engineers for some time have been exchanging documents in the form of file transfers. When everyone is using the same version of the software... no problem. This is no different than having a friend give you a record to use on your turntable (note the old technology reference). But today when we want to exchange music... we now have many many formats and media options. To be able to listen to music provided by others you need to be able to read their files, their format and their media. Like music using CAD to produce drawings one faces similar issues. Newer versions offer more features and supposedly productivity increases. But one is forced to get newer platforms / hardware / learn to do things a different way. These changes are meant to be advances, but for many they come at too high a price. A price in dollars and learning curves (time = money) As a sole practitioner, I would like improvements in productivity and connectivity. Interfacing to the ACAD universe remains the main "interface" problem. Older VW versions don't cut it. This problem should have been handled by some sort of module upgrade... like a file translator.. which would keep pace with ACAD versions. 3D modeling can be useful and powerful... and time consuming and getting the models to look good is probably a very expensive proposition... probably requiring lots of skill, experience, fast machines and lots of time. Is it worth it? For what size practice? I found that the VW approach was quite intuitive and enabled me to produce quality 2D drawings which is what I convey to others. I have not been doing the upgrades because my needs are being met by the VW8.52 version I am familiar with. I do miss effective the file transfer with ACAD. I don't have the luxury of time to mess around with upgrades... I need to be productive. This may be self limiting in the end... and as software advances older versions are unsupported, older hardware is unsupported and in the end we are forced to upgrade. But we do replace our cars and so on, so perhaps we must replace our hardware and software. Anyway MOST will do, but some make do very well with some of the more "basic" technology. Considering how much productivity and precision increase almost ANY CAD software represented over hand drawing, it may seem that the regular upgrades are not worth the cost and the effort. We got better at drafting over time, but CADing is almost relearning to draw again and again... And we knew that every 2 years... we are doing it all over again. Evolving the user interface seamlessly whilst adding features and power is the key. I am not sure VW has successfully done this and it may not be possible... I am not a software engineer. However, when I consider the upgrade to 12 and all the associated issues... it doesn't seem to make sense for MY work... despite the many appealing features. Does this make sense to anyone out there?

With all due respect Mr Andersen. That was not an answer to my question / problem. Of course I can buy an upgrade... but what happens to THAT file? When you import /open it in a newer version does the internal precison "improve"? If I don't buy an upgrade can this internal precision thingy be fixed. I notice now, when I look at some other files... many are .0000 some are .00... SO please explain why this changes and how it changes... Is it some command I use? Thanks. jef

So what is INTERNAL PRECISION and is it user resettable? And if so how do you do it?

mclaugh, Yes I did fiddle around in the OIP and with the UNITS setting in the drop down menu. I noticed that if I copy a layer from the .0 precision file... the one with the trouble... to a new file... the precision is back to something like .0000... and works fine. So the questions are: What IS internal precision? Is it user programmable? If so, how is this done? If this is NOT user progammable, what causes it to change? Thanks, Jef

I am working on a VW 8.52 file I have been developing for several years. Today I change layer scales a few times... some layer scales had been changed... perhaps by accident. Now when I put the scale back to where I want it 1/2"=1'0" I notice that the internal accuracy as displayed in the UNITS pull down is .0 and when I try to enter a circle with a diameter of 12.625" it shows the dimension in the OIP as 1'-1" This "problem" seems to be in THAT file only. Can this be fixed? Has the file gone bad on me? Can I copy and paste the layers to a new file and gain the precision back again?

Hey DefJef... follow the instructions and it will work. OK OK I figured it out... Thanks for your help Def

I just got a new PC and attempted to install 8.52 w/ architect which was the version I am using on the former PC. I began by installing 8.0... upgraded to 8.52. Now my memory fails... I think I popped in the Architect CD and then changed my workspace to archtitect. However.. when I try to use the door tool or the window tool I receive a message about missing plug-ins. What gives? How do I fix this problem? Thanks..

I am using vw8.52 and was wondering if it is possible to install a view and VW files on a memory stick and plug it into another computer and open the files... or does the viewer have to be installed on THAT computer? Which viewer is compatible with 8.53 files? Thanks

Why don't you copy the entire lower floor to a new layer.. the upper floor and delete all the elements which will not belong on the upper floor. You can do this by creating a copy and sending them to the new layer using the OIP.

If you upgrade to a new computer... can you use the same discs to load the program or is that a violation of the agreement... one license per machine?

In measuring exisiting buildings I try to use an dimensioning accuracy of 1/2" perhaps 1/4". Frame construction is rarely more precise than this. If you can measure between several rooms for an overall dimension, wall thickness can "reveal" themselves to a resonable accuracy. Because walls may be out of sqruare and out of plumb this level of dimension precision is usually acceptable. The Jan15 meathod is an excellent approach to drafting up an existing condition. You can even use his retangles as guides set on another layer or even deleted when on the same layer to lay walls, doors and window objects on. An overall exterior dimension can also be useful in working out the proper interior partition relationships, You may have do so some fudging on your drawing, but this is no less accurate than the actual building itself.

There very well may be some dual platform nav software...or even mac only ones, but not the products I am interested in are PC as far as I know. I am not familiar with the use of a dongle. Could someone explain this? Could I install one license on the laptop and a desk top...or it is one machine per license end of story do not pass go and so on?

I am about to upgrade to 11. from 8.52. I am currently using both PC and Mac versions on desktop machines, both about 6 yrs old... and working fine. My intention to get a PC laptop is to be able to work outside the home-office and take advantage of wireless connectivity to the WWW. The intention is to install the 11.5 on the laptop and use the larger flat panel monitor when working in the home office and use the old PC for back ups and legacy software files. I am leaning toward a PC and not a powerbook because some navigation software I intend to use is not MAC supported...and having additional navigation capability is a redundancy and would be prudent on the sailboat. So... What features/ specs do I want in this new laptop.... and which brands should I be looking at? And which ones should I steer clear of? I intend to get a wireless mouse... so recommendations would be handy there too. Thanks for your help in advance!

I dont know if this will behelpful.. but I am also a self taught user... I did by the Janis Kent book and I started with VW 7 and am now in VW 8.2 I think. A few years ago I was thinking about VW 10 so I attended a seminar in NYC. What I discovered was that I was already quite familiar with much of the program and what they were teaching about VW10 was very basic and I learned little. Most of the others attending were completely green with the program and maybe even green to CAD and the course was "pitched" toward new users. I left early and decided it was ... for me a waste of money, When I get a new PC I will also upgrade to the most current version... assuming that it is reviewed as stable. I am doing quite well with 8 and you can hardly miss what you never knew. My main concerns are moving files back and forth between older and newer versions EASILY and the learning curve for the new "workspace" and set of tools. If the changes are incremental... the later may not require much retraining. I would like to hear from others who have had to face the leap and how the landing was.

If you upgrade to vw 11, and open older files... such as vw 8.52... are they converted to vw 11? Does a vw 8 version of the opened file remain which can be used again in VW8.. or once opened in vw 11, you cannot move back again? Please elaborate...

Cant you do a series of undos to get back to where things went bonkers?

Katie, Obviously something is new or something old went bad . I did install the HP488ca and a Ricoh200 as printers. And I have had all sorts of crashes... even with Word. The work around is an annoyance.. but I know how to get it to work... Re start... I'll try to update drivers and mess with he firewall... as I wait for a clean new VW to upgrade to.. and I may do it with a new PC... so everything is clean... defjef

Recently my VW 8.52 has been freezing when I try to launch the program. I can often get around this by quiting WeatherBug and Zone Alarm... or launching VW when nothing else is running. The error message is Runtime Lbrary C++ Error. I have to force a quite with the task manager as nothing on the VW screen is accessible... Any clues on a fix VW 8.52 Windows ME 512 mb thanks defjef

Katie, I believe this "problem" just appearded one day.. long after Zone Alarm was up and running. Could it be that somehow not enough memory is available load VW? At the moment I am working in VW, via Verizon DSL with the Zone Alarm on. I then quit VW... and now I cannot launch it.. I have to use the task manager to escape and get a message about abnormal program termination... To get VW going I quit Zone Alarm and then I can load VW. Do you think there is some preference setting on the Firewall trhat I could change to let VW start whenever? thanks defjef

Are there any know imcompatiblity issues with the combination of WinXP + VW 8.52 + HP 488CA? I have developed some software conflicts with VW + Win ME which cause complete VW freeze and am thinking of upgrading. Thnks

Is there a difference in performance using the parallel, seriel or 10base T ports on the plotter?