Skia_D

Still another Service Pack release, and still an often used tool bug has not been fixed. Seriously?!?

Thanks for the reply, but I'm thick and I don't follow completely. Do "it" and "VB-127988" refer to a known bug, and you're saying you don't know why this one hasn't been fixed yet? If so, I'd like to know what you find out, and when we could expect a fix.

OK, I really would like some help with this. I just upgraded to 2017 and see that the problem persists. Did "Create Roof" become a Legacy tool sometime back and I somehow missed it? I've found this tool quite helpful, but it is much less so when you can't use the bearing inset. Please... a little help someone.

I just downloaded SP6 of VW2016. Four or five service packs ago I discovered the Bearing Inset option on the Create Roof tool was not working. I called Service Select and was told they were aware of that. I've been hoping with each SP the Bearing Inset option would be fixed. But nope, it hasn't been. I haven't upgraded to 2017 yet, but wonder: Is this tool just not important enough for anyone to care? Has the Create Roof tool been completely revised for 2017 such that Bearing Inset isn't even an option, or does Bearing Inset work again in VW2017? This kind of inattention on Vectorwork's part is somewhat troubling to me.

Thanks, Tim. Works for me. Interesting that something like this hasn't been fixed for 4 versions worth of VW.

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of these white line edges around "door openings" which show up in various RW modes (see attached image). That's a Door object in a wall set as a "Door Opening" (uncased drywall opening). Thanks.

mjw: Why do you add hatches in viewports? If I'm understanding why you might, I would respond that I used to do that, but when I learned that the hatches can be applied directly to the model that's all I ever do now. For example, in 2D elevation viewports it was always so cumbersome to apply a brick hatch to a wall behind deck posts because it'd be multiple brick hatch polygons/polylines rather than the one applied directly to the wall surface, with the posts obscuring in the 2D viewport (which I think is what zoomer is describing with applying hatches to RW materials—is that right, zoomer?) But maybe you have other reasons. I'm (almost!:-) always ready to learn something new.

Thanks, Grant and Zoomer. I guess I'm sold. Yup, I figured I might add the additional 8G RAM my machine can take. And the samples in the Vectorworks in Action forum (not the Gallery), esp. the most recent ones by David S, seem to be at that next level I'd like to get to. Lack of shadow-casting has been one of the biggest limitations in my current design toolkit. I and my clients will appreciate that feature.

OK, I think I'm almost talked into it. Final question (I think!): will my machine specs handle it OK? The hatches add a fair amount to file size. I keep almost everything contained in one .vwx file (the model on Design layers, with Sheet layers with viewports of all the plans, elevations, sections, etc. It's just me doing the work so one file works best. My typical file size is in the 80 to 110MB size and for the most part walkthroughs, flyovers, etc. of the fully detailed model render well and quickly enough (only occasional crashes or freezes). Do you think trading out the hatches for textures will help in this respect? (FWIW, I usu. wait to upgrade to the current VW until after at least one service pack has been released, and will upgrade to El Capitan at the same time.)

Thanks for the responses. Questions: What does "UW" mean? User W____? zoomer: What do you use to "do Visualization outside of VW completely"? And when you say it "is just that the usability is far more tedious that it had to be, some problems/bugs and some strange special behaviors in RW design that I can't tolerate," wouldn't all of that mean that it ultimately might take longer to do things in RW vs. the use of hatches applied on Layer Planes? And, not having really looked into RW, I had the impression that photorealism was attainable without having to add on other software packages. Not so? If this is the case, then when I look at examples on Nemetschek's website, are these renderings done with RW PLUS something else? If so, can anyone show me any 3D examples of what RW does without that PLUS something?

First, I know that there's a specific Renderworks forum, but my question has more to do with workflow efficiency within a residential design context. So I'm thinking folks who pay particular attention to this specific forum might have the best answers to my questions. Since there is currently a great Service Select promotion to add Renderworks I'm finally seriously considering adding it, but I need to know if it would really be a value add to my particular business, which is residential design services to folks generally in the mid- to upper middle class strata. These folks typically would rely on either stock plans or builder plans for their homes rather than pay the typical fees of licensed architects. I offer them design services at a rate they would find palatable. Over the years I've refined my VW techniques to a workflow which works well for me and more importantly, my clients and their builders. I'm able to give them a deep understanding of what they are going to build, using, of course, many of the 3D tools, and adding hatches on layer planes in lieu of textures. See Webpage Samples, and esp. the first two images to give you an idea of how I currently present. So, all that said, here are my questions (there's really only one, in multiple components): 1) Will Renderworks speed up the process, since I won't have to add hatches? 2) The hatches work great for me in the construction drawings elevations. Would Renderworks elevations work as well, or would I still have to create the hatches anyway, in order to get the linework and "crispness" typically associated with construction drawings and what builders are familiar with? 3) In other words, is Renderworks more a visualization tool limited to preliminary and design development stages, and to sell a project or one's firm? Or can it successfully be integrated into the whole construction document process? If the answer to the very last question is yes, can any of you quickly point me to some image examples? I'd love to add Renderworks and move more to photorealism, but given my clientele and business model I'd need a good reason to justify the added expense. All the better if it does speed up the workflow.

Yup, good tip, and I do that. Just somehow missed this particular tool. The "Migrate Workspace" procedure is definitely problematic in this regard.

Thanks, Peter. That's what I'm talking about! Under what version was that added? I use a custom workspace and must have overlooked that on an upgrade.

Thanks, Josh, Yes, using a symbol is quicker than re-creating it each time, but I wonder whether it can be done even quicker with a keyboard shortcut? After all there's ? and ?, for example. You'd think there'd be a centerline symbol.

Is there a centerline symbol available whether in VW or via Mac fonts/keyboard characters? You know the 'L' laying on top of the 'C' a little down and to the right? It's a hassle to have to create your own.

I did a couple days ago. Also had calls/email exchanges with them starting last week on other issues as alluded to above. More silence. Who is "Tech"? I've seen numerous posts from him or her (and I remember Katie from way back). Is it my misunderstanding that they are part of Nemetschek tech support?

Wow. The silence is deafening. Is this a normal response (or lack thereof)?esp. from tech support?for a problem like mine?

Well, I've done complete machine diagnostics, PRAM reset, checked with Apple (no, my particular card card is not known to have issues?confirmed by a client who knows his Macs and did an independent check), full reinstall of VW2011, so I'm left with a completely unusable product and going back to 2010 until I can find an answer. So, I upgraded to a product that according to Nemetschek is supposed to work on my machine, but it doesn't. Needless to say I am greatly put out. Incidentally, and not knowing if this is related, but when I install VW, the VW2011 folder in the >Application Support directory isn't just named "2011"?it has a ".noindex" added after it. I asked tech support about this. They said it just happens sometimes; they don't know why, but don't worry about it. A little help...? Anyone?... Anyone?...

So, Ive got a weird thing going on with Open GL, and hope someone can help. I'm going to reference two other posts as I wonder if the problem is related. I just didn't find my answer in either of those discussions. I've also talked with tech support and no solution has been found. The two posts are: http://techboard.vectorworks.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=147857&page=1 http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=21909&Number=102225 I'm starting with a very basic 2011 file with a first floor plan (walls, floors, cabinets, a few plug-ins, a few symbols) in a design layer ("D-1st"). I also have a viewport of this plan in another design layer ("D-Model"), which is where I go to look at the model without all the annotations (I do dimension and annotate my plans in the design layer). When I create, say, a left isometric view while the D-1st is active, and Open GL render, it takes painfully long to render. The blues bars cycle through "Geometry" & "Build List", after which the model stays in wireframe until I activate the flyover tool and actually click the mouse to flyover. Then it switches to Open GL, but sometimes even then only after cycling through "Render" & Image" in the progress bar, or I get the spinning wheel. If, however, I go to my D-Model layer and look at the viewport version, left isometric, for example, the Open GL generates quickly as I have been used to. I exported the file to 2010 and don't have the problem. I also stripped the file of all plug-ins and symbols. There is a noticeable change in speed, but I still get the cycling and the Open GL render doesn't render immediately. I made sure my rendering settings/prefs were consistent from 2010 to 2011, and did everything else tech support suggested (e.g. turning off anti-aliasing; getting rid of log-in items). My iMac and particular graphic card are supposedly adequate for VW's system requirements. As you can see I don't have Renderworks. Any ideas what else I could do to troubleshoot? I have a suspicion it is graphic card related but how do I test. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies, all. Makes sense.

I've used VW for over 10 years but never bothered to explore/use this feature. Can someone quickly explain the purpose of or why it would be in my interest to use Layer Colors? Or at least provide a link to a good explanation with examples. The Manual/VW Help just says how to, not why. Thanks!

Well, after working with the creator of BeamChek and the CrossOver people I can definitively say BeamChek does not work with CrossOver. Final Answer. Since BeamChek is the only PC/Windows software I have need for, I'm going to get myself another cheap used laptop (which I have done with my old BeamChek) so I don't have to get stuck in the endless round of updates with the emulation software.

Again, thanks all for the input. At this point I'm going to try BeamChek with CrossOver. I'll let you all know if it works. You'll have to wait a week or so for my report as BeamChek 2010 will be available then.

Thanks for these other two suggestions, Miguel & bcd. bcd: Have you run BeamChek with CrossOver? Per Codeweavers website, BeamChek is an untested application which may or may not run with CrossOver. Miguel: do you have specific experience with VirtualBox and BeamChek running on a Mac? If so, any comments? And for anyone: of the five suggestions, do I understand right that Boot Camp, Parallels, VMWare Fusion, and VirtualBox all require installing a licensed copy of Windows, while CrossOver does not? And do I understand right that these are the five options I have for running BeamChek on my Mac?

Thanks, tguy. Looks like I'll go the Boot Camp/Windows 7 route. So, where do you get Windows 7 for 100?? 150 is the best I could find.