thinkingpencil

Hi Pat, I hope this feedback is helpful to all. You were correct in saying some work had to be done in connection with fixed choice menus. I enjoyed exploring this. And thank you for your introduction to Vector Scripting, another fascinating room to explore in the complex fun-palace of Vectorworks! So with your help I created the worksheet needed including one workaround:- ='I-Beam - 3D'.'Length' returned lengths as needed for all series types and sizes. ='I-Beam - 3D'.'__series_2' returned series types with correct differentiation. So for data base rows generated by one criterion containing a mix of series types, AISC (Metric) and BSI (Joists) , the appropriate types appeared in the column with this function. I assume use of the numeral 2 in the function corresponds to the second field providing the fixed choice menue in the OIP? ='I-Beam - 3D'.'__size_2' returned the correct sizes of series type 2 beams (AISC (Metric)), but an apparently random default size for any beam of another series type, regardless of its size..... .....so I used datebase criteria and a record format as a workaround to re-order my worksheet into separate groups of rows. Each group with one series type. Then for each group, e.g. of AISC (Metric) sections, I used the appropriate function :- So ='I-Beam - 3D'.'__size_2' for AISC (Metric) and ='I-Beam - 3D'.'__size_3' for BSI (Joists). Maybe there is a function including "if" ..."then" etc (Boolean?) which includes more than one numeral to return differentiated sizes within rows generated by one data base rule set..... ....breaking out now then will try to earn some fees!! PS El Segundo looks warm! Cold and damp here, ideal for silk weaving which is how Macclesfield developed economically in the nineteenth century.

Apologies, Dear Pat !! (caught up now on sleep missed last night..!)

Dear Paul, thank you so much for helping me. I would have replied earlier. But I am in Macclesfield, UK, time difference etc. ( I posted late last night now it's early morning). From my searches I believe I understand the concept and detail you clearly explain. So I'll look forward to progressing. Thank you for offering to help more if needed. Incidentally I am an ambitious VWX user and a great admirer of it, and of all who give their time generously on the Forum.

Is there a function to show the series, size and length of, for example, an I-Beam (3D) in a worksheet column? And for other steel sections . I cannot find one anywhere in Forum posts. I have successfully listed the steel I-beams, tubes etc and shown these attributes by using record formats, manually. But there must be an automatic method? I am probably missing something obvious! Any help gratefully recieved.

In Jim's Knowledge Base list of window functions for worksheets I cannot find "Overall Window Area". Is there such a function to return the elevational area of the window? For now I use the obvious workaround :WindowWidth*WindowHeight. Before using this workaround I was using the function "Area" . This returns a value for each window in my database worksheet. But the value is larger, though not much, than Width*Height. I guess Area is too simplistic for using with the 3D Window object , being normally for 2D objects. PS I am finding VWX2016 a truly rewarding experience!

Hello all, I am looking for an application to calculate C02 emissions and thermal fabric transmission rates (U-values)using objects in VWX. So the application would have a similar interaction with VWX as Sketchup with Sefaira. Is anyone using such an application additional to REVIT? Maybe I should just design clever Worksheets using first principles from the science?

Thank you again Jim. I really appreciate your time. As you can see I have just edited my first reply, having understood and solved the problem in a calm moment off the timesheet. Off to celebrate with Bourbon now (its 22.53 here way back East).

Thank you Jim. I will upgrade. (About time!).... ....I since analysed my VWX file after failing to print to paper too. One part of my drawing had an unusually high number of objects by a factor of 100's. Turns out I misused the "Move by Points" tool in "Distribute" mode. So I had many many overlaid instances of the same line ( whilst drawing bed joints in masonry ). Obviously my hardware and pdf software couldn't handle this absurd number of objects hidden in an apparantly simple drawing. Maybe just stick to duplicate array in future?! Or learn to use the freaking tools properly.

Hello everyone from Macclesfield, UK! I use VWX Fundamentals SP5 Build 150875. Can't print to pdf from one collection of viewports which make up my drawing:permanent hanging; tried several different pdf apps. But another collection for drawing 2, different vports, prints OK. I can export 1 & 2 to .jpg as a work around. But I prefer the file size and quality of .pdf. All my other VWX files print OK. All comments welcome, thank you for reading.