Kevin

Kurt; In response to your question about color printing. I decided to put everything to the test. I ran a plot in color and it worked fine. Here is what I did. On the G4 running OSX, I took a file that was drawn in VW8 and opened it in VW9 under OSX. I saved it and sent it over ethenet to the G3 that is running OS9. On my Powerbook running OSX I opened the file over an Airport connection. I set it to print in color. The file went over the Airport to the router through ethernet to the HP JetDirect Print Server to the 455ca. The sheet plotted as expected. The purpose of all these gymnastics was to simply see if flexibility existed in using different OS's and network connections. A file created on one computer and sent directly to the plotter seems to work just as fine. This news is with mixed blessing. I want to thank you for your help. Thanks to you and the others, I now have what appears to be worry-free printing and plotting. I am sorry that you are having difficulties. I hope that my experience is good news for you in that we know that it can work. I will be happy to answer any questions that I can for you. Kevin

I have a model of three linked layers: 1st Floor, 2nd Floor, Roof. I set the model in side view and used the Convert Copy to Lines command. The resulting image has curvature lines only on the 2nd floor. Both 1st and 2nd floors have a single round column. On the 2nd floor the column renders with vertical lines that indicate the curvature. However the column on he first floor has no such lines. As far as I can tell, all layers have been set up the same. Any ideas?

Hi Kurt; I am sorry this is still not working for you. I know the feeling. Here are the answers to your questions: Plotting: I have only tried black and white on the plotter. On my Epson 880 color works fine. Window Shade: I miss that too, but I found an acceptable work around. I place all three pallets on the right and they overlap, but a part of each is always visible. If I click on any pallet it comes to the front. My object info pallet is sized for the full height of the screen.If I need the resource pallet I simply click on the edge of it and it comes to the front. Plotter Weirdness: If my plotter starts to act up, I turn it off for a minute and then restart it. This has always cleared up any problem. I have never had the paper cutter act as you describe. OS: 10.2.3 455CA: It is a D size and hooked up the the print server that shipped with the product. Special Setting: I may have set it when I first got it in 1998. But I have never tinkered with the settings if that means printing a scantron sheet and filling in the ovals like when I took my SAT in high school. Version of GimpPrint: 4.2.4 I will be printing later today and will try to do so in color. I will let you know the results. By the way, you mentioned Doodle. Does this work in OSX?

It would be useful to have a separate checkbox under document preferences to allow redlines to print in red when the black and white only option is checked.

I plot my drawings in black and white on a color plotter. Is there a way to allow the redlines to plot in red? I have my document preference set to black and white. This would make the redlines much more effective. Righ now I am considering plotting and then taking a red pen to the plots.

Peter; Thanks for the info.

Serena & Peter; If you have time, it would be interesting and helpful to know the particulars of the corruption. How did you and Apple determine what the problem was? Thanks.

Rendering in Open GL works fine until I pan the image. When panned, the image turns into a multi-hued series of parallel lines that reminds me of a Peter Max painting from the 70's. Another symptom is that the single image breaks into multiple images that are also garbled. Any ideas on what to do? Mac G4, OS 9.2, VW 9.5.2. Video card is ATI Rage 128 pro as supplied by Apple with ATI drivers that install with the OS 9.2.2.

Whenever I get unexpected behaviour that repeats I run Norton Disk Doctor. Almost always there is some disk problem that needs fixing. After the fix, the problem goes away. I probably run Disk Doctor ten times a year.

Kurt; I applaude you and the other intrepid visionaries who are trying to get this new software to work. For me I am still using the HP RIP and OS9.2 and LaserWriter 8. I did once have a problem with the size of the output image. It turns out that there are two places for scaling. One is the usual scale field under page set up. But there is another one hiding under a Vectorworks pull down tab in the same window. This was set to other than 100% and is what was giving me grief. Godspeed to all of you software pioneers.

I do not understand the suggestion of using the keypad. Sure, this allows quick change of views of the model. But how does it allow editing of the model? The model, (at least my model), is a series of layer links to Mod layers. I need to be able to work on the Mod layers and see the results in real-time in an elevation view and/or section, and/or isometric. Ideally I would be able to edit any view and have that change reflect globally. How about being able to grab a door in the model and move it and have the section view and the floor plan view reflect that change. MikeB: You seem to have a system that works for you. I do not understand it from your description. Would you like to explain how this works? Perhaps this is a solution that would help the rest of us.

Andy; I feel like a kid on Christmas morning! I just downloaded the tool and added it to my workspace. This is exactly what I have wanted and needed for years. It works perfect! Thank you for your help. Kevin

Is there a way to place a locus point at the centerpoint or half-way point of two locations that I select? I know that there is a centerpoint tool. And I know that polygons and lines will have cursor cues for center. But what if I place two loci in space and want to place a loci centered between the two?

In the position button, you can let the program do the math. If you want to move a door 3 inches, then just type +3 after the number already in the cell. To move in the other direction, type -3.

Giovanni I agree with you on the issue of needing to add more information in terms of text and lines by hand. I cannot see any automatic proceedure for that. Especially in terms of presentation drawings. Often artwork is added to presentations that will not be present in the working drawings. What I expect is the following: 1. I expect to be able to see multiple views of the model at the same time on the same screen. 2. I expect those views to be linked and all editable. This way I can work on the elevation and see those changes reflected on the floor plan. Or work on a section and have those changes reflected in the model. Right now I am designing a house in cross section. The heights of the floors and roofs are critical. But now when I move a roof in section I am not moving it on the model. I still have to go to the Mod-Roof layer and move the roof element manually so that it is accurate in the model. This is what computer automation should be doing for me. 3. I expect sections to behave the same way the floor plans do now. Why can't the sections have fills and hatches like a floor plan? Why should I have to trace over them to add shading? After all a floor plan is nothing more than a section taken horizontally. 4. I do not expect VW to read my mind in terms of how I want line weights, etc. We are artists and as such will want to express our own presentation techniques. I simply want the model to talk to the component views. As suggested I will take a look at the same topic under the Wish List.

BiplabNNA; Glad to hear it. I hope you can deliver before I jump ship.

Robert; I have the VW10 demo disk that was mailed to me by NNA. Will I be able to see how this function works by use of the demo?

jnr Thanks for your input. I feel better knowing that I am not alone in my struggle. Sounds like we are thinking very much alike. I was ready to make Archicad my first CAD purchase but was talked out of it. I was told that Minicad was just as good and cheaper. Your "inside knowledge" of a possible future release is exciting and does bring hope. How is it you would know of this? [ 12-10-2002, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: Kevin ]

Robert: Thank you for the reply. Where is the Model View Tool? Does it exist in VW 9.5? My experience with elevations is that the model is never complete enough for a finished elevation. I set each view of the model and then do a Convert Copy to Line. This is then pasted onto my Elevation Sheet. I then have to ungroup and edit the image to add missing lines and delete added lines. The process of creating the model is often tedious without viewports. I have to draw it in plan, then switch to a side view to see if the height is right. Often times it is just easier to fake it by drawing on the elevation what does not actually exist in the model. I would love to have an acurate model in all respects. That would allow for the layer linking of elevations and creation of renderings at any time of any view. Creating that accurate model by constantly switching between plan view and side view and isometric view and cutting sections to see the effect is just too much work. I need multiple views at once that update in real time. That is why I love Excel spreadsheets. I can create complex iterconnected formulas. When I change one value, all of the formulas update and give me real time feedback on the change. I do not hesitate to experiment because the results are so effortless and quick. If I had to manually recalculate tens of formulas by hand I would not be inclined to experiment with alternate values. Likewise I am not eager to experiment with my VW designs. I cut lots of sections so that I can see my design. But the penalty is that if I make a change to the model then I have to manually recalculate all of those sections, (and elevations). Learning to draw on the computer was fun, but now the honeymoon is over. I need more.

This is a copy of a post I made under the 3D Solids Forum: I just learned what a "viewport" is. This is my number one wish for VW. The lack of viewports is what keeps me looking at other software for solutions. The only thing that keeps me from leaving VW for a software program with viewports, is the dread of having to re-learn a new software program. I also understand that some software programs have dynamically linked elevations and sections. I currently have a project where I have cut 9 sections. The floor plan has changed and I am now faced with redrawing all 9 of those sections. This is what I would have to do if I were hand-drafting. I expect more from a computer program. I expect VW to dynamically change all of those sections for me. Likewise I will have to redraw all of the exterior elevations since they do not update automatically either. VW 10 does nothing to address my actual needs for my business. I will either wait for VW 11 or find another program. If these issues are not provided in VW 11 I know that I will be forced to switch to another program that does.

I just learned what a "viewport" is. This is my number one wish for VW. The lack of viewports is what keeps me looking at other software for solutions. The only thing that keeps me from leaving VW for a software program with viewports, is the dread of having to re-learn a new software program. I also understand that some software programs have dynamically linked elevations and sections. I currently have a project where I have cut 9 sections. The floor plan has changed and I am now faced with redrawing all 9 of those sections. This is what I would have to do if I were hand-drafting. I expect more from a computer program. I expect VW to dynamically change all of those sections for me. Likewise I will have to redraw all of the exterior elevations since they do not update automatically either. VW 10 does nothing to address my actual needs for my business. I will either wait for VW 11 or find another program. If these issues are not provided in VW 11 I know that I will be forced to switch to another program that does.

I know nothing of Autocad. What is a Viewport?

Kurt; I am sorry about your drive belt. You did however make me feel better. A few months ago I bought a drive belt for my 455 to have "just in case". I did not know if anything could go wrong with a drive belt. Now I don't feel so stupid having a spare drive belt sitting next to my 455. Let us know how the repair goes. I am interested to know how easy it is to replace.

Thank you Katie. However Mark@Custom refers to this function in VW 9.5.2. Is this function only available in VW 10 or is it indeed available in 9.5.2? [ 11-22-2002, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Kevin ]

Where in the program may I find "Smoothing Angle Function"?