matto

Robert, Stipple is really good for what it does. To me, at this stage stipple's limits outweigh it's benefits in the application suggested. On saying that everybody should still give it a try, it does have some really good uses when drawing. But would I love to see stipple style hatches in a future version [ 03-06-2005, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: iboymatt ]

Good thing you where only joking.... I was being to think you might be an Engineer?!?! :-P

We don't see the problem of VW files not showing as VW across the network. We do see the same problem when we go back to Archive Disks which where burnt on the older os9 system, although all the files on these disked show up as unix exec. (with the exception of DWG files which are generally tagged with the right extension). If we manually add the .mcd to vectorworks files taken from the cd's the computer will then display the file correctly. For some reason even the updated VW still doesn't tag the files on the MAC with the extension as well as the old style type data. It seem this can cause problems when the data travels.

On the server machine in the network Preference, Check if Windows file sharing is switched on. If so, try turning it off and reconnecting to the server to see if this fixes your problem. If you need windows file sharing then check if the extension ".mcd" is on the vectorworks files. Even on Mac Os X it's a good idea to have the extension in the file name. (you can use Finder Preference's Advanced to show or hide file extensions).

I think these would be important improvements for this tool.

If you don't mind the whole hatched object disappearing. You can use a visiblity script. Organise-->Custom Visability... which allows all objects with a particular hatch to go invisible. Once you make the script you can copy it be part of the saved views set ups.

Unless you turn your reflective disc and light into a symbol that sits on the surface of the wall and doesn't break the wall. in the symbol edit option, select "insertion option" click "on edge" and "no breaks" That way the lights will follow the walls, without punching square openings.

If we Had say "wall system" tool or plug in object type, that could handle the wall openings and the like, but allowed for the wall to made up of a collection of wall skins or gridded objects. This would be of big benefit for all those common other wall type such as log, straw, metal panelling, glass,..... It would also allow for more interesting forms of the standard construction methods.

If the process can be so ease to write on this message board, It's screaming for a Script.

How about "Vectorworks Log"? as the file is called on the mac version. It's odd that you can't file, as the file will always generate new if you delete the file or move it to another folder. hint: once it know its' working - it's good thing to get in the habbit or get the computer to once a month move the log file to another folder and rename it for the month. Those log file can get very long.

Our office runs osX.3 and vectorworks 11 on machines running 256mb- 512mb generally, with few issues. In mac os x memory warnings can be a sign that the maintaince scripts of the mac's unixy core are not running regularly. Couple of things had help this - leave your computers on over night at least on weekdays. - or resert the scripts to run durring what would be the office lunch time. (not that you tend to notice them running in the background) If you search versiontracker for "crontab" you should find a utility for changing the timing. or you can search macosxhints.com or www.oreillynet.com and get your hands dirty in terminal. (normal disclaimers apply)

The Log should be a textfile in the Vectorworks folder. As soon as you turn "log Time in Program" on in the vectorworks prefernces the file should be created. If you can't see the file check you have turned on the Logging.

I remember this being post in the vector-script section of this forum http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000331 On reading i though it sounds like this guy is using VW to design Hot Air Balloons or something equally cool. He might be worth contacting in getting VW to work with tensile structures. Matt O [ 01-10-2005, 10:14 PM: Message edited by: iboymatt ]

A vector oddness, that can be annoying... Is double clicking the page move tool icon will move the orgin without you realising. We found this happened alot with very one swearing black and blue that they didn't move the orgin or the page, yet WGR layers moving all over the place. If there are other explaination would be keen to here as well. matt

Jim, Simple question. Did you eject the Keydrive from your desktop before removing it from the the computer you loaded the information on to the drive? Sometimes if you just unplug before ejecting it the directory data isn't writen properly, and the files won't work.

The other option for point 5. Where there double click edit brings up a dialogue box with options. Could these options be added to the contextual menu for the items in question? Then the you should also be able to select a default behaviour from the list for a double click. Also Could "design view" be added to the option. so that when selected it would bring you not only to the layer but would adjust the layer and class setup to reflect that of the viewport.

Jan15, you raise a good point... as well as being able to grey other objects while in groups. it would be good in this case and generally to have a grey/snap others mode. personnelly i think it's more useful if the greying is something that can be done automatically when entering the group. matt

Marietta, I find cut and paste of viewports works very well. You can even paste in place to get the plan drawings to line up on different sheet layers. matt

You say you have 3 of the same setup. So i guess you have tried mixing the setups to see if you can isolate if it is a particular piece of equipement. A couple of thoughts, VW being this a carbon app and quite Graphically intensive could be why the issue is only showing up with vectorworks. We have a similar setup powerbook in the office, sometimes the power management gets a bit confused and trys to keep running in battery power mode even if it's pluged in to power. But it to me sounds like the convertor box, seems like the most likey weak link. maybe second would be a dirty or loose connection to the vga port on the powerbook.

Live Sections means basicely that a majority of work can be done in 3D. after all sections are vertical sections plans are horizonal sections elevations are just a section taken just outside the building. also, diminishing line thicknesses. so objects further from the section plane have lighter line weights. then we can produce highly professional drawings from a model.

have you tryed "=Xcenter" , "=Ycenter", "=Zcenter" in the columns of the database (check the paste function for spelling)

Maybe NNA could team up with one of the resources websites like vectordepot, and release the benchmarking VectorScripts they mention in the article at www.architosh.com. That way we as a user base could test our own systems and get someone to collect the results to answer these sorts of questions. It would be much easier for us as a diverse user base to test the variety of systems needed to produce good results. Also we could then use the script to test system upgrades before office wide upgrades and the like. Also new system would quickly show up the the benchmarks.

I guess this is similar to what happens to me on Mac OsX. (yes I've repair perm's, run maintenance scripts). I tell VW to Quit it saves perfectly, and all seems normal till system tells me "vectorworks has unexpectedly quit"

This is just one of those sort of annoying interface things, more than any real technical wish. Would it be possible to change (by user preference hopefully) the layout of the Layers drop down. to me the best option would be two separate drop-downs for design and sheet layers. but being able to switch which order they appear the the current drop-down would handy. I know there both called layers, but in practice they don't really seem to be related enough to be in the same menu. [ 09-29-2004, 01:25 AM: Message edited by: iboymatt ]

Eric, Sadly at this stage you can't rotate the 2d view with out rotating the data (well... or turn the screen over;-) ). Thou i think it glue allot of the other tools together, and seems like it would address your improvements to layer links. [ 09-28-2004, 10:21 PM: Message edited by: iboymatt ]