Chris Fleming

For me it would depend on what I was detailing. If it was a detail of something that was not in the plan view (say a foundation detail), I'd create a new layer for it, and then use a viewport to place it on the sheet I wanted. If it was an enlarged view of an area of something in the plan (say a complicated corner where multiple walls came together), I'd duplicate the existing viewport, edit the crop, and change the scale of the duplicated viewport. I'm probably wrong in how I use VW, but I use classes for actual objects within the drawing, and layers for walls. For instance, I use a layer for Existing Walls. I'll split the walls where they are being eliminated or shortened, then place those portions of the walls onto a layer I call Demo'd Walls. I then add a layer called New Walls, to place any new construction walls on. This method gives me the ability to show the various layers using visible, invisible, and greyed to create Sheets for Existing, Demolition, and Construction plans. Windows and doors are then placed on the appropriate layer as well. All other objects, cabinetry, cabinetry doors, room moldings, floors, ceilings, lighting, and so on, get classed so that I can turn those off when needed to "unclutter" my drawings. For instance, I have 4 classes for cabinetry moldings alone! I know some like a minimum of classes, but for me, more is better. Sorry for rambling. I know this is more than you asked for, but I just couldn't stop myself! LOL!

barkest, I want to thank you for the videos you've put together! Very, nicely done. I've watched all of them, and have re-watched a few several times. They are excellent VW learning tools. I'm looking forward to more! (hint). I just wanted to thank you publicly for taking the time to create and publish them. The info may be common knowledge to many here, but I found a lot of great tips and enjoy a much better understanding of the program due to your generosity.

Decided to come back with my final results. Once again, it's amazing how easy it can be if you know what you're doing. Thanks again Benson! I did stray from your method on the final. I wanted to ease some edges etc. and wasn't able to successfully fillet the object if I shelled it all as one. I ended up using the shell tool on the pieced indiviudually. I then used the "add solids" command. After that I was able to Fillet where I needed. Added to my cabinet pulls file and can use it on all VW cabinet objects from the OIP now.

Wow! Thank you so much Benson! That is exactly how I'd like it to look. Your attachments are great and have helped me understand the process so much better. I'm sorry that you had to go to so much trouble (but I'm glad you did). Pat, for the majority of our renderings, the pulls are much further away and the details won't be apparent. However, there are many times when we'll be showing a countertop edge detail or cabinet opening detail where the image is very close, and the pull would be "up front and center". I plan on saving the pull into the hardware file within VW to have it available as I'm designing. Thank so much!

Wow. I can't believe how difficult this is. I've had no luck at all, even with your instructions. I was able to sweep a 2d oval that had accurate height and depth dimensions, however, the sweep always made a perfect arc. The actual pull is more elongated. I never made it far enough to attempt building the flanges. I appreciate the input Benson, and I absolutely know the problem is mine! Here's my file to see my feeble attempt.

I'm attaching two images of a bin pull I'd like to add to the Cabinet Pulls file in Vectorworks, so that it will be available to me when using VW cabinet objects. I know it must be simple, but honestly, I've wracked my brain trying to figure it out, and finally decided it would be much easier to ask the experts. I've attached two pics of the bin pull in question. I'd like to know how to do it myself, rather than having one of you make it and attach it. Not that I wouldn't appreciate it! I'd just like to further my skill to do these things on my own. While I'm at it, I'll ask one more question. It is in regard to the textures of existing hardware objects in the cabinet pulls file. They have finishes attached to them, such as chrome, brass, black, etc. I've looked at the symbols, and edited them to see the actual object, but I can't find any color or texture assigned to them. Where do the finish textures for these items come from, if not attached to the symbol itself? Sorry for the rambling nature of this post, but that's my style! LOL! Thanks, and I hope someone out there can help!

LOL! I stand corrected! Completely my fault. I'm going home now to have a stiff drink! Thanks Peter. It was right there all along, I just needed to be led to the water for a drink!

I've already tried. That setting leaves the "glass" panel solid, and makes the stiles and rails clear. LOL! I guess I'll have to convert to group for every glass door cabinet, then edit the individual parts. Thanks again.

Peter, Thank you! I did some digging and discovered that I needed to set the class of each cabinet part just as you advised me to do for the window. So the solution was the same. The utility cabinets also have a setting for glazing. Unfortunately, the wall cabinets do not. But I have the cabinetry looking mostly correct now. Thanks again!

It is a clean 2012 file. Thank you for the tip on the window! I did not have the glazing class assigned. Clear glass now. Still stumped on the texturing for the cabinets, etc. I never had a problem in 2008? May be time to call support. Thanks for input on the window!

That's not it. I took a screen shot of my class dialog open. You can see the "Cabinetry-Wall" class open with the Other texture assigned. The second screen shot is the Final Renderworks rendering. You can see the corner wall cabinet has been rendered with the correct texture AFTER I converted it to a group. All the other wall cabinets are in the same class, but render as you see in the pic. Also, see the window glass is not clear. Still looking for a solution.

I've just upgraded to VW2012 from VW2008. When I insert a window PIO, the glass is a solid panel rather than clear glass. Am I doing something wrong? I never had this problem with the old version. Along the same lines, cabinetry symbols from the VW library won't accept textures. If I convert to group, then I can apply a texture. Again, this is different than VW2008. I use classes for all the items in my designs, and have them textured automatically based on the class. Or I should say, that's how I did it in the past. Help! EDIT: I know this is a texture (rendering) question, but I decided to put it in the architect threads due to the issue with windows.

Thanks Guy! Worked like a charm!

I've finally done an upgrade! After years, I've moved from VW2008 to VW2012 (alas, still a version behind!). Is there a way to bring my custom, intelligent title block into 2012, or do I have to recreate it?

Sorry to get in here so late. Unless I'm missing something, VP would only be effective in displaying the "outside" of the model. I do interior remodeling work and use the SVP to get the correct display. Am I missing something on VP's? Is there a way to define at what point the elevation VP is drawn from? If I use front, back, or side views with my standard viewports, there are always too many "things" in the view. If I need to get an elevation of the main wall of cabinetry in a kitchen project for example, I have no control over the visibility of the other walls. What am I missing?

Pat, You are the man! So simple, yet so elusive. Fixed it right up. Thanks!

I've searched the forums, and looked at pretty much everything, including tutorials, or so I think. I've created a custom title block and attached a new record format to it. I've saved it into my title blocks file so that it works with the drawing border tool. Everything works! Almost. When I view the title block from within the title blocks file, all looks fine. When I bring it into a new file using the drawing border tool, however, some of the fonts change. Not all. Just some. When I created the title block, I have all of it's elements, lines, rectangle, text, logo image, all in the NONE class. I've gone back and edited the title block symbol to re-affirm that everything was classed the same. I'm stumped as to why the font would be changing. Any ideas? I'm attaching the file where I created the title block symbol, so you can see it correctly. I'm also attaching a file where I've inserted it using the drawing border tool, so that you can see how it comes into a drawing. Thanks for any help! p.s. info in sig, but VW2008

Thanks for the quick replies guys. That's what makes this board so valuable! I struggled with this forever! Amazing how simple something can be is you just know how to approach the problem. Pat, I haven't tried your method but plan too. I went right to Guy's image and file, then did it myself in seconds. Thanks again to you all!!!

As you can see, I'm still using VW2008 Architect with renderworks. I'm trying to create a block object for the top and bottom of a turned post. I can't figure out how to get it to look like it's real world counterpart. The attached file shows my post with blocks. The top block on the post is a simple square post. The actual post has a radius on the top on all four side. When I created my vectorworks object, I did show by doing a solid addition of two identical parts. But the result has a "crevice" that runs from corner to corner. Hopefully the attached file will make my problem clear enough. HELP! LOL! Thanks!

I ran through the whole process again and had no problems at all. I've attached the file showing my process for those who are interested. I'm not completely sure what I was doing wrong the first time. It was MUCH easier and quicker this time through. In gleaning my memory of what I did with the original problem object, I remember having some issues clipping and adding surfaces. During adds or clips, the outline would be clipped wrong, etc. and large areas would be deleted. I believe I converted to polygons as a fix. I truly appreciate the help of this forum. I hadn't even considered there could be a potential issue by using a polygon vs. a polyline. Thanks to all!

Sorry I'm just getting back to this! I also appreciate the interest, input, and help! I'm stumped as to what caused my initial problem. The object was created solely in VW2008 with no objects or input from outside software of files of any kind. I pretty much did what Kevin did to create my initial poly (notice, I'm not saying line or gon! LOL!). QUOTE: "I am very curious when you say "I drew polygons of the correct sizes". What does this mean?" Kevin, your method is the same that I always use to create one-off shapes, etc. I use the polygon tool and create a rectangle that is 1/8" high x 4 1/2" wide for instance, and then use the circle tool to create the rounded ends and do an "add surface" command. I repeat the process, adding and clipping surfaces as necessary until I have the outline of the geometry I need. I then select all of the objects, and "add surface" to create my object's outline. I then extrude to the necessary depth. I then switch my view, and repeat the process to create a new outline to use to extrude and then subtract solids from my original object. As for polylines and polygons, I was having issues on friday with objects becoming polygons v. polylines, and I realize it will end up being user error. I'm going to create a new file today at some point and see what happens. I'll duplicate my objects as I progress, and save the file. If I have the same issue, I'll post back and attach my file. In either case I'll follow up with the results! Thanks again for the help!

That's the info I was looking for. I didn't realize that using polygons as a starting point resulted in a much more complex object. To answer Pat's question of how I made the poly, I drew polygons of the correct sizes and used the "add surface" command to get my front view. I then extruded it to the correct depth (1 1/4"). I had another polygon with the side profile that I extruded to use for a "subtract solids" command to create the correct side detail. I was left with a solid subtraction that was correct in all dimensions, but unmanageably complex. I also tried to "extrude along path", however the arc on the face is not the same on the sides, and I couldn't get it to result with the correct sizing. Creating the original shape for the front view is much easier with polygons than it is using the polyline tool. At least for me. Is there a way to convert a polygon to a polyline? If I start with a rectangular polyline, and "clip surface", the remaining object automatically becomes a polygon. Maybe I just need to learn to use the polyline tool! My problem with the tool lies in getting the correct arcs, etc. Unfortunately, I've tried for hours today to create the same item with polylines but I can't get it to work. Every time I get the message "You have tried to create a solid object which cannot be computed. Edit the geometry to resolve this condition and try again". The only way I can get it to work is with polygons. But of course, I get the ridiculously complex object that started this thread in the first place. Obviously, it can be done, but at present, I don't have the skill set necessary to pull it off. Michael, I may use your fix in my file if you don't mind. However, I would like to know how to do this for myself in the future.

I created a solid object to use as a cabinet onlay and when it goes into the drawing, VW slows dramatically. I get constant spinning rainbows, etc. VW has even "unexpectedly quit" during the rainbow spin. If I delete the object, everything goes back to normal. I checked it by copying the object into another file, and experienced the same performance issues with that file until I deleted the object. Any idea what is going on or what is wrong with the object? I started out trying to create it with the extrude along path command, but do to the shape and depth needed, I was not able to create it using that method. Eventually I created solid extrusion the depth that I needed (1 1/4") and used another solid extrusion across the face to subtract solids. I was left with the necessary object, but the performance issue makes it unusable. I'm attaching a file containing only the object in question. If anyone can clue me in as to what is causing my problems, or can give me another method of creating it, I'd sure appreciate it. You can see from my signature, that hardware is not the issue. I am still running VW2008. Thanks! EDIT: Sorry about the object height. I didn't verify before uploading file. It may not be visible in isometric views until you zoom out.

Ah! Very slick and useful. I like NOT having to re-dimension. Thanks for that tip!

LOL! I feel the love! Seriously, I'm glad that a method/solution I use seems to be getting some approval. I'm glad to be able to give back since I've gotten so much from this forum over the years! Edit: I just realized who bcd is! I owe any and everything I know about really USING the software to you! Thanks for the training. I'll be in contact soon for another session!