[Adjust pad to other Object]

Gave this a shot and got it to align to my steps but will not align to both the steps and patio.  I'm looking at some of the posts on the grading thread you sent.  Thanks for relaying that.  I'll keep pushing on.  It would be great to see a youtube or VW video on just how to accomplish the complex grading...I have a 10' length of sidewalk that wants just the slightest of twist.  Anyone who knows of a Video that explains how to do that it would be helpful.  I'd hate to think I'd have to model it...This is basic stuff we do in the field with rake and shovel on a daily basis.  Although @Benson Shaw seems to have it down.

[Fence Tool]

I'm laying out a fence/railing above a retaining wall and all settings between the two fences are the same but on one side I am not getting the option to Place Post at Corner so I am missing two sections of fence in isometric.  Why is that?  The odd thing is that I switched to another style I created and now I have the whole fence and looks as drawn in 2d when put into isometric.  

[Adjust pad to other Object]

Thanks I will definitely give that a try.  Everything is connected to a known elevation so as with most things here is much to do with massaging the settings.

 

[Training/Support what do the pros do?]

Yes Jeff I spend inordinate amounts of time looking for answers that I know are simple.  My hair is falling out on my desk.  We can discuss privately.  I'm in a meeting so I'll be in touch so we can talk about you do.

[Plant schedule trouble! (VWX 2021)]

I did the core certification very helpful but its really just a start.  VXU is really the same.  I get into situations where I get stuck just don't know what to do.  I go back to the videos frequently but its time consuming.  I imagine its not everyone but its a steep learning curve for me as I can't be on the machine everyday.

 

Here is what I just posted.  

 

[Training/Support what do the pros do?]

I've been using VW for about 2 years.  I have the 2d components down pretty well but have gaping holes in my 3d knowledge base.  I got VW certified this year and have about 9-10 hours of 121 training, watched a ton of videos and there are a ton of very generous people on the forum.  I'm going to fill in those holes so I can become proficient in the 3d realm.  So far I see a few training sessions coming up for about $700.00 but they look basic.  The 121 is effective as well especially when specific issues arise.  My issue is timing.  When I'm stuck on something I need answers as fast as possible so I can get the work out.  I can't afford to muddle through multiple videos and maybe figure out the answer.  My question to the community is what training systems are they using for general skill development?  Does anyone have a solution for the quick turnaround on specific questions?  My guess is that to become expert time in is in the hundreds of hours if not more.  I'm all in but I need a point A-B training solution and some sort of tech support when I hit a roadblock.  What have you VW pros done to get to your level of proficiency?  What do you do when your down due to a knowledge gap?

[Building measure app/ipad]

Check this one out.  It looks like you are already using your i phone.  But these guys are bringing it to a new level.   I'm not sure if there is a way to get that kind of accuracy except with a tape measure.  I have the same question I still measure manually and shoot grades with a laser although I know there are better ways.

 

[Plant schedule trouble! (VWX 2021)]

Jeff I struggle with a ton of stuff and it seems as if you can get bits and pieces VWU and help but its tough to get the full picture on any one thing. The various functions of VW are complex.  I always search you tube too.  The thing that's helped me the most is one on one training.  VW has some good trainers that can walk you through the nuance.  This is coming from a technological novice so none of this is intuitive to me.  I use novice generously.  I bought a block of ten hours and will likely buy another block soon.  There are also a few trainings coming up...of course it all costs $$$.

[I heart OBJ]

So you can scan 100 acres in 30 minutes with an I Phone?  Using the 3d modeling functionality?  It gives elevations?  Locate individual trees and I imagine rock house corners?  How accurate is it?  

[Adjust pad to other Object]

I have a hardscape coming down hill at a 2% grade.  It meets up with the steps but maintains a consistent slope plane. When it meets the steps, which are level across, and are connected to the lower walk it is raised to one side.  I was able to just use the reshape tool to join the lower walk and step.  When I tried that with this hardscape it deleted the image from the screen.  I'm not sure if it actually deleted it or what happened but it appeared to be gone.  What's the function to get the walk to bend and fit the steps and still meet the patio.  Do I need to start over with two hardscapes one for the patio and one for the walk?  Is there a way to split the two and create a new hardscape?  I tried to Enable Aligned Surface but it just changed the elevation of the entire hardscape.   I've been messing with this for a bit and know its likely pretty simple but I'm stumped.

[Site Model Grade Tool]

I'm recreating yesterdays site model which got lost in cyberspace due to back up failure so be sure to check your back up settings.  I'm creating a site model using the stake tool.  I have an area which has approximately 2% grades (based on the eyeball method).  Can the grade tool be used to create Source Data for the creation of a site model?  I'm seeing it can be used once the site model is done but can it be used before?  I'm sitting here with a couple knowns...top of foundation interpolated FFE assuming 2x12 rafters and 1.5" sheething and flooring.  Maybe should add in for a sill plate but....it will be accurate enough.   I'm taking grades I shot and calculating the grades around the house in reference to the FFE with a calculator.  I'm doing the calculations from my station to individual spots where I don't know slope exactly.  If I can avoid calculator work that would save me some time.  Thoughts anyone.

 

BTW check out @jeffprince is doing with Drones and Lidar. 

[Entering Site Data]

I had a client who did the same kind of thing professionally with drones.  I believe he works for a big civil company or real estate developer.  I met him last year he was saying they produce some pretty accurate stuff.  I'm not sure what systems they are using but I'm guessing they are high end systems.  

 

[I heart OBJ]

Thanks for turning me on to this string.  Really cool stuff.  Is the drone work profitable for you or are you in hobby mode with it.  I have a realtor friend who uses it and had to get a license.  But I'm in Massachusetts the land of licenses.  So I'm not sure if it federal or state.  I've started with VW from Dynascape in 2020 and with limited time to really dig in I'm finally getting into 3d modeling.  It would be really cool to make measuring more efficient.  Psyched to hear about the tools your using can't wait to get there.

 

BTW your real generous with info here...Just wanted to give you a shout out...Thanks!

[Backup]

I lost yesterdays work because my back up was turned off.  The software crashed this morning as soon as I opened it up.  I specifically went it and made sure back up was on when I did the upgrade to 2022.   Is there a bug or do I need to set it for each project.  Prior to this everything else was backing up fine.  My cache gets cleaned up regularly and the machine gets rebooted daily...except last night.  I know it happens but I'm not that into doing entire plans twice.  I'll be checking for bugs on the machine today just to be sure.  Any known VW hackers out there to look for who might have malware floating around out there.

[Select similar tool not working]

Yes many features and components of VW are not well explained.  What is well documented but how is lagging.

[Entering Site Data]

LIDAR Scans?  Man am I behind the times.  Glad I asked.  Are you using specific equipment or software for it?

 

[Entering Site Data]

For many of my projects I don't have professional surveys so I shoot my own grades and do a bit of ocular estimating.  I am working on becoming more efficient in site modeling so I'm looking for opinions on the best way to go about laying out those grades in preparation for creating a site model.  So far I have laid them out using the stake tool as source data and the boundary tool.   Opinions?   

[Landscape Upgrades]

A few things nagging me and some others in the landscape community are a functioning landscape wall tool and fence tool.  The goal would be to allow a designer to simply put a batter on a wall and have the same kinds vertical layering options as the wall tool, the difference being materials stone veneer instead of siding or drywall etc., with some sort of library items showing different construction methods and materials.  Block and veneer, dry stack field stone, SRWs etc. and the foundation and capping options available for those options.  I was able to create some pretty cool stuff with my trainer but its just a bit cumbersome to have to model every wall especially if its on a simple project.  The other is the fencing/gate insertion issue.  Possibly an upgrade to the wall and window and door insertion tool to consider these items would be hugely helpful.  It seems as if its almost there with existing tools I don't know how much of an ask this is.... but seems reasonable it we want to create accurate 3d models.

[Select similar tool not working]

I had it set to layer only for an operation I was doing.  Then set it a few other times for other particular situations.  I must have set it to Current Selection Mode and that explained part of the issue.  But when I put it back in Select Any Mode the functionality returned but only when I had a limited amount of attributes selected.  For example when I went to select my walls it would only select when I had Layer Class and Object selected it would also work with wall slab roof all selected.  As soon as I selected I selected any of the font attributes it would not select the foundation but would still select my spot grades.  Is the select similar tool not expected to select certain objects if everything is selected for example.  My understanding is that unchecking boxes just limits what it will select for and if all attributes are checked it will pick up just about everything on the drawing.  Am I missing something here.

[Gates]

That's what I did.  The door tool worked fine. However, it will not automatically remove and reconfigure the fence posts and panels.  So essentially the doors must be placed in the desired place and fence be drawn to it from both sides correct?  As far as rendering, texturing etc.  I have the fence in shaded mode and that will work for now.  The gate symbol I created from the door tool won't show its in shaded mode.  In fact I can't get any color to apply to it.  I'm not sure if I'm having a class issue or an object issue.  The class dropdown at the top of the OIP is grayed out, indicates its in the none class but so is the fence and the fence is shaded.  The difference I see is that one is a door symbol and the other is a railing fence symbol.  What setting am I missing?

[Select similar tool not working]

My select similar tool in VW 2022 is not functioning.  As usual I suspect a setting.  Any ideas.  See the screenshot.  Hmm not sure why image is so blury.

[Gates]

That's what I did.  The door tool works fine.  But since a fence is not a wall the offset insertion mode does not work correct?   Therefore the door tool will not remove the section of fence automatically?  The gate will need to be built up to the gate then continued on the other side of the gate?  Then still the matter of making the two appear the same.  I'm guessing that if needed matching textures could be applied.

[Gates]

So I am placing a fence on a clients property.  I come to figure out that there is no gate tool with in the fence option or with in the door option.  Am I missing something.  I'd expect it to be right there with the fence tool or even in the door tool.  Do we not have one?  If not whats the work around.

[VW 2018 (and VW2021 and VW2022): Push-pull tool problems continue]

I might be trying to solve the wrong problem but it looks like @line-weight your having an issue with push pull in an environment other than cube on the screen with basic push pull functions.  Is that correct?  I looked at your building peak.  Your simply not able to detect a face correct?  I just looked at the pptest.wvx file and was able to get a subtraction in the rectangular extrusion fairly easily.  I just used the flyover tool to get a variety of narrow perspective views.  I was able to put a shape on the plane of the object and select the push pull tool which highlighted the shape.  I started my pull operation and then pressed ALT.  Its hit or miss though.  My guess is that its a specific clicking method between ALT and left click which I have yet to master reliably.   I was able to get subtractions and face pulling action.  The face selection needed to be precise though.   I messed with the BIM object...way above my skill level for now at least...thats some wonky stuff to mess with.  I do have to say that with all the issues I have encountered in my brief VW experience the push pull function has been challenging.  My guess is it will be a matter of a work around.  

[VW 2018 (and VW2021 and VW2022): Push-pull tool problems continue]

Thanks for the clarification Mike!  Very helpful.  I just followed your method and it worked.  I agree that with many of the functions of this program subtlety is a constant and likely needs to be for the endless customization options available.  From the standpoint of a lesser experienced user who relies on the educational content provided and these threads-those subtleties need to be pointed out consistently.  I have to say that many of the educational videos give it to us as "its as simple as that".  This is not necessary criticism but feedback.  The learning curve with this is high so at every opportunity the little things that show up as glitches should be highly emphasized in all training resources.