Stuart Child

Longtime since posting on these boards, but have a seemingly simple problem that I cannot resolve. We are running Vectorworks 2012 Fundamentals SP5 (168051) on Mac OS X 10.7.5, Processor 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 Ram, Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6750M 512MB On one machine we can create a drawing, add some text blocks all in Arial. Save the file. This 'data' file is then referenced to another blank drawing 'sheet' file and we then create a viewport onto a sheet layer. The text will display correctly in both data and sheet files. However when the data and the sheet file are opened on other MAC's in the office (with the same hardware configuration) some of the text will be displayed correctly but some will become substituted in Bank Gothic font. Any ideas on why this is occurring and a quick fix? Many thanks.

Apologies if this is already in the wish list, but we have been struggling with the wall join / component join issue for years. The original post at the following address explains the issues when trying to join 3 or more walls together all with different components and the problems this creates: http://techboard.vectorworks.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=146450 While the work around solutions suggested achieve the desired result in the case of the component join method it is time consuming and prone to error (particularly when a wall is moved the joins are lost requiring us to start over). We have also employed the "Symbol patch" approach on 2d drawings to ensure accuracy on the issued files. Would be grateful if someone could review the issue raised with the wall tool / component tool and address this soon. Many thanks.

Please ignore this post, sorted it out. If there are no objects in the class then VW2010 doesn't try to reassign it just tries to delete the class. If on the other hand there is an object on the class then VW2010 gives you the option to reassign first.

Apologies in advance if this is posted somewhere else, but following an upgrade from VW12.5 to VW2010 the following option appears to have disappeared from the classes dialogue window. In VW12.5, when you select a class and click delete, the dialogue window gave two options: 1. Delete all of the objects, or 2. Reassign all of the objects to class: (then provided a drop down list of the remaining classes to choose from). In VW2010, when you select a class and click delete, the dialogue window only warns you that you are about to delete the class. Does this function of reassigning objects quickly to another class still exist in VW2010? In VW12.5 it was a quick and simple way to tidy up classes quickly when importing data from DWG / DXF sources (such as surveys) to avoid bloating the Vectorworks files with unnecessary classes. Any suggestions? Many thanks. Slight variation on a theme Having played about with the file it seems to be a intermittent issue. Sometimes when I select the class and click Delete or right click and select delete it just warns me I'm, about to delete the class, so I click No. If I select the same class again and click Delete, after a couple of attempts the reassign dialogue box will open as per VW12.5. Is this a glitch? Many thanks.

Scale 1 to 1250 or at least some custom options VW could remember, would be very useful. This gets used all the time in our office.

Inkscape is a useful application to import a PDF, convert to SVG then save as DXF and does the job thanks! However it remains a "third party software work around" to avoid a problem rather than fix it, it would still be useful if this was an embedded part of the Vectorworks package. Thanks again, SC.

Apologies if this is already listed somewhere else but seem to couldn't find it anywhere. It would be useful if the import PDF function did more than brought the PDF file into the MCD file as more than just an image. It would be useful to have a convert PDF to MCD vector information. Currently using a slightly long winded route via a third party PDF to DXF converting program then importing that subsequent DXF into Vectorworks and scaling accordingly. Thanks, SC

We are experiencing a few intermittent problems with one of our machines (PC) running VW12.5.3(80532). Currently clicking on the Vectorworks icon, results in the program beginning to start up, with the flash screen displayed. It then hangs and produces an error warning message (asking would you if you would like to report the error log). Once this has been dispatched or cancelled the whole program then exits. We have reinstalled the update and the required dongle driver. We have also tried the dongle in a number of different USB ports on the machine, as this was caused a problem on another machine and this USB dongle appears to be installed and working correctly, i.e. it is visible via the Control Panel > Add Hardware route, the driver is installed, and the red light of the dongle itself is lit. We are somewhat at a loss as to the cause as the machine and software was working yesterday (without any changes being made to the machine set up). Has any one any ideas? Thanks. PC Running Windows XP SP2 Vectorworks 12.5.3(80532)

Okay, thanks! For the time being we'll stick to the smaller images as these are more than sufficient for the majority of our jobs. Stuart.

Katie, Since yesterday we've had a good look at the options when exporting and it seems to come down to the size of the image and a little human error. Vectorworks image export works fine with an image sized A4 / A3 / A2 set at 200 dpi. We tried this with pixel dimensions upto of 3300 width x 2500 height. However, the image causing the problems yesterday was set at 200 dpi 6920 x 7328 pixels, (122cm x 93cm print size), and so was trying to produce a very large print size. This size was being selected in error because though the pixel dimensions were being set manually, current view was later being selected which automatically changes the pixel dimensions. Is it simply a case of we need more memory to process an image of this scale? Thanks, Stuart.

Hope someone can shed some light on what we're doing wrong with this one. We have a 3d rendered image in Vectorworks Renderworks / Architect, that we would like to export as a JPEG image file, we then carry out the following operations: Select Export Image File. Set the resolution to 200 dpi. Select Current View (where necessary). Select JPEG and leave the compression as the default (Best Depth). Click Save. Vectorworks then runs for about 5 minutes with the progress bar slowly moving up. Once this reaches 100% Vectorworks either hangs and locks up, which only CTRL-ALT-DEL will resolve, or reports that it "cannot export due to a lack of memory". We are using a new machine with a Pentium 4 3.80Ghz processor, 2GB of Ram, Windows XP SP2 and Vectorworks 12.5.2 (71041). With no other applications running at the time. For the time being we have reverted back to 12.5.0 (60761) which works fine. Any ideas or suggestions?

We've noticed recently when we export a MCD drawing to PDF which contains the "webdings" font that this font doesn't appear on the exported PDF. Not sure if this is a Vectorworks or Adobe Acrobat issue, but either way the text using this font is replaced with a blank rectangle. Any chance this could be fixed? Thanks.

Christiaan, couldn't agree more. It's taking me ages to export a series of drawings. This would be a major improvement.

Thanks for the free email tip but unfortunately it is not so much that we can't send them and more a case that the limit on file sizes is restricted on the Planning Authority website which refuses to accept individual uploads greater than 5mb.

A few suggestions, when we export individual PDF files, the file sizes can become too big to send / upload to their intended destination. For example the local planning authority limits individual files to 5mb, but typically we have been producing 8-10mb files. Currently to get the file size down we strip out the hidden information, ie. where elements of the layer or object below is overlapped by the layer or object above, before exporting to PDF. We then reprint the VW12.5 produced PDF file using PDF995 to create second PDF which produces a saving of a few Megabytes. Would it be possible to add some / all of the following, or does anyone have any alternative suggestions? Inclusion on the Export PDF menu 1. "Flatten Layers and Discard hidden information before export" 2. "Flatten Objects (within layers) and Discard hidden information before export" (1 and 2 similar to the command "Flatten Image" In Photoshop). 3. "Compression Options" for images within file ie. JPEG quality options, filters. 4. "Create, Edit, Discard" file information such as Author, Title, Description to create a 'paired down' basic file. Just a few wishes but worth asking. Thanks.

Recently experiencing problems with the door or window numbering tool. I've set up a series of doors and windows on a drawing and using the Object Info Box > Settings > Door (or Window) Settings > Data Tab I've then clicked the "On Schedule" Tick Box and individually named each door (or window). I then select an ID Class ie. "Reference-Door Numbers" Click OK and everything appears fine. If I go back and edit the door number the ID Class defaults back to "None" which can lead to the number disappearing (presumeably because the None class is switched off). I then have to go back and check the ID Class is correct everytime I edit the door numbering. Second part of the problem is at some point a typo occurred in the Class selected, by human error :-S , called "ReferenceS-Door Numbers" instead of "Reference-Door Numbers". As a result one door has the wrong Class reference. If I change it to the correct Class everything appears fine but at some point it eventually defaults back to the original typo Class. If I delete the class using the Navigation-Classes box and select reassign the objects in this class to the correct class this fixes the problem until I edit the doors again. At which point all the deleted class(es) are reinstated. This also applies to the Window numbering. This is understandably a bit fustrating but working around this problem by not using the door and window numbering tool, and instead employing the trusty stamp tool. Any suggestions would be welcome! >> Working on Windows XP SP2 Vectorworks Architect 12.5.1(64620)

Experiencing an intermitent problem with "Use Part Line Styles" when setting up doors and windows in a drawing. When editing the styles using the Object Info Box > Settings > Door (or Window) Settings > View Tab I edit each part from the drop down menu (Jamb, Leaf, Trim etc) and select the line weight from the drop down menu below. After repeating this for a number of different windows or doors in the drawing, the line weight graphic to the left of the numerical line weight disappears in the drop down menu. You can still change the line weights at this point. If I continue to edit the doors in the drawing eventually I start to get a partial error message appear on the screen which says something like "Resources not avai" OK or Cancel. Pressing OK or Cancel just brings up the same message. At this point pressing the ESC key will cycle through a number of these error messages and eventually bring you out of the settings dialogue. Close the drawing and Vectorworks, restart Vectorworks and everything is back to normal. Any suggestions? >> Forgot to mention this is on Windows XP SP2 running Vectorworks 12.5.1(64620)

Just finished installed VW12.5.1(64620) and I have immediately tried out the wall tool. Unfortunately the same problem occurs causing Vectorworks to lock up and crash. I've passed the crash logs on via bug submit, hopefully fixed next time. :-)

Thanks Katie, I will send a copy of the files across to them. Also just completed a full uninstall and reinstall of VW12.5.0 and VW12.0.1 and associated Quicktime program for a fresh start. Windows XP SP2 Firewall appeared to be blocking parts of the program.

Katie, Thanks for the updated video driver. There has been a little improvement with the newer version of VW12.5.0(61447), in so much as the frequency of crashes has decreased but VW12.5 still crashes during editing: 1. Just before and after auto saves. 2. When editing the walls as described before. 3. Sometimes when deleting dimensions. 4. When editing and stretching polygons (similar sequence as item 2 when accidently pressing the shift key before trying to stretch the polygon). Any suggestions? Thanks. SC

Katie The video driver has been updated as per my previous post on 11/22/06, and I have checked this again for any available updates. Re: ErichR posting 11/28/06. We are connected to an internal office network which has Symantec Antivirus installed. I will try to arrange to work disconnected from the network to see if there is any improvement. Re: My original post 11/21/06 + Post by Tully. The 'runtime error' also comes up from time to time when deleting unrelated dimensions in a drawing. Hope this is of some use. We have also recently downloaded the updated version of VW12.5.0(61447) following advice on a separate issue but the same problems are occurring. SC.

Katie, Yes, the wall problem occurs when starting with a completely blank document, chosen via File > New > Create Blank Document. SC.

Katie, Thanks for getting back to us. I have updated the driver today to following spec: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 Driver Provider: NVIDIA Driver Date: 23/06/2006 Driver Version: 9.1.3.3 However the problem with the editing / moving the walls still causes VW12.5 to crash. Stuart.

Following up from posting on the 21st Nov 2006. I'm experiencing similar crashes today. Have stumbled on this sequence which leads to a crash everytime. Applies to VW12.0.1 and VW12.5.0 with Architect and Renderworks on Windows XP SP2. 1. Open New Drawing 2. Draw a 'C' shape using three walls. 3. Check the walls a linked using the join wall tool. 4. Check "Enable connected walls mode" 5. Click, Drag, Press Shift, and drop the middle vertical wall of the 'C'. 6. Press Shift, then try to Drag and Drop the middle vertical wall of the 'C'. This will normally draw a dotted fence as if you were trying to select the object. 7. Repeat 5 and 6 eventually the program locks up and crashes with either "Runtime C++ error" message or "Vectorworks has unexpectedly stopped" message. Hope this is of some use and can be resolved. Thanks. SC.

I'm experiencing a variety of frequent crashes using Vectorworks 12.5.0(60762) with Architect and Renderworks on a PC running Windows XP SP2. A summary of today's are given below: 1. Vectorworks is idle and not being used. I'm looking at the screen, discussing a drawing with a colleague and the next minute the program locks up and displays the following error message, without a single key or mouse being touched. "Runtime Error! This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information". Clicking OK (the only option) closes the program and files without saving. 2. Periodically moving, copying, editing or pasting a symbol within a symbol causes the following message to be displayed: "Vectorworks Application has encountered a problem and needs to close....Send Error Report / Don't Send". Sometimes this will let you view the error report data but sometimes even this window will lock up requiring CTRL-ALT-DEL as the only option to close the program down again without saving. 3. Periodically at around 4pm in the afternoon (having been in use since 9am) Vectorworks will begin to slow down and eventually crash, usually without any further warning. 4. Periodically just before and or after an Autosave, Vectorworks will slow down, display the (Not Responding) text at the top of the window and will hang temporarily. The program will then appear to come back to life (ie. Not Responding disappears, control of the mouse is regained and the drop down menus appear to work). If I then choose any operation from the menus, usually File>Save, the program locks up and crashes. 5. Sometimes at start up after a crash, Vectorworks will display the various option info boxes and the main window in outline, but rest of the screen is just white. This sometimes hangs and displayed the Not Responding text. There have been other crashes but these are just today's. I would be grateful for some advice. Thanks, SC.