Chris D

I've just got a package of 2D DWGs from StruCAD too...along with a tantalising PDF version of the 3D model that the fabricator has built. Now we don't have a 3D model to insert it into anyway...but it just seems such a waste that I have to check the steel fabrication design manually by importing every single DWG export of theirs... BIM will be a better way! I don't think StruCAD is going places though. I think Trimble bought it for the subscribers rather than the software.

Christiaan, This document will give you a good idea of the power, but also the complexity of the Family Editor in Revit: Parametric-Families-Tutorial---Revit-Arch-2010.pdf (It's for an old version of Revit but still current afaik) You can do all of this in Revit LT except in-place families. If you're sticking with VW then maybe put this on the Wishlist!...

It would be interesting to know what the other users on here who run Revit as well as VW think. Do you guys use the Family Editor to the max - have you got your head around this 'nesting' and the parametrics?

Well yeah, you can easily create your own jamb profiles for instance - it's just a profile and a sweep inside the Family Editor, so if you get the hang of it you could create a set of common components for your office quite quickly, with no scripting. I've never used VS but have looked at scripts people post on here and they are quite baffling to me, so I'd say the FE is easier than that.

Worse than out-of-the-box VWA? I wouldn't say that bad, because you do get a whole load of detailing components like metal wall studs and things like that, but for instance the out of the box windows don't include a double casement, so if you can't find one on the internet (unlikely) you have to make your own in the Family Editor...which is not something beginners want to get sucked into (the parametrics take some learning). The Window tool in VW where you can arrange your own window lights in a graphical environment is actually far superior.

Alan, We're still training, while running jobs in VW... We realised quickly that the learning curve for Revit is very steep and that it's dangerous to launch into a job without being reasonably proficient. We ran into problems straight away too...the UK content is not great...and we don't (yet) have an office library of components. All of this is a big obstacle for actually running a live job in Revit. Modelling and Navigation are easier than VW. Stability is hard to judge yet, but no crashes to report. We've printed sample 2D drawings from our experiments and yes, they are crisp and very easy to produce. The transition to single-building modelling would have been far easier inside VW as you can fall back on your old 2D workflow... It's very hard to make the switch to 3D working, plus new software, plus new OS (Windows) all at the same time.

If you like to dabble, I suggest you get your head around Revit's parametrics and the Family Editor. It's hugely powerful for creating your own parametric objects without any scripting.

I can't yet claim I can even operate Revit proficiently, but I know for sure you don't need AutoCAD alongside it*. The 2D tools in Revit 2013 are a match for some of the great 2D features in Vectorworks. (VW is miles better than AutoCAD for 2D by the way) *You see that star.... well Revit tutorials advise you get DWG files in good order inside AutoCAD before bringing them into Revit. But that's not the same thing as needing AutoCAD to finish the job.

We don't have huge resources spare, or time. Architects also spend time and money on learning, upgrading and managing Adobe Creative Suite...but how many 'creatives' also have to run Revit or Vectorworks? We just need software that works without having to write our own.

Nemetschek made me this way...

Another 1000 years of development and it's still buggy... ;-)

OSB hatch...whatever next... ;-)

30 day AutoCAD trial is what we used to do: http://usa.autodesk.com/autocad/trial/

Just like VW...there are some great things about Revit...and some infuriating things too. This forum is one of the great things about VW. Revit discussion is far more fragmented...

Mate, unbelievably....Revit is just as bad. The windows Autodesk added to the NBL have a head height parameter that acts on the sill height!

I had no idea 3D printing on this scale was now possible: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/12/voxeljet-3d-printer-skyfalls-aston-martin-stunt-double/

This is the future. Stop using units from the past! You mean 8mm.

We're living in the future. The plastic bracket on my front cycle light fell apart on my way to work this morning... in future I could print a new one!

Indeed. And with a little intelligent view control, then navigating between storeys would be much easier.

Have you tried EPS...it's a vector format and doesn't take the background with it. Depends what your target application is..

What software are you moving to?

http://techboard.vectorworks.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=168826

You can do any sorts of maths in the Object Info Palette - additions/subtractions/multiples. The way to do percentages is to multiply by 1.NN where NN is the percentage enlargement (or 0.NN for reductions)

bingo

oh yes