alanmac

Hi p3200 No. not really any problems, certainly from my experience. The fact you have .mcd within the Windows version file name does not seem to bother Macs, although they don't show the VW logo against the file on your hard disc, just the generic file image with the little turned over corner. Its kind of good in a way because when looking on your hard disc at VW files you can see at a glance were they may have originated from. Of course this gets lost the moment you "save" because with VW11 you'll have "imported" the VW10 file and will be converted, but of course will now have a VW11 version of it alongside your VW10 one. The only downside, as it almost shows in my explaination, is it can get confusing between what is the latest version of which from which platform etc. etc. when dealing with co-workers. I'm hoping to upgrade to get both on VW12 to ensure I at least don't have a version issue problem. Hoping to go Mac at home as well but that's in the hands of the "buying department" and Santa at the moment. Did you open the files by the way? Alan

Just a thought, make sure your fully up to date on VW10. You should check the NNA site and your version to see if its fully up to date as a long shot. Alan

You don't need to import them, but it might be a good idea to try opening them from within VW. Do the usual file-open- etc. It should open no problem. I use Windows PC with VW 10.5 at home and Apple VW 11.5 in the office studio and have no problem, unless I forget to save the file from 11.5 to 10.5 for when I'm at home working ;~) Never had a problem except if I saved it on CD. Then I have to copy it to my machine because VW cannot "write back" to a burnt CD and gives a permissions error Alan [ 12-01-2005, 08:10 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Just checking all possibles - is the file on the machine? If its on a burned CD you'll have to copy it onto your machine or you'll get an error message. If Vectorworks cannot "write back" to a file it won't open it. Alan

This is were I got the information from, a quote from somebody on the VW mailing list "Tom Sketchup works well with Vectorworks. On a windows machine VW has the sketchup fie format import. The mac will get this function with 12.1 Madis Pihlak, ASLA Associate Professor Architecture and Landscape Architecture Penn State" I must admit I glanced at it and for some reason thought this as being from Biplap at NNA, but on going back I see my error. Maybe both will get it in VW12.1 seeing as how the discs/dongles are dual platform installable now. Alan

Thanks George Although I've got the okay to upgrade to Artlantis R it's good to know that the plug in will be available for Vw 12 to Art 4.5. Shame SU does not follow suit. Maybe they'll relent. Alan [ 11-29-2005, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Try asking your question over on the Architosh Forums, you may get some additional opinions over there, although as John has touched on, Vectorworks is Apple OS compatible and Architosh is a Apple OS promoting site, whilst as you I'm sure are aware, Microstation is Windows only. http://architoshforums.forest.net/ Alan

You could always change your company name to Educational Version and claim it was a watermark on all your jobs ;~) Seriously, I see it just as the reverse of the normal buying procedure, we pay the higher full price for commercial copies to use, then the lower upgrade fees later. You'll be the same once you buy the commercial copy. At least you had time to learn the program for a lot less outlay and will be now earning faster to recoup the cost you'll pay for the commercial copy than a full price newbie to the program. Don't forget its tax deductable as well. Alan [ 11-23-2005, 06:59 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Hi Runtime Error Yes I know what you mean. I've often thought that colour was a logical step to help clarify the detail on a drawing. Whilst its easy and pretty cheap to get a colour A3 set up in house, above that we are talking serious money in both initial outlay and consumables. It's only the print houses with their volume output that can get the price to a level that justifys the investment cost. I'm lucky in that I do very few drawing sets for a job but I would imagine the cost could be outrageous once you factor in changes and amendments on complex projects. Of course all this goes pear shaped when the person reading them tells you they are colour blind ;~) Alan [ 11-23-2005, 04:35 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

quote: Originally posted by Runtime Error: VW still has a lot of ground to cover to develop the necessary 3d production tools we require in order to make 3D & color a more cost effective platform for drawing production. Please elborate on this statement Runtime Error. I'd be interested to know what, in specifics, does it lack and you require in its colour to make it a more cost effective platform for drawing production ?

An update on the situation. I understand from Sean (CEO of NNA) that as of VW12 this will now come as a cross platform install. You can install this on Windows or Apple using the supplied dongle and serial number. Good news for anybody wanting to change platforms. Funnily enough I'm looking to go in the other direction, Windows to Mac, although I use Mac at work, I want to get Mac at home instead of Windows. Alan

I heard the SU import facility was in VW12 Windows OS coming to Apple OS in VW12.1 But as I've not upgraded I can't confirm. Anybody with VW12 Windows see a .skp import in their menu? Alternatively you could try one of the other formats already available in SU to export and import. Maybe try the new 3DS import in VW as SU does 3DS export. So long as you don't have VW12 Fundamentals that is, as its not been added in that version. NNA regard that as an extra feature for the Industry versions, yet Sketch Up and many others lower priced programs see it as a "fundamental" file import/export capability. As you can read - not impressed!! Alan [ 11-18-2005, 08:03 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

quote: Originally posted by Christiaan: A DVD version would be useful (Apple are doing this now). As long as it's an option. My company just got caught out, got Tiger to install on two ibooks, but forgot - only CD drives. Yes we worked around it, and yes who has not got a DVD drive in their computer these days, but it would be nice to have the option. The exchange media offer with Apple runs out soon so anybody thinking of getting Tiger ensure you've a DVD drive or firewire access from a machine with one to install, or get your exchange order in soon. Alan

Hi Klaus Check out the forums, I think I saw it was slated for mid November release, but don't be surprised if its for VW12 to Artlantis R only. Which is fine if you have it. In my search for the plug in to take Sketch Up 5 into Artlantis 4.5 I found no plug in is being made available for this, you have to upgrade to Artlantis R, so I'd assume it will be the same for VW. Alan

I think the advantage in the method Jan15 outlines in the last paragraph is that whilst to some it may take slightly longer using rectangles etc and clipping etc. at least you have a surfaces to your shape, so when extruding its a solid with no "surprises" Of course the combine tool will work to the same effect with lines and arcs, but in my experience you only need a slight misalignment of points/lines for it to fail, and then it involves close examination to find the offending item/s. I've never really approached VW as a program to draw lines but shapes, defined by lines. Even after many years of productive use I'm still discovering and enjoying its potential and capabilities. Just as you think you more or less know them all they bring out another version upgrade with even more in. ;<)) Alan

I did a copy and paste to a new file in the end but not by select all, I circled the objects and copied it to a new file then exported to a new file in Artlantis. Couldn't take the risk. I had some extruded text for the clients name created via a dxf which i think was the big issue in mine. I ended up just making a soild block in VW and then doing the extruded logo via Artlantis using transparent material for the block overlaid with the logo as a graphic, background removed. Couldnt tell the difference after a tweak in Photoshop. More than one way to skin a cat they use to say. Good luck Alan

Yes that's another thing I've noticed on my "bad file". I ended up getting that message about vertices despite deleting everything in the file and just puting in a metre square box..... I restart does seem to clear its head a little, but I think the exchange plug in could do with working on. I've updated without problems before with this message but that still does not stop you watching with worry the export bar creeping along it's path to the finish and what you'll get from Artlantis. The one bad file recently is my worst so far. The other big problem I had was when running Artlantis 3.5, I'd just had to many classes in VW for it to handle. Fine on the first export but went pear shaped every time on update for some reason. I'd change classes on objects to reduce the number and it would be fine. Good luck with your presentation. Alan [ 11-09-2005, 11:39 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

I think, cetainly with Cinema you'll find the rendering over several machines relates to animated scenes. In Cinema for example Advanced Renderer will allocate the frames to the machines and then bring it all together as one animation, so still images won't benefit. Of course there are ways around it and although I've not looked into it a great deal you can in effect slice your image up and then send it off for to multi machine renders, bringing it together again in Photoshop. It's a workround rather than a push this button solution. The short term solution is to have a multi processor aware rendering program and a multicore multi processor machine running it. Cinema will for example recognise up to 14 processors in its program. I think closer examination of your set up would help in most instances, I know I'm starting to examine just how I create my work closely to see how I can speed up the processes. Faster machines have made me sloppy, back in the days of much slower machines and hugely expensive ram I worked differently to get the desired results. Do you really need to render out at the highest resolution and at the image size you are specifing. I"ve been rendering at high res to large sizes, only to end up reducing both in Photoshop without noticing a great drop in image quality. But again this is my experience and requirements, for others this may not be possible. Alan

Hi Christiaan Check your Artlantis file and see if anything is missing. I get this error message and most of the time the scene looks okay. I say most of the time, I've had one occasion lately were the file went bad on me, but I blame that on a little cross platform file swapping not helping. It's usually objects that are very complicated, for example, I pulled a computer keyboard in dxf format off the web, its base and keys are made up of hundreds of lines, which throws out this message but still looks fine on the desk in my scenes. You'll get the same message if you export the file from VW to Cinema 4D. As I say check your Artlantis scene for missing objects. Alan [ 11-09-2005, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Hi Paul Thanks for letting us know the situation, although I can't see the big concern as an end user right now, as I've been lead to believe the consumer models will be the first in line for introduction in 2006 with the tower models, if they still exist, coming some time later in 2007. By that time VW will be up another version and most will want to upgrade their machines to take full advantage anyway. Alan

If I remember correctly Nemetschek used to supply a CD or literature specificaly aimed at the Autocad switcher. Check out the main site or do a search there www.nemetschek.net It's been reorganised a bit with the release of VW12 and like my wife tidying up I can't find things like I use to !! Alan [ 11-08-2005, 06:45 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Hi Nicholas You know my view on the differences in provided capabilities which I'll expand on. As regards the module approach, judging by the way it works with Cinema 4D its a big mistake if their example is anything to go by. Whilst from outward appearance it looks a great idea, the problem comes at upgrade time, you have to pay to upgrade each of the modules although nothing may have changed. It seems you still have to pay to ensure compatability because I believe they have to spend time ensuring the"connections" now works with the increased functions of the new basic version. Then the upgrade cost also of each module gets heatily debated !! You are right, in my opinion, and probably many others, there is no true "Designer" version that offers the value of the other single versions. To merely rename the Industry collection as Designer sounds like the idea of some marketing exec rather than anybody with an understanding of what is needed. I would say we are all in some way "Designers" then we have the specialist areas beyond that. It's a bit ass about face to me. The Designer version should be the core version with capabilities expected of a modern day CAD/design program and the Industry Collection then reflecting the specialist areas. I think we could debate all day long what should be included included item by item, but I'm sure things like file import would be, by most people's interpretation, a basic requirement not a feature. The whole reasoning behind the splitting off was to show that you only pay for what you needed and that the Industry version added value to your specialist area. To make somebody who may need one or two items from the many available in each version, pay the the price of the whole collection is in my opinion, and it sounds like yours too, is wrong. Alan [ 11-06-2005, 06:11 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Dave I noted your piece of news that the 3DS format import and export is not available in Fundimentals and I have to ask why ? I've used software a tenth of the price of VW with this capability. In most other programs I have experience of they do not "cripple" a version in what appears to me a tactic to make you spend more money on upgrading to another, which in terms of added features does not represent value for money over the basic version, relative to your needs. Certainly from the aspect of something as "fundimental" as file import and export. What next - not keeping up with dxf/dwg levels of import in line with Autocad releases unless you buy one of the industry versions ! Alan [ 11-05-2005, 05:21 PM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Yes EJ But what leap of faith in computers, your telephone lines etc to put all your resources on some distant server. Come the day you try to connect and either somebodys put the bucket of a digger through your local phone lines or the server suffers a major hardware fault or worse a hacker attack and that utopian dream will seem more like a nightmare. I think I'll always like to keep those precious resources close to hand, personally. I'm an old dinosaur who given the light to be able to work could still be productive with pen and paper even if the 'puter threw a wobblier. Have a good weekend. Alan

VW does have demo versions available, of course with no save or print restrictions, so you could try it out that way. Alan