alanmac

How did you intend printing this, on what machine etc ?

Depending on what you wish to achieve you may need to do further work on the converted text. They will be as an outline, which may not suit your requirements. Remember if you wish these to be solid objects, for extruding or other 3D use, once you have done so you'll need to do some "subtract solids" to take the centre out of some characters, such as the letter O etc. Or clip surface command before you extrude. Go to isometric view, choose hidden line from render menu to see what I mean. It means entering the "group" that is automatically created when you do the conversation to edit individual letters. Also depending on your requirement, the finished result of converting text to polyline is not as good quality as it could be. How fussy are you about your fonts? Vector based programs such as Illustrator or Coreldraw give far superior results. I use this feature to create 3D text on exhibition stand designs and it's okay for my needs. Good luck Alan [ 10-21-2004, 07:26 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

quote: Originally posted by Viper x: Thanks for your suggestions with this topic, I managed to get it working with the masking method suggested, it works a treat. Viper x how did you get it printed in the end?

Hi lowden sorry can't help you with your problem. I suppose you are trying to find the solution from other users which is understandable. Don't think you'll get help from Vectorworks as they really have nothing to do with this plug in. i know it's obvious and you've probably already done this, but I think Abvent would be the best people to get on to regarding this. Grasping at straws, have you upgraded to what for many has been the troublesome Service Pack 2 upgrade for Windows XP or has this been a long standing problem? Hope you get it sorted as I was thinking of going to 4.5. I know that with large files (70mb +) on my old VW 8.5 Art 3.5 set up would kill Vectorworks with a runtime error message on trying to update file. All the best Alan [ 10-20-2004, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

quote: Originally posted by Dave Donley: [QB] If the app is indeed frontmost and it still doesn't cancel (after 20 minutes) I would suspect that the app is hung. Then when you reopen file it goes back to the render again! and so on. In Photoshop if I want to cancel an action it does so, straight away, after hitting the esc button. [ 10-19-2004, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

I'll add my weight to this thread. Escape does not work consistently. Most of the time it has no effect, just keeps going through the render process. same with aborting printing, just keeps churning away. How difficult is it to alter the program to ensure it dumps the calculations etc. straight away. And, yes the forced quit will only get you out the program. Once reopening the file it's back to rendering. Very frustrating !! This is hidden line view within vectorworks I'm talking about. Which also is painfully slow. I end up sending it out to my render program and doing a basic colour render from that because Vectorworks is so painfully slow on hidden line render. [ 10-19-2004, 04:25 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

This thread could so easily turn into one of those stupid slagging matches so often seen in forums. I hope we can continue the sensible and objective approach. Your decision should also take into account if the platform you choose has any relevance to work you do,if any, with others, or any future career moves you wish to make if this could be an issue. Whilst I've never had a cross platform problem with Vectorworks files the same cannot be said for all software. With the differences in speed on Mac and PC on straight 2D Vectorworks files being little different then any choice in this regard is personal preference. If you intend working beyond 2D in Vectorworks into 3D, using other 3D modeling programs and renderers, then you will find more and more people choose PC because of its speed, and the greater choice of graphics cards with faster speeds than the current Mac offerings. I would disagree that at the mid range area of the market PC and Mac are equally priced. PC is much cheaper to buy, but that is only taking into account initial cost. Without doubt problems occur in both operating systems, the advantages, ease of use etc. gap that Mac had over Windows years ago has reduced to virtually nothing in most aspects of day to day use. It's good that you consider your choice now as changing licences, if possible (some don't allow this, Vectorworks does, at upgrade time) is an additional expense. I considered changing over from Windows to Mac. I'd been using Mac at my last place of work for two years, but the cost of equipment with the extra cost of changing licenses would mean double my Windows "upgrade" cost. I stayed with Windows and don't regret it at all. [ 10-12-2004, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

quote: Originally posted by squirrelboy71: I know a lot of people who would love to ditch 3ds MAX if we could find a better program to quickly compile and render Architectural models In that case maybe you and your other contacts would find Cinema 4D fitting the bill. You can export directly to Cinema with a supplied plug in from Vectorworks and update your files should you make changes without losing previous work. Over on Cinema4d forum at cgtalk.com a lot of current and ex users of Max mention how much nicerand easier it is to use. You only need the basic Cinema to do this but may consider XL or Studio depending on your requirements. Demos are freely available. All the best Alan [ 10-11-2004, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

I agree with Tom on the method you should use. Just pointing out a possible reason for your problem before. It depends what version of Vectorworks you are running but as you are asking questions now I assume you only recently purchased Vectorworks that its one of the latest versions , VW 10.5 or 11, as this function is not available in older editions. I for instance upgraded from 8.5 to 10.5. Because of other issues not related directly to Vectorworks I still do some work in 8.5 as well as 10.5 and its not available in 8.5. Yours will include it and you should make full use of this excellent tool. All the best Alan

I found this happens if you have already edited the object along its "history" in some way before you got to this stage. I think it's a case of not being able to connect in with those actions because it was in a different plane or position. not entirely sure but this is what I believe it to be. You may have to go back several stages or think about changing how you create your object to achieve what you want. You also find this being the case also if you have grouped objects. You'll get an error message saying something about illegal objects being deselected, you have to either go into the group and do what you want or temporarily ungroup them. Hope that makes sense. Alan

jan 15 I've been giving this more thought and whilst it does not solve the problem I think I've got an easier method from yours and mine regarding any layers. I've just tried this again as I remember this being the case on some plans I did some time ago. Instead of exporting as a bitmap or jpeg, export as a eps. When you open the file in Photoshop after its rasterised it has the black lines on a transparent background with no need to remove the white. Just add a fill layer to complete or save as a jpeg which wll give it a fill. this is assuming you don't have Illustrator but most people seem to have at least one version of Photoshop in their collection of required software. Try it to see yourself Good luck Alan [ 10-11-2004, 04:14 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Hi Petri Well, whilst we both use the same program with different operating systems with different hardware, at least we've found a way that suits our needs, does not cause us undue health problems and hopefully earns us a reasonable living. The last part being the most important. I realise only to well the benefits of CAD but there are days when I think I've spent all this money, and time - continue to do both! just to achieve what I've been doing for years with simple technical pen, magic markers and paper only to produce it in a different way. When a file corrupts,a system locks,a file won't print correctly or hardware dies I forget all the labour saving advantages and long for the days I only stopped because my pen had run out of ink or needed to buy another roll of tracing paper. My only "required" upgrade was a new lead in the pencil!! Ah those rose tinted glasses. Hope you don't ever give in completely to the function over form school of thought. We are like jugglers, trying to keep a grip on both but occasionaly in this balancing act we lose our balls ;~)

Just make up a 3d rectangle width of the doorway and moulding postion it over the moulding. select the moulding you want to edit and the rectangle, go to subtract solids from the same menu as add solids, make sure its highlighting the moulding piece and hit enter. Your moulding will have the piece taken out. If it's not right go edit group, and your two items will appear again as before the action, move or alter size if needed, hit exit group and you are out again. It's cutting pastry with a cookie cutter. Your baseboard will be the same. If you select that and go edit group, it will change to show the four pieces you put together before hitting "add solids" That's what I like about Vectorworks, these elements are still there so if you need to change or move them by spotting a mistake later you can. I refer to them as hidden groups but not sure what the official term would be if there is one. good luck Alan

quote: Originally posted by Petri: This is simply because one does not have to in any way twist one's fingers and locate a particular button. Can't see this myself. Apples dogged form over function attitude towards its mouse has long been a critcism from within the Mac community. As for white keyboards I won't even bother going there. On a two button mouse the fingers that operate these buttons lay flat and touch directly on these at all times with your hand curved over the mouse, so no finger twisting is involved at all. With some of the more complex mice the additional buttons are located at positions also where digits may rest, for example the thumb location. Granted that for left handed people some multi button mice can be a problem, shaped for right handed use, but the one I use and also many others I've seen go for a symmetrical shape, fine for both hands. What I have found to help with any strain related problems is to use a mouse pad (even though the optical ones don't need them on none reflective surfaces) with a raise gel filled cushion to rest my wrist on. Works well for me and I get no pain even after a 10+ hour day on my computer. [ 10-09-2004, 06:42 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Runtime Error Don't seem to have seen your reply to my post requesting the method you used to test the accuracy of the Microsoft Optical Mouse against any Logitech offering. This is not a knock at Logitech products they are very good, but if you are going to make such a statement please be prepared to justify it when asked how you came to this opinion. I have never had an accuracy issue with the various Microsoft mice I've owned and as regards Vectorworks any problems with inaccurate snapping, smart cursor etc. has been resolved from within the preferences or configuration options.

the other alternative which I'm sure you figured out was to do a series of image exports from Vectorworks with each seperate class visible class and then bring these in as layers on one Photoshop file. Depending on your VW file this may not work out as some class items may be ovelapped by others and need a lot of work to cut them away to get the image correct. Guess what you are really looking for is a quick one button solution in the export options. Sorry don't know of one but if you find a quick solution let us know, could be useful for the future. Alan

The only thing that comes to mind to do this is to export to Cinema 4D and then render, using the options within Cinema to render to layers in Photoshop. Even then you may have to switch off and on objects in Cinema to achieve this.I've just started using Cinema, but I remember when looking into buying it this was one of the features listed as a selling point layer rendering to Photoshop. Of course it means buying Cinema 4D but if you intend rendering designs from Vectorworks as well it may be a justifiable expenditure. It's not just a rendering program, take a look, it may be of interest anyway. Regards Alan

Hi Larry One of the great things about Vectorworks is it's versatility, allowing users to adapt the program to solve a problem or suit their particular need as you have explained. From my point of view I cannot see a way of doing this within the normal settings of Vectorworks. One of those clever users who write scripts for VW may be able to work a way of doing this but it's beyond my knowledge and capabilities I'm afraid. Using layers instead of colours to locate the different dimensions and detail required comes to mind but don't know if that would work better for you. The layers do have options with regard to veiwing/editing as I'm sure you know. How about making a pdf. Do they offer alternatives a "normal" printer does not to get round this. Sorry I can't be of more help. Good luck Alan [ 10-08-2004, 07:04 AM: Message edited by: alanmac ]

Not sure what you mean. Do you mean whilst you want your classes in various colours on the screen when working you then want to print some of them in black rather than their assigned colour. You can of course, as I'm sure you know, change a classes colour but not change selective ones in a document from viewing in colour then printing black unless you specify black and white printing in which case you get no colour at all for any class. Selecting and changing each required class to black to print the document is of course possible then back again but what a lot of messing about. why some classes still in colour and the rest black and white. what purpose does it serve?

One other thing I mentioned before and forgot this time is the pdf route allows you to look at the file on screen independant of Vectorworks using Acrobat Reader to see if its "printed" okay

"Trouble with PDF is you require a full version of Acrobat for a start" How did you come to this opinion. I stated clearly in my previous post that pdf programs are easily available, not just Adobe Acrobat. I'm Windows based and the pdf995 already mentioned is excellent, goes to the size you need, requires little or no input from your print shop other than what they would normally do to print files. And it's free until you want to remove the pop up that accompanies it each time and that's no big deal. OSX on the Mac has a print to pdf built into the operating system Worried about bugs, messing up your work. Is making a copy of your file so difficult. Then you can try any suggestion without worry of losing your work. If you are going out to a print shop to print these how were you going to present the file to them for printing anyway. Do they have Vectorworks, or Vectorworks Viewer? I've had no joy exporting as a DXF. Fonts and text alignment all over the place. Pdf worked great for me.

Hi Runtime Error. I'd be interested to know how you tested the accuracy of the Microsoft mouse in comparison to the Logitech one to come to this opinion.

I'd say a Microsoft Wireless Optical mouse is a great addition. The price is really good as well. If your UK based try novatech.co.uk it's under ?20. If it's the style over function Apple mouse you have, put it in the draw like so many other users and enjoy the better functionality of a Microsoft, Logitech model. With the tilt wheel version I have I can scroll up and down, left to right with just the centre wheel in Vectorworks. Okay holding the shift key to zoom but that's no big deal and certainly not the time taxing issue some have refered it to. A little over the top. As pointed out Vectorworks is easier to use and has far better functionality than Autocad in key command issues. Always disappointed, when I worked in a mac studio, that Apple stuck to its one button mouse. I doubt if one person on an Apple who has used another mouse with 2+ buttons for any length of time every went back. Now watch the posts roll in!! Anyway for the price you can always revert back without problem. Good luck Alan

You could also consider moving the page to each of your three sections in turn and create a pdf of each page. In that way you can check in Reader on screen if you have the right areas. I've never had to do this but did have to recently get some A0 drawing copies made and found the only print shop in my area that could do it retaining fonts and detail needed it as a pdf. They were set up for Autocad. Without the expense of printing a A0 sheet this also allowed me to check the output appearance on screen before sending file for printing. Pdf programs to that size easily available if you don't have one. OSX has it built in - are you mac based? All the best Alan