lgoodkind

As 'most' of us know, we are in crisis of epic proportions. Our carbon output is not declining rapidly enough to ensure a comfortable existence for future generations on this planet. The AEC industry is playing a huge part in this. I would like to propose a project to bring AEC software design to the table of solutions. in Vectorworks the Energos energy analysis tools are useful for the total energy consumption of buildings. What we need now however is a system not unlike the water use budgeting in the Irrigation module that works with the carbon footprint of the materials we use. Steel and concrete are the two major carbon outputs in terms of our work and we will have to make drastic changes in how much of these materials we use if we are to make any impact. This is something that Vectorworks could be at the forefront of. I would like to be able to produce a spreadsheet of materials used on a project that roughly calculates the carbon imprint it will make. Once this type of module is in place project codl easily compete for greater good. If Vectorworks isn't interested the we will need the community of Python coders to help out with this. I'd love to get this started so any input here is highly valued. Lane Goodkind Landscape Architect

Does anyone else have problems with multiple viewports showing random graphics that don't go away or change scale? I continuously have problems with one viewport showing a split area of the plan that doesn't change scale and is not actually there but shows on screen. The attached images show the artifacts on the right and the actual drawing on the left. This causes the multi-viewport option to not be very useful since one window is not usable. This happens randomly on all our files.

This is not working for me. I am unable to move the page tool. It's 2 am and I need to get a 20 sheet set of drawings out and this happens?! WTF. ahh VEctorworks.

Is there a reason Vectorworks creates all these topo labels on the site model? No sure I understand how to control this. How am I supposed to delete these? any help is appreciated. Thank yuo

Perhaps you could assist with how an IFC export works in VWorks? You mention above that this is the preferred way to get a model into Revit from Vectorworks but we are not Architects and do not have the capability of creating stories etc. We've tried exporting IFC objects but doesn't seem to work with our work (hardscapes, solids models). We are landscape architects. Can I ask again what you suggest is the right method for exchanging models with the team that uses Revit?

Sorry for the confusion and thanks for your input - I will give SAT a try for REVIT export and try IFC for VW export.

Robert, You wrote at a great time as we just this morning are trying to import a 550mb Revit file. The problem we have with Revit as well as IFC is the way objects are grouped and classed . Even after requesting the architect properly calls all object what we get are a bunch of IFC entities with groups and symbols inside all on class '0' or 'none' with no texture applied and attributes not assigned by class. We therefore cannot apply textures to this file in any way to make it a useful tool for visualization as it would take many hours to convert everything to proper classes to assign textures etc. If you could point me to a resource that will will explain a better way to do this I would appreciate it. The architects (EYRC) are using the standard AIA layer/class naming convention in Revit so I doubt there's anything more they can do. As it is now we can't use either IFC or Revit, without essentially going into every object to assign classes and textures. This is a lot easier in a program like Lumion but is not a reasonable endeavor in VW.

Really? This is the extent of this knowledge and interchangeability? I need to export our work so that the large team using Revit can integrate into the model they are building. Apparently there is no way to do this? IFC is not useful as there is no usable information in the file and it needs to be re-built in revit. Just thought I'd ask

Thanks but not at all what I am talking about. We use databases regularly for keynote legends on plan sheets. I'm talking about using them in detail drawings that are symbols referenced into a parent master file.

We are trying to find the right way to compile a library of details to create detail sheets. We prefer to use numbered callouts with keynotes however if you draw a detail this way, turn it into a symbol you can't edit it later without all the callouts no longer linking to the keynote legend. The simply won't link at all to anything if you try and subsequently edit the symbol you created. Has anyone encountered this? Is there a better way to create a detail sheet than referencing the details in as symbols?

This is great information - thank you. I must admit I knew nothing about the differences in software architecture that precludes one program to solids modeling versus meshes. I surmise from your note that programs like 3DS are geared toward these types of meshes. I don't like using such detailed trees either but in a few cases it is helpful to get the correct volume, shadow and density.

I too could use this functionality. Did you have any success?

Thanks for looking in to this. I realize now that you are right that there was extraneous linework within that mesh which is why it wouldn't simplify. I assume this is what you found? We are going to transition to Rhino/grasshopper for most of this type of prototyping but thought I'd at least try first to see what VW can do. I hope Marionette evolves eventually to the same level but alas no single piece of software can do everything. VW already one might say tries to do too much.

this would be helpful if there was a file associated with it. I can't tell which nodes do what. What type of node is the one she selected to type in 'sel = true '?

I've noticed that 3D trees from Xfrog or any anywhere else come in to VW at more than 10x the original file size. Does anyone know why? This basically makes them unusable in VW as any serious use in visualization would bloat the file beyond what most people's hardware can handle. Attached example is a Quercus agrifolia: the 3DS file is 9.9mb - in VW it is 101.3mb

Interesting, it doesn't work at all for me with any of them. Thank you Andy.

Andy, I have 3 meshes in this file that I was trying to reduce - the doesn't do anything for me even with simple geometric shapes. Maybe you can try. cloudmesh marionette.vwx

Has anyone had any luck with the simplify mesh tool? It doesn't do anything for me no matter how simple or complex the mesh. I simply can't get it to work http://app-help.vectorworks.net/2018/eng/VW2018_Guide/Objects_edit1/Simplifying_Mesh_Objects.htm

Thanks what I figured - thank you for your response!

I saw this thread that allows one to edit the min and max of the slider but I see that it only uses int. Is there a way to get a slider to use a decimal value? would be nice to not have to use math to get a vale of say .25 to 1.5

Forgive me for being noob - How does one go about changing the parameters of this slider so that is is useful? or are we stuck with 0-25?

That sounds great - it might take me as long to figure out how to do that as it would to do it manually. Maybe some day I'll try. Thanks

I'm wondering if there's a way to turn this mesh object into a solid, wire-framed solid - in other words give each poly line say a 1/2" radius? The only way I can find is to individually select each polygon and extrude along path - a stupid and time consuming endeavor. Perhaps the only option is to not use vectorworks? Grasshopper/Rhino would be simple.

There is but 1 reason to force a buggy release every year - $$$. So what do we do about it? If you are an architect why aren't you using Revit with lumion or VRay? If you are a landscape architect have you looked at LandFX lately? There are alternatives, none are perfect but you don't see this level of angst on their user forums. I don't think this corporate behavior is sustainable and will eventually correct itself one way or another.

The rant's are hard to avoid here but I may have a few suggestions to everybody coming here with the same level of ire. The resources library is almost always the culprit when in comes to slow downs. I have no idea why it is this way but it is. If you have a lot of objects in your resources library or have a custom workgroup library AND especially if it is on a network drive you are going to be driven mad. The only solution seems to cut your resources library content way down and if you are on a network use Dropbox or something to store everything locally.