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The current facilities for importing 3rd party 3D file formats is very limited. The only available function is the import of .IGES and dxf files. Whilst looking on the internet for available model downloads I've never come across a site with .IGES files. And when you import dxf files it converts every thing into 3D polygons, which end up taking up huge amounts of file size. My questions Am I importing dxf files incorectly, is there a way of converting them into nurb surfaces? Does any one know of a site that has .IGES models available for download? Is there a way to convert the popular file types (.dwg .dxf .3ds .max, lightwave, Maya etc) into .IGES file type? Is Nemetschek considering supporting a more varied array of 3D file types? I noticed on Apples web site a download for an open source 3D file format including the source code for Maya. It's called GTO fiel format. Any one who's interested can take a look at this link. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/imaging_3d/gto3dfileformat.html

Hi Dave Thank you very much for solving that for me, I had no idea that distances had any relevance on any thing. I've repositioned every thing to the center of the working plane and it appears to work. Thanks again.

You need to put some lights inside the structure. Spot lights or point lights. Good luck

Thanks for the information katie and dave. It'll have to wait untill I can upgrade.

HI bc Katie was right. You can't actualy embed an image into one of these message's. When you write a 'new topic' for the first time there are several buttons at the bottom of the screen, one of which say's 'image'. if you click on this it ask's you for a URL (web address), if you put in the URL to an image, that image appears as it does above. So you need to put a picture on the internet and then right a link to it. That's the way I did it above. Good luck. (I'd still like an answer to my first question if any one knows)

In the object mapping pallette would it be possible to add a slider that would allow variations? I.E. a slider for colour, a slider reflection. Not terribly deatailed options but some thing that would allow you to use the same texture on multiple objects and have each one be a slightly different shade. I.E. if you make a piece of furniture and each element is made from the same timber, in the real world each piece would be different, but in vectorworks it currently looks like it's been hewn from a single piece of wood.

I've come accross a problem using generic solids in VW 10.5.1. I get strange results when iether importing symbols containing generic solids, or copying models from one file to another containing generic solids. The portions of the models containgin generic solids have a habit of disapearing, for no particular reason that I can see. Does any one have any ideas?

Thanks Chris

I've made the model below but I'm getting strange results from rendering when put in certain files. You can see the black speckly marks on the back of the screen on the right. I've tried changing the textures, I've tried no texture. I've tried re-modeling the affected area's, using different modeling techniques. I've tried using different lighting (more and less lights). The problem does not occur when viewed in the file the model was created in, only in certain files. Short of killing my computer does any one have any advice, because my laptop is about to learn to fly.

Does any one know where I can find some advice on the best type of 3D objects to use based on file size? I'm making an interior and with all the furniture and props it's becoming a huge file that takes an age to render. Does any one have some advice? Thanks

This time I think I've come up with a good idea. It's possible to organise the "class's" so that they appear as pull down groups in the object info and class selection pallettes. However they appear simply as a list when viewed in the Class manager. Would it be possible to create groups of Class's in the manager as well. That would work in a similar way to the Layers menu in "photoshop". Thus allowing you to turn off an entire set with 1 click. EG turn off the DTM set rather than turning off 10 individual class (and then turning them all back on again)

I'll go with Peters suggestion. Thanks robert.

Thanks Robert, but I've tried that already. It puts the counter top away but the cabinet under it remains a solid object, which cuts through the bowl of the sink. (sorry I've just re-read my first message, it's not very clear)

I've created some kitchen cabinets using the "create base cabinet" tool in the Objects pallete. Is there any way to cut a whole in this to insert a sink? I've removed the counter and inserted my own, which I can create a hole for the sink but inthe cabinet. Or is there another cabinet tool that does not have a top?

Thank you Peter I'd of never found that. Life saver

I'm trying to insert a sliding door into my project (actualy a lot of sliding doors). The insert door tool always gives me a two panel sliding door, and I can't find a way to increase the number of panels. is there a way? All of my doors are 3,4,6 panel doors. I'm using VW 10.5. Thanks.

I found these on the web this morning (for free). they are an older version but they still open just fine. but i had to open them from vectorworks, if i double clicked them it didn't recognise the file type. these are all 2D, but they look ok for elevations. http://www.vectordepot.com/downloads/2d_adults_in_motion.sit http://www.vectordepot.com/downloads/people3.sit

thank you. I feel like an idiot. I thought I had a really good new idea for a moment there.

the current tool for making curved walls is clumsy and difficult to use when making a complex wall. can we not have a tool that will convert curves made using the "polyline" tool into a curved wall? this would be worth the money.

When you import data as a survey file, and specify meters as the units VW obviously interprets the elevation in Meters but what about the 'Northing' and 'Easting' values? My Data is coming from a GPS unit and it stores these values in 'Degrees', 'Minutes' and 'Seconds'. But when I import a file covering several hundred meters of area VW creates points which area millimeters apart. Am I doing some thing wrong? Is VectorWorks doing some thing wrong? Pamela your data example looked like its was 'Degrees' and 'Minutes' how do you get along in this situation. Is there some application that can convert this format into 'Meters' Pamela I hope your excitement at finding some to help hasn't faded, because I could really use some of your experiance at the moment. Thanks

Thanks for the help Pamela

I'm trying to import survey data from a GPS unit. However the text file that it puts out is full of data, not just x,y,z values. Could some one please type in a hypothetical set of data so that I can see what the data file is supposed to look like, just two or three lines would do it.

I found a way to do it. If you view a roof face from a 3D angle and then trace over it using the 3D polygon tool, this gives you the surface area. When doing this the "smart edge" constraint must be turned off. Or you will not be able to snap to the edges of the roof. Incidentaly it seems that the ability to calculate roof areas must be a function needed by every architect since the beggining of time, why does VW not have this built in?

Does any one know of an easy way to calculate the surface area of a roof face object, for the perposes of calculating tile requirments?