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doug shaffer

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Posts posted by doug shaffer

  1. Hi -

    VW2009-Architect, Mac OSX 10.5.9

    I am making some plans for a client presentation and have created viewports to the plan design layers. Typically, our walls have a WHITE fill for construction drawing purposes. To create the presentation plans, I am over-riding class settings (changing from WHITE fill to BLACK fill) for the walls, doors, etc.

    The problem is that I can NOT do this for the windows. All windows (and doors) are created using Door and Window PIOs. Typically, in order for the windows to read properly in plan, I have to include a Sill 'part'. BUT when I override the class that contains the windows in the viewport, the sill is rendered BLACK, too. It makes it appear as though there are no windows.

    I just want the jambs and mullions to be BLACK like the walls and the sills to be WHITE (because they are not cut in section) but it seems that there is not a way to isolate (by class) the jambs or mullions. Is this correct? I've tried using the "Special Classes" pull-down menu in "Window Settings", but it appears that this only affects 3D representations.

    What am I missing???

    Thanks -

  2. Hi -

    VW2009 - Mac

    I have a file that contains a number of design layers and sheet layers. Several of the design layers are referenced from other files. For example, one of the layers references a 'structural grid' file. For some reason, when I try to print from a design layer, only the 'native' (non-referenced) design layers print, even though the referenced layers set to visible and are clearly within the print area. What is going on? Is it possible that I unintentionally toggled some preference? If so, I have not been able to find any.

    Any tips appreciated.

    Thanks -

  3. Hi -

    We are using VW2009 on Macs and want to make legible Reflected Ceiling Plans using our Floor Plan files.

    I understand that turning off the 'sills' class and turning on the 'ceiling-main' class can result in usable plan for use with RCP's, but why does the JAMB still show? Basically, for the purposes of our Reflected Ceiling Plans, we want to be able to view a plan file as if no doors or windows have been placed in it.

    More information - we are using STANDARD NAMING (AIAS/NCS) and have AUTO CLASSING turned ON. (I understand that the 'ceiling-main' and 'sills' classes are not part of the AIA naming standards...)

    Please respond with tips if you have them.

    THANKS!

  4. UPDATE:

    Okay. I've been experimenting all afternoon and may have figured out something. If I change the name of the file FROM which I am trying to import classes, it works.

    Original file name: 08001-plan-level one (import classes does not work)

    New file name: test2 (import classes works fine)

    Next question: Why?

  5. Hi -

    VW2009 SP4 (build 106846) - Macintosh

    I could swear that, in the past, I was able to import classes from any file. It appears that I can no longer to this. SP4 bug?

    If I go to Tools > Organize > Classes > New, then click the "import classes" radio button and choose a file that contains classes that are NOT in the active document, NONE of these classes show up in the list of classes to be imported. For that matter, the file name is not displayed in the pull down menu as it was in the past, either.

    Is anyone else experiencing this? Perhaps I'm doing something wrong?

    (note: See attached directions for importing classes from VW help menu)

    Thanks -

  6. Thanks for the idea -

    That would be okay, but I would rather maintain the flexibility to have the leader be up / down / left / right, and to be able to vary the length of the leader. (without having to make separate symbols for each)

    Any other thoughts?

    Thanks -

  7. Hi -

    We are producing a DD set of drawings, and I want to draw Wall Tags on floor plan sheets. We would like for them to be a diamond shape with a leader line that touches the face of the wall, with at dot at the end. I really like the way the Detail Bubble tool works to accomplish the look we are after, but I don't want it to automatically associate with some particular 'record format'.

    In other words, I would like to be able to place the Detail Bubble (wall tag), then be able to edit the number in the Object Info pallette. I want to be able to enter ANY text (not just numbers) and have that text appear in the bubble. For example the text inside of the bubble might be "1B".

    Am I asking for something that isn't possible with the Detail Bubble tool? If so, do you have any other suggestions?

    thanks -

  8. Hi -

    We are working on 'demolition plans' and want to be able to show existing doors to be demolished as dashed. I've created an new class called A-DOOR-EXST-DEMO that grey and dashed, but when I select a door and try to switch it to this new class, it automatically reverts back to A-DOOR class. Is there a way to over-ride this?

    thanks -

  9. Hi -

    I have used 'guides' in the past to align objects, but I'm wondering if they can remain visible on the screen, but not print? Is there a class setting that I can change so that objects in a particular class show on the screen, but don't print?

    thanks -

  10. Hi -

    VW2009-SP3 (build 103277) for the Mac

    I am working with someone that is new to Vectoworks but comes from an AutoCAD background. He was pointing out problems that can arise with 'circular references'. For example, we have set up separate files called "Floor Plan-One" and "Structural Grid". We are using viewports to reference information from Structural Grid into Floor Plan-One, but we also need to be able to reference Floor Plan-One into Structural Grid.

    After digging through the Vectorworks Tech board, I found something that suggested that this shouldn't be done and that a warning would be issued before Vectorworks would allow for the creation of circular references. However, when I tried it, it worked.

    Does anyone have an opinion about whether or not we should be doing this? Can viewports made using different options that address this circular references?

    thanks

  11. For managing borders and issue / revision data it is better to have one file with all your sheet information. I like the issue manager because you can manage a drawing set and record all issues and revisions in one place. If you want to have one person checking and plotting the plans then you can do all your notes etc on a layer in the model floor files and reference what you need into the master sheet file. This takes some planning and limits your production to one person per floor.

    What I ended up doing is I made a separate file with my borders on separate layers and separate sheet files for every sheet. I reference the borders into my sheet files and turn on the appropriate layer. This way you can manage the drawing set and issue data from one file and have as many people working on the plans as you have sheets.

    David -

    Thanks again for the very useful information. I'm slowly figuring things out for our project. Would you mind clarifying what you said regarding how you use borders/title blocks and sheets? You said that you made a separate file with your borders that get referenced into your separate sheet files. I've found that when I reference a sheet border layer in to my individual sheet files that the sheet specific information in the title block is not editable.

    I think I'm misunderstanding how you do this.

    Also, it is my understanding that you are using the Vectorworks border tool because you are using the 'issue manager'. Is this assumption correct?

    thanks!

  12. The applescript idea is worth pursuing. There are a few people in the office who can manage that kind of thing but I may send you a note later.

    thanks much.

    Hi, eas -

    Did you ever figure out how to batch print from multiple files? We are trying out how to do this now, too.

    thanks -

  13. Hi -

    We are starting the Design Development phase of an industrial / office project which is the largest project we've ever produced using VectorWorks. There will be three of us working on the project (plus three consultants using Autocad), and we are looking for information regarding the best means of working on the project as a team.

    We are familiar with how to use design layer and sheet layer viewports, and understand the concept of using design layer viewports to external files.

    Does anyone have any tips, or links to processes that have been spelled out? For example, do people use different files for each floor of the building? Are are notes and dimensions added using the 'annotations' part of viewports? Regarding sheets that will be printed, are they all compiled in one main file, or are sheets scattered amongst the various plan, elevation, etc. files?

    I realize that this is a complicated question, so I appreciate any advise you might have.

    FYI, we will be working in 2D only on this one.

    Thanks -

  14. Hello -

    I thought I had posted this already, but I couldn't find it in the archives.

    I REALLY like the new option of 'gray other objects' when 'show other objects while in editing modes' is selected. However, I find that when I am editing viewport 'annotations', if I zoom in close, the gray objects disappear. I think this may be a bug. When 'gray other objects' is not selected, the problem does not occur. Can anyone on this list confirm this problem?

    Also, has anyone written a script that allows you to toggle 'gray other objects' and/or 'show other objects while in groups' on and off using a quick key? Someone out there had written one for previous versions and I used it regularly.

    thanks -

  15. Hello everyone -

    I discovered my problem. Somehow I managed to change the class visibility of the problematic objects to gray. I don't know how I managed to do it, but it was obviously my dumb mistake. Thanks for your replys, and sorry for any unnecessary head scratching I caused.

    d. s h a f f e r

    a r c h i t e c t

  16. Hi -

    VW2009 SP2(build 99197)

    iMac intel osX 10.5.6

    We have been using VW2009 for several weeks now. I started a new file in VW2009 and have been working on it for several weeks now. On several occasions, I have had a problem that is a little hard to describe.

    Occasionally when I switch to a design layer that contains any number of objects (lines, walls, PIO windows and doors, etc) all or most of the objects are "gray" and NOT selectable. It is as if they are locked somehow, but they can not be unlocked because they are not selectable.

    For example, on my screen right now is a design layer that has 40 or so walls, some wide flange columns, some doors and windows. Nothing is selectable except for the wide flange columns and two windows. (all other windows are grayed out)

    I should also note that I CAN snap to all of the grayed objects, and smart cursor cues appear.

    Also, I can quit the program, restart the computer and problem persists.

    PLEASE HELP! (and yes, we have a good backup system)

    Thanks -

  17. I have an observation which slightly modifies what I said previously. These are the criteria to make "Use Part Line Stlyes" work properly.

    1. Attributes Palette is set as Wes Gardner described above.

    2. "Use At Creation" is UNCHECKED in the Class Settings of the Active Class at the time the door / window is placed.

    I hope this helps N.N.A. resolve the problem for the next 'service pack'.

    Thanks -

  18. Thanks for your response -

    The solution you propose seems to work under the following conditions only:

    1. Attributes Palette is set as you described

    2. The window / door is placed while in that objects active class. I.E., if you are in a different active class, and you are using 'Standard Naming' and 'Enable Auto-classing', it doesn't work.

    3. "Use At Creation" is UNCHECKED in the Class settings of the door or window object.

    To me these all are work-arounds, but I suppose they are better than changing each object individually after they are placed.

    Given that this has been a problem for several versions now, can I count on NNA ever addressing it?

  19. Hi -

    Does NNA have a response to this? I've contacted them through bugsubmit several times, and it has simply never been fixed. I think it started occuring in VW12. It appears that you use VW2009 - does it still occur?

    Aggravated,

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