doug shaffer

hi there - most of our work is residential, and we do 3d models of most projects. the key for us was to understand that 3D models are made with only a small amount of extra work. In addition, we have found that having a model enables us (and our clients) to more clearly understand how parts are coming together. the key is to learn and understand 'Z' and 'delta Z' values and layer links. The VW manual and Vectorworks Architect manuals, as well as Janis Kent's WorksManual 8.5 explain what this means. can one easily make elevation drawings that update with the model? no, but we have found that in building the model, elevations are not even generated until late in the design process. at a time when we feel we can 'safely' generate elevations, we set up views of our 3d model, take a 'snap-shot' of it using the 'convert copy to lines' command, then remove/add extraneous lines, fills, etc. as necessary. good luck, ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hi there - If Macintosh OSX may 'take advantage' of dual processors, can I assume that rendering speed (when using VW) will be increased if I purchase a dual processor machine? thanks for your help. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hi there - you might consider making .pdf files that could easily be emailed to clients. Use Adobe Acrobat, or if you don't want to shell out $200, try the excellent shareware program called PrintToPDF. Search for it at Versiontracker.com. good luck. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

i agree. this is a tremendous shortcoming. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

excellent suggestion! i hope NNA is listening. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

I hope you have a backup. The same thing happened to me awhile back. I noticed that when selecting objects in my model, they were described as 'failed subtractions' in the object information pallette. I was told by folks who frequent the VW user forum several ways to possibly remedy the situation to no avail. Try searching the forum archives for your problem. Here is the URL: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/vectorworks-l.html ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

I hope you have a backup. The same thing happened to me awhile back. I noticed that when selecting objects in my model, they were described as 'failed subtractions' in the object information pallette. I was told by folks who frequent the VW user forum several ways to possibly remedy the situation to no avail. Try searching the forum archives for your problem. Here is the URL: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/vectorworks-l.html ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

sorry - it's not possible. one of the few drawbacks of Vectorworks is it's hatching ability. it would be so nice if you could use any drawing tool to draw directly in the hatch editing window - selected elements within the window could then be repeated at intervals - similar to how it currently works. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hi - I completely agree. If you want to read about the frustrations many of us have gone through on this issue, dig through the archives of the VW Users Forum at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/vectorworks-l.html ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hi - If you have not done this, try it. set up the sheet exactly like you want it to be, then re-save the sheet using the same name. This will over-write the existing sheet (there will be a warning telling you so). leave the sheet and return to it to see the results. Hope this works. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

the 'splash' key is commonly called the 'command' key on a mac. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

select all of the elements that you want to modify, then use the 2D reshape tool to make a marquee around them. this works similar to Microstations 'fence stretch' command. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

FOR ME, MAKING THIS MODIFICATION IS MORE THAN A WISH, IT IS A REQUIREMENT! If you want to read alot about this shortcoming, dig through the archives of the Vectorworks Users Forum. Here's the URL: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/vectorworks-l.html If you have not ever used this resourse, give it a try. I have found it extremely useful. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

M A H E N D R A A - I do not think that Vectorworks can do this quickly without VectorWorks Architect installed. For simple railings, the VW Architect tool works well. Prior to owning VW Architect, I created handrails with baulisters using the duplicate array commands. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hello - Check out Julian Carr's '3D-Manager' for this. I have not yet purchased this software, but will be doing so soon. There is a demo version of the software available as well as example images on the web-site. The address is: http://www.zeta.org.au/~jbcarr/ ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hi - I hope DG is paying attention to these posts. The Vectorworks Users forum (http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/vectorworks-l.html) has had plenty to say about this topic. Printing is a general area where VW needs much improvement. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t

Hello M A H E N D R A A - Not knowing exactly what you are after ('stepped cylindrical shell?') it is a little difficult to give you advice on how to create this form. If you want to create a model of a roof that has 'vault' like curves, you can draw a 2D polygon that is the form of the roof section you are after and extrude it when in a SIDE or FRONT view. Can you be more descriptive of what you would like to do? thanks, ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

Hi - I apologize in advance for posting this message to this site, but considering that making .pdf files is one of the only ways to get plots using VW, I feel justified. My plotting service bureau is having a hard time with .pdf files. They use an Oce 9800 plotter and a DEMO version of a driver that allows them to process Acrobat 3.0 files. They say that a full (licensed) version would cost $3000 US. Does anyone know of particular drivers for the 9800 that work well with Acrobat 4.0 files? I am using Adobe Acrobat (Distiller) 4.0 to create .pdf files. Does anybody out there send .pdf files to an Oce 9800 plotter with good results? If so, would you be willing to share your Distiller settings? I am having difficulty with inconsistant line weights. They seem to vary depending not only on the orientation of the line (i.e. vertical vs. horizontal vs. diagonal) but there is also variation between parallel lines. In this case, it seems that the plotter is not 'registering' well with the Acrobat file. frustrated, ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

Yes. I have noticed that just quitting the program helps. Either way, I hope DG figures this one out. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

I STRONGLY AGGREE WITH POINT #1 AND #2. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

I STRONGLY AGGREE WITH POINT #1 AND #2. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

Hi - Will 8.5.2 be in the form of an updater, or are we going to have to download a 30MB file? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let it be an updater!! thanks - ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

Brian - I have had an email exchange with Robert Anderson regarding this issue, but thought you might have a different insight. Below is the text from the latest email sent by Robert. Note that text preceded by ">" was written by me (Doug), the rest was written by Robert. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Could this be related to the dimensioning door bug? >I don't think I have been clear enough about how often the 'locus' points >seem to occur. Here is what I am seeing. First, zoom in so that the trim >on either side of a door jamb appears to be about 1/2 of full scale. If I >understand correctly, the snap points of component parts of a door object or >symbol should be the same as the snap points of similar elements that are >not symbols. For example, the rectangle that indicates the trim at a door >jamb should have eight snap points: the four CORNERS and the four CENTERS of >each side. However, when I move my cursor along even the short dimension of >the trim rectangle, there appear to be many (10? 20?) snap points. The >smart cursor snaps to each of these points and and the word 'locus' appears >at each one. Doug, I most emphatically am -not- seeing this effect with VW. Maybe a clean install of VW and VA is called for here? (If you do, remember to backup your critical preferences files per the VA manual appendix page A-20.) >I regularly use the data display bar to place components precisely. The >problem is that I can't seem to grab a window or door at a precise point (a >corner of trim, for example) in order to move it precisely. ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

Hi - With regards to your first question "sides on a DTM", I too followed the procedure for creating them and ran in to the same offset issue. After several attempts at creating sides, I realized that after creating the DTM, I had moved it in order to align with other layers properly. My solution was to 'delete' the DTM (see the DTM pallette), move the 3D loci I was using to generate the DTM to their proper location relative to other layers, THEN create the DTM. After this process, the sides could be drawn properly. Diehl folks - It would be of great benefit to us all if 'sides' on a DTM could be created using a command under the DTM pallette. The process outlined by tech support is much too time consuming. Thanks and good luck, ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a

Hi again - here are a couple of questions about VW ARCHITECT Windows and doors. (I don't know if these apply to 8.5 standard doors and windows) 1. How do I make the panel in a door transparent when viewed in quickdraw? I have made a 7'-0" x 3'-6" door with: no. panels vert.: 1 no. panels horz.: 1 top stile: 1'0" bottom stile: 1'0" LR stile: 1'0" SHOW 3D Detail button is CHECKED 2. When I place doors and windows, there seem to be an infinite number of 'locus' points that are created and associated with it. They are not visible in 2D or 3D views, but when the cursor is brought over the door or window, it is extremely difficult to snap to a significant point because there are locus points all around and very nearby. thanks for any help! ------------------ d. s h a f f e r a r c h i t e c t k c m o u s a