TomG

This needs to be changed to OFF. Listen to the latest podcast by Jansenson, Levy and Stanford for a fuller point of view. Having this harmful option on when the new user doesn't know of its actions is not in the goal of getting and keeping new users. There seems to be this idea that "if we put the tool in their way, they have to use it." This is not a helpful approach, in my opinion.

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I believe you may also have to click on the eye dropper tools preferences button and select Plug-in Parameters. It would be lovely if, when one eye-drops a wall, the wall would automatically unstyle. Second, why is Plug-in Parameters not set to ON by default? Can these be changed in time for V.13? Tom Greggs On 2/11/07 4:29 PM, "Kevin Shertz" <kshertz@VERIZON.NET> wrote: > David, > > It's likely that the wall you're trying to change is linked to a wall > style, which is a fixed definition. In order to do this you have to > have it be an un-styled wall. > > The best way to wrap your head around a wall style in VW12 is to > think of it as a symbol definition -- the only way to modify it is to > go into the resource and edit it... that will change the information > in all instances of the resource. And, like a symbol, you can > replace one for another via the Object Info palette when the item is > selected. > > Regards, > Kevin Shertz > > > On Feb 11, 2007, at 3:25 PM, David Sassano wrote: > >> I have the eydropper set to pick up attributes for >> walls, but when I click on the wall that I want to >> change to the attributes of the first will I picked, >> nothing happens. >> >

On 1/11/07 5:40 AM, "Pam Hays" <phays@EGBERSLANDDESIGN.COM> wrote: > I figured out I was assigning wall elevations in BOTH places > OIP and Design layer dialog. And why shouldn't you do this, as natural as it seemed? And yet it is a trap. After having thought about this issue for some time, I'd like to expand a little. Certain processes within VW support one type of project and one type of personality more fully than another. As an example, a multi story building where all stories stack, where the civil engineer has just delivered the elevation of the sub-basement, and where a CAD Master has just determined the elevations of all floors based on previously know structural member depths--this type of project is well suited to the Setup tools and for placing Z information onto the Edit Design Layers palette. The term "engineered" fits this type of project fairly well. At the other end of the spectrum are those projects for which only the elevation of the top-of-subfloor of the first story is known. Other story data won't be discovered for some time since zoning height and structural depth and client preferences have yet to be revealed. Processing through this information is non-linear and so suggests a different kind of personality to the project and in fact, one will often find a different type of personality doing this type of work, more artist than engineer. Using the OIP rather than the Edit Design Layers (EDL) palette suits my non-linear way of developing out a project. I WOULD like to mix and match the Edit Design Layers with the OIP but, pending NNA adding a button that turns off the automatic additive function, I just can't trust it. It would seem a simple matter to begin with one, two or three layers (floors, for instance) using the EDL palette and then switch to setting Z heights only on the OIP for other nonstandard layers, but as we've seen, the EDL palette is busy sending 3D elements on those layers out into space somewhere. What would help would be direction within the program or within the NNA teaching materials that recognized this difference in personalities but alas, those resources are produced and managed by engineers. How else to explain the years-long lapse in addressing this gap in the learning materials produced by NNA and its contractors? Rather than recognize the strength of VectorWorks being able to suit two kinds of projects and two kinds of personalities, the learning materials and the Setup Tools only successfully support one reality (although many have adapted to them, certainly). It is the newer user who may feel the pinch of their square peg being driven through a round hole. I'm, not sure of the best way around this issue, at least as far as changes to the EDL or the OIP go. I do feel that clear direction and logic of reasoning should be provided to the user as aid in navigating through this part of the program intelligently. Tom Greggs Seattle VW Users Group Leader http://converttolines.blogspot.com

I had an edit going and pressed send too soon. I meant to say that I've also tried to build the shape with 3D polygon tool, tried and failed, changed the shape to a NURBS curve, tried and failed. Thanks!

In the absence of such a tool, I want to draw a handrail similar to the one shown on Page 10-13 of the Fundamentals manual. I don't see mention of the process of drawing such a polyline. Loft With One Rail would appear to be the command I'm after but I can't get it to work on the polylines I've assembled one by one and then combined. Thanks!

- prefer 2d drafting like the old days on tables... use Vectorworks - prefer 3d drafting, properly coordinated drawings, design benefits of 3d modelling, saving time... use ArchiCAD The above quote stunned me since I draw, using VW, in 3D. Everthing this person quoted as a benefit of using ArchiCAD I get using VW. I don't see where mjb is particulary familiar with VW given what I see every day (I am not questioning his knowledge of ArchiCAD). 3D informs 2D. I adjust my building toward accuracy using 3D. I cut, section and fit to be sure I get the intended result, both structurally and aethetically. With VW, you can take the 3D model as far as you want to go. You can bail out at any point and proceed to finished working drawings. I've used VW to solve too many construction problems using 3D, developed many quality 3D renderings, to even slightly agree with this post regarding VectorWorks.

My point remains; at no time was there a warning about overwriting if not connected to the internet, either on the website or in the installer. The updater sat for several days prior to my activating it and so the second caution you mention was long gone from memory.

I attempted to install V. 12.5 today (Mac OS 10.4.7, G4) and all went well until an automatic attempt was made by the installer to connect to the internet. (This is a machine that has a slow dialup connection which is rarely turned on). Failure to connect to the NNA website (something about a lack of "socket") caused the install to overwrite VW V 12.1 but NOT restore it after the failing to connect to the internet. Thus, I am spending my morning reinstalling VW 12.00, then downloading and installing 12.1. Overwriting was explained in the Read Me but no there was no suggestion that an internet connection was essential or that the original VW was at risk.

Putting a clear glass panel into a door is WAY TOO HARD. Count how many commands it takes. Windows and doors need a global button--one button--to make them opaque or clear. Doors need more O.I. type choices so I can simply click on Store Door (or whatever term you prefer). Please consider the newer user who must find the path to give a door a store-door look. Make this a priority for V.12.1, please. Tom Greggs

With one exception, I'm fine with the walls as they are--being able to set components then, when printing, turn off the components so only the outermost lines are showing. I snap to the face-of-stud component when I lay out my dimensions. At 1/4" per foot, when I turn off the inner lams, the dimension line will look ever so slightly off from the wall edge. But if I clearly state on the plan sheet that the dimension is from Face of Stud, it shouldn't matter. What I DO want is a key command to turn off and on wall parts without having to go to Prefs. And yes, too many choices will overwhelm the user--especially the newer user who needs speed and success over infinite variability. Tom Greggs

I'd like to see a tutorial showing how to adjust various elements to each other which reside on different layers. A good example would be roofs to walls. With Align Layer Views and Cut 3D Section having been moved out of the active tool set (in Architect, anyway) the job of adjusting elements against each other just got way harder. One cannot measure between elements of a model shown in a Viewport or between elements of a model using the Stacked Layers--there is no measurable scale tied to these "view-only" images. Also, one cannot cut a Viewport Section and convert it to lines in its original scale, or any scale that I can figure out. So I'd love to read how to make measurements work. Thanks.

I'd like to see a tutorial showing how to adjust various elements to each other which reside on different layers. A good example would be roofs to walls. With Align Layer Views and Cut 3D Section having been moved out of the active tool set (in Architect, anyway) the job of adjusting elements against each other just got way harder. One cannot measure between elements of a model shown in a Viewport or between elements of a model using the Stacked Layers--there is no measurable scale tied to these "view-only" images. Also, one cannot cut a Viewport Section and convert it to lines in its original scale, or any scale that I can figure out. So I'd love to read how to make measurements work. Thanks.

I'd like to see a tutorial describing how to use classes to isolate cripple walls/foundation walls--that is dissimilar stacking walls, all on the same layer. Also show how to best insert windows and doors into these dual wall entities.

Please change the editing option term in VW 12 from "Un-styled" to "Edit." I'd like to understand why this ungainly word was chosen over any other--especially over one so clearly understood such as "Edit."