ThinAirDesigns

I can't find this limitation described or alluded to in the documentation, but I seem to have run up against it... When using the Workspace Editor, it appears as though there is not complete flexibility regarding menu items. It appears that some menu items are 'groups' and must remain as such. In other words, say under "Render - Renderworks", I must display all of those options in my custom menu (including "Artistic Renderworks", which I never use) rather than just the ones I wish to to display. Just checking to see if this is an actual limitation rather than simply another case of me just not knowing the proper procedures. Thanks JB

I have learned something about layer linking behavior today. Now as a disclaimer, the way I will describe using layer links is not according to the help documentation so I'm not whining about it's inconsistent behavior -- just putting it out there as as thought and possible improvement. The Docs say to create a new layer and link other design layers to it. This works well and I have a layer like this where I can render and view my building in iso views, etc. I have found that quite often when aligning pieces and parts (often secondary roof items like an eyebrow over a window) it is easiest to throw a side view up and momentarily link the roof and appropriate floor layer and then nudge the part up or down until it is where I want it. Here is where the inconsistent behavior comes into play. If you are going to link two design layers directly, rather than create a third "container layer" (my term), you must link from the *bottom up* or the layers will not align in "Z". As a test, create two layers in a fresh document -- on layer A, Z=0". Layer B, Z=96". Create an extrude or other 3d object on each layer. With "A" active, link to "B". All is fine in iso views -- one object appears over the other. With "B" active, link to "A". All is not fine as the result is the equivalent of placing both objects at the same layer level. As an aside, if you create a third layer and then "container link" (my term) to the other 2, it matters not in which order you link. Again, I know it says in the Docs to create a new layer and thus it works just as described. I would think however that since the App allows for "direct linking" (my term) it would be nice if the linking worked equally well in both directions. Thanks JB [ 01-13-2005, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

Mike, I fiddled with the settings: With a extrude and floor created side by side and with the 3D Conversion Res. set to "High" or "Very High" I can see no difference between the two. If the setting is "Low" (which apparently is the default as I never changed mine after install) then the floor definitely has a lower res on the radius. If anyone plays with this, remember that the setting is applied when the object is created...meaning that if you change the setting to "High" and view objects that were created while the setting was on "Low", they will still appear consistent with the "Low" setting. Thanks Mike. JB

Thanks Mike, I'll play with those settings. Perhaps they don't effect all objects the same as I can curently model a small slab and an extrude with a round corner side by side and they are dramatically different. I'll play and report. Thanks again. JB

What is the practical difference between using these two commands for a building floor? The one downside I have noticed to the Floor command is in rounded corners -- even with the finest rendering they appear as visible segments. This maked them unusable for say a rounded cantilevered deck where you don't have an exterior wall to hide it behind. Another downside occurred on an exterior wall with a concave curve -- the segments took their shortcuts between the points of the curve and these showed through the curved wall that was intended to hide them. I had to use a larger radius on the slab to move it back far enough into the wall to hide these. Can someone toss me a reason to use "Floor" over "Extrude"? Perhaps there is a setting which controls the granularity of the radius on the floor command? Thanks. JB

Thanks Travis. Yes, I've tried it in a clean document and come up with the same results as you. I'm mystified. JB

I have a simple rectangle floor slab with four single cavity walls upon it. While in Top/Plan view, I select the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle by dragging cross corner from outside wall to outside wall. Lo and behold the drawn object is a Polygon. If I draw next to the slab...rectangle. If I randomly draw in the middle of the slab, it's a rectangle some of the time and a polygon some of the time. If I snap to the corners, it's always a polygon. Under what conditions is the Retangle Tool supposed to draw a rectangle, and when a polygon? In the documentation it appears as though the Rectangle tool is to draw *only* rectangles while the Rotated Rectangle Tool draws polygons. The grid is in a vertical/horizontal configuration(not skewed), and the slab is snapped to the grid. Thanks JB

So it sounds like the answer to my question may be "it's only supposed to draw polygons when the grid is skewed. Thanks. I'll post over yonder. JB [ 01-11-2005, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

Thanks Robert. I will do that. Is it something that you don't know? JB

I have a simple rectangle floor slab with four single cavity walls upon it. While in Top/Plan view, I select the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle by dragging cross corner from outside wall to outside wall. Lo and behold the drawn object is a Polygon. If I draw next to the slab...rectangle. If I randomly draw in the middle of the slab, it's a rectangle some of the time and a polygon some of the time. If I snap to the corners, it's always a polygon. Under what conditions is the Retangle Tool supposed to draw a rectangle, and when a polygon? In the documentation it appears as though the Rectangle tool is to draw *only* rectangles while the Rotated Rectangle Tool draws polygons. Thanks JB Edit: The grid is in a vertical/horizontal configuration(not skewed), and the slab is snapped to the grid. [ 01-11-2005, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

Another and more cheery update. After a bit I noticed that my rulers were no longer centered on the drawing(not even close). I figured there MUST be some coorelation, and there was. I went digging and lo and behold I learned about the "Set Origin" command. Somehow I must have hit a button somewhere that cause my origin to move. Setting it back to center solved my problem. It's not hard to understand why I first assume I am the problem...cause I usually am. lol. Thanks for everyone's patience. JB

Update: I just noticed that is also moved everything in Z about 2.875" (I say "about" because I now see that my 3.75" move in X is about .006 off so it moved in both X and Z some very odd dimensions. Also and more frustrating since I can't move objects to reset, is the fact that my reference grid and my ground plane working grid no longer align -- in other words, the ground plane did not move and the grid did. This is really going to create a problem if I can't figure out what happened. Sigh. Thanks again. JB

Part of my building sits at an odd angle to the rest. I rotated the grid to draw rectangles and use the snap-to-grid feature. When I returned the grid to 0 degrees, it is no longer in the same spot and has moved +3.75" in X. Since my reference grid is set to 24" and my snap-to-grid is set to 6" this of course screws up my entire layout that was initally done with the snap-to-grid. Any suggestions as to how this happened? Now, I attemped to fix it by ... A: All classes and layers visible. B: Layer and class options set to: Show/Snap/Modify others. C: All objects unlocked. D: Making the bottom (site) layer active. E: Aligning all views. F: Using the "select all" command or the the 2d selection tool to select all objects. G: Use the Move command to move everything 3.75" to the right. I failed at "F". I can only select the objects on the current layer. I was under the impression that with those settings I should be able to select and move all objects from one sheet. Where is my misunderstanding regarding "Show/Snap/Modify others"? My solution was to select everything sheet by sheet and move it independently. It worked fine, but certainly demonstrates my lack of understanding as to the workings of layers, etc. Thanks JB [ 01-11-2005, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

I spent 2 hours last night chasing some very strange behavior in my first project. Of course at this point I always initially assume that the problem is mine rather than a bug, but after careful research I'm not so sure.. In it's simplest form (which I have achieved by deleting all classes and layers in the project other than the ones discussed here) I have two layers: 1: floor layer 2: roof layer All objects are in "none" class. A: Simple rectangle gable roof on roof layer, created using the "create roof..." command on the roof layer. Both faces of this roof are part of the same group (not sure if "group" is the correct term, let's just say they were created at the same time and when clicked on, are selected as one object). B: SOG floor on floor layer. C: A couple of simple one cavity walls on the floor layer. (the roof isn't directly over the floor because the displayed roof/floor are for different parts of the house) The displaying, rendering, rotating behaviors of both layers and various objects are as anticipated when displayed in their respective layers. I added a third layer which I layer link to both roof and floor layers... Linked view rotates and views properly in all render modes accept for OpenGL. In OpenGL, the walls don't diplay at all but the alignment is fine initially. The alignment however, falls all to pieces (literally) if you rotate the view using say the flyover tool... it immediately takes one face of the roof and drops it about 20'. If you use the numberpad to rotate the view it will also screw up the alignment, but only some of the time. Oh, and the kicker is...delete the 2 simple walls on the slab and everything rotates and views fine. Should I submit the file for someone to look at or is there something obvious here? Thanks JB [ 01-10-2005, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

As a new user I agree with Mike here. I tried to get the Model Setup dialog to do what I wanted and just found it easier to do my own thing on the individual layer sheets. But then my first project is a lot more complicated level-wise then a first project has any right to be. Best wishes. JB [ 01-08-2005, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

Thanks Jonathan. I really do appreciate the time of those who contribute to this list. I will not forget and one day, with more experience, I hope to contribute as well. JB

Imagine wanting to create a skinny triangle shaped window in the side wall of a shed roof dormer. How would one go about this? Do I need something like WinDoor? As a generic side question, can I open up VW and just create a sheet of glass of any shape? Would the reflective (when rendered) look of glass just be a texture that I can apply to say an extruded polygon? Sorry for all the newbie questions, but well, I'm a newbie. :-) Thanks so much. JB

Thanks for the update Jonathan. I will certainly want to utilized those features. JB

Jonathan: >I will try what you have suggested, but it >may be that the wall type tool is needed to >draw the wall to the height set up in the >wall type library. Also, does the standard >wall tool draw the wall on the correct class? As I am just learning the software, I have not done a comprehensive set of tests to determine exact behavior. As I get more familiar with the app I may feel qualified to do that -- meanwhile I'll let y'all in the Biz keep me straight. :-) Thanks again to all. JB

ArchonCad >This topic is covered in more detail with >examples in my manual ?Architect Tutorial >Manual? available from my web site: Hi Jonathan. Take no offense from this as I own your manuals and am a huge fan of your work, but your materials on this subject are as confusing (and in some ways just plain wrong) as the other material I have. Example: Pg, 142 of your referenced Architect Tutorial Manual. "To use wall types from the Wall Type Library, you must use the Wall Type Tool". The above does not reflect my experience, as I can follow your instructions on how to create a new wall in the library and then the simple "Wall Tool" will happily draw that wall from that library. For now at least, my experience tells me that Robert (above) is correct and the only difference is regarding the record. Of course I'm still willing and eager to learn more. JB [ 12-30-2004, 02:04 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

Robert: >There is no missing functionality in the >"wall" tool. I of course don't have the breadth of experience that others on this board have, but the above has been consistent with my current experience -- that is why I, as someone who is trying to learn the usage of all the tools, have found it confusing...two tools side by side that behave almost exactly the same and with no clear documentation. Thanks for all the responses. I have appreciated it. JB

Thanks to Mike and Robert for their helpful explanations. Mike: >The Wall Tool is part of VectorWorks >Basic. It provides all of the wall >tool functiionality, but the user has >to create the cavities (these should >really be called components) that make >up the construction of the wall when >it is viewed in 2D. >The Wall Type Tool comes with Architect >and allows you to create and save preset >wall types Your explanation makes it sound as though with the "wall tool" you can't select from a list of wall types, or create and save your own. However, even with the "classic" workspace selected (no Architect), I can go to the "Model > Architectural > Select Wall Type..." menu and do all of that stuff. In fact, it's the same set of dialog boxes that appear in the "AEC > Select Wall Type..." menu when the Architectural workspace is selected. I'm still confused, but your description did at least lead me to conclude that if I just use the "Wall Type Tool" and leave the "Wall Tool" in it's sheath I won't be losing any functionality. If there *is* usable functionality in the "Wall Tool" that is missing in the "Wall Type Tool" I am missing it and would still appreciate it being pointed out. Thanks again, and suggestions for Nemetschek would be to improve that area in the documentation (which is excellent overall btw)and only show one wall tool on any given palette. JB

I'm amazed that I spent near a thousand bucks on VW manuals/books/CDs (Nemetschek and third party) and I still can't find a decent description of the difference between the Wall Tool and the Wall Type Tool. Am I just a moron? (don't answer that. lol) The context sensitive help (F1) brings up a different page for both tools, but the descriptions are ambiguous about any specific difference. A search of the help Index finds an entry for 'Wall Tool' but nothing for 'Wall Type Tool'. Select 'Wall, Creating' from the help index, and a dialog box pops up asking you to choose between 'VW' help and 'Architect' help. Both selections bring up topics called "Creating Walls". One(VW version) doesn't reference ANY tool at all(very strange) and the other references the Wall Type Tool. Could someone give me a helpful hand? -- and additionally, VW should see if they can rectify the ambiguity in the help system. A "Tool Map" in the documentation showing an exploded view of each pallet with associated help would be an excellent addition. Making sure that each tool has an entry in the Index would also be a big help. Thanks in advance. JB [ 12-25-2004, 11:35 PM: Message edited by: ThinAirDesigns ]

This is a 'three months down the road' update to my above post. After my previous post I purchased Jonathan's books on VW and VW Architect. I can't impress enough on a new user how much help they have been -- it's a lot like having a power user sitting at the desk next to you. As Jonathan's book is organized more like a tutorial, I still find Baer's book a better reference when I have a command question(it has an excellent index), but it was Jonathan's .PDF with the videos that got me up to speed the fastest. Thanks Jonathan. I'll be ordering the Kitchen book soon. JB

I am also new to VW and also purchased full manuals and CDs. I also purchased the only 3rd party book I knew of at the time (Tom Baer book for VW10). The VW documentation is some of the best I've seen and they deserve kudo's for it, but Tom's book has still been better organized for me as a newbie. I did watch the CD's first but what I'm finding know is there is no real *order* to what I'm doing...I've simply started taking it in bites -- learning 2d tools, then adding 3d tools - learning how to manipulate working planes, playing with classes and layers, playing with textures and the resource browser. I start with fresh documents over and over and just play with a particular feature until I have a reasonable understanding of it. Of course, this is written by someone who is still at the Kindergarten stage and I want those who contribute to know how much I appreciate this forum. JB