michael john williams

I have only just got use to 2015 and completing a standard template / file for all our projects to be started from rather than a blank new document. The drawing was created as new in 2015 and all standard classes and layers for our office were set up. Now updating to 2016. Do I start all over again with a new file? Or simply do I convert the 2015 file to a 2016 file to save time setting up standard classes, layers and sheets again? I feel it is best to start afresh with each upgrade to avoid bugs, inconsistencies, etc but perhaps I am being too cautious. What is the correct procedure?

I have just upgraded from 2010 to 2015 and the storey at first appeared as an attraction. Now that I am actually starting using it and reading threads it appears far too complex. I have a simple question [i can't find it in a search so forgive me if this has already been covered]. I am setting up a drawing template and would like to organise the drawing set up correctly as a template for future projects. Now I have set up sheets and layers and I have now moved onto stories. But when setting up storeys it automatically creates a new layer. I have some spent time setting up these layers based on floor levels and I want to avoid deleting these layers or adding more layers. Or should I have set up storeys first? Surely one can assign a storey level to a design level and visa versa? And then it automatically changes when the level of either changes?

A long thread! I have just upgraded from 2010 to 2015 and the story at first appeared as an attraction. Now that I am actually starting using it and reading this thread it appears far to complex. I have a simple question [i can't find it in a search so forgive me if this has already been covered]. I am setting up a drawing template and would like to organise the drawing set up correctly as a template for future projects. Now I have set up sheets and layers and I have now moved onto stories. Bur when setting up stories it automatically creates a new layer. Now I have spent time setting up these layers based on floor levels. Surely one can assign a storey level to a design level and visa versa? And then it automatically changes when the level of either changes?

I have just updated from 2010 vectorworks architect with renderworks to 2015. I enjoy setting up an office standard drawing template. Whilst its kinda fun its also time consuming. I thought it wise to start from scratch with a new drawing rather than use our 2010 template. I have completed a new list of classes and I am about to do the layers. However, do I need to do everything, as there maybe items that have not changed? For instance set up a new office drawing title block symbol template? Do you have any recommendations?

I reinstalled it in the end but thanks

Time is running out! I need to find a way of entering the new vw serial numbers I have purchased to avoid the hassle of having to remove the trail and reinstalling the software. Any ideas?

I am in a bit of a dilemma in choosing the right graphics card for a new pc to run Vectorworks Architect with Renderworks to either go for AMD Fire Pro or NVIDIA Quadro. What's your opinion? From the Knowledge Base it appears that there have been problems with AMD but my research shows that they generally have a better Open GL rating. Also These are the two Dell pc options I am considering: 16GB1 DDR4 at 2133MHz 1TB 3.5inch Serial ATA (7,200 Rpm) Hard Drive AMD FirePro™ W5100 4GB (4 DP) (2 DP to SL-DVI adapters) with an open GL rating of 4.4 OR 8GB1 DDR4 at 2133MHz 500GB 3.5inch Serial ATA (7,200 Rpm) Hard Drive NVIDIA® Quadro® K620 2GB (DP, DL-DVI-I) (1 DP to SL-DVI adapter) I can't find a GL rating for Nvidia cards The AMD version is approximately £350 more expensive. Thoughts appreciated.

I feel the creepiness closing. Thank you for your reply.

I downloaded an evaluation version to test out 2015. The test is going well and its very likely I will purchase 3 licences after my free month. Unfortunately I can not recall when I downloaded the software so how do I know when my free month is up? Is there info in any of the settings? Do you get a warning? If so how long?

Simple question - what happened to 3D rectangle in tool sets in 2015? It appears that you have to go to basic then draw a rectangle and then go to 3D and extract. I am sure you could easily do it in previous versions in the 3D tool set before.

Went to Navigation and switched between layer options and this seemed to sort the problem out. I don't normally use the navigation palette and so this is a bit of pain. Surely there is another easier way round? However it does not work with hidden line.

I am having the same problem. I have adjusted the settings as suggested here. In layers visibility is all switched on. Layers all line up and at the same scale. Only the layer I am working in is fully visible all other layers are grey. Maybe its something to do with active plane. In the top box it says no active plane. As an aside HL seems longer to render than renderwors - strange - I would have thought it would be the other way round

Some British stuff.......Bath dressed natural stone, random rubble natural stone walling, natural Welsh slate roofing, Mendip clay roof tiles, etc.

Too cheap - you must be joking! At this price I can get a new licence every 3 years or an upgrade every 2 years. So there has to be some really good additional benefits of VSS to make it worthwhile.

Before this post I did a search for VSS and nothing came up. More came up when I searched Service Select but nothing too informative. I could only find a list of the basic benefits of VSS on the main VW web pages. Putting aside the benefit of an annual upgrade what more can VSS give you? This is a great forum and source for help and so why pay more for support? Training can be accessed for free via You Tube or other sources so why pay for discounted training with VSS? Besides here in the UK little if any training is provided and its pretty basic. Access to textures and other libraries could be useful but I find them too 'Americanised' and not too relevant for a UK practice. It is a pity that there is no UK focus on textures and symbols. At £459 plus VAT per PC per year it is a great expense, especially for a small practice who only upgrades licences every 4 to 5 years. Does the trial version of 2015 come with a trial of VSS? Or is their a link to page that gives more of a preview of the training, textures and support one is purchasing?

Weird. When I downloaded it onto my 64 bit pc it downloaded the 64 bit version.

I will try it on my more powerful 64 bit pc. However two questions remain: Is the trial version only 32 bit and hence when I purchase the 62 bit version I will only then see if it works and how well it works? Also I note that it is the most expensive top of the range Designer with Renderworks and not Architect with Renderworks. So am I getting a true trial or when I purchase Architect I find that some of the facilities / tools are not there? I am concerned that it contains spotlight and that is what is giving me great light renderings and spotlight will not be in architect.

I am checking our whether to upgrade from Vectorworks Architect with Renderworks 2010 to 2015. I have downloaded the trial version but it only seems to be the 32 bit version. Is there a 64 bit version to try out? Also I note that it is the most expensive top of the range Designer with Renderworks and not Architect with Renderworks. So am I getting a true trial or when I purchase Architect I find that some of the facilities / tools are not there? The trail is not going too well. My pc does not seem to save the files. It crashes quite frequently when I try to print or render. It is not liking my 2010 files. Admittedly they are big files with 3D people etc but I would hope 2015 would have no problem. The renderings with shadow in HL and RW are impressive on the 2015. But maybe I would get the same effect changing the settings on 2010? My pc is 32 bit and if 2015 32 bit keeps crashing then I foresee greater problems with the 64 bit. Having said that I intend ti use it more on a 64 bit pc. In the long term I will replace my 32 bit with a 64 bit pc but I would like to know if 2015 would work on a 32 bit pc in the short term? Sorry it has become a long post....I did not intend it to be - any feed back appreciated.

Thank you - your advice was good and your help sorted the problem out. I used by free copy of autocad trueview and converted the file into an older version and the dwg then imported nicely.

When importing a dwg file into a new vectorworks file the following error comes up: DWGdirect Library Error 42: The dwg file is an autocad file of window details. My version of vectors architect is 2010. I have tried several times now and its driving me wild. Any help appreciated.

can 64 bit work on 32 bit pcs?

Will the 64 bit version work on a 32 bit pc?

That is a disappointment. When you say 'mediocre at best' do mean 2D and basic 3D but not advanced 3D [i am not sure how to distinguish between basic and advanced 3D but I guess 3D modelling with renderworks is advanced]. I presume everyone updates their graphics when updating vw - an expensive business especially with an office with more than one pc.

Thank you for the links I will give it a go and get back to you. I have just bought a new pc with 3GB NVIDIA Quadro K4000 graphics and so I don't want to have to upgrade my graphics - will this be sufficient? The other pc has a 256mb nVIDA Quadro FX570 - will this be sufficient? We need to weigh up all the issues and costs for upgrading before we make a commitment. Interesting link from vw regarding using work around: http://kbase.vectorworks.net/questions/1171/Solid+orange+highlighting+on+Viewports,+Symbols,+and+Groups+etc. Does anyone use a work around on say your lap top when it does not have sufficient graphics? Perhaps I can live with a work around on my lap top as I only occasionally use vw on it. Thank you for your help.

I have tried update driver in windows 7 and it says it is up to date. It is an AMD Radeon HD 6630M It is a lap top by the way vw 2010 works fine on it. So perhaps it is not the driver?