jfmarch

The way it works is you double click on "snap distance" icon, and indicate the fractional (0r percent, or distance) divisions in the pop up window. If there is going to be more than 3 divisions, check the "multiple divisions" box in this window before hitting the ok button. With the snap button highlighted, you can place loci (or line, circles, rectangles,...) along a line at the "along line" indication on the smart cursor. Check the VW help command or you manual for this. It should work ok.....

There are some commands (at least on our workspace), under Tools/Drafting Aids called "line into segments" and the "distribute" tools. Since VW 9 my line into segments doesn't work, and I could never figure out the distribuite commands. What I do now is use the "snap distance" tool on the Constraints pallete. I enter the fractional seperations I want to place (like 1/5 for 5 equal divisions), and place loci or lines to do the work. Its cumberson, but it does the trick. Hope this helps...

We have had generally great success with the DWG export commend. We export to consultants using the "Export as.. layers" checked, export on those "layers visible" checked, and "map line weights to colors" checked. We always check the files prior to transmission by opening a new VW file, and importing the DWG. Our stuff always works really good. Importing files with viewports, though is another problem... By the way- we are Mac based, OS X, VW 9.5.2, Powerbook G4. [ 09-12-2002: Message edited by: jfmarch ]

All this schedule/worksheet business is quite interesting. My thoughts: I've been using VW since Minicad 6. I work on Mac (now OS X on a Powerbook G4), and now use VW 9.5.2 w/Renderworks installed. We use the worksheets extensivley as legends, code review charts, and linked schedules. With schedules we have set up our own record formats, somewhat modelled after CSI divisions. When VW 7? was released we attended the Philadelphia VW users group to review the new features. One of the items raved about was the ID Object tool. To us, this seemed a little awkward- when we craet a door symbol, it is attached to our door record and a text block is added to the symbol that gives the door (or window, or sink..) its ID. We tie it in with the CSI numbering system. When we then create a worksheet schedule, the data base search range is coordinates with the CSI number, such as 8200 for doors, 8500 for windows... In this way the connection between the symbols and schedules is a straight line. The ID tool seemed to us to be an added "layer" away from the info. The Phila UG people didn't quite get it, but its very efficient, and I've rarely used the ID tool to identify symbols. As for the worksheet abilities. my only beef is that to recalculate them you need to use the "recalculate" command. The problem with that is it recalculates ALL worksheets in the file, which can take some time. I recall you used to be able to highlight a cell and hit the Tab key for that particular worksheet recalc. Anyway, I hope I've added to the discussion...

You have to make sure the paste to cell quantity is the same, or larger, than the copied from quantity. Otherwise, it works fine. Its just the previously mentioned quirks that are disturbing. I think I'm getting used to it...

We've encountered this before, and it is usually a bad thing to continue working in the recovered file. For whatever reason its probably corrupted. When this has happened, we go back to the previous saved version of the file (if v202 is recovered, than go back to v201), copy the good stuff from the recovered file, and start anew. Good luck...

We get around this problem by using layer links, and individual layers for each type of class conflicting items. For example, Items on the ceiling would go on the ceiling layer, or furniture layer, of electrical layer. Then for each view, we simply create a layer link and move it to the correct corresponding location on the sheet setup. It is awkward, and cumberson, but it does work, and it does ave alot of sheet printings. Hope this helps...

I have noticed that after editing a worksheet, after closing the worksheet, the keyboard shortcuts (T for Text, L for line, etc.) will not respond. Only after selecting a tool with the mouse will the keyboard shortcuts work. It's only an annoying little problem... We use Mac OSX, and are using VW9.5.2 w/Renderworks installed.

We use the new small tablet (approx. 8" square), with Powerbooks. I have never gotten used to useing the finger pad on the powerbook, find it cramped, and so use the tablet. If you are mouse bound, it will take some time getting used to, but I think its worth it. I use the click toggle on the stylus as a double click shortcut, and textural screen menus work fine. I haven't used it for tracing yet, but for drafting and freehand stuff it great. I also haven't gotten any stiffness in the wrist with it...

We've been on VW since it was Minicad. We are a Mac based office in PA (OS X), and are quite pleased with using VW. Please feel free to contact us with any specific questions. jim@haydenaud.com Hayden Architecture

I don't know of any font utility that can check for bad fonts. Perhaps something like TechTool will check them (?). If you're mssing screen or printer fonts, that may be a source of problems too (easily checked by looking at you screen or printed drawing). As for managing fonts, Suitcase is an excellent way to do it, as long as it can run on your system. Anoth option is to simply get rid of any fonts you never use by cleaning out your system folder. Hope this helps.

In the US, most bilding codes require the landing depth to be at least equal to the width of the stairs. Since most stair designs are for code required egress, a 36" or 44" stair requires a 36" or 44" deep landing, including railings. Yes the PIO would be better if the user defined the landing, but for now its an ok tool to use. I've always checked the landing when I select one, its not a big deal...

We are experiencing a similar problems noted in a previous topic, notably with printing as PDF. We are Mac based, system OS X, and have upgraded to vw 9.5.1. We are not having problems printing to our HP Designjet 650C plotter. our Realtech Laser 400 printer or our Brother MFC-8600 machines. We in the past have been able to send PDF files of VW to our printer via email. They are able to make full size copies of our drawings that are quite nice. In the past we have used Print-to-PDF as a means to outputting PDF's. The problem with that was it substituted our fonts (Syntax) with Times. Not a big deal as it was all legible. With OS X this problem went away, all our fonts come through fine, and the printing commands are strealined. We recently have noticed athe following problem with this sytem: the PDF files when printed have tones in all areas that have text blocks, worksheets, blockout rectangles, basically any thing that has a solid fill. The drawings are legible, but look awful- like the days when blueprints wehre made from drawings with stickyback on them. It is also a problem where you need to show existing from new work. I've tried every setting in the Vectorworks tab of the Print dialog window, but none work (in fact any time the postcript is checked only text prints). Its the same with VW 9.5 as well. Any thoughts as to what happend or what can be done?

You will have to import any DWG patterns and somehow copy/paste them into a new hatch pattern within VW. Hatches are tricky and odd to create from scratch, the hatch box is a real beast. You might try to go to Vector depot's site- they have some nice hatches you can download including shingles and flagstone: http://www.vectordepot.com/index.asp Goo luck.

I have noticed that when I want to add data to an object/symbol in the object info palette, hitting the enter key no longer scrolls down to the next line. The enter key acts as the tab key does, highlighting the upper boxes. Its a pain because I have too move the cursor to the next recaord data line. Any suggestions for correcting this? I'm on a powerbook G3, using VW 9.5 on system OS10.1 (mac)

Can anyone suggest a good place to obtain drawings of pianos? Looking for 2D but will accept 3D. Any comments would be appreciated. I have visited VectorDepot, but nothing there.

We switched to VW9 when it was released and had to open all our working 8.5 files as we worked. Not one did we nitice the line weight problem described (there were other issues though). I have experienced this problem when I worked in a version 8 file at work, exported it to version 7 for home use, then opened it in 8 at work later- all lines switched to 14pt thickness. That was a pain... ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

PrintToPdf is the best for VW, we have found. Although it will change unusual fonts to a standard font (Times, for example), it can maintain the rotated text in your drawing (especially useful with dimensions). Adobe can not handle rotated text at all. If you have funny fonts in your drawings (like Syntax for us), it will change to the default text you select in PrintTo PDF preferences. Otherwise, it is excellent for VW. ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

Take a look at my post under General Discussion "VW 9.0.1 Slowness". I've been told by Bruce Fergeson that they are working on it. ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

Since we have upgraded to 9.0.1 two weeks ago, we have been experiencing incredible slowness while using the program. We work on 3 computers, all Mac, OS 8.6 and 9. Two are PowerBook G3's. The slowness starts almost immediately after opening the file we want to work in. The size of the file doesn't matter. It is surprisingly slow even on our Power books. It is painfully slow to: change saved views, edit symbols, create a symbol from an object, initially place an object (doors & windows especially), use the drafting tools like line into segments, creating a circle or rectangle, editing a saved view. Once we make a symbol of an Architect door, it does place fairly normally, although as I said the initial placing and editing of the object is laborious (I noticed this on 9 and a little on 8.5). The rendering feature with OpenGL is a little slow, but since we don't use it often it's bearable. I'll tell you, the program would be a pleasure to use if it were not for the slowness of it to date. It takes literally several seconds to change a saved view. Is that normal? I'd be more than willing to send a file to tech support if it helps. Does anyone have any suggestions (besides going back to 8.5). Thanks in advance. Jim McAuliffe, RA [This message has been edited by jfmarch (edited 08-01-2001).]

I have noticed this too- very strange. The checks turn on by themselves... ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

We upgraded to 9.0.1 just this week and have noticed it's slowness. Man, I can eat a sandwich when I place an oject on a drawing. We also notice that the measure tool is incredibly sloow and weird. Sometimes I think it's because my machine is getting hot, but I think i's the program. Makes me worry about VW's future..... I'm on a powerbook G3 w/Mac OS8.6. ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

We are in the same boat as "cipesdesign"- We are Mac based, and besides some glitches and irritating bugs (especially using workgroup references), we arer successfully using VW9. We can print fine, and have been opening and saveing as old VW files without a problem. We are looking forward to the upgrade release too, hoping it will cure some of the bugs. My question to some of the above posts- what do you mean by "can't scale"? We can set our layer scale no problem- I haven;t heard that term used since the hand draftiing days when we would have to remeind people not to "scale drawings"... ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

We are experiencing the same sluggish performance with VW9 speed. All files seem to be effected no matter how big (some of ours are up to 15MB). Switching between saved sheet views is painfully slow, sometimes its hard to tell if the view has changed. I hope this is a fixable bug... ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA

I find this commend change annoying. Sometimes I simply want to add some test to the end of a text box. You should let the end users decide whether or not they want "accuracy". Its very presumptuous of NMA to assume that we shouldn't be able to edit a small text box- are you going to tell us how to draw too? ------------------ Jim McAuliffe, RA