brian-rwc

I'll try using that layer link method instead. We just have Fundamentals so unfortunately we don't have the option of using design layer viewports. Thank you, Brian

Thanks Pat. That worked. I never knew about that button. At least that part of the problem is solved. In addition to the opacity problem, I also noticed that layer colors revert back to their defaults (black & white) whenever a referenced layer is modified or updated. The only time they retain their colors is if there were no changes or forced updates to the reference. Anyone else know if there is a hidden button that controls that somewhere? I toggled the 'Update class definitions' option on and off and it made no difference. The "manual update" option is not an option I want to risk taking since I could forget I set it to "manual" and then have big coordination problems down the line. Thanks, Brian

We are having problems with layer colors and changing the opacity of design layers that I don't think we ever had with vw12. When selecting 'Use Layer Colors' it works in the design layers but not in the Viewports on the sheet layers. I checked the viewport settings (advanced options) and saw no override options. The viewports just show everything based on Class colors even though 'Use Layer Colors' is selected in the document preferences. The only fix has been to export to vw12 when we need viewports to display layers using layer colors. I don't think that's a good sign when you have to downgrade the software you are using to make something work correctly. The other problems is that when we change the opacity of a design layer that is being workgroup referenced, it never retains the setting when re-opening the file. It always reverts back to 100%. At first I thought it was related to whether we selected 'Save referenced cache to disk' when editing the Workgroup Reference settings. At first it seemed to make a difference but then it didn't anymore. This is an extreme nuisance. We used to select the 'grayed out' option instead but stopped using that when text objects from plug-in objects started to disappear when printing. Anyone else have these problems? Otherwise can anyone tell us what we might be doing wrong? Thank you.

On vw2008 I am having problems with the 9 handle selections on the Shape Tab under the Object Info Palette. I get different results whether I am editing a rectangle or a rectangle that is made into a group. As we all know the way this thing is meant to work is that when you select a handle the location of that corner or edge should not change when you edit the width or height data. Instead what happens is that the object is altered as if I had selected the center handle, and the width or height increases or decreases uniformly about the center handle. I know that is not how this is meant to work. If I take that same rectangle and define it as a group the object info handle selections work correctly. Has anyone else had this problem or is this just a rare bug? Also, I am aware of the differences between width and height selections and how it differs from the X and Y data from previous versions. Personally, I prefer dealing with X and Y instead of "width" and "height" values. I understand the reasoning for it based on rotated plan options, but I think it would be nice to also have the X and Y data info when not dealing with a rotated rectangle. I know that little blue arrow is there to help us define which dim is the "width" but I think it can be hard to read.

(unless different for VW 2008) I presume that will just create a polygon even if composed of 2 collinear lines (assuming it's the same as in VW 12). I would like the ability to convert the 2 lines into a single line object with 2 end points that are easy to edit, know the angle of rotation and/or verify they are not crooked, and will not split up into their original line segments when decomposed. I see no use for polygons that just look like single line objects.

Maybe this already a feature of VW 2008 or it's been said before but I think there needs to be an option to merge 2 or more collinear lines and replace them with a "true" single line object with exactly 2 endpoints (not a polygon or polyline). I know Autocad has a very similar function and it was called something like the "glue" command (the last time I used Autocad) I hope this is already a feature in VW 2008 because it is so essential. I don't know anything about programming but I wouldn't think it would be too hard to do. The function would just have to take the multiple lines, identify their extreme end points, delete them and replace them with a new line between those end points. If this is and has always been a Vectorworks feature please let me know how to find it. Thanks

I noticed that some of the hatch pattern definitions I imported from AutoCAD and used without problems in VW10 and 11 are starting to display incorrectly in VW12. It seems like the scale of the drawing affects how they display. At 1:1 scale they display correctly but at different scales the pattern starts to "disintegrate" (the line segments move apart and no longer define a pattern). (When I edit the scale of the hatches I always use the scale adjustment factors that affects all levels of the hatch equally. I also made sure there were no pre-existing definitions that were screwing things up) Did something change in VW12 in how hatch patterns are displayed? I thought compatibility with AutoCAD hatches shouldn't be an issue (except for adjusting the scale factors) since hatches are vector components. I hope there is a fix. I think creating custom hatches is far too difficult and the AutoCAD hatches still look better than the Vectorworks ones (especially for the Concrete and Gravel hatches). Thanks.

My simple request for the next release after 12.5.2 is to have a reliable means of trimming circles, lines and arcs when they intersect without having crazy unpredictable results. I've been using Vectorworks for about 5 years and have always found editing these kinds of objects unnecessarily difficult (and never had the same kind of problems with Autocad). I think it makes this software seem amatuerish when such simple procedures can have such unpredictable results.

thanks. I tried 'decompose' on a polyline and it did split it up into shorter polyline segements which is atleast more manageable than one big massive polyline. The problem remains that we have to deal mostly with polygons (not polylines) in files we translate from .dwg. Perhaps the polygons in those .dwg files never had arcs to begin with. I guess that's another reason we should install an ACAD viewer to help compare the accuracy of translation.

I wish curved polygons and polylines could be converted to a combination of arcs matching the same curvature instead of those little line fragments. I usually end up re-tracing an arc over those polygons (or grouping the fragments together) but that is a hassle. I also wish the selection handles for polylines would always remain along the object (as in the editing mode) instead of at the extreme corners as with groups. Countless times I have moved polylines accidentally because their invisible boundaries get caught when trying to select other objects. Many of our consultants on ACAD use polylines but I remember in ACAD they could always be converted back to basic lines and arcs when needed. I never remember having to complete de-compose curved objects to line fragments in ACAD.

The reason I want to merge layer links is that as far as I know you can't workgroup reference a layer link from another file and neither can be copy pasted except within the same file. I have a site plan with 2 separate building plans workgroup referenced and layer linked into position at odd angles to each other as per the site plan design. In each of the building plans (which are separate files) I need to show a very limited portion of the adjacent site work and I don't want to workgroup reference the entire site plan because the file will become too large and it's just a partial representation. I need to be able to rotate the linework in at the correct angles for each plan. It helps to have the linework of the adjacent building to confirm the correct alignment when I copy-paste. Obviously I wouldn't have to do that if I made a viewport and kept everything in one file but that would not allow an economical division of work. Merging layer links is also helpful as an intermediate step when workgroup referencing the site plan to a separate file. Since the building plans will have to be layer linked in again. The merged layer links will be like a template to confirm the correct alignment, then it can be deleted. Usually I would just draw some simple reference geometry but it's not as easy with complex alignments. Sorry for the essay on this and I have probably repeated myself but that's my explanation. So far I think the export to .DWG and re-import is the simplest procedure since the drawings scale integrity is maintained. I still think it's something Vectorworks should be able to manage internally since it already has the capability in the .DWG export process. OK I am done.

What's the best way of merging layer links? I need to do a simple cut and paste of the linework from 2 different layer linked floor plans (separate buildings on a site plan arranged at odd angles). So far the only way I could figure how to do that was to export to .DWG format and re-import into VW, convert the symbols (that were formerly the layer links) to groups and then un-group them. I would think there has to be a better way. Is there any way to convert layer links to symbols or groups within VW without going through that convert to .DWG process ? [i am using VW 12.5.1] -Thanks

We are working with some plan files that unfortunately were set up with bitmap images as the backgrounds. Besides being a nightmare to work with we need to provide some means of a background to our consultants. (We are using VW 12.5.1) I assumed the image files don't export to .DWG but did a test export that I re-imported and the image file was included. Does anyone know if an AutoCAD user would get the same results? Is there any information about an embedded image file that gets encoded into the .dwg file vectorworks creates? Related to the same general issue; our consultants using ACAD 2007 are having trouble opening the files we send them. It gives them an alert that it was created in another application and may have unpredictable results. We exported it as a ACAD 2000 thru 2006 .dwg file. I don't know if that's a new "security" type feature in ACAD 2007 to prevent use of non ACAD created .dwg files. Does anyone know about that or know of a way of avoiding it ? - Thanks.

I wish the default unit settings for both display and dimensions would be to the maximum accuracy possible. I also wish the same for display of angles in terms of decimal rounding. The current default that rounds to the nearest 1/8" is deceptive. It's not accurate enough for detailing (or understanding true component sizes) and neither is it accurate enough for dimensioning grid lines. If there's something wrong with the accuracy of my plans I would prefer that VW alerts me of the problem and if it's ok to "dumb down" the accuracy I would prefer that be something we do on a voluntary basis (or override a default setting). I always change the defaults anyways when I begin a new drawing but not everyone in our office does and we often become aware of these accuracy problems when it's too late and need to spend extra time to correct the problems.

We do not have Renderworks in our office so please excuse this uninformed question. Does Renderworks offer any benefits over VW Fundamentals if you are only using VW for 2D drafting? We would like to create 2D color presentations but the options in Fundamentals seem inadequate in terms of available colors and textures. Will Renderworks provide any presentation improvements without being a 3D view? - Thanks.

Thanks. I found the 'Align Layer Views' command in the 'All Menus' folder in the workspace editor. I dragged it into the View menu and there was a message about plug-ins not found in a plug-in folder (renderworks camera north arrow) and it asked if I wanted to save the workspace anyways. I was editing a copy of my current workspace so I saved it. The Align Layer View command shows up in my View menu and works as I expected it should. I just don't know whether or not I should be concerned about that other message. I am using Fundamentals so I thought it might be something that only concerns Architect or Renderworks. I am aware there are other commands listed in the editor that are not supported by Fundamentals.

I was wondering what happened to the 'Align Layer Views' command in the base version of Vectorworks 12. I noticed it in VW 11.5 but can't find the equivalent in VW12. I thought I read that it now occurs in Architect but not the Fundamentals version. I hope Nemetschek is not trying to remove features from the basic version to force you to buy the add on platforms. Does the same function now have a different name? I did a topic search and found discussion on Layer Links but that's not as convenient or usefull. I just want to be able to separate components of a 3D model onto separate layers and view them in relation to each other (without having to re-construct everything when I change a view). I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Maybe I am the only person with this problem but I find the 3D functions of Vectorworks to be far more complicated and difficult to learn than exact same functions in Autocad. I wish Nemetschek would improve their manuals or provide better assistance in the help section. I know I must be doing something wrong when after hours of trying I cannot make a 3D object snap to the vertex of another object. With Autocad I could teach myself the basics of 3D in one night and create a decent model that can atleast communicate some sort of idea. I can't do anything after quite a few nights trying to teach myself 3D on Vectorworks. To begin with I would like to snap on points on a referenced base plan to create extruded rectangles off of existing geometry. All layers have the same elevation and same projection settings. I know this couldn't be how it's meant to work but feel there's some arcane secret I can't figure out. I trust no company would design CAD software where things are just meant to be approximated and positioned by eye. I was hoping to learn something more accurate than Sketch-up but so far this seems even worse. Does anyone have any fundamental advice or had similar problems ? Thanks.

I am sure this has already been added to the list sometime but it's frustrating enough I think it's worth repeating. Each time I import a .dwg file the file size after import inflates by about 3 times. For smaller files it's not a problem but for an already large .dwg file it becomes a severe handicap. I just hope sometime Nemetschek will work on methods to reduce file size. Maybe some alternate option for referencing files or layers without all the object libraries and properties that make the files so large. I would also like the option to crop layer links to make coordination between plans and elevations/sections much easier. The layer link function needs to be refined and simplified. It would obviously be a mistake for Nemetschek to think that viewports make the layer link obsolete.

Does Vectorworks 12 include any additional fonts? I would like to have a "RomanS" or Roman Simplex font. I am surprised it's not a standard font in Vectorworks since it's so common in Autocad drawings. When importing DWG files the closest font substitution I can find is Arial (which is too wide) and Arial Narrow (which is too narrow). Geneva seems to be the default substitution but it has the same sort of problems. Have any of you found a closer match to RomanS in terms of font width if not in appearance? Legibility is the main concern.

I was told that VW 12 can import 3D SketchUp models. Could anyone provide more info on this; such as if these models could be exported back into SketchUp. Also, if any of you have used this feature, how well has it worked? - Thank you.

(I think this item must of been mentioned before.) There needs to be an option to select objects by drawing a polygon where you can select each vertex point. The rectangle selection mode sometimes makes odd shaped selections difficult and the lasso option is far too unwieldy and unpredictable. A 'select by polygon' option would ideally allow you to click on vertex points without having to hold the mouse key down so you can do a "transparent zoom" or pan to a different part of the drawing in the middle of the selection.

Isn't the room name tag 'Room Name Simple' - the one in the Drafting Tools menu on VW 11.5 meant to adjust to the scale of the drawing? I've been using it for the past 3 days on a file set up at 1/8" scale that has been referenced into separate drawings at 1/16" and 1/4" scale and previously it always adjusted to print and display at a consistent text size and now it is no longer doing that. It is scaling up and down like any other text object but on some files it still displays at the correct size. (I am aware of the text scaling option in the viewports and everything is still at default scale factor '1'. How is the scaling of room name tags meant to work? I was hoping to avoid having duplicate room names on the different scaled drawings. [i am using VW 11.5 on Mac OS 10] thanks, brian

I am also having problems when printing viewports. In my case it has always been missing text objects from dimensions, vectorworks standard plug-in objects or just individual text. There does not appear to be any consistency in what it chooses not to print and other text objects or plug-in objects with otherwise exact same properties will print correctly. I had sent one of my files with the problem to nemetschek and they said they couldn't find the problem. This problem happens on every printer we have and also when creating pdf's. the only consistent thing I found is that if I remove the crop object from the viewport everything prints correctly and the problems consistently repeat when I add the crop object back in. (it kind of defeats the purpose if we can't use crop objects in our viewports). This is when using a simple rectangle crop object. We had this problem with VW11 and with our recent upgrade to VW11.5. (I am using Mac OS X 10.3.7). I would like to know if other's have had this specific problem. -Thanks