Jeffrey W Ouellette

Hey Mark, GS is causing quite excitement. In the past I was looking at a tool, GEM, by paracloud, to do the same kinds of things. http://paraclouding.com/GEM/ But, the interoperability was limited to DXF and I found the GEM interface a bit obtuse, at least considering I haven't had that much time to really dig in and play/test. Keep it up. I look forward to the end product. Just don't forget the IFC node ;-).

Not really. For now, he needs to focus on 2x3: http://www.iai-tech.org/ifc/IFC2x3/TC1/html/index.htm IFC is a multi-hierarchical, cross-linked data spec. In this case think of WHAT SYSTEM does it belong to as much as what kind of element is it. This is an IfcFlowSegment/IfcFlowSegmentType. You could use IfcPipeSegmentType which is a sub-type of IfcFlowSegmentType, but it has significantly more data detail. At the same time it belongs to a SYSTEM, in this case IFCHVACDOMAIN(?). But you are definitely wading in uncharted Vectorworks territory. Overall, one point of a well-defined BIM workflow is that different tools are used for different domains; tools that are purpose-built or most appropriate for their realm of functionality and form. In this case, I think using DDS-CAD MEP would be a better choice than using Vectorworks. It has all these identities and relationships built into its app and subsequent IFC export. That is what it was designed to do for such building Services elements.

Rob, Looks like a bug. I've uncovered a couple of these kinds of omissions/errors in the various structural shapes tools in past few weeks. Please use the "Bug Submit" link on the right to submit this issue and screenshot. It looks like the size and information is correct in the source database/.txt file. However the plug-in pulldon menu to select the item is incorrect. When the two don't match exactly, then the plug-in can;t find the parameters. In the mean time, here's what you can do: 1) open the Command "VectorScript Plug-in Editor". This can be found in the Tools menu on the Architect and Fundamentals workspaces; 2) Scroll down the list, toward the bottom, to find "Wide Flange" under the "Plug-in Name"; 3) Select "Wide Flange"; 4) Click the "Parameters..." button; 5) In the new "Parameters" dialog, you'll see a list of all the parameters in the plug-in. Locate #5, "_size_3". This is the one you want. Select it, the click the Edit... button at the bottom of the dialog; 6) In the new "Edit Parameter" dialog, Click on the "Choices..." button. This will bring up the list that displays in the pulldown menu; 7) Scroll to find the offending size and erase the "000" from the end; 8) Now click all the "OK" buttons to exit from all the dialogs and get back to the drawing. You should be able to select that size now and get the correct results.

Only Revit and Navisworks (read only) can read/write .rvt and .rfa files. If you want the 3D building elements for reference, or wish to rebuild the model from a reference, then request an IFC file. Vectorworks does NOT translate IFC objects (or 3D DWG, for that matter) into native Vectorworks objects, but maintains their geometry and semantic identity (e.g. column or door). 3D DWG is just "dumb" geometry.

BIM is at its best when open standards are used. But the software has to implement them properly to be useful. Revit is a closed system that makes Apple look open....

The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be. -- Robert Fulghum, in It was On Fire When I Lay Down on It, Ivy Books, 1989 "But, we ask, what will happen to our drive for progress if we see all opposites are one? Well, with any luck, it will stop--and with it that peculiar discontent that thrives on the illusion that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. But we should be clear about this. I do not mean that we will cease making advancements of a sort in medicine, agriculture, and technology. We will only cease to harbor the illusion that happiness depends on it. For when we see through the illusions of our boundaries, we will see, here and now, the universe as Adam saw it before the Fall: an organic unity, a harmony of opposites, a melody of positive and negative, delight with the play of our vibratory existence. When the opposites are realized to be one, discord melts into concord, battles become dances, and old enemies become lovers. We are then in a position to make friends with all of our universe, and not just one half of it." --Ken Wilber, No Boundary , p. 29

Jim, You can still combine the two. Either do it in a Sheet Layer viewport OR render the model using Hidden Line then open the Line Render Options dialog and select "Sketch Hidden Line Results"

See my answer in another thread... http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=151857#Post151857

The Artistic render modes are dependent on the core rendering technology used to create and display them. Thus, the old styles were based on the old technology from LightWorks. When we moved the rendering technology to use Cinema4D, it was known that a few compromises had to be made to some existing/past functionality in order to gain other functionality, speed, and quality. Overall, this has required everyone to adapt to the progress being made, but I don't think a majority of users would like to go back to the old Renderworks. In time, we will continue to work with Maxon to improve the Renderworks experience. This may include improving things like Artistic rendering, but that is also dependent on what engineering Maxon is able to do, as well, to the core technology of the Cinema4D product.

Jim, If you are using Vectorworks Architect, you have a PIO called Framing Member. This is a hybrid 2D/3D object. You can draw the extent of the member in plan, specify its 3D parameters and the results will properly project in 2D and 3D. The Framing Member has many different options for specifying framing types (solid beam, steel open web joists, wood open web trusses, as well as common international steel profiles AND custom profiles using 2D symbols. The "Wide Flange 3-D" was originally meant for Machine Design workflows, or even for detailing in an architecture workflow, but it is NOT an architectural BIM object.

Brilliant, Mark. Keep it up.

Petri, Bug Submit is NOT totally useless. In fact, it has gotten better over the last couple years because our IT infrastructure has gotten significantly better. We fix more bugs now per release and service pack, than we have in any previous release cycles. Granted things are perfect, nor as good as I would like to see them, personally. But, feedback is always important, even when I may do a less than professional job responding to it.

Looks like an unfortunate bug. Please file it.

I would just like to open an invitation to any users to participate jointly in the following opportunity. I would like to work with user(s) who has (have) incorporated Vectorworks into a workflow of design and fabrication. http://www.design-modelling-symposium.de/intro/ Please let me know. Serious inquiries and responses only please.

Helmut, This still works in a "flat" 2D workflow. Walls work in 2D or 3D. There are MANY advantages of using the Wall tool, among the others, in even a 2D workflow. For example: (1) use of database worksheets to (a) produce schedules, (b) track quantities, © edit parameters and data of objects; (2) automatic interaction between elements, (a) like doors/windows inserted in walls and healing around them, and (b) Spaces auto-bounding to Walls and Columns; (3) use of styles and attributes to control/change/edit graphic output for many objects at once; Once mastered, even in a 2D workflow, the the "leap" to 3D is much less daunting.

Use IFC.

OR try this: http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=140540#Post140540

The manuals are available as "simple" PDFs from the installation discs.

The more files, the better.

Martin, The file would help immensely, in its original form. How big is "too big"? I can always give you another location to upload.

It should still be there. Select the "Bubble Style" pulldown menu for choices.

Sounds like a bug....

Guy, Can you file a bug for the specific .vwx file you are having problems with. I must say I'm not having the same issues.

Look in the VW2011 Help index under: Worksheets > functions of Scroll down the table and you will find that the components of any wall style can be queried by: =COMPONENTAREA =COMPONENTNAME =COMPONENTVOLUME

I think that reference DEFINITELY needs to be updated. Use Xcode. We do.