Peter Eichel

How does one change the color of a texture. I often use the default wall texture for vinyl siding used in many of the exterior walls provided with Vectorworks. When a client requests a color change I generally use a different texture because I don't know how to change the color of the default texture. The color box in the edit texture window has nothing to do with color as I see it.

I hope Nemetschek has made improvements to the wall framer in VW 2011. It is one of the "quirkiest" tools in the program. I keep getting the "no walls in the class on the layer you selected" message or something like that. Sometimes it works fine and other times it has a mind of it's own. Maybe because walls are now made up of multiple classes it's confusing it? The last time I experimented with it I got fed up and deleted the worksheets,layers and classes the tool automatically creates. Next I added windows to my walls only to discover that only half of the wall in each window was cut out! I had to delete the windows and add them again. I wonder if this odd behaviour is related to this frustrating tool?

David I have some very good reasons for considering providing this service. Firstly, this client has the potential of providing a lot of work. Secondly, our business arrangement will address my concerns about liability. We clearly understand each others position. Thirdly, it gives me the opportunity to "get a handle" on VW's worksheets which I have been wanting to do for some time. Fourthly, it's a real learning opportunity whether I decide to use worksheets or purchase estimating software. Now, all I need is someone who can offer suggestions on getting items into a worksheet.

Islandmon, I am still looking into VW's worksheets as a stand alone estimator and I've run into a snag. I have created foundation footings and walls, no problems so far, but when I created the floor slab from a rectangle using the floor tool, the cu yds calculates correctly but there is no description in the worksheet. I've discovered that I need to add a description record to the floor item but can't for the life of me figure out how to do it. I'd like to use standard VW's tools instead of workarounds to build my drawings in order that they work seamlessly with worksheets. Any thoughts?

I have a new client who wants me to do complete material take-offs for residential projects, and I mean complete, right down to rolls of tape, pounds of gyproc screws and so on. I am looking into using either VW's worksheets or purchasing estimating software. The estimating software actually uses the plans in PDF or TIFF formats and is very easy to use. It is also a bit expensive. So, I'm wondering, who of you out there actually uses VW's to do detailed take-offs? It looks to me like it would be a ton of work creating the worksheets and organizing the layers and classes. There also seems to be a lot of potential for errors. The data then needs to be output in the format of a typical and well organized material list (which is automated in estimating software). I'd like to hear the pro's and con's. VW's 2009 Designer with Renderworks

In order to offset the inside of an arc or polyline you must click inside the "closed" area, for an arc this includes the invisible radius lines.

Kim, I couldn't agree more except Matt doesn't state whether the hand drawings are dimensioned or not. If their not dimensioned, he needs a metric scale ruler and to review the chapter about scale in his drafting text book(s). At any rate, all drawings, whether hand drawn or not should be dimensioned.

TO VW's software engineers, can you please repair the MODEL SETUP tool so it can set a slab on top of a footing that's supporting a foundation wall (typical residential construction). Currently one has to edit the Z levels in the Organization Window after the fact. Now, if you return to the Model Setup Window to review your settings and inadvertently click on the OK button it will reset and undo your corrections. I know that floor thickness needs to be defined negatively so that stairs and other objects locate properly but can you provide an offset or separate input parameters for slabs/floors. Thanks

You don't need to ungroup a roof, use "CONTROL C" to make a copy of it and "CONTROL M" to move it a distance so you can edit it separately from the original. Ungroup the copy and delete the roof planes. You now have the gable walls left to add windows too or whatever. When your finished move the walls back the opposite distance which will put them in exactly the right place. Turn off the gable walls in the original and there you have it. You still have your original roof object which is preferable to one that has been ungrouped.

Error! My previous reply states using "CONTROL C" to move an object, it should read use "CONTROL M" to move an object. Sorry.

You don't need to ungroup a roof, use "CONTROL C" to make a copy of it and "CONTROL C" to move it a distance so you can edit it separately from the original. Ungroup the copy and delete the roof planes. You now have the gable walls left to add windows too or whatever. When your finished move the walls back the opposite distance which will put them in exactly the right place. Turn off the gable walls in the original and there you have it. You still have your original roof object which is preferable to one that has been ungrouped.

Can someone explain to me the meaning of the data in VW's "ROOF QUANTITY REPORT". While I'm on the topic of data, using worksheets or maybe the space tool, what's a good method for calculating the number of 8' gyproc sheets required for a residential project.

Please find the attached VW's file as requested. I hope you can solve this mystery!

Thanks Vincent, files attached.

Hello Vincent: I've created three JPEGs to show what's going on but I cannot figure out how to attach them to my reply. HELP!

When I place a window(s) in a round wall everything looks good in plan view. Any other view exposes a thin strip of what looks like the wall projecting out past the window jams into the interior & exterior spaces. Is this a bug? Forget providing rendered perspectives for this particular client. VW's 2009 Designer Win XP Pro

Matt, your de-bugging solved the problem, now this is one handy tool for doing section work! Thanks.

Matt, I forgot to mention that the symbols I mentioned above were created in VW's 12 (mcd) and upgrade to VW's 2009 if that makes any difference. I was going to upgrade my symbol library, again created in VW's 12, with your PIO but we may have a version problem again. What do you think?

Hello again Matt, I have been using your break line PIO in my symbols where it behaves oddly. When you first create one it works as it should, if you change any of the parameters it loses it's break and becomes a box with the hidden line segment reappearing. Any ideas?

Thanks Matt, your PIO works great once I figured out how to hide that part of the polyline that "connected" the two break lines. I've never used the hide segment feature in VW's polylines so it was a pleasant surprise. Your creation is also superior to mine because I had to adjust the hidden polygon behind the break lines if I wanted to change the size of the break which was a pain! Your single entity idea eliminates the polygon. Nice work.

Matt, I downloaded your Break Poly PIO, unzipped it and placed it in VW's Plug In folder. When I try to add it to my Tools in the workspace menu it does not appear on the list. I re-checked VW's Plug In folder and your PIO is right there next to the Break Line PIO. Could it be a version issue, I use VW's 2009?

Pat, I create three entities, first I draw a break line using VW's break line tool, I then duplicate the break line and nudge the copy vertically from the original. Now I have twin break lines side by side that I use to create the third entity, a closed polygon. I snap to the points on both break lines creating a polygon that is inside or in between the break lines. The polygon's attributes are solid so it hides anything behind it as a section break does and it's line color is white so you don't see it's lines that cross from one break line to the other (all of this assumes one draws with a white background). When completed, you must move the breaklines to the front so that the polygon doesn't hide them. Group our new creation and drag where needed. No need to draw breaks in section walls for instance, just drag this where you want your break and you have it. Need to move a wall break to make room for annotations, just nudge this "portable section break wonder" to make room, it's fast and simple. Being able to create it with a script would be the icing on the cake so to speak.

Michaelk, the invisible polygon needs to follow the shape of the break lines so that everything outside the twin break lines is visible. What do you mean by a blue symbol? Matt, I'm not sure what you mean by a path PIO, can you elaborate? Pat, I have never written a script so please bear with me. Is your script, starting with Procedure and ending with (Test); typed exactly as written word for word and will the polygon follow the break lines profile? In the meantime I'm going to look into learning more about scripts. Thanks all

Can a script be written that will draw two break lines and at the same time draw a solid filled closed polygon behind the break lines with its line color set at white and then group all three items. I currently use these when drawing sections as they speed things up considerably. Move them anywhere on a section and they hide whatever is behind them, no need to draw wall breaks anymore! VW designer 2009 Win XP

I need woodworking symbols (lathe, planer, tablesaw etc.)for a shop I'm drawing, can anyone help? Thanks!