Peter Eichel

Andrew, I had no idea that the pop-up would open/display more than one file in a folder. Copying files over to the default folders is the next best thing, it's fast and a one time operation, their even in alphabetical order! As for VW 2008, maybe someday as 12.5.3 fits my business needs at present. Thanks a ton.

The Task Manager settings of 'Site Plan (General)-Contour Lines' results in the layer setting of 'Mod-Site-Civil' and a class setting of 'Site-Topography'. Whatever the settings, it worked.

Thanks Katie, however, you didn't answer my question, is it a big deal to change the 3D option in the plant tool to browse for a file instead of popping open the default plant file? I would really like to hear from someone on this.

Any programmers out there, can the plant tool be edited so the 3D option browses for a file instead of popping open a window of the default file? Thanks

Problem solved, I used the TASK MANAGER to see and use what layer & class is pre-programmed for contour lines and it worked. I am still puzzled, though, by the logic behind some of the pre-programming in this tool! Thanks Pat.

I'm trying to access VW's xFrog file to add it's trees to the 3D option in the plant tool. As it is now, a window opens with only a dozen or so tree to choose from. VW Designer 12.5.3 Win XP

What is with VW's on again off again commands. I am trying to create a conceptual DTM for an airpark. As such, I created my own 2D polygons to be converted with Landmark's 2D POLYS TO 3D CONTOURS command. It goes through the cycle but I end up with 2D polygons. Being familiar with VW's quirks, I start a new blank file, do the exact same thing and it works. Also, moving a house to the surface results in the slab being properly placed but the rest of the house is left behind, even when grouped. I've reviewed the site modeling movie over and over but I cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong and please don't suggest that I use a NURBS surface instead. I want a rolling textured DTM with roads, houses and so on sitting nicely on it's surface. Win XP, VW Designer 12.5.3

I just went from a 128M ATI 9600 radeon to a 512M ATI HD2600PRO video card with the expectation that my rendering would speed up considerably. It has not! Any ideas?

You could use your revision block & revision tool to identify and describe each revision. This won't allow you to keep the old drawings but you'll know what you did and have fewer files to manage. Normally, drawings use letters to identify preliminary (not for construction)revisions with a switch to numerals for released drawings, starting at 0. This, by the way, is how Michelin Tires manages their drawings (when their not being "creative" with our pension plan).

Why can't I get the exterior trim on half round windows to render? The trim renders in Open GL & fast renderworks but disappears when I use the final rendering mode. What am I missing here? Win XP Designer 12.5.2

Katie, does your employer's benefit package include aspirin for headaches?

James, if your a landscape student, then you should be using LANDMARK, part of NNA's Designer Series. It has a Road Tool that creates parametric/hybrid (2D/3D) roads that can be color filled or not. A real timesaver for your type of work.

Actually, I used auto-classing until, like you, I needed a demolition plan and I couldn't place the windows & doors in the proper class. Auto-classing doesn't help to prevent items being placed in the wrong layer, it places them in a pre-defined class and the current layer when enabled. As for your engineers, make sure your not doing their work for them, if you know what I mean.

Ask your engineers if PDF's will work for them. If so then invest in Adobe Acrobat Pro which can be had for a reasonable price via software outlets. You can enable a comment function which allows anyone using the free Adobe Reader to add comments and such to the file you send them. Otherwise export VW's sheet layers when you convert to AutoCAD format (assuming you have all the necessary and properly configured viewports). I'm still waiting for Nemetschek to enable the redline feature in their viewer version, an oversight that should be corrected ASAP! I've always thought of auto-classing as a learning tool for new converts. It's essential to grasp VW's layer & class concept. When you do, it's not needed.

Some of the cabinets in VW's are limited, as you've discovered. My practice to remove a line is to draw a line over it and change the line color to white, assuming a white background. If you need a dashed line, draw one over the line you just drew and you'll have it. In other words, use VW's graphic ability's, a feature of VW's that is under utilized.

Your are unintentionally doing something to the database that is causing your error. I would leave it alone or restore it. When creating your own finishes use the same strategy "Z prefix" to place the new finishes on top. Any unwanted text on any linked schedule can be hidden with a solid rectangle

Don, when you create a roof object, it does not show the birds mouth until you use the framing command to create the roof rafters. The rafters will show the inset size you used when creating the roof object.

Billtheia, you have AUTO-CLASSING turned on. Go to FILE>DOCUMENT SETTING>STANDARD NAMING and uncheck the box. This option causes many items to be "locked" to a defined class.

A question for anyone familiar with 3D modeling using Rhino, do VW's 3D modeling tools compare favorably to Rhino's? Would you attempt a typical 3D project such as a sailing ship with VW's? I am looking at a course in naval architecture which offers Rhino as the software of choice. I am wondering if VW's 3D modeling capabilities are sufficient for the task to negate having to purchase Rhino. Thanks

I've been using VW's for 3 years but don't do much work involving 3D curves and contours. I need a crash course in working with nurbs and all of the tools associated with 3D modeling. Any ideas? Thanks VW's 12 Designer, Win XP

Robert: The last time I heard that, it had something to do with being thrown into a pit of crocodiles, however, our polar bears have eaten all of the croc's in Canada and we have sensible gun laws, so you'll have to find other means. You could however tell us when the next release is due and avoid all of this unpleasantry.

Nope is right! I'm sure this unfortunate oversight is going to be corrected with the next release, isn't that right Robert & Katie, which is due when?

It's best to create perspective viewports from a persective view on a design layer (model space). Set your view, then use the create viewport command under the views menu. Once created, do not change the view. If you need an elevation, create another viewport. Perspective views are just to difficult to control via a viewport.

I think your problem is that the column isn't wide enough. VW's displays dashed lines when a column is too narrow, grab and drag the column to widen it.

Back to the titleblock, there should be a seperate heading for the drawing number followed by the sheet # of however many sheets are in the drawing set. As things are now, your drawing number and sheet number are one in the same so to speak. Most every blueprint I've ever seen has these headings seperated and I've seen a lot of them!