CipesDesign

There is a way: create (or use) a layer that will only be visible in 2D (plan) views and in it put all the graphic stuff you need to show in plan, but do not want in your models. I have my own layer naming protocol so I do not use the VWA layer naming, but I'll bet there's already a layer in there (for text, or notes, or whatever?) that would work. BTW, I agree that the stair PIO need some real work, as do some of the others, but I like to try to visualize the glass as half full...PLC

As a Mac user I have been able to easily create hysterically complicated roofs from some very strange polygons. There are many times however when the tool to use is "create roof face". In many ways this will allow you more control and also the ability to edit each roof surface should the need arise... PLC

Hey Joe (what you doin' with that...). Okay. So my (admittedley very limited) understanding of physics says that everything in the universe is made of the same stuff. So that changing one type of wave (visual) into another (auditory) should be easy (theorectically). The natural extension of all this is that someday maybe we will travel through cable or through the air (like beam me up) to get from one place to another. It's exciting to consider, but only as a minor distraction. PLC

Katie, 1) There is no error message. The machine just locks up when the "rendering curtain" has dropped about halfway down the screen. 2) I have not added shaders. I am using only door & window PIO's and textures that were included in VWA & L w/ RW's. 3) I have not re-set the "custom renderworks" settings. Usually, by the time I force-quit and re-boot VW's, everything will work fine again for some time (maybe an hour, maybe the rest of the day). 4) FYI: the first time I noticed this was immediately after changing the ambiant light level in my linked layer. Thanks! (And BTW, did you ever get a file from me and some questions last week???) PLC

Petri, Hi again. I think that when you open a new topic you can select a box that enables email notification. Check it out... PLC

Garry, here's how I would do it (and yes, it's a pain in the you know what!): go to isometric view and select the logs one (or more) at a time then go to top plan view and drag them (they'll look rectangles?) to meet the openings that you've defined (with extruded rectangles?). If you can find a better way I'd be happy to know about it. PLC

Hi NNA support team,In VWA w/ Landmark & Renderworks on a Mac G4 running OS 9.1: Occasionaly, and without seemingly being provoked, a Final Render will fail about half way down the screen. The only cure is to force quit VW and re-boot. Please submit this to the de-buggers. Thanks! PLC

Joe, "A 440" is a the concert tuning standard for the middle A note. 440 is the wavelength of the sound...PLC

JOE, as a daily professional VW user AND the owner of a small project music studio (where I create a lot of sound files etc.) I was really curious to HEAR a CAD file. As an interesting tidbit, Skunk Baxter (guitar virtuoso of Steely Dan & Doobies fame, among others) once said: "If you take the note A 440 and multiply it by [some exponent that I've forgotten] you will get the color green." Anyway, I'm glad you figured it out, and be nice to Samantha! PLC

I think you may need to "EDIT WORKSPACE" in order to add the PIO in question to one of your palettes. PLC

Petri, I agree entirely about the inability to color/texture certain parts of PIO's. It has always been a bummer and I have complained about it before. We need to remember that VW is still what I would consider 'adolescent' software. Since I have used it since version 4, I can say it has truly improved, but still has a long way to go until it is a fully functioning adult. We all need to keep requesting the features we want so that the developers can hear. About the DTM: at first I had a great deal of trouble with it, but eventually was able to get it to work (by following the online manual and reading between the lines in some cases). I never tried to render a site but I did cut many sections through various places at building corners, etc. and for that it was invaluable. PLC (Peter Cipes) PS I am In Oregon, USA and hope someday to visit your wonderful part of the world. Where in Australia are you???

Petri, Sounds like you're having fun now! That's why they pay us, no? You may want to consider posting your log PIO on VectorDepot, a trading post of sorts for VW users... PLC

Interesting! Here's what I would do: Make a log from an extruded circle of the appropriate diameter. Color or texture it (maybe with a light wood-ish texture). Then in alternating plan & front views you can duplicate, rotate 90?. move up and stretch longer or shorter for the first and second course of logs. Don't worry about the notches or overlaps as these ought to appear OK just by superimposing logs on one another. Then select and group and duplicate for the rest of the wall height. For a real 3-d model you will need to stop and start the logs at door & window openings, but for simple frontal views you could probably get away with just placing doors & windows in front. On the other hand you might check the Texture suppliers to see if they have "log".Let me know how this progresses!!! PLC

ROSS, I'll ask what they always ask: What system are you running (then maybe Katie can slant her reply your way). For my two cents I am a Mac fanatic and will whine loudly when forced to use the other OS. But on the flip side, the windows version of VW is nearly identical to the Mac version. It's just the Windows GUI I dont care for. PLC

Fred, I'm SO sorry. It seems I've offended you. Next time I'll resist the urge to respond at all. PLC

You can try extruding the line(s) to a minimal value (1/64"?) PLC

Fred, Draw a line. Then draw another line which intersects the first at the point where you want to break it. Then select the first line and the second line (shift/click). Then go to the TRIM command in the TOOLS menu. When you are return to the drw'g you will have a hand cursor. Click it on the BISECTOR line, and voila! PLC

Melisa, I've used the program for over 10 years and I think it would be fairly simple to do timberframe with it. Learning the program is easier than most but will still take a lot of time. You should find a trainer in your area to assist you. PLC

BG, I'm not sure your question is clear. But when I do revisions to existing drawing files I go one of two ways: 1) if I may need to go back to the un-revised file for any reason I always do a "save as" and re-name the file. Then I do the revision on the newer file. Later I may trash the original, but this gives me a little back-up safety net, so to speak; or 2) if I know that I will never need a copy of the un-revised file I make changes directly to it, then of course make a back-up copy to ZIP (for work in progress) or CD (for archiving finished projects). PLC

Randy, My memory of the upgrade from 8.5.2 to 9 is that I had to redo my custom workspace, but it didn't take too long. There were other weird things in 9.0.1 & 9.1, but 9.5.1 seems more stable, faster, less buggy (although not perfect) and all-in-all fine. The biggest change has to do with "type1" (v8) and "type 2" (v9) objects and file translation, so make sure ask for help (from the techies @NNA) if you need it. PLC MacG4/OS9.1

I'm not sure, but I bet you could write a little start-up script for you OS that opened certain app's but no doc's. PLC

Lett, the easiest way I can think of is to create new layers for the additions. They can all exist in the same "Z" space, but would be independantly referenceable (sp?). PLC

JNR, you know what they say: "The only stupid question is the one you never ask." But on a scale of 1 to 10.... OKAY, here's what you do: open a blank document and change all of the settings (page size, type face, line weights, origin, etc. etc. ad infinitum) to what you like. On mine I have a tiltle block on it's own layer and many other "standard" layers already defined. THEN save the that document "as a template". Then when you want to start a new job, simply open the template, which will give you an untitled new document with all of your defaults already set. PLC

Yes, I second that. But I would add that OSX support for older HP's is probably not gonna happen. You can run in classic mode, or have a dedicated older machine networked and used as a print generator.PLC

Simon, I have used the program since version 4 (when it was called MiniCad). I do not have a lot of experience with other CAD programs but here's my thoughts: I use VW Architect w/ renderworks (v. 9.5.1) every day on a Mac G4 (450 DP) running OS 9.1. It is a more or less stable environment, which is not to say that I haven't experienced problems. Usually during the upgrading process (or I assume if you are just starting) there is a one to two week period of heavy frustration (and I think all new software has this element). But with patience things get better quickly. The program is very easy to learn and use, but I would seriously recommend hiring a trainer in your area to give you a jump-start. There is no replacement for that kind of hands-on knowledge. Renderworks is great now that we have fast enough machines to run it (it used to take a LONG time, now just a few seconds). The program is object based and is intended to used as a 2-d 3-d hybrid, ie: you create a 3-d model from which all of your presentations and working drawings are generated. However, do not be misled: if you are really picky about your graphic style, like I am, you will need to do a fair bit of clean-up/cheating to acheive desired finished results. All-in-all VW is a program that is no longer an adolescent, but not yet quite mature. It seems to be evolving rapidly and for the price I'm not sure you'll find much to compare it to. PLC