MikeC

I am probably going to take some flak over this because I want what is already on the mac to be duplicated on Windows. I think Vectorworks needs a major overhaul of the way it prints. From a single print command (a sort of batch print on steroids) -I want to be able to select one or more sheet layers -Print them to more than one printer with more than one paper size and scaling. This will mean an over-ride to the normal sheet setting. -Preview the print -Save the settings allowing them to be recalled later and apply saved settings to more than on sheet. -All with a minimum number of clicks. What really frustrates me is the lack of a print preview in the windows version. This is a paper waster, save the trees, give us a print preview (a purpose made one, not just Adobe Acrobat tacked on) after all Photoshop and Sketch Up have both managed to do it.

Acad ships with two text files that control linetypes. acad.lin (assumes units are inches) and acadiso.lin (assumes mm), the difference between them is a factor of 25.4 The easy way to fix the problem is open the acad file. Rename the imported linetypes to match something in their office standard (This assumes the standard linetypes will not be loaded, if they are, purge them). Overwrite the imported definition by reloading the linetype from the correct .lin file. Close the drawing then reopen it. They all should have changed to match the office standard.

I use the cross fingers method, it doesn't work! so put me on the list as well.

It sounds like something might have changed at the architects end (possibly an upgrade to acad 2007 ?). Ask what has changed and can it be saved in 2006 format.

You must use the numeric key pad and the num lock must be on ? it works for me !

I tried it in Vectorworks using Jonathan's method and in Autocad using the otrack method. On a count back of key strokes there is little in it (a small advantage to Vectorworks) and that does surprise me.

Is there a way of linking to an external image file other than 'import image'. I want to be able to change an image (using photoshop or similar) without deleting then re-importing the image.

Yes please. A 2D version of convert to lines / hidden line rendering would be the ideal answer to a long standing problem.

I did look at class mapping but it seems to me that this task would be a lot easier at import. As for the export all I want is to export what I see and not export what I cannot see. Is that too much to wish for?

1. In the dwg import dialogue box the option to add a prefix to all imported acad layers (ie classes). This will allow the classes to be grouped together for management purposes. Doing it one by one is tedious. 2. 'What you see is what you get' export to dwg from a design layer. The problem is that AcadLT does not support whiteouts so anything hiding behind another object becomes visible.

Thanks Mike, should this be one for the wish list ?

When I import dwg files with a large number of acad layers (ie classes) I would like to add a prefix to all the imported class names grouping them together and making the class list easier to manage. Apart from renaming them one by one is there a way of doing this?

Thanks Katie. I am up to date with Vectorworks and probably Ricoh but I will check. It was discussed at my local user group last night. The thought was that it had come up before and that Julian Carr in Australia had published a fix. I will try to follow up on that.

I have two printers Ricoh 240w (A1 size prints) Ricoh 1022 (A3 and A4) Both are network printers run from the same server. I print from sheet layers usually starting with the 240w but sometimes I need to print a reduced A3. In that case I change to the 1022 and scale 50%. When I hit OK Vectorworks crashes. This happens every time but only when changing between these two printers and only from the 240w to the 1022 (not the other way) A work around is to change to another printer (anything will do), accept the changes, then change again to the 1022. I use AutoCad on the same machines without any probelm so it is unlikely to be a network problem. Drivers and print software were supplied and installed by Ricoh Both server and PC use windows XPpro The problem is only with Vectorworks 11.5 (I do not have 12) Any ideas where I should look to solve the problem?

Thanks for the help. It works, I just hope I do not need to do it often.

I have inserted a window in a wall but the wall is only about half the height of the window. The top of the window projects above the wall to form a dormer. The problem is the thin line that is the top of the wall remains visible right across the window and when rendered it casts a shadow where there should be none. The only work around I have found is to project the window forward and hide the wall line behind the glass but this will not work if the glass is transparent. Is there a better way?

I also use both. The trick is to import only the bits you want. You could copy and paste part of the acad file to a new file for importing to VW but a better way would be to structure your acad file with xrefs in a way that would allow you to import only the xref.

Do you mean a 2D UCS like Autocad? Try rotating the grid, X and Y change to I and J. This is as close to a 2D UCS as you can get.

I am a long time Acad user but have been using Vectorworks for only 2 years, this is one of the the first problems I found. The solution I used was to rotate the grid (Page - set_grid). Angle constraints rotate with the grid. This solved the problem for me but it would be nice to save the settings with a name or perhaps with "save view".