panthony

When editing a wall so as to add a beam pocket to the top the system will not allow you to run a completely vertical line with the 3D edit tool. This poses a problem in that when I show the beam pocket in elevation my dimensions are off by 1/16" inch and the vertical pocket line shows an out of plumb condition. Question: Is there any way outside of creating a hybrid symbol with walls and all to correct this situation? I was under the impression that 2008 gave us improved 3D wall capabilities. Any suggestions? Pete A

In 12.5 there was the ability to reshape an extrude more than just along it;s original extruded axis....where are all the settings? Or am I missing something? Never mind...I found it under the 3D tools with the extract faces. All is well now. Pete A

ccw, I have always referred to that type roof as a Dutch Gable. Best way to build it is use the roof plane tool for the 3/12 and you could use the roof tool for the main roof first then collide the planes into the fascia of the main. Set the main at the correct plate height and then just build the 3/12's and lift them in 3D to the point of top surface collision. Pete A.

Frank, For elevations VW is at its best with in utilizing texture fill which when printed with the latest large format laser printers presents a "better than your average hatch" elevation. See attached PDF Front Elevation Toulouse Best Regards, Pete A

LadyHoward, You could use the Cone Tool in 3D Solids. You know the overhang and pitch so the diameter and height are easy to input. Once you have the cone shape in position...to make a skin just copy the solid and drop the copy on the "Z" axis say 1/2" then do a solid subtraction. It is also possible to create a profile and path for a sweep. Pete A.

Katie, Katie, Yamacdiddy right...no stressin here...I'm on light duty. Fired the fox years ago...to many programs besides explorer is so integral to windows the fox can't fit in there. Same with mozilla or godzilla or whatever. It just does not make any sense that the first attempt to login brings you to the forum without executing the login procedure. It's on the UBB.thread end and not my cookie end... because on the second attempt the login execution is succesfull. So if it were a cookie issue or security level issue it would not be succesful on the second attempt. Besides....I used to keep my iexplorer at the rubber glove body cavity search security mode where you had to go through the TSA, FEMA, CIA, ATF and Army National Guard to get to Betty who pushed the button to give the OK for the Russian Navy to allow access to my browser....talk about cyber stress. Now-a-days I've simply transmorgrified my cybernetic alter self back to life in the 60's where harmony exists in a sureal chemicaly induced state of euphoric brotherly unprotected love and happiness with freedom to just be me. Dr. Spock smoked the dubie. I'm happy with let'n the technocodecrunchers figure this one out. Until then Until then I'll get used to login' in twice login' in twice. Pete A. Pete A.

Jim..... Big huge gigantic question!!!! Are the files you are experiencing the issues with ones that were brought into 2008 from 12.5? I have been seeing some weird stuff with walls that are sloped to fit in 12.5. Especially walls with gable vents...I have to delete them and create new ones the get them right. Seems they have a tendency to ghost in HIDDEN LINE, FQRW and OPENGL showing up popping through the roof but not in wireframe. Could it be a BUG..... Pete A>

Katie, Explorer 7 XP SP2 At least the system keeps me logged in....but I usually just do a drive-by...cap a couple of threads and sgid-out...yaunderstand. So I don't keep the forum open for very long. I've accessed it in several ways to see if there was a better entry and it does not matter whether I enter through a favorite right into the login window or through the VW main site...The man is keepin' me down...digital suppression...revolt dude! I even dissed my cookie bros and slipped jack to my history sisa's. Either way I'm beat down and dog fed with the man makin' me ask twice to come in. Pete A.

Katie, I've dropped my browser drawers and have exposed myself for any cookies out there and this forum still makes me log-in twice before it recognizes me. Kind of creeps me out...cause I'm thinkin' it doesn't believe its really me...you know. I've even stripped my cookies but no luck. When I used to log-in I got a "dude...waaasuup" now its a "for real...bust out-jack...do-over homey" Pete A.

Amy, Unless you have the WinDoor Plugin you will need to create the door in 3D solids and save as a symbol...just the panels and maybe the lower track. Once you have the symbol create a cased opening with a .00001 jamb...place it in the wall and then place your symbol. If you create the symbol as a hybrid with a 2D graphic it will the the cased opening on plan. Pete A.

Doug, Posting pictures is no secret...here's how You need to have a place on the net to store the pictures...they are not stored on this forum. Once you have the pics put on the net just select the "Enter an Image" button on the tool bar of the post window. Paste the file path to the picture on the web hit ok and bob's your uncle. Pete A.

Doug, Here is what I do to install a double-sided fireplace. First thing is to have the symbol built to the exact manufacturers specifications. See Attached VWX file (symbol in walls) Select this to down load vectorworks 2008 file 2SidedFireplace.vwx Here is the fireplace plan view Here is an iso showing the symbol side Here is an image showing the cased opening side with the walls transparent so you can see the opening jamb The reason for the gawdy blue color is so I don't forget to build and install a mantel or hearth. Hope this makes some sense... Pete A.

Bill, If you trace over the line in any case depending how you display your roof plans (usually in hidden line) any 2D lines will not display unless you select to show 2D data at which the roof lines will show up anyways. This is why I use roof planes instead of roof objects...most of the time. Pete A

Sorry Bill...that one is hard coded. It is used to show the overhang visually. If you ungroup your roof objects it goes away but you are left with roof planes after that. Pete A.

Bill, For that reason I usually fab up my own newel posts and set straight rail between them. Even with that...the balluster spacing will be different at each end because the system measures the spacing from the center of the objects length. That is the reason I don't tend to use the system start or end post unless I know each rail is of the same length. Pete A.

Robert, There have been a few cases where I have had to insert a single fireplace in two opposing walls. This type of fireplace can be found at Heatilator ST36D See Through 36" D Style fireplace. All I did was create a hybrid symbol and install to one wall then create another opening to match the size of the symbol for the other wall. In essence it required two seperate operations. This type of procedure mantains the integrity of the wall structure for proper framing. Pete A

Graham, It all depends on the type of bay window you are trying to duplicate. Is it a "ready to install" window unit supplied by a manufacturer? Is it a type window combination wall where the floor joists are cantilevered to form a bay type window? Otherwise in any case you can build the window unit as a hybrid symbol according to whatever specs you wish to copy and install to your walls. Pete A.

Billtheia, The stair handrail tool parametrically draws railings in straight sections through the centerline of the rail width. If you laydown a line used as a guide to snap along once complete you can go back and edit each sections start and end mitres. The angle you choose depends on the direction you chose to draw the rail and will determine whether or not to add a negative prefix to the angle degree for the mitre. Pete A.

Ask four people a a single question and you will get seven different opinons. Not one opinion will answer the question! Pete A

You can give a person a round peg to place in a round hole and they will always depend on you for another round peg. On the other hand you can show another person how to force a square peg into a round hole and they will resent the fact that you gave the other person a round peg. It doesn't matter what you do someone is going to think they have been singled out and put on display. People are people and must be delt with on an individual basis. Office standards are what they are...standards. If you can't conform to the standards then take your square peg and find a company with square holes. Pete A

Quite a few years ago I learned that it is the employers responsibility to empower thier people. Architectual design is not your typical factory job regardless of what the CAD crunchers would make you believe. People need purpose and acceptance in the workplace and I'm afraid (as Mike M puts it) that a test is kind of demeaning. I have gotten to know my employees and have learned to respect thier egos' by building their self esteem. I put together a training progam each week that touched on various topics that I felt should be addressed. These topics were areas that my employees were needing improvement. The great thing about the plan was I used them to run certain parts of the weekly seminars. They would spend their own time prior the meetings preparing and learning what they were giving instructions on. It was run like a users group...we all got to know each other much better than in a working environment and best of all it was all done off the clock.

Christiaan, I took the liberty to re-arrange your text...I hope you see the sense in this. I can build a list of training topics based on actual need rather than speculation By screening all users. I think you need to build the list of topics based on your level of skill...then poll your employees to find out who would like to increase or improve in what areas. This way you will give them ownership of seeking knowledge. Pete A.

hpwhitehead, Quick and accurate roof systems are best done through a combination of AEC roof planes and solids. First is to build the basic roof with the roof plane tool where you will get the roof model accurate. Each individual plane will have its corresponding fascia set at the depth you wish for the thickness of the roof. This however is not the thickness you will want in order to frame the roof properly as the fascia thickness is usually smaller than the actual framing. Once the roof perimeter is complete you can draw with a 3D plane using the fascia and top of walls the soffit solid to enclose the structure. Go to the following threads... Re: Gable Roof - Hip & Full Hip Returns Re: Editing and trimming roof Re: working with complex roofs Re: modifying roofs Re: joining roof faces Creating roof valley lines with dual pitches Extremely complex roof designs are very possible with VW and only need imagination to unlock the potential. Pete A

Guys...Guys, No foul, no harm. I did catch Islandmons intention. I was really having some fun. No really. The first thing I try to do is find a way to laugh then get serious...or is seriously laugh...oh, I'm an idiot. More to the point. It is very difficult to find and retain talent. Skill is learned and developed where talent is a gift. I've hired some really talented people who have gone on to perform wonderfully for years. And then again I've worked with some real heels. I hate the term CAD jockey but that is what some firms turn out...all they are looking for is line crunchers. Architecture gets me all emotional and teary eyed. Some folks are real good at sitting infront of a desk slouched back in thier chair pumping CAD iron for a living. Ok, hire them if you need lines on a page and don't get me wrong, there is a need for people who love to do that sort of thing. But there is also those folks, who for the most part can envision dimension, character, form and function that you won't find (very often) at the corner pub sloshing beers on Friday night. They are the ones whose dedication is their demise, caring more for perfection than production. It's those types of people who you must design your testing around. Finding those types of people by asking the right questions or for that matter uncovering their underlying talent and skillset is the goal. Empowering them to excel at what they are good at is your resposibility as an employer. I have to say it takes guts to seek advice...so Christian, I know you are on the right track with your search. I'm sure your co-workers apprectiate your commitment and support of them. Islandmon, you have a poetic methedology of prose that requires mind altering substances prior to ingenstation of script. In other words you crack me up with your wit. Keep em comin' Pete A.

Islandmon, That's a tough question. Hmmmmm....well I've tinkered. Started out with Lincoln Logs and stepped up to Leggo's following the directions mostly. I do remember once smashing somes guys thumb with a hammer (ooops...it really was an accident, sorry Al). Come to think of it...I did design and build a Pine Wood Derby race car when I was in Cub Scouts. Never won anything though. But I do get your point as I do live in the la-la land of the McMansions and SUV's where reality is purchased at the Mall. I work out of my basement, don't own a cell phone and own a motorcycle instead of a car. Maybe someday if I ever get to the USVI we can swap our real world adventures over a couple of cold tall ones. Until then I shall continue to grind out a meager existence in this dimension we refer to as time. Pete A.