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The initial release of the Phasing Data Visualization content in Vectorworks 2026 Update 4 overrides both the attributes of model objects and that of annotations on Design Layers based on their phase status. This presents some challenges for workflows that require annotations not to be affected. Although annotations are typically recommended to be placed within sheet layer viewport annotations, there are situations where this approach is not preferred or cannot be avoided. While we’re working toward a more robust solution for annotations in the future, we’re providing an effective solution through alternate data visualization content in Vectorworks 2026 Update 5. These new visualizations are prefixed with “Phasing MDV” and can be accessed via the Data Visualization menu in the View Bar. The workflow relies on applying two data visualizations in sequence: the first controls object visibility based on phase status, and the second applies attribute overrides. To prevent annotation objects from receiving unintended attribute overrides, you can exclude the classes assigned to those objects from the attribute override visualization. Several common annotation classes have already been excluded in the “Phasing MDV 2 Attribute Overrides” visualization to help you get started, and these criteria can be easily customized to match your class structure. Keep in mind that annotation objects may still carry phase status, so their visibility will continue to be governed by the visibility data visualization.

Vectorworks, Inc. has released its fifth update for the Vectorworks 2026 product line. This update includes the following new functionality and quality improvements that enhance your everyday experience with Vectorworks 2026. Important Enhancements General Improved general stability. Improved performance and stability when working with complex solid subtractions, face‑override textures, and shaded viewports. Resolved an issue that caused some viewport graphics to disappear during operations such as centering the drawing on the internal origin. Preserves background rendering mode when creating or editing viewport styles, especially Renderworks styles in section-based viewport styles. Resolved an issue that caused the fill color of some objects to display incorrectly. Improved the layout in the View bar, so that phasing and view controls remain usable and visually consistent in compact or customized layouts. When data visualizations hide objects, data tags do not highlight those objects as eligible. Interoperability Improved DWG/DXF export for walls and plug‑in objects in symbols, so that low‑detail display, detail‑level options, and symbol settings translate correctly. Fundamentals New Export to Morpholio Trace and Import from Morpholio Trace commands seamlessly move hand sketches created in Trace into Vectorworks for CAD/BIM modeling, and Vectorworks drawings or models into Trace, for sketching. File creation and the import and export processes can also be initiated from within Trace. Improved controls for mask editing of images in the AI Visualizer. An updated AI model and new servers improve background removal, upscaling, and processing speeds. Architect, Landmark, and Spotlight Improved IFC import and mapping behavior for phases. Improved BCF round‑trip reliability, so that viewpoint coloring, clipping planes, dates, time zones, and file extensions are preserved more accurately. Improved the quality of point cloud files. Improved Data Manager behavior for mapping schemes, custom property sets, and conditions, so that saved schemes reopen consistently across files, and conditional data attachment for records and IFC entities behaves more predictably. Better handling of round walls and hidden geometry during export of IFC projects. Improved wall and component‑based data handling, so that component records, lambda/U‑value reporting, and below‑cut‑plane classes stay in sync when styles or components change. Improved data visualization filters for wall materials. Material‑based criteria correctly recognize and highlight walls in new data visualization schemes. Improved data visualization content for phasing. Improved phasing display for stairs and upper stories in data visualizations, so that phased stair elements display correctly in elevation and section views. Ensures phasing‑based data visualizations display consistently in design layers and annotation spaces. Improved the behavior of phased objects in groups. Improved interactions between phasing and data visualization. Preserves custom class column widths in the Navigation palette between sessions. Architect and Landmark Improved the reliability of the Grade tool by preventing duplicate data tags and unexpected elevation changes when editing grades. Improved handling of georeferenced point clouds and large scanned files. Architect Architect libraries: Bette – Added wash basins and shower tray fixtures library. Duravit – Added sanitary toilet, urinal, and bidet symbols. Landmark Improved Existing Tree tool workflows, so that autonumbering, ID changes, tagging, tag options, and 3D appearance work consistently across versions and when copying and pasting between files. Improved performance when editing plant group paths. Improved performance for complex 2D plant graphics with shadows enabled. Landmark libraries: Techo-Bloc – Updated with the latest products, hatch patterns, and 3D textures. Spotlight Improved editing of Showcase render styles – When editing a Showcase render style or render instance from the Showcase palette or Showcase Preferences, the dialog box is streamlined to require fewer clicks among tabs while maintaining all the same render options. The Showcase palette offers new commands to manage selecting render styles/options, and to create render styles from current unstyled settings. Improved LED wall accuracy so screen images, offsets, and curved placements stay aligned with ground supports and panel geometry. Improved GDTF‑based lighting workflows, so 3D GDTF geometry updates correctly with focus points and motion. Improved cable tools and labeling, ensuring arc vertex modes, label fills, cable section synchronization, and Lightwright exchanges produce correct geometry and data. Improved Showcase rendering options dialog box to reduce the number of tabs and eliminate unnecessary clicks. Provides default content styles for bridles. Spotlight libraries: Absen – Added LED Panel symbols: JP5 Series, NT Pro V2 Series, PL Pro Series, SA Series. ACME – Updated lighting devices. Ayrton – Updated lighting devices. BriteQ - Updated lighting devices. Global Truss – New truss products. JBL – New audio products. MILOS – Updated truss cross section structural data for 52 product lines. PROLYTE – Updated truss cross section structural data for 15 product lines. ROE – Added Art Morph, Amber S, Carbon Mark 2, Linx, OB2.6, Opal S, and Strip series LED panels. ROBE Lighting – Added 50 new fixture symbols. ConnectCAD The new Locate Symbol in Resource Manager context menu command selects the equipment item symbol in the Resource Manager. Installing the Update This update is available as a downloadable updater for all English-based versions of Vectorworks 2026. To install the update, please select Check for Updates from the Vectorworks menu (Mac) or Help menu (Windows). Please submit a support request in the customer portal if you have any technical questions or problems during this process. For a full list of improvements in this update, please visit this page.

Vectorworks, Inc. has released its fourth update for the Vectorworks 2026 product line. This update includes the following new functionality and quality improvements that enhance your everyday experience with Vectorworks 2026. Important Enhancements Fundamentals Improved general stability. You can now search and filter classes and layers when creating saved views. You can also search for and select classes and layers for import. New Close All and Save All commands have been added to the File menu to close or save all open files at the same time. New worksheet criteria and functions: You can now use criteria to search by fill type and pen type. New worksheet functions including object style, and all data tag object and general functions harmonize data management across worksheets, data tags, and the Data Manager. Additional functions are added to the worksheet value functions set. The Move by Points tool now includes a Duplicates field in the Data bar when using the tool in Move and Duplicate or Distribute mode. The Select dialog box for the Select Coincident Objects command now displays stacking order and object names (if named). Enables the Export Unreal Datasmith (3D only) command to work reliably in Vectorworks educational licenses. Restores snap loupe functionality, so that the interactive preview follows the cursor and shows the correct size while drawing. AI Visualizer uses new versions of AI models for faster performance and improved image generation, editing, and quality. Removing backgrounds is improved, mask editing is enabled when there is no reference image, and upscaling uses a better algorithm with fewer artifacts. New server hardware is deployed to process images faster and with less queuing. Interoperability Improved IFC export stability and accuracy. Improved BCF v3.0 export compliance. Improved Revit import speed. Improved DXF/DWG export accuracy. Architect, Landmark, and Spotlight New Tags column in the Navigation palette enables new sorting and organization options for classes, design layers, and sheet layers. Improved pocket door functionality, so that flipping or editing now keeps the door leaf and pocket aligned correctly in the wall. Improved display of walls and hatches far from the origin, so that section graphics and fills remain correct in any model location. Improved Door and Window Assembly tool stability. Improved IFC export from georeferenced files, so that walls and items inserted in walls (doors, windows, cabinets, shelves) are exported in the correct geospatial location. Improved geographic north and georeferencing functionality, so that rotated coordinate systems and web map overlays align properly. Improved the ArcGIS Online and GIS tools so that searches return full-paged results, navigation between result pages is reliable, and login functionality better matches signed-in expectations. Improved Data Manager stability. Improved data tags comply with viewport crops and object visibility, attach only to visible geometry, and return correct surface areas for hardscape and landscape areas. Restored copying wall component settings from one wall to another with the Eyedropper tool. Architect and Landmark The usability, functionality, and accuracy of the Vectorworks Embodied Carbon Calculator (VECC) have been improved. Concept and planning categories display in a new Categories view to improve material and criteria management. You can now control the world-based surface variation length and thickness for plaster/stucco type linear materials. Architect An expansive new phasing feature helps manage renovations and other phased projects. New View bar controls, a tool, commands, and Object Info palette settings allow you to control the phases in the project, the active phase while working in a design layer, and the phase data for individual drawing objects. Data visualizations, document preferences, and sheet layer viewports also provide controls to select and display the phase as needed. IFC import and export improvements to support phasing. Architect libraries: Bette – Added the bathtub sanitary fixtures library. Duravit – Added 56 sanitary sinks. Worksheet improvements – Updated worksheets for new worksheet criteria and functions. Landmark A new Hedgerow mode of the Landscape Area tool allows you to create more complex and fully styled hedgerows than the Hedgerow tool. Restored the ability of the Plant tool to access plant styles in other open documents and resources. Improved Apply fill across a plant grouping functionality. Improved curb and hardscape integration, so that curbs cut longitudinal hardscapes consistently, and user‑created curb styles retain their corner settings across files. Improved hardscape and grade workflows. Improved landscape area functionality. Calculating the landscape area surface that fits the site model has been optimized and is now performed only when necessary or requested. Improved the geometry of landscape area components, so that the vertical sides always match the non-vertical surfaces. Improved site model stability. Landmark libraries: First Editions plants – Image props symbols. Waterups – Sub-irrigation products (ANZ developed). OzBreed – Photorealistic plant symbols and data for the Plant tool. Architect and Spotlight New JIS, BCR, and BCP steel profile series that are especially important for the Japanese market are now available for structural members. Spotlight To facilitate choosing and placing the correct cable type, the Cable tool now has modes for feeder, jumper, multi, and data cable selection; the related Cable Style selections are available from the Resource Selector. Spotlight numbering options now allow you to visually choose numbering direction patterns and exclude specified characters. A new option in the Spotlight Preferences dialog box inserts lighting devices either on or off by default. Improved cable and data tag functionality for entertainment workflows, including better auto‑placement on cables and more predictable cable path entry and exit points. Cable objects now automatically calculate their total weight. Syncing between cable objects and cable section data now occurs when all the sections have the same data as the cable objects. Spotlight libraries: Astera – Updated the lighting library. Fantek – Updated the 90-truss-symbol library. Minuit Une – Updated the lighting library. PRG – Added the light console library. Total Solution – Added Braceworks structural data. ConnectCAD The Device Builder tool has been incorporated into the Device tool as a new mode, combining all the device and linear array placement functionality into one tool. Improved rack tray, signal, and circuit text functionality enables the equipment on trays and signal graphics to function more predictably during edits. Improved syncing between the device definition symbol dimensions and the dimensions in the device definition record and equipment items/devices. Installing the Update This update is available as a downloadable updater for all English-based versions of Vectorworks 2026. To install the update, please select Check for Updates from the Vectorworks menu (Mac) or Help menu (Windows). Please submit a support request in the customer portal if you have any technical questions or problems during this process. For a full list of improvements in this update, please visit this page.