Markus Barrera-Kolb

Thanks gmm18, thanks Pat -- that's quite helpful! I installed the script and it works perfectly. Once again, it seems that the answer to my question has already been posted previously. I usually try to search the forum first, but either my searching skills aren't that good, or the board's search function just isn't up to Google standards (or some of both)...

Thanks Pat! Do you happen to know where I might find a reference of all the available operators to use in database fields?

Does anyone know how to retrieve object names (entered in the OIP) in a worksheet database field? Thanks!

Between the Scale Objects command and the Fixed Point Resize command, there are a couple of capabilities that would be very useful: For the former, it would be great to be able to select a base point for scaling, and it would be really helpful if you could also select the New Distance graphically, not just the Current Distance. For the latter, it would be great if you could hold down a modifier key in order to resize the object symmetrically, rather than having to place the fulcrum at the exact center of the object or having to use a different command.

It would be nice to be able to change the alignment (justification) of text objects without the text moving. I know that in the old version of AutoCAD I was using there was and Express Tools function that would accomplish this, and I found it very useful.

...that's what I would expect and would like, but it's not letting me. When I use "Browse a Document" to check out the resources in a file, "Add Current to Favorites" is greyed out. Hmm.

Not what I mean, Ray -- if I don't yet know which file I might like to add, but want to browse and then add a file if I find the right one, then that function doesn't do me much good. In order to use "Add New Favorite Files" I have to know which one I want to add ahead of time...

It would be great if you could add a file to the Resource Browser Favorites even if you don't have the file open. If I'm looking for resources and just browsing directly through the Resource Browser and I find a file that's highly relevant, then I should be able to add it to my favorites right then and there, without having to open the file first.

If you use 'Stack Layers' you have the option of displaying or hiding 2D geometry. Make sure this option is unchecked: View > Stack Layer Options... > Display 2D Objects on Active Layer

How about a 'soft' return in a multi-line record field? In most word-processing programs shift+return gets you a soft return, keeping you in the current table cell, for instance. Is there an equivalent? Otherwise, what's a mulit-line record field for? Does it just meant that the text will wrap?

Reporting back: after a day of working with a re-defined 3D Selection Tool shortcut (I used X), it seems that this has eliminated the issue. Here's for simple fixes!

Perhaps this question would warrant a new thread, but I think it's related enough: how do people handle floor & ceiling finishes in their models? So far my 3D modeling has been very limited, but as all of the height information pertaining to light wood framing here in the U.S. relates to top-of-slab, top-of-subfloor, or top-of-plate, this is what I've been assigning the Z values for the floor and slab layers to. I've been drawing slab objects that reflect the overall size of the structural components (floor joists + subflooring), so the finish materials would be extra. If I want the finished floor or ceiling to show up in a section, I guess I'd need to add separate objects. Any thoughts?

For 2D drafting, what are the salient differences between polylines and polygons? I take it that polygons can't have curved line segments, and polylines don't seemt to have the "Closed" check-box in their OIP, but other than that, is there some magical difference?

Just as a follow-up on my current experience with using layer-links generated by the Model View command as underlays for fleshing-out elevations on a Design Layer: As it turns out, if you change the Z-value for one of the design layers once you've created the layer link with the Model View command, the link for that layer is not moved accordingy. In my case, the links are in a side-view (Front, Left, Right, Back), so the Z value correlates to the Y value in the current layer's Top/Plan view, which is where I'm drawing the additional elevation stuff. It's not a difficult problem to fix: I can either edit the group created by the Model View command and move the linked layer in question to the correct Y value, or I can creat a whole new link using Model View and replace the previous one. As long as one is aware of this issue, this still seems like a great way to flesh-out a model in 2D for which you may not want to spend the time to fill in all the details in 3D (aside from the whole line-weight issue). Then the completed elevations can be referenced by as many SLVPs as you like.

Ah, I've got a 'mini keyboard' (the Mac wireless), so no numeric keypad for me -- when I had one I never used it, and it just put my right hand (with the trackball) way off to the side, resulting in poor ergonomics and a cramped desktop... And yes, I've been hitting 5 (5 on the PC) to switch to Top/Plan view periodically. Today I'll continue drafting with a redefined 3D Select Tool shortcut, so I'll get to see whether it was the X thing that was messing me up. As for turning off the shortcut keys, I don't imagine I'd ever want to do that -- I do as much as possible with the keyboard, so my approach will be to simply re-define those shortcut keys that are messing me up. Still wish NNA would give us greater flexibility in defining them, though (see this thread).

Hmm, that's an interesting thought. Certainly I'm hitting and all of the time, and could easily be hitting them together on occasion. Maybe I'll change the shortcut for the 3D selction tool for a while and see if that changes anything...

By default, '5' is the Polyline Tool, and 'command+5' is 'Top/Plan' view, right? As far as I know, I don't even have a shortcut assigned to 'Top', so I don't think I'm hitting it by mistake...

I'm workin' away on elevations on a design layer, with a few layer links generated by the Model View tool as an underlay (on a separate DL, to keep it easier), and the view keeps switching back to 'Top' from 'Top/Plan' seemingly at random, but consistently. As I'm relying on snaps/smart points, this is proving quite a challenge, since they don't work on a lot of objects once I'm in 'Top' view, and of course sometimes it takes me a little while to notice. Is it something I'm doing or could somehow prevent?

Ditto on what Mike & Peter said - on floor plans we want to dimension to the rough opening, since that's the pertinent information for the crew out in the field. Seems like it would be quite easy to give VW window & door objects this capability. Does anyone know whether WinDoor objects allow you to do this?

Since I'm entirely new to VW, I never got used to working with the old data bar, and I've quickly gotten used to the floating data bar and not having to tab into it - just enter a number and you're good to go. However, now I'm using a dual monitor setup, and it's quite annoying when the floading data bar cuts across the two screens. Because of this I'm starting to use the fixed data bar and find myself wishing that you weren't required to tab into it. Seems reasonable that you could ask VW to handle the fixed data bar in the same manner as the floating one.

I suppose if NNA is now also aiming at annual releases, as they've indicated, it makes more far-reaching updates or re-writes less likely -- kind of a double-edged sword: on one hand, most of us would probably like to see our feature-requests incorporated in a new release by the end of the week; on the other hand, it may be crucial at some point to overhaul the underlying technology in a fundamental manner. Not to mention that the pressure to get a new release out the door each year might make for a buggy application.

One of my pet peeves is the inability to resize certain windows or dialog boxes as well as the inability to use the scroll wheel to navigate some lists. The VectorScript Plug-In Editor, for example, can be resized, but you have to scroll by grabbing the scroll button. The workspace editor cannot be resized, and as soon as you start expanding menus to find the menu item you're lookig for, you have to do lots of scrolling, again without the aid of the scroll wheel (or two-finger scrolling on the trackpad). Seems like these are UI refinements that should be basic and standard across the board and that would make the user experience easier, quicker, and more pleasant.

Using the "DoMenuTextByName" command I've also made a script for selecting all guides (so that I can assign the shortcut option+G to it). Can something be added to the script so that the command is executed immediately, i.e. doesn't require another mouse-click? Currently, the script looks like this: PROCEDURE SelectGuides; BEGIN DoMenuTextByName('Guides',2); END; RUN (SelectGuides);

How about a timestamp tool that offers the option of always displaying the current date (and time), e.g. "Update Automatically" and "Update Manually"? If I remember correctly, I've already put it on the wishlist...

Yeah, maarten's suggestions are excellent. I'm a recent AutoCAD convert, and I did everything using the keyboard - arguably a much faster way to work! I do miss the ability to use multiple keystrokes to define shortcuts, which allowed them to be much more intuitive, e.g. TR for trim, MI for mirror, RC for revision cloud, and so on. I do like not having to press ENTER or the space bar after every command entry, but I would like a bit more flexibility in defining my shortcuts...