Tamsin Slatter

No such thing as a stupid question!

Michal, please send the project in to the UK tech support team, and we'll take a look for you.

When you put annotations in the viewport (or even directly on the sheet layer), they can be classed, just as objects on the design layer can. Just right-click on the viewport and choose Annotations. Then add dimensions and notes as if you were on the design layer. These annotations will be part of the viewport but can be classed as you wish.

Eric, the plants are placed using whichever preferences are currently set in the Plant Tool Preferences. Click the Plant tool, and then click Plant Tool Preferences. Here you can choose if you want to insert plants according to their style definition or according to an override value. Once these preferences are set, insert the plants. To avoid any problems in the future, set the preferences as you wish, and then save a template. Tool preferences are saved with the file, so this will mean all projects are set to your favourite way of working before you start. This can include tag preferences too (although I would advocate the use of Data Tags now for plant tags (and any other tags) as they are so flexible and the future.

The Wall Cap tool is available in Vectorworks Landmark. Here's a link to the description in Vectorworks Help. The D beside the title denotes this as a Design Series tool, which means it is available in Architect, Landmark, Spotlight and Designer. http://app-help.vectorworks.net/2020/eng/index.htm#t=VW2020_Guide%2FWalls%2FCreating_wall_end_caps.htm&rhsearch=wall end cap&rhsyns=

Hi Ellary This is a known problem I'm afraid, but the good news is that it has been resolved ready for the next service pack.

With 2012 the georeferencing was more limited. With any geometry that spans more than a 5KM radius, you will find that any CAD system struggles with floating point maths. For this reason, we recommend that you keep the geometry close to the internal origin and set the user coordinates to match the real world coordinates of the site. With 2012 this is not a straightforward process. Later versions of Vectorworks include options in the Tools > Origin > User Origin command to set the precise coordinates of the site over the internal origin. There is also a command under the Tools > Origin menu to Center the Drawing on the Internal Origin (while preserving the real world coordinates). This would help you enormously, but with 7KM that will potentially cause problems.

Michal THese problems make me think there is an issue with the configuration of the graphics card. I know we looked at this briefly when I visited. Look at the controller software for the graphics card and ensure it is set to allow Vectorworks to use the card.

The only thing I can suggest, off the cuff, is to use Layer Import Referencing and bring in the layer from the other file, then delete the reference, choosing the option to import. BUT, I haven't tested this and I am just running to a meeting... will test later.

VB-168438 (internal reference).

Actually, I was a little hasty in that pronouncement. It seems that this IS an issue, and I will file a bug report immediately. I don't know that we can get this resolved in SP3 at this stage, but the good news is, there is workaround: Here's the workflow I would suggest: Edit Vectorworks Preferences, and on the first tab, uncheck Offset Duplicates. Create the copies using CMD+D/CTRL+D (shortcut for Edit > Duplicate) The duplicates remain selected. Change their design layer on the Object Info palette. I hope that helps.

This is resolved in Service Pack 3, which is imminent...

I'm looking into this Lisa (and have been since you posted... I just forgot the crucial bit of letting you know...).

Hi Dan If you reference with a Design Layer Viewport, you will not import the classes into your file.

If you still have access to 2019, it does import in the correct place there. From that point, you can centre the geometry on the internal origin and you'll be good to go.

This is an issue I have reported to our engineering team - VB-167146.

Here's my high level overview. Open blank document. Edit document georeferencing settings and choose the appropriate geographic coordinate system. If you are in the UK, the standard UK templates are automatically set to 27700 which is the geographic coordinate system equivalent to the OS British National Grid. On this dialogue, the coordinates at the top relate to the position of the file's INTERNAL origin, within that coordinate system. In a UK file, we set this to the Greenwich Meridian as a default. This can be changed. Import the DWG file, but use the checkbox This file contains georeferenced geometry. Click the Advanced button and take a look at the GIS tab - this will confirm that the DWG will be brought into the georeferencing settings set at the document level. Click OK and again to complete the import. The geometry will land in the correct place within the GIS system (as long as it was actually created in the correct place in the first place.) Use the Geoimage tool and draw a rectangle around the site. This will load the imagery associated with the site. Use the Geolocate tool and click on a location on the site to move the internal origin close to the geometry. From this point on, X and Y are no longer relevant, and you should use Easting and Northing instead. The GIS Stake tool can be used to report these. If you want the numbers on the User Coordinate system to match, use Tools > Origin > User Origin. Choose the option to Set the user origin to match the origin of the geographic coordinate system. Why might it not work? Your DWG is not created in the same coordinate system as the GIS coordinate system.

Meanwhile, this article in Vectorworks Help links to a tutorial that shows the new features at a high level: http://app-help.vectorworks.net/2020/eng/index.htm#t=VW2020_Guide%2FGeoreference%2FGIS_and_georeferencing.htm&rhsearch=GIS&rhsyns=

We are running a webinar on this on 20th March. Initially, this was planned to be exclusive to our Service Select customers, but I am looking to open this up to everyone. As soon as I have the registration mechanics in place, I will post them on the forum.

Check to see if your printer manufacturer has issued a new driver that has Catalina compatibility.

Yes, the GIS system uses a Geographic Coordinate System which is different to the X and Y values. You should use Easting and Northing instead. But you can also use Tools > Origin > User Origin and then use the new checkbox to align the User Coordinate System with the Geographic Coordinate System. And make sure you are using SP2 or you won't have the checkbox. Essentially, X and Y is a rectilinear system, which requires considerable distortion to represent a curved surface on a flat plane. Once you introduce GIS, the X and Y is no longer relevant. Northing and Easting is used instead. However, the new checkbox described above aligns the X and Y numbers with this coordinate system.

Please can you post your file? You can DM me if you prefer... but all these symptoms really point me to an origin problem. I'd be happy to take a look when I'm back in the office tomorrow...

It's a click and drag operation.

May seem a random suggestion but... Is your file's geometry close to the internal origin? Tools > Origin > Locate Internal Origin. If there is a huge distance between the geometry (5KM) and the internal origin, then this can cause strange problems like this. Try Tools > Origin > Center Drawing on Internal Origin (you may need to clean up scattered geometry, which can occur if you started with a DWG import). Nothing in the file, or any referenced files, should be more than 5KM from the internal origin.

Have you contacted Tech Support? If you send them the file and the crash logs, they may be able to help you... Crash logs are automatically uploaded yes, but if you have a specific file, with a specific issue, that can be reproduced, the Tech Support team will be able to help you.