J Lucas

I copied and saved all the font files to a separate folder and then, in the system font folder, I deleted all the fonts that were not system fonts and that I do not use. I did not use the font manager utility. Now I can always add a font back in the system font folder if I need it.

I had the same problem and VW tech told me to reduce the number of fonts I had loaded in Windows below 200 (or was it 50?). This actually worked.

It may have had something to do with rotating and undoing the rotation. Anyway, today in the same file the colored xy axis that is centered at 00 is not showing up. If I set rotation to "0" the xy axis with arrows shows up in the left bottom corner.

I am currently working in a file with "show grid" turned off but the xy axis is displaying. Other files with the same settings and the xy axis is not displaying. I must be missing something.

The option to turn on the xy axis in Top/Plan view is in Vectorworks Preferences/Display. It does not seem to be working however. A bug perhaps?

I will look into it. Thanks

I draw details to scale in a file for each scale. Each file/scale has a corresponding set of classes for typical detail elements. I use the same set of class/elements for all details, but line weighs are changed and a prefix is added for each file/scale. The prefix for 1 1/2" scale is d8-, for 3" scale it is d4-. When I import a detail object from one scale/file to another the classes come with it. To complete the transfer I just delete say the d4- classes (one by one) and covert them to d8-. Would it be possible to automate this process with a script?

Thanks for the demonstration videos. I have modeled complex foundations before. In the end I felt I had blown a bunch of my billable time. Generally I 3D model the main components of a building that will show up in elevations and then transition to 2D details and plans based on this model. Perhaps now with the push pull tool it can payoff to model the footings also.

Is there a construction drawing payoff for modeling all those footings in 3D? Is it a time saver somehow overall?

I have been placing the keynotes directly on the sheet. When the keynotes are placed directly on the sheet layer (not in a sheet layer viewport) the legend does not reformat each time a note is placed or edited.

I do not see a command in 2011 to convert to a polyline. How is this done?

I have recently submitted several bugs for VW 2011. The followup, from NVW tech staff, has been very quick, attentive, and thorough. I have been using VW 2011 Architect w/ Renderworks since it was available. I have been working around a few notable bugs but these annoyances (which are truly annoying and which I do not excuse) are small compared to the value of the improvements in 2011.

I am still experiencing this problem. In a file/project originated in VW 2011.

My practice is almost exactly as you describe yours, except that I do more new custom homes than additions. In 2007 I switched from Autocad-LT to VW and started 3D modeling from the beginning as a basis for all my drawings. The learning curve was steep but I have not looked back or regretted my decision. Once you learn 3D modeling, the work-flow for all 2D drawings based on the model is much faster than drawing straight 2D.

Check OIP Section Viewport, Advanced Properties, Display, Show Wall and Slab Components.

Check the height of the walls in the OIP. It could be set to 0 if your layer +Z is 0 and the walls are set to have the layer height.

I filed this bug already.

Nice, thanks for sharing that. I have been using the PushPull tool quite a bit to good effect.

Have you watched the videos on how use the new 3D features?

I know that the new Renderworks uses multi-cores. I do not know if the number is limited. One of the 2011 intro videos shows it rendering with a task manager performance window (or something like it) open with several (4?) processors running at once. I have used the new rendering a lot. It is much faster than the old. As you can see I am running an i5, which has 4 cores. The new RW uses all these cores fully when rendering on my machine.

A tech rep told me a few months ago that they are in the process of rebuilding VW to run on 64 bit. I don't know if this means a "complete rebuild" of the program. He said the transition in the next few years would be rough but eventually worth it. (I am paraphrasing here.)

I agree with Bryan G.'s clarification.

Count me in on this! I remember Katie, she was great: very engaged in helping resolve issues. She personally helped me several times. Currently it seems like the official NVW tech reps only get involved when an issue concerns one of their pet topics.

I tested your file on Windows 7. Opened the VW file in 2011 exported to pdf and when I printed the pdf I got the same effect shown in the screenshot.

See the Tile tool in 2011.