Tom G.

I've also run into this dead end but then I don't use the Setup tool preferring to roll my own. Am interested in why this doesn't work on your machine as on mine but do you really need the Standard Naming command? Also might be good to post your system. Mine: Mac OS 10.6.4, VectorWorks Design 2010 SP4 (Build 126481)

Look in 3D Warehouse for ghosted people and import them using File > Import > Import Sketchup.

These are really helpful in lighting my projects and vesting the backgrounds with interesting, natural looking trees and buildings. They are FUN to work with and so they have the unique ability to add realism to a scene while also making the creation of the scene a happy and pleasurable experience. More happy and pleasurable experiences, please. Also helpful would be if we could rotate the HDRI or raise or lower as frequently the model appears to be high on a hill with sky well below the model or the particular scene presented by the HDRI doesn't work with my sun placement or window angle (too much glare, for instance) or simply doesn't have the richness of another portion of the domed sky. Thanks

You can also view my free 3D tutorials on Viddler.com under VectorWorks for Left Handers http://www.google.com/search?q=viddler+vectorworks+for+left+handers&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=FcbYS_LRNI2msgPUoNSdBg&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQqwQwAA Watch 3D tutorials 1 through 3.

Here's a way to do it that gives you what you want--a color base and an overlay of exploded lines which can easily be eliminated or modified by weight. It's built off of a DLVP so you have the benefit of an updatable model throughout the process. Best part is at the end of the video so be patient. http://www.viddler.com/explore/Tguy/videos/4/

My mistake on the price of Windows 7. I was looking at the upgrade price.

I also want to point out that as of this moment, there are no single family homes displayed in the NNA Gallery. One model from Tim K. Trip was chosen which is close but likely a garden pavilion.

Thanks, Andy, for your reply. Here is a video of mine showing how to edit workspaces: http://www.viddler.com/explore/Tguy/videos/6/

Just use the Mac OS built-in Bootcamp to access Windows since I assume you only need intermittent use of the program (which I use, by the way) and won't mind waiting a short bit for the restart. If, after a period of use, you find you really want both OS's open at the same time, you can buy Parallels or VMware. http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/ See Walt Mossberg's video link You'll need to buy and install Windows 7 ($100 ?) since I doubt you'll be able to lay hands on XP. Maybe best to skip Vista? Windows 7 requires Snow Leopard. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3986 I'm using the latest Vwks on Snow Leopard with no known issues. When you install Snow Leopard you can partition the hard drive to hold the Windows install.

I suggest the standard workspace can be better optimized for the vast majority of users. This need not wait until the user is secure enough or frustrated enough to learn how to modify the palette on their own. 1. The 2D selection tool is on the wrong side of the palette given that it is the most used tool. The 3D selection tool should be nested behind it. 2. The Flyover tool should be at the bottom of the palette. Keep the 2D tools as a block with 3D tools below them. 3. Nest least-used tools behind those of the same general type which see greater usage. 4. Bring back two dimensions--straight and angled--and place them at the bottom of the palette but above the 3D tool(s). Nest angled behind straight. Hunting down dimensions on a distant palette is a time waster. 5. Why is the spiral tool taking up valuable space? If there were ever a cause to nest a tool, this is it. In all my years with the Seattle User Group, I've only met one person who used this tool. I believe the palette as it exists serves few and a couple of tweaks will improve usability substantially. The majority of users will continue to click on icons. While using key commands is a goal, this shouldn't cause us to loose track of optimizing this essential palette. Thanks.

I"m wondering why these older videos are still being offered at full price of $100 each now that we're through a revision and three quarters beyond '09. http://www.nemetschek.net/training/trainingcd.php They can't be hot sellers. I'd think cutting the price would be a nice gesture, might possibly sell some and keep NNA from appearing to be disinterested or disconnected. Between repricing, taking them down, or leaving them full price, I think a reprice is in order, don't you?

I agree that there is an engineering bias to the program which is at odds with a designer or artist's mentality where one picks up a pencil and begins to draw with as few barriers in the way as is possible. Instead, the program expects you to fill out a great number of fields with information before you can proceed UNLESS you have an understanding of back doors or work-arounds where you defeat certain protocols in order to get free of what is otherwise a less than intuitive setup process. If you are a single user, in control of most of the elements of design, you'll expect freedom of choice. You want to shoot first and sort it out later. You don't need all your supplies cataloged, pencils sharpened and put into neat rows. Vwks wants you to order much of your drawing first, setting up floor and wall heights in advance along with lots of pre-created layers and classes. This is 180? counter to the way I work and the primary reason why I started my VectorWorks for Left Handers videos. To me it makes no logical sense that the setup process expects us to be experienced users--how else to understand what's just been created--yet if we were such a user, we'd really have no need for this process in the first place since we'd be able to do just enough to get started, filling in other elements later on as we began to understand the true needs of the project and then the drawing. Case in point, if you have the opportunity, watch NNA's Key Concepts of VW Architect. Frank Brault narrates and takes you through the Setup process. Even someone as good as Frank gets flumoxed trying to navigate back and forth between these imposed layers and classes. At the end of the portion of video that covers setup, you have to ask yourself how we can expect a new user to absorb and retain this information. Why aren't we offered a simpler path, a bifurcated path if you will, for simpler projects where we're given a good starter set of layers and classes but no more. I first asked for this eight or ten years ago but nothing has changed in this regard. I also agree with Christiann that there is a decided lack of input on these macro issues from many name users on this board and elsewhere. There's lots of info on micro-use of the tools which is fantastic but their silence means that these higher level issues go undiscussed or if they do, they are short-lived as these kinds of posts often trigger a don't-rock-the-boat bow shot fired at the poster, either directly of off list. Frequently, as a result of this self-censoring, the only ones enabling regular discussion of a structural nature are new users who don't know any better.

I'm not sure limiting the architecture gallery to 16 images represents progress although the presentation format is more modern.

The mouse is a big part but only a part of the solution. I use a rollerball type (Logitec) mouse but two additional elements ease strain. One is to have a chair that supports the elbow. Mine has rotatable elbow cups (Good luck finding one of these. I found mine with a free sign hanging on it, parked along a curb.) The second part is to have a desk extension--a peninsula of sorts--that gets the mouse closer to you. I made mine out of varnished plywood. With these two additions to your mousing, only the tip of the forefinger needs to move in order to spin the ball. The arm is supported and therefore at rest.

Start your stair tool above or below the special winder tread and build from scratch what the plugin can't handle. Won't take much time at all.

First make sure you are drawing on a Design Layer. Set your Class to None. Then open up the Navigation palette, click on Classes (first icon on the top row of that palette) and set your visibility to Show/Snap/Modify Others. Leave it in that setting, always, until you are expert enough to understand otherwise. (This advice is markedly different from adjusting the similar set of settings under Layers which can be changed frequently without choking off groups of classes.) Lastly, use the 2D Reshape tool to edit your shape.

Newest tips and tricks newsletter posted here: http://converttolines.blogspot.com

Could you drop a locus point into one class then duplicate and move a copy to each successive class? You could place it outside the print boundary too just to be sure it doesn't show up on export.

Thanks, Eoin, for a workflow I'd not considered. Thanks, Vincent for your tip too. I'll have to check it out.

So, AJ, you've never used Vwks for 3D modeling let alone rendering, are using a product 5 revisions back but now you are concerned since "Vectorworks rendering sadly lacking" as your your thread title has announced. I think your reasoning is sadly lacking.

I was all set to learn SketchUp and started with a couple of books and by the time I'd gotten well into the books I decided that once I began to model the interior of my structures I was better off starting from the beginning in Vwks and not revisiting all my earlier decisions* as one would need to do using two different programs. I WILL use SketchUp Pro in the import/export conversion of models from .skp to .3ds and then into Vwks *Although you can import the SketchUp model, you may still find that there are needs to revisit wall locations established earlier in SketchUp. Vwks walls likely will have interior components or brick veneers which require a slightly different wall location (face of stud, for instance) than a similar wall in SketchUp.

Have her go here and view the 3D tutorials--there are four that act as a group--and this will help with understanding certain Vwks concepts. http://ssl.viddler.com/explore/Tguy/videos/

Michael: So simple a tutorial yet so effective. Thanks for putting this up.

I'm on V2010 (Designer) and find Renderworks delivers quality results for my needs. Rendering should be calibrated to your end goals. If you want the best, pay up for C4D or any of several other rendering specialist programs. If you produce working drawings which do not have a secondary budget to justify the (very) extra time to develop a model to be fully detailed, textured and lighted, then Renderworks should be your first stop. With HDRI being more accessible in V2010 we should see many more people developing their models using this important tool. Regarding reviewing models on the NNA website, NNA is not supporting the import of new models and I don't believe there is any content therein created using V2010. To see V2010 creations you'll need to find sources off-site.

I've drawn insulation in plan view to show sound-wall designation.