GWS

Worksheets are a very useful tool but there is a real need for some clear help notes, not only about function but the language required to facilitate them. I too struggle too get my head around them. They seem very 'clunky' compared to other workflows in VW.

When I use the tangent mode to create a line on the tangent of a circle, I find that entering an angle in the floating bar doesn't seem to work. I can enter an angle of say 30? and press return, the angle is locked into the floating bar but the line doesn't snap to that angle. Is there something I'm missing?

2008 to 2009 caused me problems with 3D symbols, I ended up having to rebuild a lot of them. Sometimes copy and paste and then several ungroupings of the object seemed to help. I also ended up re-doing my templates as well. 2010 has been a much smoother upgrade for me.

I too have noticed strange behaviour with the Navigation Pallet, especially after deleting sheet layers the whole pane goes blank.

Just copoed and pasted into a new file and that seems to have fixed it. I wonder if there was a transfer issue between 2009 and 2010 as it was originally a 2009 file.

This doesn't happen if I don't change the view. In other words if I double click to edit in front view and then change to right view the displacement takes place.

I'm having trouble when editing solid subtractions/additions. When I go back in to edit an object the selection handles are displaced by some distance and I can't select the object in question. If I draw a large selection box the object is selected but not where it should be. Any help gratefully received.

I had this problem with extracting curves and surfaces and was kindly put right on it. It is to do with 'tool highlighting' that is set in preferences under the 'Interactive' tab. Turn this on and the red highlighting will reappear.

I use the Move Page boundary for printing specific bits of a design, very useful to take to meetings.

That's a great idea especially for us machine design types

If using mainly 2D, 'Convert to lines' is very useful. (Modify>Convert>Convert to lines)

Yes I agree both are editable, but I find that somehow the subtraction method is more intuitive....although I'm not sure why!

I have found that it is better to use the subtracting solids method rather than the clip surface and then extrude method. It makes for more resulting editable solids further down the line.

Yes that's a great suggestion

Once you have combined/joined the 4 polylines go to Modify>Convert>Convert to Polygons. Then make sure that the 'closed' check box (in the OIP) is checked to close the polygon.

It seems in ExtrudeProblemProgress.vwx you have 3 objects on top of one another, 2 polylines and 1 extrude. The extrude is only 12mm high so might look like it is flat in 3D. If you use the OIP to change the extrusion height to say 2000mm it will show what I mean. You original drawing needed to use the combine tool (as Ray mentioned) to make the 4 polylines into one.

I work with a black background (I find it easier on the eyes) and I have found that the X,Y axis markers on the ground plane are only readable with a white background. Is there a way to change the text colour. I have looked on the interactive preferences but can't find anything.

VW allows me to produce technical drawings for engineering companies from 3D models which in turn allow me to convey the design in an easy visual style with high presentation levels and all for a reasonable price. The technical side is very important and just a modelling program would not do. Horses for courses!!

Ah...that explains it. Thank you Luis.

Hi Wes Thanks for the tips. I am a little puzzled by the first of the 'Honourable Mention'. I notice that when you change the dimensions that are on the Layer Plane the walls move, but what I don't get is that they are 3D objects, how can this be? When I tried it, I used a simple extrude and could not replicate the action. Does it just work with walls or is there some trickery going on that I have missed? Many thanks

'Duplicate along path' would be my suggestion. You'll need a polyline of the leg from the side view as the path and an object (i.e. a circle) to be the profile. To get the polyline imagine looking at the futon in the side view (end on) and draw a line that would represent the centre of the leg. Then draw a circle on the desired diametre and use the 'Extrude along path' command. Make sure you select the correct object as the path in the dialogue box. To get a hollow tube/leg, draw one circle inside another and use the 'clip surface' command (in the Modify menu) and then extrude the result along the polyline. This should give you a tube in the shape of the leg. You will have to position the leg in the correct orientation. (If, before extruding, you convert your path object to a nurbs curve (Model>3D Power Pack>Convert to Nurbs) the resulting extrude will appear in the same position as the NURBS curve and not on the ground plane and therefore would not need to be re-positioned)

By the way the required size is 26 x 20 pixels

I have just created my own icons from screen grabs. This works well and was quite fun so thank you for the help.

The scroll bar is the bottom part of the palette above, in this case the navigation palette.

Unfortunately neither restarting nor trashing the preferences seem to work. If I use an original workspace, i.e. one that comes with VW the icons are fine, but if I had a tool set, say 'Solids' to a workspace the 'spanner' icon appears. I suppose a re-install is the next step, but I'd rather not!! Thanks for the suggestions.