djb

Way too complex for a basic cad package. If you want truss design check out Mitek software. And by the way, why do you need it? Are you an engineer designing trusses, then why are you using Vectorworks? You seem to want this software to do everything that is buildable and do it for very little money. Get real, dude.

Don't know about the UK version but you don't get much except a CD with the box and a bunch of marketing junk. If you need a "hard" copy, dump the downloaded file to a CD or Flash Drive and you'll have you own box set.

You'd be amazed at what's in this program if you dare to use it. Matt Panzer proved this with his plugins. Asking the software to draw a sill plate as a function of other commands is asking a bit too much for this type of software. There are other software programs that do this but cost 3 times as much and may be way too much for what you are looking for, and No, they are not Autodesk products. Framing member ( detail tool set) is in the wrong tool set, should be 3d or AEC menu, but it allows you to create 3d elements for wood, steel and truss elements and all controlled via the object info pallet. They are sub elements of the framing tool in the AEC framing menu (need Architect or higher). You can even use it for trim pieces on elevations or sticks for any form of thing you design. Try it, I think you'll like it. I dare you.

Sill Plates? Sill Plates? We have stinking sill plates! What's wrong with using the Framing Member set to height 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" width (USA). They will list on your framing list, if you use it, and will show up in the model if you turn on the class.

Check your permissions on the folder of the program. Had the same issue until permissions were set to all users.

Use create section viewport instead of viewport elevation. Just locate section line off plan. When you export to dwg it will make the corect viewport in acad.

? you should be able to control the height of the wall component by editing the components in the wall preferences, right?

I'm surprised the Autodesk person gave you the software. Must be they don't consider Mac a viable platform and he's unloading it. Autocad is OK but the cost is way too much. The Arch industry use's it only because they once upon a time got trapped in their world and it costs way too much to get out. Once you go down that rabbit hole it's hard to climb out. If you are worried about knowing the software to make yourself marketable to firms that use it them play around with it but I would stick with what you know, upgrade, it's a lot better now, and there are a lot of firms using it because as a business decision it makes sense, more bag for your buck. As for collaboration with firms who have Acad, export to dxf/dwg works fine or the IFC route through Solibre works well too for clash detection. Don't let a lazy engineering draftsman say you have to have Acad, you don't.

Giving a cad file to a consultant is dangerous. How do you know if they changed something to make their world easier? IFC allows communication between parties via solibre or navisworks. The problem you have is the engineer expects you to give him your cad files so he doesn't have to work so hard. From my understanding there is no direct translation via IFC from Vectorworks to Revit, I'm sure vectorworks people can answer this. Tell the engineer to buy Vectorworks.

Try using "framing member" off the detailing menu. set your width and height and such. You can even call it trim. The use tools, create report, framing member and define what you want to see and you'll have your report. hope this helps

This happens to me all the time. It's not corrupt. Sometimes it's because the overhang setting is too small or you edit the roof using 3d tool. I've relented to no using 'create gable wall' feature and extend lower floor walls up or add a wall to roof layer and then edit.

Pardon me, but I don't know what your problem is, this is how pork chops are made. deleting the line is like saying that the person who's telling you to delete the line doesn't know how they're made. viewing in render mode the line disappears anyway.

Try making the depth(4) larger than the stool nose(7) this will show inside versus outside. or add exterior trim only to see which is outside, or view in 3d when you flip. flipping mirrors two ways, once for inside-out, and left versus right.

Hey Vectorworks engineers, I Checked out the viewer to see what it was like and I have to say, sorry for this, but boo hoo! Can't you come up with a viewer that has a small program footprint and yet allows views and comments with markup with out simply taking a locked version of the full program? I think you guys and gals can do better.

I would like to have more control of dormers while still in roof mode. No I do not want to ungroup, I want to modify the roof thickness, the gable thickness, the soffits, etc. think about it.

would like a parametric counter top that will add a backsplash, entry is by tracing spline shape and allow for round ends. Set width, height, thickness, etc and then trace wall or just float in space. Has anyone made this or is it just too hard.

Would be nice to be able to assign a symbol to each edge of a window or door, for example head trim versus side trim. Could include shutters, keystones, sills for doors, ie brick, stone, etc. The trim feature is ok but it assigns the same trim head, side and sill. Need to be able to change each one separately and also a means to report these in a worksheet for count and attributes. Thanks

Thanks Peter, that worked. I was using the syntax shown in the help files "(t=wall,1) and it was giving the name of the wall. Now if it would give proper areas for the components, then we'd have something. I have a wall with the siding extended down 12" ( to cover the first floor frame, version 2011) and the number reported is less than a wall that dos not have the extension. What's up with that? Maybe it's a bug.

Jeff, Tried it and I get weird numbers, shows the wall thickness I think. Went back to version 2010 and had no problem, though no componentarea there. Also, how do I query componentarea for specific component, for example the exterior component?

Thanks

I'm attempting to learn worksheets and I am have difficulty with reporting areas of walls in worksheets. Apparently when "wallarea_gross" of wall is queried the number reported is the length x height x number of surfaces in wall type. Is this right and how do I get it to report the components of the wall and the correct area? CriteriaSurfaceArea reports a sum of every surface including the tops, sides and bottoms of the wall. Bug, wrong function or a waste of time?

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Does anyone know how to edit hardware on doors. For example location on the leaf, double doors, etc. and scale fitting the doors?

Question regarding printing a pdf in 2008. has anyone encountered the issue when viewing a pdf after it has been printed that the pdf regenerates all layers, one at a time, that are visible in the vectorworks page? It is very distracting and am I making pdf's incorrectly?