Wes Gardner

Regarding a mouse, I just have a typical wireless logitech (yeah, I went wireless last year while living on the boat)...you can turn off the detent for the wheel/scroll if you want...sometimes I incline my mouse surface side-to-side with the low side being outboard...it doesn't take much incline to releave the tension in your wrist (for anyone with wrist pain, try that first....)...it fits my hand nicely...I also use the Space Commander or whatever that thing's called by 3D Connexion...but mostly when I'm drawing in Rhino....for Vectorworks, pretty typical mouse set up... Wes

Try some lettering left-handed...my drawings were always smuged ... 😞 Wes

Hi All, In many of my projects, I set the Layer Wall Height to the most common height used on that particular floor and then set up my Layer Bound wall style to look for "Layer Wall Height". In the attached example, it's 12'-4" Wes

Here's mine...sheet layer DPI is 600

@bmaad..I think you can do it on the fly...However, the additional level will only be available in that story...you'd need to create another one in any additional stories...However, in your case, it seems you only need to add the additional level to just one story Wes

@bmaad...one of the things that I don't like about the implementation of the stories concept is how the OIP can lie to you. Wit hone of the dropped walls selected, you can see how the OIP is telling you the bounding condition...That unfortunately is NOT the bounding condition for that particular wall...it's the bounding condition for the wall style. However, if you click on the Components button in the OIP, you'll see that particular wall has the bottom bounding set at one of the "Offset" levels which are intended to give it that 3 foot offset. The good news with stories is that it's very reliable when using this offset strategy - your walls and their components will always offset to the correct height/elevation. Wes

@bmaad...I think the KISS principle works here...stories DO offer superior change management if you're anticipating a bunch of floor-to-floor changes (this would be relevant to the larger building scenario you mention) as the stories/floors above will be moved up/down automatically. In the non-story scenario, you'll need to adjust each layer's height if a change is encountered. So with that said, I'll go with "it really depends on the project" as to whether or not to use stories. Even if you're anticipating working with IFC, your non-story layers can be manually mapped to IFC stories, that's why I contend that you can build a perfectly fine model without stories. There really is no "down side." Just be sure to select the correct wall style if you are going the non-story route. If you choose the story route, both wall styles will work in your model simultaneously if you want them to. Wes

@Moni, I'd start by looking at "No Stories, No Problem." Download the example files. One of the "tricks" in Vectorworks is understanding wall styles and how they can be automated to "look for" height information. This can be accomplished by the No Stories, No Problem concept of using Layer Elevation (for the wall bottom) and Layer Wall Height for the top. The more complex version uses Levels to further automate the process but often times the bounding concept seems overly burdensome. The two types of wall styles I call "Layer Bound" and "Level Bound." In the Resource Manager, they call them "Fixed Height" and "Story Bounded." I don't like that terminology... So read and understand the No Stories, No Prob document first, then compare it to the Model Set Up doc. then maybe build a simple model...Typically I tell people that the only reason to use stories is if you are going to be working with IFC files, or are anticipating a lot of floor-to-floor changes as storeis does automate these processes somewhat. Wes

@EvelyneB, I passed your file on to Tech Support....they should have an answer for you. Wes

Like this? If you want it perfectly conical, there is a cone tool in the 3D toolSet Turret.mp4

@Michal Zarzecki Solibir Model Viewer (a free resource available on both Mac and Win) can be used to validate and varify your model for IFC export. Typically, items such as windows, doors, walls and slabs in Vectorworks are IFC compliant (meaning they have IFC data already attached). Custom modeled objects will need to have IFC data attached or they will not show up in SMV. Wes

Hi All, Here's some information regarding working with IFC and Vectorworks. https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/scorm/player.php?a=52&currentorg=articulate_rise&scoid=104 Here's a model containing an IFC file, check out the model set-up https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/page/view.php?id=1407 Here's some more information about working with Vectorworks and IFC https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/scorm/player.php?a=393&currentorg=articulate_rise&scoid=786

@jeff prince, I haven't a clue...perhaps the site mods HAVE to be in the target file? Wes

Hi All, This document may shed some light on the multiple buildings on one site issue. Wes https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/scorm/player.php?a=363&currentorg=articulate_rise&scoid=726

@Kal...maybe something like this using the Custom Sash option. Sorry, I didn't get the proportions like yours but I think this might be what you're looking for. Wes Custom Sash.vwx

@Rishie, assigning your tags (I would use Data Tags not the "built-in" door or window tag) to a class and toggling them on/off in a viewport is considered best practice I believe. Wes

@Kevin K - agreed..however, the intent is often not to use the IFC object directly, but to use it for comparison/clash detection. Wes

@Tom W. ...here it is in 2020 format...enjoy Wes Ugly House v2020.vwx

Hi all, Here's a little model that I framed if you'd like to see the set-up. I have tweaked it a bit placing elements in logical classes and layers. You can use the Saved Views to toggle between framed and unframed views. It's still a bit of a work in progress... Wes Ugly House.vwx

@zoeageorg, just FYI, all of the framing tools should be viewed as conceptual. The wall framer is the oldest of the lot...as you've seen, it creates extruded elements. It can produce a "pretty picture" but it will not frame a proper corner. The other framing tools offer a bit more intelligence but will still need to be checked carefully. Wes

@Andrew Mac...in house we used to use Camtasia for the PC side...dunno if that's still "standard fair." For the Mac, we use Screenflow. Wes

@trashcan...assuming your walls form a "wall network" (all are joined), you can use the paint bucket mode (Inner Boundary mode) of the Slab tool to "pour" yourself a slab....you can then adjust it for elevation if necessary...I usually do that in a front or side view. Of course, it can be automated by using Layer heights, etc. You'll probably want to use the same tool for ceilings? Wes

@EvelyneB, can you post the file? Wes

@Mark Aceto...I hear your Mark! Fortunately we can support both workflows!

@Mark Aceto, the trend is to get annotations, be they data tags, dimensioning, notes, etc. into the Annotation Space of a viewport on a sheet layer. Grid Lines, although they are created in design layers, work nicely and will show up in both elevation and section when displayed in a viewport on a sheet layer. I would stop using the Space Tool's tag and start using a Data Tag for room names, etc in a viewport on a sheet layer. The main reason is scalability. Wes