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A coworker who is running Landmark has been encountering an ongoing issue where his viewports become deactivated with apparently no action on his part. He said he'll notice it on occasion and then reactivate it, but the problem is that the viewports apperarntly don't show when he exports the sheet layers if they are not activated. Is this is setting issue? Has anyone experienced this before? To be honest, I've NEVER activated or deactivated a viewport before so have know idea where to begin. Thanks.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

This is a topic I've explored before with little in the way of feedback and results, and I'm curious why I don't hear more VW users talking about it. To be able to have files referencing each other to me seems a necessity... before I began working on it, the other draftsman would periodically copy and paste plans into one another to stay updated. Case in point, before even discussing the breaking up of a building so that multiple people could work on the same project, we need every project to have the landscape plan file and the floor plan file to reference one another... from what I've discovered after almost two years, this isn't possible! Am I mistaken? Because, even when I could (though many times I crash during the process) set the files up via DLVP or WR, at some point the files become corrupted, but as soon as I break the references, the files are fine... which obviously leads me to believe the issue is the referencing. Currently, I'm trying to take one of the VW users advice of setting up a "dummy file" to act as a hub for both the landscape and floor plans... which in theory sounds perfect! Accordingly, I have file A (Floor Plans), file B (Landscape Plans), and File C (Hub). From here I've tried to reference File A and B into file C and file C into A and B. Also, I've tried to just do half of this scenario: Either file A into C, C into B, and B into A or the other way around... u follow? In about 30 attempts (Including two PC stations (via hard drive and via the server) and 1 Mac station (Via hard drive) I can't do this... every single time one of the three files will be inoperable. So if I'm missing something, please let me know! Thanks.

Thanks Grant. Ironically, as a sidenote I noticed a Vectorworks banner on the AIAStudents homepage this afternoon.

I was wondering who I could get in touch with at NNA to get a list of schools (college level) that teach/use VW... assuming such a list exists. I'm curious about this because in the past week I met a former UC Davis student who mentioned VW being the required drafting software in her design courses and also spoke with yet another (probably the tenth in the past year) student who told me their school requires a Mac (but they're not a design major so was not sure about the drafting software that is required). Thanks in advance.

I believe you're correct that a 3D solid and/or poly will not show dashed, but if you explain what you're trying to use the 3D dash for there may be a few workarounds that users work with.

There are a few that are stock in the VW library that are not in RW-Background folder... this is the one I generally use. You'll need to import it into your drawing via the Resource Browser.

Here's the link... Brudgers had a better workaround than I: Thread

This is a known bug... I know because I've submitted it... I'll look for the thread on the topic. Strangely, in my case, when I removed the windows the "wings" went away. My work-around was to split the wall after the window... not a clean approach, but it may serve you for the time being.

From what I could tell the "ascending" or "descending" feature works the same for letters as it does for numbers. Accordingly, you'll need the "Database Headers" turned on and then simply drag the appropriate icon into the column you want to arrange in ascending order. One hint though, you'll need to callout your schedule items as 01, 02, 03, etc. Also, it may be that you have to split the prefixes A-, B-, etc. in their own column and the numbers in another... and then drag the ascend icon into each column's header tab.

Hadn't thought about that. To be honest, I've had so many issues with WRs and DLVPs in 2008 I've been weeding them out of my files. I've discussed these issues with the board and the folks at NNA but with little resolution. And it's not just my station... all of our stations have issues with files that have more than a couple WRs or DLVPs. And circular references are an outright nightmare!

Until now I've always set my first floor layer at Z=0 because it seemed the obvious/easiest way to approach the build. Recently however, having taken into account that the surveys I'm receiving have property lines/contour lines at actual Z coordinates (ie; 100 as the benchmark and +/-100 for all given coordinates) and issues I've had with objects not being placed at there true Z coordinate, I'm considering changing my modeling approach. My hopes are to make it easier to locate items (such as fences, pergolas, walls, etc) that differ several inches vertically due to grade change. Does this make sense or am I actually making things more complicated? I am very much trying to use VW for all its worth (Floor Plans, Elevations, Sections, Renderings, etc.) and feel preciseness is the key... but should this truly equal quicker, as well as more accurate, work flow? ...this is a tough sell to the SketchUp supporters in house. Thanks in advance.

Thanks Pat!I'm not sure if I follow completely but will try to work it through tonight. To be clear though, if I have a 3D object can I draw a 3d poly over it that feeds it's surface area to the worksheet?

This idea has occurred to me in several variations and I have a few ideas for accomplishing it, but I'd like to get some feedback from anyone that works with this or a similar concept. I am currently working on a project that consists of a sprung structure which I am responsible for designing an acoustical cloud array in addition to collaborating with a lighting designer, sound engineer, etc. What I am trying to setup is a worksheet that calculates symbols' weight (either per item (Such as light fixtures) or per square footage (such as the acoustical clouds)... mind you I don't expect the calcs to be "solid" numbers but at least accurate enough for preliminary design. Thanks.

Though I know this is really a job for WinDoor, I was wondering if there is a way to have your trim on the sides of the window be 3 1/2" while the top piece be 5 1/2". Also, I can't seem to have the sill be above the bottom piece of trim... it intersects it. Is there a way to offset it so the bottom piece of trim is fully under the sill. Thanks.

In recent days two different files are experiencing saved views changing into random settings. Has this been discussed before? Is there anything that could be done to prevent this?

Cool. Thanks guys. Was starting to make some of those changes and I crashed... big surprise.

I'm hoping to see more details in my FQRs but I don't know if there is a Resolution setting that adjusts your "on screen" view. Any tips would be appreciated.

In my mind Mesh equals larger files and longer Renders (Even in OpenGL). If you're working with a few small mesh items at a time you may not even notice, but if you're, say designing an auditorium and are using a chair symbol that includes mesh, then good luck... I speak from experience.

Cool. Thanks Pat.

This is the first time I've needed to save from a PC and then open on a Mac and I can't remember if I need to add a different file extension. Thanks,

Thanks everyone. And yes I consciously didn't just try this because more and more it seems that trial and error is not the best way to approach EVERYTHING... I didn't want to introduce any foreign objects into the program files. Strangely, I've worked on other station here at the office and they often have duplicates and odd plug-ins located in there program files... don't know if that hurts but it can't possibly help. Thanks again.

If I have items such as customized workspaces and plug-ins on my PC, I am assuming these will not be compatible with my Mac. Is this correct?

To be clear, the sound is selected off in your VW preferences correct or do you work with it on?

My advice would be to file a Bug Submit and search some previous threads on the topic. Hopefully some of the more knowledgeable users can add some feedback as well, but I wanted to at least point you in the right direction. Cheers.