Thom

We are looking at a new HP 5500 plotter. We are PC based. What does post script give us? Does it improve printing speed or quality?

Robert I have tried dense patterns of stipples, but they become to resource intensive when working on several hundred acre sites. I usually will lay a small layer of stipple over a solid pattern to help soften the look.

How can I create a gradient that will allow me to have a light center and darker edges in a circular or closed polyline situation. Being able to do this would help us with our land planning graphics.

But Peter, as you and I know, what VW wants us to do and what the program can really produce are two different things. Boundnorth - you will find that the more complex your dtm and site modifiers are, that the VW site model will not produce accurate enough answers. Many times, I have found it necessary to redraw contours to get the required solution. Sorry VW, but even tech support can not make the program do what is needed in a complex situation. I know you are trying, and I feel sorry for the one who writes site modeling code. It is getting better with each refinement.

I usually work with Remote Desktop so my laptop does not need to have the horsepower for me to be efficent. I have worked with speeds as slow as 256. (Allows for beer drinking in between commands). I agree with Travis, speeds can vary at both locations. We run a T3 at our office and T1 from home.

I often work remotely. The number one thing is to have good internet speed. Usually internet configurations are fast on the download and slower on the upload which results in some lag of response. I am paying extra to get the same speed (at least 3 meg) up and down. There is nothing else that I am aware of that one can do to increase functionability.

Spot points can be created using stake object tool as well as the road centerline tools. Contours can be created from allowing the dtm to create from proposed site modifiers, however unless your site model is "simple" getting accurate contours is difficult. (Sorry Nemetschek) I wish it were not true - However I have found this also true with Autocad files I have received. Anyway, after creating a series of spot elevations, I often will manually create 3D polylines to represent contours and create a site model from the polys and spots.

Petri It depends on the permitting agency. As GPS becomes rule rather than the data is beginning to described in Northing's and Easting's, based on a state plane system for the state that we are working in.

I agree. This is a necessary addition. Just about every project I complete outside of a small residence, requires survey data that is based on Georeferenced data. Governmental agencies require referenced data on ever environmental feature. Many times I am required to monitor the project for periods up to 15 years. (Sad state of affairs)

We are seeing a need for a better quality print for our practice. Mostly for photo backgrounds and renderings. We presently have an HP 500. Any suggestions. thks

When trying to plot to a HP 500 with a highly detailed graphic file, the plots can take forever, if ever to plot. Any suggestions? thks in advance.

I have discovered that while the outline of the plant symbol takes on the class that it is placed in, the interior lines of the symbol are on the "None" class and also "2d rendering" must be enabled. Lesson - Never leave the plant tags on the "none" class.

When posting a Quicktime video on my website with either Quicktime or Windows Media Video, They can be accessed using a FireFox browser, but not Internet Explorer. Any ideas? Is there a better way to link / post on a cold fusion website? thks

After creating a Quicktime video of a project, we want to be able to post / link it to our Cold Fusion based website. I can make this happen in both Quicktime and Windows Media Video, but the files can be only accessed in FireFox web browser and not Internet Explorer. Any suggestions what is the best way to do this? thks in advance

I know I am missing something simple. Which graphic setting removes the infill of the Plant symbols.

Darrell I have experimented with what you suggest. Unfortunately, it puts us back to vs 9.5 with creating indiviual symbols for each plant. I would like to find a way to have a simple construction symbol, overlayed with a graphic symbol. I like the way the existing tool works, but would like to have a couple more options, such as being able to use a gradient with hatch on 1/2 of the symbol. Probably asking too much. I sometimes use a additional class overlay over the large tree symbols to add another graphic dimension to the symbol. I also would like to be able to totally separate the tag control from its assigned symbol. Yes, the tag class can be turned off, but if the symbol has additional classes that one might want the tag 'on', but the primary symbol class is turned 'off', than the tag is also off. Maybe someone from VW can respond, how is the tag associated with the symbol. Is there a way to separate it from the primary class, and or is there a way to associate if with addtional classes that may be added to the symbol.

Well said

It would be nice to have the tag be independent of the symbol so if additional classes are added to the symbol, the tag could be turned on or off depending on what is being presented. Presently if the symbol classes is turned off, then the tag is off even if the tag class is on.

Actually, I think some suggestions / creative discussion might benefit us all. As I have played with defining the existing symbols and creating new ones, I have found that placing the symbols in a defined class and then creating a class that is a plant graphics class in itself that contains the fill data that is used for a graphical presentation works fairly well. (OK, bad english/wording, but it is late) The main issue is relearning what the graphic attributes one can assign with the supplied plant elements and how they affect the recreated symbols. It would be nice if the existing tools would allow the graphic attributes to be assigned to a common class that then could be turned on and off at will. This would also allow for one symbol to be "reused" within a common dwg at a different size, allowing for more flexibility. I have some time used several layers of graphics to create a certain graphical look. (Gradient & hatches partially overlaying each other) It also would make it easier to work on presentation dwgs. by not needing to wait for the graphic attributes to regenerate every time a modification is made. Comments

I agree. I am in the process of rebuilding all the symbols along the lines of what Jonathon suggests.

I have no problems with my 120. It is for sale however. Low prints. Just mergered and aquired a larger plotter. PM if interested

I was just reading a review of the new MS Vista operating system. The following is a quote out of the summary. "Oh, but before I go, let me add that the Linux and Mac desktops, are every bit as good now, if not better, than Vista will be tomorrow."

It would be nice to be able to step retaining walls to follow a slope.

I would like to be able to distinguish existing and proposed 2D contours by line color. This would be more helpful than just by changing line types.

I am trying to get a driver for this machine. Everything I download from HP is in spanish - even the one that says it should be english. Anyone have this driver or a work around? thks