Cadplan Architecture

thanks, interesting. I see that the hatch doesn't actually fill the rectangle as such, it's a pattern in it's own right without a bounding line and can be dragged anywhere in the drawing. That will do what I want although it would be even better if it was associated with my rectangle and moved with it.

I'm drawing a simple foundation section for a house and using 100mm wide rectangles for the walls. The inner leaf is hatched with Fabric Blockwork SC, I don't know what the SC stands for but the coursing lines are 215mm which is correct for a UK block. What I'm trying to do is to have the bottom block start on top of the foundation strip but it doesn't seem possible to move the coursing lines even when the rectangle is moved or flipped. Is there a way to do this as the same applied to the brick outer leaf which is Fabric Brickwork SC?

Yes I've tried full restarts as my Mac freezes completely several times a day (only) when using Vectorworks and the only way then is to restart using the power button. When it happens the dreaded spinning beach balls appears like something from out of The Prisoner. Everything is then locked, mouse & keyboard hence the restart. I'm thinking it must be a Mac issue.

I think the silence must mean it's my Mac then at fault!

thanks for explaining that Jonathan, I tried it and understand now. I don't see your UG on your website

Yes of course, thanks!

I just wondered if anyone else is having problems with freezing?

Ok, as I'm iPhone4 & iPad based its no good without the connectivity to the Disto. I don't want to buy a new Android stuff as it would be a big outlay. I did hear early this year that Apple are blocking Disto use for some reason. I wonder why? I have tried to send an email via their website form but the URL doesn't work unfortunately. Thanks for the heads up anyway. AJ

can we add our twitter accounts to our profiles yet?

I draw 1:100 house plans and elevation for planning permissions. When I do the construction drawings I copy and paste the 1:100 plans on to a 1:50 layer and add annotations but the text scales as well which is not what I want. Does anyone know if there is an easy workaround for this so my text stays at 8pt or 10pt? Maybe I'm doing things the wrong way as I don't use viewports? AJ

Yes I know Windoor do it, that's exactly my point. Why should we pay out big bucks and then have to buy add on software!!

have you got some type of reference for iCad? When you say tablet, do you mean an iPad2?

I don't see how to set up a series of saved views, at the meeting they said this couldn't be done. It's just not easily or accurately controllable I find and the viewing point often seems to zoom into or away from the model.

One of the most time consuming parts of my job is measuring houses then transferring the measurements into Vectorworks. I just wondered if anyone has a solution to this re linking a Disto to Vectorworks (running on a Mac ideally)? AJ

this seems to be a real chore for something that should be included as a simple function in Vectorworks. Why have they not done more when they have developed the software in other areas so much? I think we have to 'shout' a bit more to NNA as the upgrades are not cheap!

Really the functions of Interiorcad should be included in Vectorworks at the prices they charge

VWA still does not have any improvements to this tool, they haven't been listening. We want to be able to have 3,5,7 or more doors and have them either folding to one side or to both sides. Everybody wants them in sun lounge extensions, NNA please look at this.

there is a date stamp tool under tool sets, you can customise what information is shown but you will need to use it or revise it immediately before printing- it's easy enough to do though.

that first view would render with the intersection lines showing with VW 2012 hidden line intersection rendering.

This is the first VW conference I've been to as I never knew about the 3 previous ones in Bristol. I found it really useful as there were not only two tech guys from Nemetschek there but also an Architect/reseller/trainer who showed us how he models buildings in 3D from the start, and then elevations and sections are just a few clicks away. It's true that there are some great improvements eg hidden line intersection rendering, Renderworks sketch styles, push-pull tool, white card rendering, storeys etc, but I was really disappointed that still nothing has been done to give VW the same window & door plug in capabilities as Windoor. For instance it's still not possible to customise folding/sliding doors even though these are one of the most popular features of home extensions now. I was also very disappointed that nothing has been done to improve the very clumsy walkthrough tool, the C4D rendering and 3D modeling have been hugely developed so why ignore the manipulation of viewing the finished model? Also unlike FormZ you don't seem to be able to set up a batch of views to render as image files and this must be a real drawback for people visualising big projects. I'm really not sure that I want to spend a lot of money upgrading from VWARW2009 to 2012 with these and other features still needing development.

As we know Vectorworks is missing several important features so that we have to purchase third party 'add on' such as Windoor to create custom folding doors (extremely popular in the UK) and windows, the kitchen unit capabilities are limited, many people buy a rendering programme, etc etc. Have NNA addressed any of these anomalies with 2012? Don't get me wrong it's great software which I've used since Minicad but why don't they give us what we truly need for everyday architectural design and rendering without the need for support software?

have a look at Adobe Muse as well it's going to revolutionise website building for designers and free them from the restrictions of coding

I'm having trouble getting with the splays not starting right at the side of the window frame, it is adding approx 100mm each side- see pic. Anyone know how to get rid of the extra bits? Also the splays are not hatched. thanks AJ

Right I did that and it worked and saved to the 2009 templates folder, I have ditched the 2008 templates folder. Thanks!

Yes Mike that's what I did with VW2008 but when I'm in 2009 it seems to look in the VW2008 templates folder instead for some reason. I think I need to trash that folder and see what happens!