Cadplan Architecture

I posted this in the general discussions but it's probably better here as no replies there so far!- I'm using the stair tool in VWD2011, I want the 6 winders to taper down to 50mm so that they comply to English building regs, but I don't see anywhere to dial this measurement in. One screenshot shows 2D stairs which I want to create in 3D, the other shot shows the closest I have got there. The gap between the two flights needs to be around 100mm as it would be a wall. Any ideas how to sort this anyone? Thanks AJ

I'm using the stair tool in VWD2011, I want the 6 winders to taper down to 50mm so that they comply to English building regs, but I don't see anywhere to dial this measurement in. One screenshot shows 2D stairs which I want to create in 3D, the other shot shows the closest I have got there. The gap between the two flights needs to be around 100mm as it would be a wall. Any ideas how to sort this anyone? Thanks AJ

Thanks I've found it now! I can also drag/resize from the centre point by holding down Command which is just great

I want to resize objects in proportion but from a fixed central point by dragging the mouse, VW help says there is a Fixed Point Resize tool in the Basic palette which is two rectangles overlapping & with a small arrow, but I can't seem to locate it. Any ideas?

I've just started using sheet layers with viewports. Before I used to generate draft progress drawings for clients named temp 1, Temp2 and onward, I would date stamp each drawing, sometimes including the time. Now of course I only have one drawing and the Temp drafts are sheet layers. Is there a way that I can get the date stamp to pick up the correct Temp No from the sheet layers?

Hmm, I'm not sure this is quite what I meant, doesn't look accurate enough for building surveys. Have you used it & if so for what purpose?

when measuring houses I draw the plans & elevations on A4 squared paper, the add the dimensions manually from the Disto. I then go back and draw the plans in Vectorworks. Does anyone know if it's possible to make use of an iPad to link directly to a Disto to make the complete process digital?

that's odd, if I open a blank VW document and paste in a link from the Google address bar such as http://techboard.vectorworks.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=180527&gonew=1#UNREAD, then underline it and colour it blue it works fine in the PDF as you say Jonathan. I tried exactly the same in my existing drawing but although the link shows up blue & underlined in the PDF, it's not interactive. I tried copying and pasting the design layer into a new document but the link in the PDF is still static...!?

I just tried it with my title block but I don't see how to use it as it's just a date stamp and it doesn't seem like you can customise it. Maybe you use it with the sheet border tool?

why don't you just skip the 3D polygon bit and draw walls straight off?

The hyperlinks in my VW2011 drawings transfer to Acrobat fine but when the PDF is opened the links don't appear blue so it's easy for clients to miss them. does anyone know how to highlight them?? thanks

Interesting, I hadn't thought of using a DS that way. How do you use it it in a title block then? any chance of posting an image or a VW2011 file?

Disappointed that VW2013 still hasn't an improved folding door tool. Even though this was requested this time last year you still can't have an unequal number of doors. This is meant to be an architectural CAD programme so why should we have to purchase Windoor?

I want to start using Keynotes for my drawings and to have a data base which will hold the Keynote text that I use most. I went to a VW presentation last week by Jonathan Reeve and it works really well for him, so simple. I have since tried to set this up in my Vectorworks 2011 but struggling, and the VW help section doesn't really explain things too clearly. Would someone please explain in simple terms how to create a database for Keynotes?

in VW 2008 I could drag and drop text. I can't seem to do this in VW2011

the tab key does work, that's great. Text can still be a pain though at times

This will probably fall on deaf ears at NV but Vectorworks has always been a really easy and useful programme particularly for 2D layouts. There are always a few basic often used commands though which could be improved, nothing major but things which would just keep VW at the top re the 2D side. A small example would be the cabability of being able to key in data by using the arrow keys to move between data fields rather than having to do everything with mouse movements, eg sizes of basic geometric shapes like rectangles and circles. That would be a real time saver. Also when editing text it can be a bit fiddly so why not have a system like Excel where the text appears at the top of the screen for doing edits? I think small improvements were offered as free updates at one time but am I right isn saying that the only way to get this now is by VSS or the yearly upgrades (may not be wanted by all users)?

thanks for that Peter, I wasn't looking hard enough!

Just reading some of the comments in threads as a one person business I'm not sure that I can really just justify spending upwards of ?600 to upgrade to 2012. Maybe 2013 will sort out those fundamental issues such but then why should we have to pay NV to put things right.

Is there a hatch that shows a section through a cut timber, eg a joist as wavy lines?

It's not as nasty as it seems . You need to fiddle with these settings: Ok I'll have another go when I get time, as always when you are working on projects it's not always easy to go off on a tangent! Maybe the 2012 stair tool is more intuitive?? thanks

I just tried it in your drawing, I can edit the door symbol ok but look what happens when it's dropped into the wall. This is what i did so maybe you can tell me where I'm going wrong- 1) drag a door in from the toolsets pallete 2) convert to symbol 3) edit symbol to add arc The only part I'm not quite getting is the PIO. Do you mean that you drag a door in as in 1) ?

My stair types are different from yours, I'm VW2011

I get a nasty message if I select the two lower winders, I can select the top two but can't see a delete option

VW2012, but we had this tool from before VW12.5. So I guess you won't have it in VW2011. I can get close with the the stair tool but cant seem to get three winders like you. I've attached my settings. Can you tell me what I need to alter please? Thanks