dovermyer

The objects are just vanilla AutoCAD objects. The sales rep talked my boss into paying for the Architectural stuff...which I avoid like the plague. I don't draw 6-panel doors or stud walls. I design modular, multi-level exhibit structures using regular solids...hoping for a seat of Inventor soon

Thanks for the suggestions. I've already tried exporting as .SAT, to no avail. I'll look into converting to generic solids. That sounds like a possible solution. Thanks!

Hi folks, I created a curved staircase in AutoCAD with regular solids. The stringers & handrails are sweeps along helices. When I try to open the file (as either dxf or dwg) in VW, it loads the treads & other simple solids, but it seems to completely ignore the objects swept along a helix. I'm using AutoCAD Architecture 2009 SP1 & VectorWorks Fundamentals 2008 SP3. I even tried to explode the helical objects into surfaces, but that didn't work either. I just need to import it so my colleague can include the staircase in his VW pretty-picture. Thanks in advance! **Reposted into appropriate forum...after I noticed there was an appropriate forum**

I'm going to assume that general silence here indicates that I'm trying something weird

Thanks for your suggestion. However, it achieved the same results as the DXF. I always save to v2004. I even tried exporting to a R12 DXF. Nothing works...which leads me to believe that VW doesn't understand an ACAD helical sweep. Anyone else have suggestions, ideas, or thoughts on the matter?

Anyone have any advice?...

Hi folks, I created a curved staircase in AutoCAD with regular solids. The stringers & handrails are sweeps along helices. When I try to open the file (as either dxf or dwg) in VW, it loads the treads & other simple solids, but it seems to completely ignore the objects swept along a helix. I'm using AutoCAD Architecture 2009 SP1 & VectorWorks Fundamentals 2008 SP3. I even tried to explode the helical objects into surfaces, but that didn't work either. I just need to import it so my colleague can include the staircase in his VW pretty-picture. Thanks in advance!

Yeah...I suppose that could be it too...but my limited knowledge doesn't lend me to understand how a crappy grahics card can cause insufficient system RAM when it's not shared memory. This system was purchased at the same time I was hired...I really wish they'd saved $40 & went with an 8800GT. The other problem I've noticed with this PC is that the RAM is DDR800...but CAS6.0 uber-generic. I'm going to be submitting a 'wish list' soon.

I had the same issues with a 3Ghz Core2 Duo with 4GB RAM, 256MB Quadro NVS 290 video card, XP Pro, and VW 2008 SP3. The only thing I can assume is that VW is a horrible program which shouldn't have any rendering software bundled with it... I'm using AutoCAD 2009 now...waiting to see if there's a solution out of sheer curiosity.

Or...you guys could just use ANY OTHER CAD SYSTEM which allows accurate operations without having to resort to an elementary-style grid system.

One tried & true solution...export to DWG/DXF & open in a real CAD program...

I'd be interested to know this as well. Maybe VW can't & it's just not talked about...it would explain why there's been 24 views & I'm the 1st reply.

*scratches head* Sounds like AutoCAD 13 a little bit...maybe VW is going thru the same growing pains? Condolences on the lost work. I think we all know how terrible it is to have to redo design work because of power/hardware/software failures.

Mark: If you create the PDFs with CutePDF Writer, then there shouldn't be any issues. Just completely bypass the internal VW options & print to CutePDF as if it were a printer. But, again, this doesn't appear to help the white toasters.

I hadn't tried that approach visard. Thanks. I assumed that it wouldn't work, since neither open nor closed polylines are 3D in VW and not all objects can become polygons. Guess I shouldn't assume all terms are used properly...