steverschnitzel

Is it possible to merge identical symbols? I have an Autocad file with many duplicate symbols-- for example, 6 toilets each with a unique name. Many are nested within other symbols. I'd like to simplify the file, using only 1 toilet symbol.

This problem has been resolved. We can get rid of it by closing other applications. It's not necessary to restart VW or the computer. The problem computer is the boss's. She likes to leave many apps open at the same time, switching between as needed.

I'm working from a model set of plans for a hotel. I'm trying to make dimensional edits to the guestroom configuration. I have imported a dwg that contains several viewports, 4 plan views and an interior elevation. The plan views are floor plan, furniture, electrical and reflected ceiling. all of the plan viewports are different views of the same guest room. Class settings differ. The trouble is that the class settings do not import properly. There are objects not visible in each viewport because classes are not turned on. This is a problem because the dwg has many X-refs. Each X-ref object brings in a whole set of AC classes with an X-ref prefix. It's too complicated to manipulate. Also some objects may be missing because they were left out during import, they were 2d or 3d I've tried importing both as 2d&3d and as 2d only. it doesn't seem to make much difference. If anyone has a tip that would simplify working with this type of file, please share it. Thanks

I have a symbol used for my title block that has multiple text blocks. The text blocks are linked to records for easy edits that retain formatting. It works great until I bring it into a file as a work group reference. Then I have to re-type all the data. Why doesn't the reference bring in the symbol as it appears in the source document? Is there some setting that affects this behavior?

When I edit a saved view to- say -turn on an additional layer, I get something unexpected. The resulting saved view contains multiple layer and class changes that I didn't make. The work around is to turn on the additional layer then save the view with a new name. It doesn't happen in all files. The file contains references. This behavior does not inspire confidence.

Seems like file size could get pretty big by adding a lot of pdfs. If you just want a quick reference consider pasting the web address into the drawing in a non plot class. I'ts not a bad idea to include the address in the printed file so that contractors can reference it. (applies to most small projects where there is no spec book as part of the project)

It used to be that the "paste" insertion point was the last point clicked before cutting or copying. Now I always get the insertion point as the middle of the object being pasted. Say i click on the corner of a rectangle>copy >click on another corner of the rectangle> paste, the center of the rectangle is pasted at the last click. This is what I used to get when I selected the object with a marque. I'd rather have the corner of the rectangle pasted at the last click. Is there a way to get back the older-more useful/elegant way of pasting? Perhaps a preference setting somewhere? The old way of doing things was especially useful when pasting large groups of objects.

I'm having trouble selecting hatched polygons where the hatch has no background fill. Is there a constraints setting combination that works well for this? This is in detail drawings where objects are crowded close together. Option dragging over the object is risky because groups get selected by accident- then sometimes deleted. I'm wasting time trying to find an object handle to select. And I'm zoomed in too close to draw a marque around the whole object.

Is there a way to select duplicates that exist in the same location? Say you zoom in then inadvertently select many objects, option click one, duplicating the all of them in place. You don't notice the mess you've made until its too late to undo or select previous. Is there a quick way to select all the duplicates?

Batt insulation and linear materials flip about the handle axis when ever I try to change the length by dragging the handle. What's the proper way to modify these objects?

When I started up this morning the problem was gone. I tried to repeat the behavior but can't get it to happen again. I set the the pen color to white - The whole dimension disappears. If line weight is set to zero the text and hash marks remain but lines disappear.

When I draw dimensions no text appears. This includes with and without the "show" box checked in the info pallet. Text appears in dimensions drawn before the problem started. I've tried restarting and repairing permissions- no change. The problem occurs in all files- even a new one. Problem also happens in Callouts. It does not happen with Drawing Labels. The only recent change in my work station- I installed Adobe Acrobat reader 9 beta just this morning and an Apple update "Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update" (2.3)"

I'm not positive but I think we've tried restarting Vectorworks with no change observed. Restarting the computer eliminated the problem. However we haven't tried that along with opening all the same applications. So I don't have a clear answer. The problem is intermittent. It's not associated with a particular file.

This only happens on one computer. Drawing label text is present in Information panel but not on the label itself. We found the problem goes away when other programs closed. This is the boss's work station. It is left on all the time. There are 2 Gigs of ram - Mac OS 10.5.X. Same thing happens with Callout tool text.

A vertical break is no problem. Just change the wall type. But if you're talking about horizontal changes that occur at windows or other items that cut walls, it's difficult (at least for me) Say you have a stucco exterior wall and a brick veneer wainscot to 36". Add windows with sills at 24". The windows need to cut 2 wall types. But they can't. I'd draw the stucco walls with the windows. Then add the 36" tall brick wainscot to the exterior. Where the wainscot needs to drop to the 24", place a shorter section of wainscot below the window sill. The breaks in the walls don't show when rendered. It's time consuming and looks best if the brick thickness is exaggerated. I've tried drawing a full height wall, inserting a window then duplicating in place the wall & changing it's height thickness and texture. This looks OK until rendered. Objects that occupy the same place don't usually render as desired You might try making a symbol of the window and the short piece of wainscot. You'll need to set the insertion point to account for the offset. I don't know of an easy way to do this.

I'm getting class duplication in files with viewports for example: none, none-2 What causes this?

The wall tool seems to be working great for this. I've made wall types needed for stiles and muntins. I assembled the cab door, added a pull that is a symbol and dashed lines for swing then grouped them. As long as the walls have been joined properly the joints stay closed when the group is reshaped by dragging a handle. The pull does not reshape because it is treated as point not a shape.

The 2d reshape tool is what I use. It's great compared to editing one object at a time. But I'm looking for an even better way.

Is it possible to create a complicated 2d object that can be resized while keeping some dimensions within the object unchanged? For example a panel cabinet door. I want the rails & stiles to remain constant, but the panel sizes to change. I want a rectangular object that I can stretch into a new size just by dragging a corner. I started looking into the parametric constraints, but found that the program would crash during a resize trial. The cabinet plugin doesn't provide enough options.

I've been looking for circular references but can't find them. There are some goofie looking things I'm wondering about though. When I pull down Window>filename>References, I see 2 referenced files and all of the worksheets that reside in one of the referenced files. The worksheets do not appear in the target file- they are not on the viewport layers referenced. Perhaps one of the NNA engineers will be interested in this. Thanks

Thanks CW That got my file back. Is it simply a matter of choosing a source file and a target file, then making all references unidirectional?

I have a file that refused to open today. First I get the spinning beach ball, then the clock, then VW quits without notice. The file worked fine for months. It's a site plan with a survey that was imported. The survey was imported to a blank file that became the site plan. There are external references to a floor plan file. We leave the working files on our server. But I've tried copying the file from the server to my workstation then opening it there-no change. I've tried opening it from another work station -no change. I've tried repairing permissions -no change. The file size is 3.9 mgs Looks like toast to me. Is there anything more to try? The only significant change since it last opened is that I installed the latest Mac security fix. It's not likely this is the issue because I've tried to open it on another computer that has not had the security fix installed. VW 2008 SP3 Fundamentals, Architect , Mac OS 10.5.5 1.83 Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Objects created with "Duplicate Along Path" command with the "Tangent" Box selected do not duplicate tangent to path when the plan has been rotated. I noticed this while working in a site plan based on a survey. I had the plan rotated a few degrees to simplify drawing. While drawing some square paver stepping stones parallel to a curved road they would not rotate to follow the curve of the road. The command works just fine if the plan is not rotated.

A quick flick of the mouse off the active window restores opacity to preferred setting. Hmm maybe this will help with wrist fatigue.

MAKE TEXT STYLE EDITABLE WITH MENU COMmands. So I don't have to retype to change from upper case to lower case etc.