Help setting up repetitive residential units

[Archistyles]

Hi 

I would like to some assitance from my fellow VW experts

I am in process of laying out a series of townhouses, 4-storey high, with some repetitive units ( 3 or 5 types) and I am wondering what is the best way to organise the file.

I was thinking to create each townhouse type as symbol and place them as required however I think I am not able to.

I  thought I would create a symbol containing story 1 to storey 4 objects (exterior walls , interior walls, ..etc) but get a message " illegal object selected" . so symbols can't be created from objects on different series/layes ? is that the case?

I appreciate any help to get me on the right set up.

Please see the attached work in progress.

Thanks  

[Pat Stanford]

Correct, all objects in a symbol must be on the same layer.

 

Others know much better than I do, but I would probably put the unit types in separate files and then use Design Layer Viewports to bring them all into a master file.

[taliho]

Hi

 

I don't have too much experience with this - but in theory the Design Layer Viewports might work

Draw your units, create a separate DLV of each unit type, place it in a new Design Layer  eg Floor 1. Duplicate, rotate, the DLVs as needed. 

You can control layer and class visibility in a DLV, same as on a Sheet layer Viewport

From this Floor 1 design layer create your Sheet Layers and continue as usual.

 

If you make a change in the unit design layer - eg plumbing arrangement - it will then show up in all the copies of the DLV.

 

Seems this is what you were hoping to achieve with symbols...

 

Again - there may be someone with better experience here....

 

Best of luck

Tali

[Archistyles]

Pat , Tali , thanks a lot for your input.

So if I understand correctly:

Let's say I have 5 townhouse units types (4-storey units) :

1-Create 5 files ? with layers and stories file structure. 

2-Create 4 DLV's for each unit ( storey 1 to 4)

3-In the master file , place at each story , 5 DLV's +Duplicate , rotate  as required.

 

What if I stick to one file system and create symbols of each unit type instead.

1-Create 4 symbols for each unit  ( storey 1 to 4)

2-Place symbols + rotate  as required.

 

I am wondering what are the pros/cons of DLV's vs Symbols ?

Thanks for your help

[Pat Stanford]

Take a look at these threads:

 

 

[taliho]

I tried it one file with a very basic plan. The workflow should be similar ? However - I was unable to get elevations and sections, so there may be something flawed after all ... I will be following to see if others chime in.

 

I think DLVS give you better control directly from the OIP, as opposed to editing symbols. Which layers to show, which classes, lighting options etc

 

I drew 2 units. (I tried with the units all on the same layer, for now)

floor on one layer, roof on another layer. I cropped each one separately, and placed the viewport on Layer Site

 

 

On Layer Site I arranged and duplicated, mirrored the viewports, 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a viewport of that to a sheet layer and continue as usual... I think this viewport has to have all layers and classes visible, so that you can control it later on the Sheet Layer Viewports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

try DLV.vwx