VW 2025 Working Planes Videos?

[Bruce Kieffer]

It seems there are many changes to working planes in 2025. Are there any videos that show the changes?

[Tom W.]

I'm not sure I'm aware of any changes to Working Planes between VW24 + VW25... What are you seeing that's different?

[Bruce Kieffer]

1 minute ago, Tom W. said:

I'm not sure I'm aware of any changes to Working Planes between VW24 + VW25... What are you seeing that's different?

I haven't used working planes much, so maybe I'm thinking of earlier versions of Vectorworks. I want to learn how to navigate around them as they are currently. Things like these toolbar actions, and the fact that the "Plane" designation in the OIP is gone (Thank goodness we no longer have to deal with layer plane and screen plane).

[Tom W.]

Yes the way things look changed a bit with the UI revamp in VW24. The relegation of screen plane happened a few versions earlier.

 

I can't see any dedicated Working Planes videos on the University but I bet @Jonathan Pickup has one...!

 

What is it you want to know how to do?

[Bruce Kieffer]

I want to learn to activate them, look at them, rotate my view to them, and redefine them. I've watched some of Jonathan's older WP videos, but they use the old controls.

[rDesign]

Just now, Bruce Kieffer said:

I want to learn to activate them, look at them, rotate my view to them, and redefine them. I've watched some of Jonathan's older WP videos, but they use the old controls.

If the following link for this video titled ‘3D Planes’ doesn’t work, search Vw University for “planes”. It is for the Core Certification 2023, but it still applies and addresses what you said you’re looking for.

 

https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=2139

[Bruce Kieffer]

Thanks @rDesign. I can watch that video. We really need an updated video. Where is this in 2025?

[Tom W.]

It's now accessed via the View menu ('Look at Working Plane').

 

Or here:

 

I agree it was a pain to have the button removed from the View Bar + I did say so at the time. I use a keyboard shortcut to access it these days.

[Tobias Kern]

Hey,

 

I know about some fixes, because I made the reports for the bugs.

 

1.

Automatic-Workingplane (AWP) "Planar Face Mode"

Sometimes the X/Y-axis orientation was wrong.

Tested was a cube and the placement of an AWP on each side.

 

2.

Automatic-Workingplane (AWP) "Planar Face Mode"

Sometimes it can happen that the axis was a little rotated.

Testet was a cube with one tapered side. Cube was rotated (in Top/Plan) with different angles.

AWP placement on the tapered side.

 

Both behaviors are much much better now!

THX VW. Inc. very huge improvements

 

Greetings from Germany
Tobi

[Bruce Kieffer]

How do I rotate this working plane? I recall there were controls, but I cannot find them now.

Edited March 11 by Bruce Kieffer

[rDesign]

5 minutes ago, Bruce Kieffer said:

How do I rotate this working plane? I recall there were controls, but I cannot find them now.

From the Vw2025 Help file - Working Plane Grips

 

Quote

To manipulate the working plane directly:

 

1. Click the Selection tool from the Basic palette.

2. In a 3D view, select the working plane by clicking on its edge or any of its axes.

 

3. The working plane displays with grips. Any other object reshape handles are temporarily hidden, to avoid confusion.

 

Each axis has two grips for rotation about the other two axes. Red grips rotate about the X' axis, green grips rotate about the Y' axis, and blue grips rotate about the Z' axis. When the cursor is over a grip, a preview of the rotation direction displays. The blue diamond grip at the working plane origin moves the working plane origin.

 

[Bruce Kieffer]

I have done that and I don't see any "grips". You can see the working plane is selected by the cross in the middle.

[Tom W.]

6 minutes ago, Bruce Kieffer said:

I have done that and I don't see any "grips". You can see the working plane is selected by the cross in the middle.

 

Do you have you 3D axes turned off in grid settings...?

[Bruce Kieffer]

That's it!. Thanks @Tom W.

[Bruce Kieffer]

So is there a way to redefine a saved working plane?

[Tobias Kern]

Hey @Bruce Kieffer,

 

after placement of the WP, I can single-click to one of the axes to rotate.

 

Greetings

Tobi

[Bruce Kieffer]

Just now, Tobias Kern said:

Hey @Bruce Kieffer,

 

after placement of the WP, I can single-click to one of the axes to rotate.

 

Greetings

Tobi

As @Tom W. pointed out I have to have 3D axes turned ON in grid settings, and I had that turned off.

[Tom W.]

34 minutes ago, Bruce Kieffer said:

So is there a way to redefine a saved working plane?

 

Only I think by right-clicking on it in the 'Working Planes' palette + selecting Edit... but that requires you to enter XYZ + rotation values manually which isn't really the same thing. If you edit a Working Plane in the drawing then go to resave it with the same name it doesn't let you overwrite it. So no, you can't redefine a Working Plane as far as I know. It would be useful to be able to though.

[Bruce Kieffer]

46 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

 

Only I think by right-clicking on it in the 'Working Planes' palette + selecting Edit... but that requires you to enter XYZ + rotation values manually which isn't really the same thing. If you edit a Working Plane in the drawing then go to resave it with the same name it doesn't let you overwrite it. So no, you can't redefine a Working Plane as far as I know. It would be useful to be able to though.

Wish list item!