I know interface changes are touchy subjects, as people get used to doing using Vectorworks in a different way, but these modifications I think will be a great productivity improvement (further from a thread in General Discussions):
- Object snapping
Currently when moving an object from one location to a node on top of another object, sometimes the object is 'offset' without your knowledge, and you have to undo and redo it again (I think it actually snaps to a distance away from the point you actually snapped to). It is also very difficult to detect which point you are snapping to. An identifiable symbol appearing on top of an object node you are snapping to (we can keep the smart cursor cues, such as 'point', but just circle the actual point you are snapping to) just to be absolutely sure, is very necessary.
- Selecting
Geometry under other geometry is impossible to select - a modifier key should enable alternative object selections in the vicinity of the select point.
Also a deselect menu item would be helpful.
- Move and Selecting
Priority should be given to selected objects when moving them, otherwise adjacent objects will always be selected instead if they are higher in the object stack. It is more likely that the user will be performing an operation on the selected object than move an adjacent / object in the same position. If not, it is easy enough to deselect and reselect the adjacent object.
- Move
Is it possible to be able allocate a modifier key (say, command click) which allows a resize of the selected object (currently only a normal key is allowed).
- Tabbing
Tabbing when an object is selected should immediately select the first text field in the Object Info palette, not the location text field at the top of the main window. This will *really* speed things up.
- Object Info Palette
The palette should allow you to modify objects collectively - ie. when you have many objects selected, it should display the fields which are common to all the objects, and allow you to change them (if the values for the fields are different, leave the text box blank, if the same, show the value).
- Modify
The 2D resize modifier should act on rectangles and portions of groups. Rectangles should be automatically coverted to polygons if they are reshaped. (An error occurs if you reshape a rectangle).
- Modal interface
The modal bar (alternate ways of implimenting a tool) is great, but when you close Vectorworks and open it again, they default back to the orignal settings. When vectorworks is closed, it should save these settings. This is particularly pertinent for the Mirror, Callout, and Resize tools.
I am sure there are many more interface enhancements possible, but this is a good start. Any thoughts?
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patrickhubble
I know interface changes are touchy subjects, as people get used to doing using Vectorworks in a different way, but these modifications I think will be a great productivity improvement (further from a thread in General Discussions):
- Object snapping
Currently when moving an object from one location to a node on top of another object, sometimes the object is 'offset' without your knowledge, and you have to undo and redo it again (I think it actually snaps to a distance away from the point you actually snapped to). It is also very difficult to detect which point you are snapping to. An identifiable symbol appearing on top of an object node you are snapping to (we can keep the smart cursor cues, such as 'point', but just circle the actual point you are snapping to) just to be absolutely sure, is very necessary.
- Selecting
Geometry under other geometry is impossible to select - a modifier key should enable alternative object selections in the vicinity of the select point.
Also a deselect menu item would be helpful.
- Move and Selecting
Priority should be given to selected objects when moving them, otherwise adjacent objects will always be selected instead if they are higher in the object stack. It is more likely that the user will be performing an operation on the selected object than move an adjacent / object in the same position. If not, it is easy enough to deselect and reselect the adjacent object.
- Move
Is it possible to be able allocate a modifier key (say, command click) which allows a resize of the selected object (currently only a normal key is allowed).
- Tabbing
Tabbing when an object is selected should immediately select the first text field in the Object Info palette, not the location text field at the top of the main window. This will *really* speed things up.
- Object Info Palette
The palette should allow you to modify objects collectively - ie. when you have many objects selected, it should display the fields which are common to all the objects, and allow you to change them (if the values for the fields are different, leave the text box blank, if the same, show the value).
- Modify
The 2D resize modifier should act on rectangles and portions of groups. Rectangles should be automatically coverted to polygons if they are reshaped. (An error occurs if you reshape a rectangle).
- Modal interface
The modal bar (alternate ways of implimenting a tool) is great, but when you close Vectorworks and open it again, they default back to the orignal settings. When vectorworks is closed, it should save these settings. This is particularly pertinent for the Mirror, Callout, and Resize tools.
I am sure there are many more interface enhancements possible, but this is a good start. Any thoughts?
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