instancing

[pdrake]

hello, can anyone tell me if the new version has instancing or if there is a plug in? i need to create so many tables with chairs and place settings that in crushes my memory.

something like this:

http://www.happy-digital.com/instance.asp

thanks

Edited November 10, 2010 by pdrake

[Benson Shaw]

In Vectorworks select the object, then Modify>Create Symbol. Symbols can be nested within symbols. eg the place settings could be a symbol within the Table symbol. Editing one (dbl click to enter edit mode) instance causes global edit. Any instance can be located, rotated, etc without affecting other instances. Careful about naming the symbols to avoid name conflict with classes, layers and other resources. Read up on Symbols in VW Help.

-B

[pdrake]

doesn't a symbol require RAM each time it's placed and increase render times accordingly?

[Benson Shaw]

Try it and see!

I just made a multiple extrude and duplicated array 100 rows and 100 columns. VW asked if I REALLY wanted to duplicate it 10000 times. Said yes.

I made a new file and pasted in one of the extrudes from the first file. Modify>Symbol, duplicate array 100 x 100 instances of the symbol. Same dialog question. Said yes.

Object file is 133.4 MB.

Symbol file is 2.6 MB

Object file crashes vw after about 90 sec trying to render Open GL.

Symbol file renders Open GL in 4 seconds.

Post back if symbols are not what you need. Something will work.

Good luck with all those tables and place settings!

-B

[pdrake]

thanks!