2011 to 2012 Workspace

[Bruce Kieffer]

Can I use my 2011 workspace with 2012? How do I do this? It doesn't seem to work.

[Jonathan Pickup]

if you try this, won't you lose the new features of 2012?

[Bruce Kieffer]

I don't know. Is there a way to upgrade the workspace?

[Ozzie]

Better to build a new one in VW 2012 I think

[Bruce Kieffer]

Ozzie,

I know that making a new workspace has always been the suggestion. I was just wondering if VW 2012 might finally have a safe way to use, convert, or import an older workspace. It does take sometime to customize workspaces.

[Bruce Kieffer]

I spoke with Jim in support and this can be done. Here's what you do: Open VW 2011, go to the workspace editor and save a copy of your current workspace using a distinct name. Go to your user's folder/library/application support/vectorworks/2011/workspaces. Drag the just saved workspace to the /library/application support/vectorworks/2012/workspaces folder. Open VW 2012, go to workspaces and select the just saved workspace. Now if you want to know what you may be missing that's new in the default 2012 workspace, then open the workspace editor and look under menus and tools for Recent Changes. You can add what you are missing from your 2011 workspace.

[Bruce Kieffer]

I've now done this and I see what Jonathan is alluding to. I think it's probably more work to try and figure out what's missing from the new workspace, then to just modify the default workspace.

[Bruce Kieffer]

And in fact I'm going to now modify the default workspace since I'm certain that will be easier!

[Ozzie]

That is what I did Bruce and tidied my old one up a tad - right clicks etc also

[Bruce Kieffer]

I just finished. Modifying the default workspace is much easier. Probably safer too.

[Neil Barman]

Modifying the default workspace is definitely safer, and not really that difficult. It may seem a bit daunting to have to go back and remember all the shortcuts & settings you had adjusted, but there is a fairly easy way to do it. This is what I recommend (at least on a Mac, where you can scroll a non-active-but-still-visible window)...

1) In the version of VW you're coming from, where you have everything set as you like, go to Tools > Workspaces > Workspaces Editor.

2) In the next window, choose "Edit the current workspace" and then OK.

3) In the lower right corner of the next window, click on . Save that file to an easy to locate spot. (Then Cancel out of the Workspace Editor.)

4) Leave the old VW you will be departing and open up the new VW you are about to set up.

5) Go to Tools > Workspaces > Workspaces Editor. This time choose "Edit a copy of the current workspace" and below that name the new workspace something that identifies it as yours.

6) With the Workspace Editor window open, also open up that text file you saved in Step 3. Move the open windows on your screen around so that you can see the text file open and then go back to the new VW's Workspace Editor.

7) Gradually scroll down the non-active text file window (but don't click on it) and compare its list to the items in the Workspace Editor. Change the default shortcuts to the ones you're used to using.

8) When you're done, save the newly edit workspace by pressing OK.

Now you'll have a workspace that is definitely compatible with your new version of VW but still incorporates all your familiar shortcuts. You may even find, as I have, that while editing the new workspace you notice a tool or command that you hadn't seen before and you can add another weapon to your arsenal.

-Neil