Chad Hamilton HAArchs Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 I've been struggling with finding a way to use keynotes effectively in Vectorworks - and for us, one of the most essential aspects is the ability to revise keynotes as a project proceeds through the design process. Our office uses keynotes with a numbered prefix keyed to the CSI division format, and all keynotes have the same number throughout a project. We only place keynotes in a sheet legend if the keynote actually appears on a sheet, and keynotes may frequently appear on many different drawings - plans, elevations, sections. Attached is a sample file showing an alternate system for placing and reporting keynotes, based on a keynote record format attached to a custom symbol. The system uses worksheets on each sheet layer to report the keynotes on that sheet, and a separate 'master' worksheet to handle global editing of keynotes. Global editing is limited - text or reference fields may be edited, but editing the actual keynote number will break the link - the keynote number is providing the key link to the worksheet. I'd love to get feedback or suggestions that would improve this system. 170527 VW 2017 test.vwx 2 Quote Link to comment
Tom Klaber Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 What I like about the built-in tool is the auto renumbering. It does seem super glitchy though. Sometimes duplicate notes get assigned new numbers. Sometimes notes seem to lose their connection to their legend. Even with all of that - it is usually worth the struggle. First glance - your system is not a bad hack. note maintenance is al little bit more laborious with your system, but I would guess it is more stable - and single notes can be on multiple legends which is a big issue with the current system. I am hoping there is a notation database upgrade in the works. Quote Link to comment
Chad Hamilton HAArchs Posted May 30, 2017 Author Share Posted May 30, 2017 My biggest issue with the VW keynote system is not being able to easily edit keynotes after they are written. Almost always, we keep the same keynote number throughout a set, so 3.01, for example, is a particular note about concrete for the entire project. Thanks for your comments. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom Klaber Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 I see - you have multiple legends - same note. Then your system works better. It's like creating a record format database. I like it. I thought that is what the note database was supposed to do. I remember I spent 2 hours once changing all the old text and line notes over to the callout tool - expecting to then be able to use the database to control similar spec notes across multiple details. I was PISSED when I found out that the note - once placed is not connected to the database. 1 Quote Link to comment
Chad Hamilton HAArchs Posted June 1, 2017 Author Share Posted June 1, 2017 It's essentially a pseudo relational database, using the key note number as the relational key. One weakness - changing the number of a keynote breaks the key pair relationship - then you have to either track down that keynote and change the key manually, or remember to re-edit the summarized data in the keynote edit worksheet. We are still testing this system to use on larger projects. Quote Link to comment
mgries Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I like this approach! It's a good work around considering the enormous failures of the current note system. I wrote about it here: @Chad Hamilton HAarchs, the Keynote Editor worksheet is not working bi-directionally for me though. I can't edit from the worksheet. I'm getting grey text instead (see screenshot). Any ideas what's going wrong for me? Thanks, matt 1 Quote Link to comment
Chad Hamilton HAArchs Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Here is an actual file that has the worksheet, plus the symbol elements - this later version works bi-directionally. A couple of caveats - when placing the worksheet on a drawing to act as keynotes, edit the database criteria to return keynote records from that drawing only (edit the criteria for the sheet or viewport name). When editing keynotes - we set up a design layer in our files called "Notes Management", with a version of the keynotes worksheet set to report all values for keynote symbols. Values in all keynote fields must be exactly the same - this is relatively easy to monitor and correct in the Notes Management layer. To change the text of a particular keynote globally - edit the keynote in Notes Management. 17070_RES_Model_171029_Stand_Alone.vwx 2 Quote Link to comment
mgries Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 great! i'll check it out...thanks! Quote Link to comment
mgries Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Good stuff Chad! I think I'd make one advancement to this: a second field for multiline spec info. to be entered. This would allow the global worksheet, if desired, to turn into a more full fledged keynote spec. sheet. Great work! thanks for sharing! Matt Quote Link to comment
mgries Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 18 hours ago, Chad Hamilton HAarchs said: When editing keynotes - we set up a design layer in our files called "Notes Management", with a version of the keynotes worksheet set to report all values for keynote symbols. Not sure why you need this dedicated layer. It looks like the "keynotes editor" worksheet will work the same from anywhere. Quote Link to comment
Chad Hamilton HAArchs Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Note that the worksheets that appear on each sheet layer are set to report only keynote records on that sheet. If you edit a keynote from the worksheet on the sheet layer, you won't be editing all the keynotes if any show up on a different sheet layer. We find having a keynotes worksheet on a separate layer, set to report all keynote records throughout the file, is a good way to implement this. You could do it other ways - you could put the keynotes editor worksheet on every sheet layer, or you could just open it from the resource brower. Quote Link to comment
lgoodkind Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) I recently had to delve into an architectural drawing package and coming from the Landscape Architectural side of things I'm shocked to learn that the notes system completely fails here. Every architect we've ever worked with has included such a CSI format notes system on each sheet. The workaround above, though crafty and doable, is still a hack for something that is at the root of our daily work. That Vectorworks still has not solved this glaring failure is pretty depressing. Edited May 27, 2019 by lgoodkind Quote Link to comment
Scott Schwartz, AIA Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 On 5/29/2017 at 9:57 PM, Chad Hamilton HAArchs said: I've been struggling with finding a way to use keynotes effectively in Vectorworks - and for us, one of the most essential aspects is the ability to revise keynotes as a project proceeds through the design process. Our office uses keynotes with a numbered prefix keyed to the CSI division format, and all keynotes have the same number throughout a project. We only place keynotes in a sheet legend if the keynote actually appears on a sheet, and keynotes may frequently appear on many different drawings - plans, elevations, sections. Attached is a sample file showing an alternate system for placing and reporting keynotes, based on a keynote record format attached to a custom symbol. The system uses worksheets on each sheet layer to report the keynotes on that sheet, and a separate 'master' worksheet to handle global editing of keynotes. Global editing is limited - text or reference fields may be edited, but editing the actual keynote number will break the link - the keynote number is providing the key link to the worksheet. I'd love to get feedback or suggestions that would improve this system. 170527 VW 2017 test.vwx We use the CSI MasterFormat and have a similar concerns. I'm considering switching full time from Revit where we upload one .txt file and it would populate the keynotes for placement by Element in a plan view or a detail. I can't figure out how to easily add the 2,000+ CSI line items we use when calling out materials. No way are we manually entering all the CSI keynotes. This is what my prompt is in Revit after selecting and items and placing the leader. Does anyone have an idea about how to upload a full CSI list of notes? The Excel view is my source list of items that we export as .txt for Revit. Thanks. Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 Take a look at this thread about how to import a text or excel file into a format that can be used for Keynotes/Callouts. The hard work was done by @The Hamma. 1 Quote Link to comment
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