Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted January 31, 2019 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted January 31, 2019 How many documents do you keep open on a regular basis in Vectorworks? Do you keep this lower than you would like because of limitations in Vectorworks? What kind of work are you doing when you have multiple files open at a time? Quote Link to comment
cberg Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I frequently have about three to five documents open consisting of the following: One main file. One or two files of stuff that I am referencing. Sometimes another file for another project I am working on (when I get a phone call). One or two files where I am working on tasks discretely from my main file. I do studies, or copy things out of the main file more easily work on them. I frequently come up against the maximum file open dialogue box, and then I realize I have to close things up. Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I keep individual "units" in separate drawing files and then reference these into a master drawing file. So at any time I will have 1 to 3 pipe and instrument drawings (separate files) along with the master layout, and multiple (at least 3, on the last project I would have liked to have had 6) unit layout files open. that way I can easily switch files, make the edit and then update the reference to fix the master layout. When reading the forum and trying to help other users I often open a new file (or 3) and tend to look back through my historical files to see what might be applicable. Often I hit the file limit. Neither are likely typical use cases for anyone other than me. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Because I keep everything for a project in a single file whenever possible, I often only have one file open. I open and close other files when I need to access other projects or resources but I tend to close them again when I'm done, knowing that it can affect VW performance depending upon the file sizes. My project files can be quite large because of the one project / one file workflow. Kevin Quote Link to comment
Boh Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I also tend to have just one file open at a time. This is mainly because I am usually working on one main project at a time. Unfortunately also with VW crashing at random times it means less hassle retrieving drawings. Quote Link to comment
David S Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I avoid more than 3. most files are no more than 60000kb The issue with the multiple tabs open is still occuring? Quote Link to comment
StefanoT Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) At our office (VW Architect) we do often work either with 2-3 files (e.g. building model + schemes/diagrams + utilities such us references etc.) or with 3-5 files when working with referenced files on final design stages (e.g. landscape general model + building models + details). Something I would really appreciate/need would be the possibility to work/browse (zoom/pan/etc) with 2 different drawings/files while a command/window is open/active on one of them. For example: File 1: 3d building model > editing wall styles/components File 2: 2d details drawing > checking/verifying some information (thickness, materials etc) needed for wall components It may sound silly but right now we do often use screenshots to copy data or old style writing notes (and copying data) on paper. Edited February 2, 2019 by STR 1 Quote Link to comment
WhoCanDo Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 It's not so much how many I open when working, but how many I need to open to print the fabrications drawings (could be 50). It's not reasonable to print as I go since they get lost in the communal printing pile. I like to print them in alpha-numeric order in one pile so the job doesn't separated and get lost. If VW doesn't allow more than 8, maybe a printing macro is what is needed. Quote Link to comment
TomKen Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 I usually have the main project file open, then open other project files to grab details as needed. One issue i have found with having multiple files open at the same time is that sometimes the navigation browser gets stuck on one of the files and won't switch to the other files. 1 Quote Link to comment
thinkingpencil Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 @STR I'd like that work/browse facility too. My file 2 would be the one containing core Keynote Legends. These I may revise whilst referring to an Edit wall style window. Screen shooting doesn't seem right!! But it's 21 now so maybe this faciity is here now? .....and I may have a third referenced file open. Quote Link to comment
unearthed Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Max of three like when I'm updating my template file. I never use referencing. I'm always wary of pushing vw's boundaries as it crashes randomly, especially with copy operations IME. Tend not to browse other files much as content often made in other ways and brought in. Quote Link to comment
WhoCanDo Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I'm printing 140 files today. 8 at a time 😔 Not unusual to print many. We use VW to create a construction GA ( think of a house ). For fabrication, we draw separate drawings for each item ( 10000 x bricks on one drawing, 1 x front door on another, 2 x windows on another, etc. ) If it can't be infinite, at least make it 10. I hate counting in eights. Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 But computers think in 8s. (2^3=8). 😉 What about referencing in your models and design layers to a single file and then creating each of your sheets as a Sheet Layer in that file. Then you only have to print from a single file? Quote Link to comment
scottmoore Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 It depends on how many projects I am working on simultaneously! I voted 3-5. Also, I try to get in the habit of creating new symbols in a blank file, then saving that to my symbol file and then importing into a project file. The blank file helps avoid mistakes and placing the new symbol into the symbol file seems to be a good workflow to avoid frustration later on. Sometimes I have to open a reference file to make an update but not often. Quote Link to comment
WhoCanDo Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 Just printed another 35. Hi Pat. It's been suggested that I use Viewports, however, it's too slow from what I can achieve. Just imagine a small jigsaw and taking each piece to dimension. Include a Bill of Materials and a quantity and a title specific to that piece. I'm open to suggestions in another thread but I'm not seeing the speed advantages since I can copy and paste a piece into another file and run a macro that adds dimensions and all of the above from just one click, or use a worksheet that achieves similar results without listing all the other pieces in the GA file. My continued vote is still 10 or more 😉 Quote Link to comment
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