Window and Door Tool maturity

[Christiaan 850]

This thread is intended to bring together the features needed to bring the window and door tools to what I (and some UK architects I worked with on these) consider maturity. These tools have been neglected for too long. These aren't interface improvements, nice-to-haves or radical ideas, but rather basic features (from a user's point of view) needed to model windows for the vast majority of our projects (mostly medium-sized residential buildings in UK/Europe).

 

The last set of items are the interface improvements, nice-to-haves or radical changes that we'd love to have but I've posted here by way of contrast to the basic features we need for window/door tool maturity.

 

Window Tool:

 

Additional window sash types required (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49476-additional-window-sash-types-required/

 

Additional window panel types required (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49477-additional-window-panel-types-required/

 

Window sill improvements (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49479-window-sill-improvements/

 

Control attributes of individual window panes/panels (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49478-control-attributes-of-individual-window-panespanels/

 

Brick header and decorative window lintels (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49481-brick-header-and-decorative-window-lintels/

 

Support for 3D 'Wall Detail' component returns at windows (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/50263-support-for-3d-wall-detail-component-returns-at-windows/

 

 

Door Tool:

 

Ability to define gaps for Door Tool (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49508-ability-to-define-gaps-for-door-tool/

 

Frame stops for Door Tool (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49502-frame-stops-for-door-tool/

 

Custom ID tags for windows and doors

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/51066-custom-id-tags-for-windows-and-doors/

 

Bi-folding sliding doors for Door Tool (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49506-bi-folding-sliding-doors-for-door-tool/

 

Meeting Stiles for Door Tool (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49503-meeting-stiles-for-door-tool/

 

More refined control over complex door opening arrangements (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49504-more-refined-control-over-complex-door-opening-arrangements/

 

 

Window/Door tool interface improvements:

 

Ability to configure doors within the Window Tool (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49369-ability-to-configure-doors-within-the-window-tool/

 

Traditional window schedules (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49480-traditional-window-schedules/

 

2D front view vector-based door schedules (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49364-2d-front-view-vector-based-door-schedules/

 

Ability to define Wall Hole Component of Window/Door Objects (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/50187-ability-to-define-wall-hole-component-of-windowdoor-objects/

 

Ability to manipulate windows/doors directly in model (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49482-ability-to-manipulate-windowsdoors-directly-in-model/

 

Ability to define our own sash types and markers (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/50577-ability-to-define-our-own-sash-types-and-markers/

 

Need better way to hide Window ID Tags irrelevant to current elevation

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/53910-need-better-way-to-hide-window-id-tags-irrelevant-to-current-elevation/

 

Undo function for Custom Sash Options (not implemented as of v2021)

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/51103-undo-function-for-custom-sash-options/

Edited October 6, 2020 by Christiaan
Reviewed against official release of 2021

[Christiaan 850]

Thanks for liking. Please vote up too @Sander van Lanen (top left)

 

Edited July 1, 2019 by Christiaan

[Bas Vellekoop 171]

I shared this before but the Belgian / Dutch version has a nice combined door and window tool with allot possibilities. 

Maybe VW can find some inspiration in this tool 🙂

 

Ability to combine doors and windows and change the type of door an window for each section individually:

 

 

Ability create all kind of (overhead)doors:

 

 

All kind of sliding doors and the ability to change how the different sections slide.

 

 

The most common wall details correctly drawn in 2d and 3d.

This is possible for the horizontal en vertical sections:

 

 

 

 

[Bas Vellekoop 171]

@elepp and @drelARCH

 

If you not already did please vote this wish up like Christiaan said. Thanks!

 

On ‎7‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 9:36 PM, Christiaan said:

 

 

[elepp 77]

Just now, Bas Vellekoop said:

@elepp and @drelARCH

 

If you not already did please vote this wish up like Christiaan said. Thanks!

 

 

I did. And I wish I could upvote it multiple times. So fed up with the current tool. 😭

[drelARCH 50]

Same here.

Thanks Christiaan and Bas for your effort.

We NEED this tools to get improved dramatically in order to cover all the different scenarios. It is very very basic now. 

For the beginning I would be really happy if international version gets belgian/dutch window/door abilities.

 

Pavol

[Christiaan 850]

3 hours ago, Bas Vellekoop said:

I shared this before but the Belgian / Dutch version has a nice combined door and window tool with allot possibilities. 

 

Wow, jealous!

[zoomer 1,018]

4 hours ago, Bas Vellekoop said:

the Belgian / Dutch version has a nice combined door and window tool with allot possibilities. 

 

Yes,

embarrassing superior.

[Bas Vellekoop 171]

A disclaimer that I do not work with the localized version, so no personal experience with it.

I use the international version, but the grass seems pretty green in Belgian and Holland.

Edited July 3, 2019 by Bas Vellekoop

[zoomer 1,018]

Yes, I always thought many german Tools would be much better

than my US version. But the benelux tools and community really

impressed me since a saw their videos two years ago for the first time.

[JMR 219]

The fact that local suppliers develop much better door/window tools and we, the users of the international version, are left without ANY improvement, is mighty annoying.

 

NNA, time to update the window, door and stair tools. NOW. This is an order. 😃

 

 

 

[P Retondo 106]

Let me add, multi-track sliding doors with lapping stiles.  This standard door type has been available for more than 30 years.  As far as I know, not possible with VW2017 (I have later versions, but never use them because there is no incentive to do so).

[The Anorak 9]

Window and Door insertion class default

Can I add/ask whether this is possible:

Ability to change insertion options to assign every new window/door to a particular class. 

In the same way that a symbol or wall can have a default class assignment this needs to be created for windows and doors.

Strangely my colleague seems to have a glitch whereby all her windows automatically assign to the "sanitaryware" class - though this has never been set and I can't seem to find a way to change this setting, and her doors similarly automatically go onto another class.

 

[WANA 6]

I've just upgraded to 2020 and once again been left disappointed by a total lack of upgrade to the window/door tool (barring a nifty barn door tool - who on earth prioritises that over actual functional openings?!) but I digress. 

 

Perhaps naive this question, why does the Dutch version have a tool which looks like it would literally nip the constant requests for bifold/sliding door configurations but it isn't rolled out for all? If the coding/technology is there, surely it is an easy win for VW? 

 

Watching those Youtube clips made me sad! 

[lupin 21]

Woah, the Dutch versions looks amazing!

 

The Australian version has WinDoor by OzCAD (maybe that's standard?), which has lots of options but is becoming quite arduous to use.

As it has developed, it's become maze-like and overloaded with lists inside lists inside lists.

It can take a while to navigate a pathway through these to make a WinDoor object do what you want it to do.

I find WinDoor a bit temperamental, too:

- You can't seem to select all your windows and edit their settings (eg: classes) all together, but have to do it window at a time, or else go via the rather cumbersome "copy and apply" dialogue box.

- They're not very stable (for me), but give themselves new classes rather a lot, and other new settings such as id symbols sometimes, which makes for tedious reassigning of these.

- If I edit or delete an unwanted WD class, the redundant class seems to keep reappearing and popping up in random WinDoor objects.

 

Some features I really appreciate are:

- Level of of class control

- good 2D and 3D representation

- editing some schedule info from inside Schedule Worksheet

 

This aside, some of my WinDoor design wishlist items are:

- EDIT WINDOOR ID FROM ANNOTATION (numbers, position) from inside a viewport annotation (like section markers) so I can see how they sit in relation to my notes and dimensions.

- EDIT WINDOOR ID NUMBER AND CLASSES FROM OBJECT INFO, instead of going into Settings.

- COMBINE FORM AND SETTINGS dialogue boxes (the distinction is not obvious, and it slows the flow to have to click in and out of each one)

- ALLOW ASYMETRICAL HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL FORM so it's more like a window joiner's schedule - eg: a door and sidelight with one highlight window over the lot (ie X windows above Y windows) instead of having to have two over two or 3 over 3 etc (X windows over X windows).

The only way workaround I have found, whilst exploring the WinDoor maze is have separate windows for these, which can make my schedules a bit confusing, plus necessitate mucking around with sill settings for the uppermost window.  But maybe I've missed something?

- EDIT ALL SCHEDULE INFO FROM INSIDE WINDOW SCHEDULE WORKSHEET, not just User 1, User 2 etc settings.  And then have it magically update all your windows!

- VECTOR REPRESENTATION IN WINDOW SCHEDULE WORKSHEET, ideally dimesionable, instead of having an "image" - the resolution of the images is pretty bad.  I'm not sure how this is possible, but it would be cool.

 

 

[lupin 21]

Add to that:

 

- MASS SELECT AND EDIT WINDOOR SETTINGS (especially classes) - rather than one at a time.

[Christiaan 850]

@lupin any suggestions for the third party WinDoor plugin would be better off sent directly to OzCAD.

[lupin 21]

Good point

[Tobias Kern 50]

Hi,

 

could it be possible to convert or run the Benelux Window Tool with another VW Version?

The Tool must be like a plugin in VW or?

I work with the German version and would like to try the tool.

 

Greetings

Tobi

[Tom Klaber 735]

Adding:  Pivot + Offset Pivot operations.

Edited September 11, 2020 by Tom Klaber

[line-weight 727]

1 hour ago, Tobias Kern said:

Hi,

 

could it be possible to convert or run the Benelux Window Tool with another VW Version?

The Tool must be like a plugin in VW or?

I work with the German version and would like to try the tool.

 

Greetings

Tobi

 

Good luck in getting any response from VW on this.

 

It really is a mystery how they can justify continuing to serve up the existing, deficient tools, when better versions have already been written but for some reason, we are not allowed to have them.

 

Perhaps VW2021 will be released with proper door and window tools. In some parallel universe.

[Tobias Kern 50]

hi,

 

yes it is unbelievable that there exists a lot of different window tools for the same thing

in each different version (us-version, benelux-version, german-version, maybe more).

 

it must be more expensive to write 3 tools i think, than one for all of them.

Every distributer makes his own soup, i guess.

 

dunno why, they do not merge the best of all together and bring one tool

that serves everything.

 

i know there are different conditions for windows in each country,

so the tool have to react to this.

 

the main/basic functionality should everywhere be the same.

[sak1850 17]

My dream for the past 5 or 6 versions has been to have a window tool that works properly, it looks like (from the leaked brochure for 2021) that once again we have to put up with a window tool that is not fit for purpose.

I reported a bug with the sill orientation back before 2016 and it still has not been addressed.

It would be great to be able to rely on this absolutely vital part of the program, it would make life far simpler rather than spending hours on workarounds, please Please PLEASE you programmers get a grip on the window and stair tools, they are far more important than some of the nice bells and whistles that are added every year (which are very welcome and I love some of the improvements).

Like all who work in architecture we know that without proper foundations even the best of bling added to the final design will not make a safe structure.

[Tobias Kern 50]

 

11 minutes ago, sak1850 said:

My dream for the past 5 or 6 versions has been to have a window tool that works properly, it looks like (from the leaked brochure for 2021) that once again we have to put up with a window tool that is not fit for purpose.

I reported a bug with the sill orientation back before 2016 and it still has not been addressed.

It would be great to be able to rely on this absolutely vital part of the program, it would make life far simpler rather than spending hours on workarounds, please Please PLEASE you programmers get a grip on the window and stair tools, they are far more important than some of the nice bells and whistles that are added every year (which are very welcome and I love some of the improvements).

Like all who work in architecture we know that without proper foundations even the best of bling added to the final design will not make a safe structure.

 

yes, there is nothing to add.

 

i like most of the new things each year and vw is getting better in some cases.

… but always get disappointed, whats done with windows/doors and stairs.

 

so a big big please to vectorworks devs from me too …

… give us architects more love. 🥺

 

[line-weight 727]

32 minutes ago, Tobias Kern said:

 

 

yes, there is nothing to add.

 

i like most of the new things each year and vw is getting better in some cases.

… but always get disappointed, whats done with windows/doors and stairs.

 

so a big big please to vectorworks devs from me too …

… give us architects more love. 🥺

 

 

It seems like there is no point asking, or saying please.

 

Lots of people have been asking for this, for many years.

 

Every year, VW chooses to ignore this. I honestly don't understand why. It's a joke that it's marketed as "BIM ready" when (just for example) it's been putting windowsills on back to front for at least five years.

[DBrown 32]

7 hours ago, Tobias Kern said:

Hi,

 

could it be possible to convert or run the Benelux Window Tool with another VW Version?

The Tool must be like a plugin in VW or?

I work with the German version and would like to try the tool.

 

Greetings

Tobi

Those tools are amazing!! And they are present in the German, French and the Italian version, I don't know why we don't have them in the English version, it blow my mind, how stupid it is...