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Stacking Layers user error


richard2020

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Hi there,

 

As a full noob, in building up my model for a planning application, I think I've done something wrong. I created a bottom tracing layer which had the OS map detail in. Then I created a layer above for the block site plan. Then I created a layer for the first floor. 

 

My mistake was that in the third layer - ie the ground floor I wasn't sure about orienting the building on an angle so drew it up straight instead of at an angle. 

 

Then when I tried to do the drainage plan, and set the layer visibility to show through, obviously the building isn't lined up with the site plan below. I've tried everything I can see to move and rotate the buildings to sit on top of the site plan in the right way but I can't get it to move. 

 

Any suggestions on how I can reposition and rotate one layer above another?

 

Thank you.

 

 

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Hi Tamsin, 

 

Thank you for responding. Yes I did, before I even started using it I spent a whole day going through all the elements. It definitely helped, however I found it left too many gaps. have designer but it is only for architectural design. Admittedly I have been using sketchup for 15 years, which is corrupting I know, but I had thought the BIM module would step through a workflow that was optimised, but it wasn't. As an architectural designer I have just 2 reasons for using a tool. Firstly meeting my obligations as a designer to satisfy local government needs for approval to proceed, and secondly to be able to present something to clients that will blow their socks off. 

 

On the first, in uk at least you need boring flat 2d presentations. Location plan, block plans, elevations, drainage plans. These require a professional format, scaling, version control. For which you need a presentation template. There was not a single thing I could find in any of the help or university that reflected this kind of use case, setting up of templates, etc. It took me 10 minutes on google to even work out that the presentation element is called a title block. From there I finally managed to find some info on it and whilst I don't have a template set up because I can't work out how but I have found a workaround. Every architect needs 2d presentation plans on every job. I don't know how the university getting started can't have anything on this easily accessible. I still don't know how to do elevations. I started hunting and it was baffling. I'll knuckle down and get deeper into it.

 

On the second, I haven't got this far yet. I'm dreading it tbh.

 

But what I am clear on is while the move kind of works, I have had to guess values until it looks right. When you are moving on an oblique it is a pain. I got there but I had to use the move tool around 12 times to move my building. Yet I can move a rectangle in a way that is intuitive. Drag to a snap point is what a selected group constituting a building model should do same as a rectangle. I don't understand why vectorworks can't do this. Perhaps it can - but after 9 posts from me on this yesterday I was told it can't.

 

Hopefully in time, I will hate this less. Right now, there are some amazing features but it is really inaccessible - claiming depth doesn't cut it. Every architectural designer needs to create elevations. Yet put 'elevations' into the university and it returns 'no results found'. Not sure I need to say anything else?

 

 

 

Screen Shot 2020-07-31 at 14.09.19.png

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  • Vectorworks, Inc Employee

Have you tried using the Architect (UK Metric).sta template, (under File > New) which has layers and classes already set up for you and was created by UK industry specialists? It has design layers, classes and Sheet Layers with elevation viewports already set up for you, and would possibly be an excellent way to get started. With this template, you create the building and the floor plans, elevations and sections will already be there. It has also has a title block for you to customise as you wish.


I certainly appreciate your comments about knowing which search terms to use in the University. Let us see what we can find for you...

Here's a good starting point for content that has been created by the team in the UK:
Vectorworks University UK Content

 

But in the Architect section which I sent you earlier, I recommend the 

BIM Architectural course covers elevations:

https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/scorm/player.php?a=13&currentorg=articulate_rise&scoid=26

 

Our UK industry specialist also ran this webinar:

https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=279

 

I'm not sure if you have used other CAD software before, but I hope you will find this useful too:

https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=180

I hope that helps you move forward with a little more joy in your heart...

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