8/27/09
Serving the Seattle VectorWorks Users Group and Northwest VectorWorks users.
An archive of past newsletters can be found at http://converttolines.blogspot.com/
To contact me, please write tomgreggs@comcast.net or call (206) 524-2808
In this issue:
• New free 3D videos
• Axio into Perspective
• Successful DTM’ing
• The history of VectorWorks
• New video from NNA
• CONfused about BIM?
• Vwks VS SketchUp
• Importing your own stuff
• Late breaking news on Snow Leopard (Mac OS) & Vwks 2009 compatability
• Healing oneself
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New free how-to videos have been uploaded to Viddler.com
http://www.viddler.com/search_detailed/?searchString=Video+for+left+handers
Last year, in response to writing these newsletters, I was asked if I couldn’t please illustrate my text-only explanations with pictures or videos of some kind. That winter, I began creating a series of videos designed for the newer user, the sole proprietor and those working in the residential, light construction market. Recently I’ve produced a couple of new videos plus rewritten others such that there is now a block of tutorials which gives the user an overview of 3D object creation and display via Viewports. Also explored is the creation of Design Layer Viewports and hybrid ways to control unwanted lines. The videos available are:
VectorWorks for Left Handers: 3D Tutorial Part 1
VectorWorks for Left Handers: 3D Tutorial Part 2
VectorWorks for Left Handers: 3D Tutorial Part 3
VectorWorks for Left Handers: Hidden Line Tutorial
VectorWorks for Left Handers: Viewports Tutorial
also
VectorWorks for Left Handers: Color and Texture
VectorWorks for Left Handers: Workspace Editing
I’ve called this group VectorWorks for Left Handers because I’ve felt for a long time that the process of creating layers and setting heights of the elements within those layers was easier than implied by the software itself as well as the online manual. I’d like to provide a left-of-center, right-brained approach to using this powerful software, a tool I find indispensable in my professional life.
There is no wrong way to use VectorWorks, in my opinion, only ways to be more effective and efficient in how you display your work. Conversely, there is no single right way to teach VectorWorks. I expect that others, having invested hard-won time in developing their own methods, will have important perspective to add to any discussion on technique or that advanced users may wish to look elsewhere for more focused help.
It has been my pleasure to create and provide these. I want to especially thank Steve Scaysbrook for his encouragement in my getting them uploaded to Viddler. Take a moment to view one of Steve’s videos here: http://www.viddler.com/explore/scays/videos/15/
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The following was taken from the NNA Community Board ( I regret I did not record the author) and gives some methods for rotating a model from axiometric, which is the default Vwks projection, into perspective view.
Once you've rotated your model into an axo view (non-perspective) that you like,
- Go to the "Visualization" tool set, then:
- Get into perspective mode quickly by choosing the Walkthrough tool [Shift + U]. (But don't move the cursor around.)
- Now choose the Translate View tool [Shift + V]. You can slide the model around in the perspective window with it.
- While you are in the Translate View tool (in perspective), hold down the Alt/Option key. Now click and drag left and right, up and down.
- Alt/Option Drag LEFT moves the model into the distance.
- Alt/Option Drag RIGHT move the model closer.
- Alt/Option Drag DOWN increases the perpective effect.
- Alt/Option Drag UP decreases the perspective effect
- Dragging UP and DOWN changes the angle of the lens, controlling how dramatic your perspective is. Drag DOWN to widen the lens, making the perspective more dramatic.
- Dragging DOWN to increase the perspective effect also makes the model appear closer. Drag LEFT to decrese its size.
- Dragging UP decreases the perspective effect, but makes the model seem smaller. Drag RIGHT to increase its size.
To get out of perspective, go to View > Perspective > Orthogonal. If you do a lot of perspective, you'll want to use a shortcut for that.
For a shortcut out of a perspective view when on a Mac try using Command + 5 or Option + 0 or use, if you have a numeric key pad, simply press 0. On a PC use Ctrl + 5 or 0 on the numeric key pad. Note that the Camera tool gives much the same fine control—and then some. Escape from the Camera Tool view the same way.
Unsure of what axio means?
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/driesbachj/instructional%20stuff/axiometric%20demo.pdf
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Peter Cipes of Cipes Design, Ashland OR, gives a short but useful description of using the DTM or Digital Terrain Modelor in the NNA Community Board.
Try this in a new blank file:
1) Using the POLYLINE tool draw four or five (fictitious) contour lines
2) Select all of them
3) Run the menu command MODIFY/CONVERT/CONVERT TO POLYGONS
4) Select all of them
5) Run the menu command AEC/SURVEY INPUT/2d POLY'S to 3d CONTOURS. You will be given some choices in the dialog. Set the contour interval at 24" (2ft) then click NEXT at each highlighted Polygon. When finished you will be asked if you want to keep the originals. In this case (for demonstration) choose NO.
6) If you select each of the newly created 3d polygons you can look in the object info palette and will notice that they each have a "Z" value (ie: an elevation).
7) Select all of them and make sure sure that their FILL is set to NONE (in the attributes palette)
8) With them all selected run the menu command AEC/TERRIAN/CREATE SITE MODEL. You can either accept all of the default settings or make choices as desired. You can always go back later and change all of these so don't worry.
If you follow all of the above steps you should have your first (albeit very basic) Site Model.
Thanks, Peter!
Here is the link to the original post:
http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=126106&gonew=1#UNREAD
If you’d like to follow a subset of this thread (DWG contours):
http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=126853#Post126853
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Ever wonder about the history of VectorWorks?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectorworks
Scroll to the bottom for a timeline.
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New video from NNA called Understanding the Object Info Palette, 11:52 minutes
Description- In this video we discuss the versatility of the object info palette along with the various editing options that you have available to you through the Object Info Palette. We will also explain why the OIP is the most important palette in Vectorworks.
.
For QT movie in downloadable format:
http://download2.nemetschek.net/www_movies/user_group/Object_Info_Palette_QT.zip
For QT Movie in streaming format:
http://download2.nemetschek.net/www_movies/user_group/Object_Info_Palette_QT/Object_Info_Palette_QT.html
Be sure to watch the discussion of Data Tab options.
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Confused about BIM and NNA? Robert Anderson has provided links to a video that was made of a slide show he delivered recently.
http://www.bimfusion.com/video.php?user=BIMFusion&video_id=20
BIMfusion hosts Robert’s video plus others. If you take time to listen to the end you will see a description of how InteriorCAD—a cabinet builders tool—works on top of VectorWorks. Robert also says the following:
“We let him [the user] develop workflows that might be outside what we are telling him that he has to do. As long as he can solve his problems, that makes us happy.”
And that makes me happy too.
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Back to the Community Board yet again with this reference to an opinion on using SketchUp versus—or maybe with—VectorWorks.
Check out gmm18’s thoughts.
http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=127561&gonew=1#UNREAD
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Jeffrey Ouellette of NNA posted the following process, taken from the Vwks manual, on how to make a library of your details which can then be imported into new drawings. I usually don’t simply cut and paste from the manual but here I thought isolating the text might be helpful.
How to Make a Library
Resources in Favorites
For quick access, the Resource Browser can store links to VectorWorks files that contain resources that you use frequently. You can then import resources from a Favorites file into any VectorWorks file and not have to search for the file again. Remove the link when the file is of no further use. Favorite files are remembered for future sessions.
Use the Files menu in the Resource Browser to create, use, and manage your Favorites list. Alternatively, add files (or aliases or shortcuts to the files) to the appropriate Favorites folder manually.
Making the Current File a Favorite
To make the current file a favorite:
In the Resource Browser, select Add Current to Favorites from the Files menu.
The file is added to the File list under Favorites.
The file must be saved to be added as a favorite.
Making an Unopened File a Favorite
To make an unopened file a favorite:
1. In the Resource Browser, select Add New Favorite Files from the Files menu.
The standard Open dialog box opens.
2. Select the file to make a favorite, and then click Open.
The file is added to the File list under Favorites.
The file must be saved in the same version of VectorWorks as the current file to be added as a favorite.
Multiple files can be selected and added as favorites at the same time; alternatively, press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Macintosh) to select all files at once.
Opening the Current Favorite
To open the current favorite:
1. In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to open from the File list.
2. Select Open Current Favorite from the Files menu.
The file opens.
Importing a Resource from a Favorite
To import a resource from a favorite file:
1. In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to access from the File list.
The file name is displayed as the current file in the File list, and its resources display in the resource window.
2. Select the desired resource from the resource display window. To import the resource for future use, select Import from the Resources menu. To use the resource immediately, double-click it to activate it, or select Apply or Make Active, if applicable, from the Resources menu. (Alternatively, drag the resource onto an object or to a location in the current file.)
Once the resource is placed or applied in the drawing, it is added to the Resource Browser for the current file.
Multiple resources can be selected and imported at the same time.
Refreshing Favorites from Disk
To update the resources from all favorite files:
In the Resource Browser, select Refresh Favorites from Disk from the Files menu.
All current favorite files are reloaded into the Resource Browser, to reflect any changes that occurred since they were loaded when this VectorWorks session began.
Revealing the Location of the Current Favorite
To reveal the location of a favorite file:
1. In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to reveal from the File list.
The file name is displayed as the current file in the File list, and its resources display in the resource window.
2. Select Reveal Current Favorite from the Files menu.
Either Windows Explorer or Macintosh Finder opens to the folder that contains the file.
Removing Favorites
To remove a single favorite file:
1. In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to delete from the File list.
2. Select Remove Current Favorite from the Files menu.
The file is removed from the Favorites list.
To remove all favorite files:
1. In the Resource Browser, select Remove All Favorites from the Files menu.
A confirmation dialog box opens.
2. Click Yes to remove all favorites.
All favorite files are removed from the Favorites list.
Adding a Favorite Manually
To create a favorite manually (not through the Resource Browser):
1. Place the file that you want to appear on the Favorites list (or a shortcut or alias that points to the file) in one of the following folders.
Favorites Folder
[User]/Libraries/Favorites
[Workgroup]/Libraries/Favorites
The file appears in the Favorites list of any user who has the workgroup folder set up in VectorWorks preferences
The file is added to the File list under Favorites.
2. In the Resource Browser, select Refresh Favorites from Disk from the Files menu.
Only files that are in your user Favorites folder can be removed with the commands in the Resource Browser. (See User Folders Preferences for more information.) Files that were placed in a workgroup Favorites folder must be removed manually.
You can read the above on page 148, in the Vwks 2008 Fundamentals manual or find the same online here:
file:///Applications/Vectorworks%202009/VWHelp/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm
Scroll down to Resources in Favorites
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Technical Bulletin
Vectorworks 2009 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v.10.6) Stability Concerns
As many of you know, Apple will be releasing Snow Leopard on August 28,2009. And as many of our customers work on a Mac platform, the release of Snow Leopard naturally brings up questions of compatibility.
Understanding that for the majority of our customer base, our software is a key component of their work flow, our CTO, Dr. Biplab Sarkar, does not
recommend running Vectorworks 2009 (Service Pack 4 or earlier) on Snow Leopard at this point in time. Dr. Sarkar and his team are already in process, developing a version of Vectorworks 2009 that will be fully
compatible with Snow Leopard and free to all Vectorworks 2009 users. Expect
to hear notice of this version availability in early November, 2009. And, if
you?re not already subscribed to our monthly e-Dispatch newsletter, please
subscribe now so that you?ll get the announcement.
http://www.nemetschek.net/community/edisp_subscribe.php
For those customers with software versions earlier than Vectorworks 2009,
please note we do not have plans to update these older versions to support
Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v.10.6).
Thank you for your understanding and patience. If you wish to read a more
detailed technical explanation of the current stability issues with Snow
Leopard, you?ll find that information on our ever-growing Vectorworks
Knowledge Base site: http://cli.gs/JrsNtD If you wish to be kept abreast of
all our latest updates on the Vectorworks Knowledge Base, you can subscribe
to the feed of new posts there.
Respectfully,
Juan Almansa
Product Support Manager
Nemetschek North America, Inc.
T 410-290-5114
D 443-542-0716
S jalmansamd
E jalmansa@vectorworks.net
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The ecomonic downturn globally and nationally has taken momentum out of most markets, CAD especially. I liken the effect on the user community to an injury of some kind, the type that takes a while to recover from both physically and mentally. We’ve lost our momentum too, and some of our joy, as we hunker down to get through this difficult period.
The one thing that we can do for ourselves, as our doctors have been prescribing, is to retrain, to get up and excercise, to strengthen and stretch and get back to where we were, fully engaged and invested in our work and our lives. If you’ve had an accident or an operation you know how hard it is to get out of bed or off the couch. I won’t discount your struggle. But having gone through such a recovery, I know that it will work out, and the sooner you heal yourself, as much as you can, the happier you will be.
The markets will come back, the work will come back, along with the joy and a willingness to invest time in making yourself better in all ways.
Thanks for reading.
Tom
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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