Thursday, August 27, 2009

CONVERT TO LINES #37

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
.....................................

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/


........................................


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

................................................................

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

.................................................

Ever wonder about the history of VectorWorks?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectorworks

Scroll to the bottom for a timeline.

........................................

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.
......................................

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.

...................................................

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

......................................................

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

............................................

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

...........................................................

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

250 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 250 of 250
モニター said...

副業 在宅 でも出来る モニターアルバイト 募集!数ある副業の中、馬券モニター程稼げる副業はない!初心者の方でも簡単にできるのが最大の特権です

スタービーチ said...

スタービーチで幸せ掴みませんか?楽しめる出.会.いをしたいならここしかない!今までとは一味もふた味も違う出.会.いを体験していきましょう

逆援助 said...

女の子に逆援助してほしい、女の子と真剣にお付き合いしたい、複数プレイをやってみたい、童貞・処女を卒業したいのなら新感覚コミュニティ・ラブフリーでメル友を探そう

モバゲー said...

大人気モバゲーが遂に出合いの場所に!モバゲーだから気軽に出会える!出合いに縁がなかった方も是非ご利用くださいませ

スタービーチ said...

スタービーチは誰にでも出逢いという奇跡をもたらしてくれる。スタビで理想の関係作りしてみませんか

井の中のカ○ズ君 said...

流行りの検索ワードの番組、井の中のカ○ズ君で紹介された在宅ホスト倶楽部っていうワードで簡単にお金稼ぎました。携帯からgoogle検索にアクセスして在宅ホスト倶楽部って検索してみてください☆男性の方なら家でいるだけで1日2万円ぐらい稼げちゃうから本当に楽ちんだよ。誰か一緒にこの仕事で盛り上がろう

モバゲー said...

モバゲーでは友達から恋愛まで、様々な出 会いを探せる無料のコミュニティサイトです。常時サポートスタッフが掲示板をチェック、サクラや業者を排除しておりますので安心してご利用いただけます

スタービーチ said...

日本最大級の出会いコミュニティ「スタービーチ」で探しませんか。素敵な出会いを経験して理想の人と楽しい思い出を作りましょう

スタービーチ said...

スタービーチなら好みの女性がきっと見つかる!会員数ナンバーワンのスタビでご近所さんを探そう

スタービーチ said...

日本最大級の出会いコミュニティ「スタービーチ」で探しませんか。素敵な出会いを経験して理想の人と楽しい思い出を作りましょう

モバゲー said...

出会い専門のモバゲーSNSが誕生!メル友、恋人、セフレetc…貴方の理想に合った関係になれちゃいます。素敵な人と過ごしたいならココで見つけてみませんか

モバゲー said...

ゲームよりも出会い目的でモバゲーが大人気です。無料期間中に遊んでみませんか

スタービーチ said...

最近スタービーチが女の子のコミュニティーサイトで話題中みたい!!夏休み目前ってのもあり登録比率に女性の数が半端ね~、やっぱり夏に一人は辛すぎや~とか思ってたら、暇な娘多すぎ・彼女簡単に出来ちゃった

スタービーチ said...

出 会いを探しているのなら会員数ナンバーワンのスタービーチ!開放的な夏休みはここで新しい出 会いを見つけよう!

グリー said...

グリー発信!!出会い専門SNS誕生、今話題のgreeから出会いをGETしよう。greeにしかできない事が盛りだくさん!!気軽にメールするだけで出会えるサイト・・・貴方の理想の異性と出会いませんか

gree said...

話題のgreeで新しい出会いを見つけよう!夏休みに入ってヒマしてる女の子が急増中!無料期間中にご近所の女の子をGETしちゃおう

セフレ said...

セフレを探しているならここ!割りきった体の関係を探している女性と出会いのチャンス!セックス目的なので会ってすぐにヤれちゃいます

モバゲー said...

モバゲー専門の出会い掲示板が誕生!出会いを求めている方にはオススメのサイトです。幸せな時間を過ごしたい方、淋しい思いをしたくない方はぜひご覧ください

逆援助 said...

逆援助でお金持ちになる事が可能なこの時代。セックスのテクニックさえあれば簡単に大金をゲットする事ができます

スタビ said...

スタビでできる新しい恋・・・素敵な出合いをするならスタビから始めてみませんか?女性に面識のない方でもサポート機能があるから安心してご利用できます。是非一度利用してみて下さい

SM度チェッカー said...

気になる人の性癖を知ることは、その人に近づく良いキッカケや話題作りに成ります。そんな時にSM度チェッカーを使ってみて下さい。話が合い一気に仲良くなり、どのまま・・・な関係にその日の内に為れるよ。なんと言っても今は夏休みですからね

モバゲー said...

モバゲー出会い掲示板は色々な種類の出会いを扱っております。登録無料で新しい恋の始まる事は確実です

ツイッター said...

今話題沸騰中!?新感覚出会いをツイッターで体験しませんか?リアルタイムで相手が何をしてるか分かるから、理想の人かどうかが簡単に分かる。貴方の理想の人をGETしませんか

mコミュ said...

素敵な出 会 いで愛を育む♪理想の人と楽しめる関係を築きませんか?mコミュでしか味わえない幸せを掴みましょう

スタービーチ said...

スタービーチで会える!?理想の異性をGETしよう☆素敵な出会いばかりだから求めている関係も作りやすい!!貴方が求めているのはどういった恋ですか?

名言チェッカー said...

他の人が言ってる名言や格言って良い事言ってるな~とか思ってる方、名言チェッカーで今日から自分に相応しい言葉を見つけませんか!!これでどんな人にも一目置かれる存在に為れますよ

mixi said...

mixiをも凌駕する出会い率!!出会いをするならここしかない♪mixiより出会えてしまうこのサイト。一度ハマれば辞めれません。スタービーチで素敵な出会いをしちゃいましょう

モバゲー said...

モバゲーで出会いをすれば楽しい事は間違いありません。暑いからこそ出会いを楽しむべきなのです。登録無料で簡単に利用可能!

モバゲータウン said...

モバゲータウンでは恋愛から出合いまでのキッカケをつかめる無料のコミュニティサイトです。常時サポートスタッフが掲示板をチェック、サクラや業者を排除しておりますので安心してご利用いただけます

グリー said...

グリーで提供しているのは他社にはできない出 会 い。質の悪い出 会 いよりも質の良いものを提供しております。体験してもらえれば違いは一目瞭然

スタビ said...

スタビが今一番アツイのはご存じでしょうか?夏休みで出会いを探している娘とすぐに会えちゃうんです。登録無料でここまで出会える所は他には存在しません。今登録して良いパートナーに巡り合おう

スタービーチ said...

出会いのシーズン、夏到来!スタービーチでご近所さんと知り合っちゃおう!ひと夏の体験も女の子は求めている

モバゲー said...

モバゲーでついに出会いができる!?楽しめる出会い、求めていた出会いはココから始まる。素敵な出会いでまずは関係づくりwしていきましょう

gree said...

greeで素敵な時間を過ごしたい・・・そんな願望を叶えてくれるサイト誕生!!今までにないドキドキ感と興奮をこのグリーで楽しみましょう

スタビ said...

スタビで出会いができる!!いつでもどこでも出会いが可能なスタービーチで最高の出会いをしてみませんか

mコミュ said...

簡単な出逢いはココでできる☆素敵な出逢いをmコミュで体験していきませんか?楽しめる出逢いを経験するならここしかない!!まずはお試しを

ツイッター said...

新時代突入!ツイッターで始まる出逢い…ここでしかできない出逢いが新しい風を巻き起こす!!素敵な巡りあわせを体験していこう!

SMチェッカー said...

あなたの秘められたSM度がわかるSMチェッカー!簡単な質問に答えるだけで自分の隠された部分が分かります!みんなで試してみよう

モバゲー said...

今やモバゲーは押しも押されもせぬ人気SNS!当然出 会いを求めてる人も多い!そこで男女が出 逢えるコミュニティーが誕生!ここなら友達、恋人が簡単にできちゃいますよ

モバゲー said...

もう夏休みも終わりに近づき、この夏最後の思い出を作りたいと焦ってる方が、モバゲーのコミュニティーに書かれてましたよ!!折角なんで夏の思い出作りに協力して自分も美味しい思いをしてみるのはどうですか?大手スポンサーサイトが付いてるので全部タダですよ

グリー said...

最近はどこのSNSサイトも規制ばっかりで、ちょっと出 合いに関して書き込みするとアク禁食らうけど、夏休み終盤に差し掛かり色々なサイトを調べた結果、グリーだけはどうも規制が緩んでるみたいです。今がチャンスの時期ですよ

ツイッター said...

ツイッターで出 合 いを求めるのです。気の合う異性と交流して楽しいひと時をお過ごしください。登録無料で使えるので気軽さは100点満点!

mコミュ said...

mコミュでならご近所さんと出会える確率99%!友達や恋人を探してる人はここで見つけてみませんか

モテる度チェッカー said...

夏休みももう終わりに近づきこのまま一人は寂しいのちがう?そこでモテる度チェッカーを使い自分がなぜモテないか診断してもらいましょう。10~20代の女性アドバイザーが多数在籍してるので、アドバイスを参考に夏終盤を楽しもう

モバゲー said...

人気沸騰中のモバゲーなら気軽に友達、恋人が見つかる!オフ会ですぐに会えちゃいます

スタービーチ said...

やっぱり楽しい出会いならスタービーチ!探したい相手のプロフィールを検索して理想の相手を見つけよう!

モバゲー said...

モバゲーで楽しめるであいがココにある!素敵なであいからちょっとHなであいまで…幅広いであいを提供しております。今までには経験したことが無かったであいを体験していきましょう

グリー said...

今年のクリスマスも後少しですね。グリー内でもクリスマスに備えて異性と交流を持つコミュニティが活発で、自分も今年のクリスマスにお陰で間に合いました!!みなさんもイブを一人で過ごさなくても良いように、グリーで異性をGETしよう

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Anonymous said...

61875.....49501

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