podcast 171 - Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual - Sixth Edition

I'm pleased to announce that the sixth edition of the Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual is now available. Each year I update this manual to show the latest techniques in Vectorworks. I also know from experience that this manual is the best way to teach new users. This movie is a brief introduction to the manual.

Book Review - Building Construction Handbook

I have been doing some research on building construction and documentation and I came across this great book "Building Construction Handbook."
This book has been designed to show you from the very basic conceptual principles through to drawing coordination and detailing.

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #058 - DXF Viewer

When you export DXF/DWG files, You should check to see what you had exported from Vectorworks. What you need is a DXF/DWG file viewer. DraftSight is a free viewer that lets professional CAD users, students and educators create, edit and view DWG files. DraftSight runs on Windows¨, Mac¨ and Linux. You might want to try this getting started guide as well.
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/products/draftsight-getting-started-guide.htm

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:

http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #057 - Upgrade Checklist

It's tempting to upgrade your Operating System (OS) when a new version comes out. However, there are some problems when you choose to upgrade.
The first question you should ask yourself is "do I really need to upgrade my operating system?" Quite often, you will find that upgrading your operating system will cause several of your programs not to run properly. You may find that your printer no longer prints, you may find that your phone/tablet no longer connects, and you might find that your Vectorworks will not run with your new operating system.

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #056 - Preferences - Turn off Auto Classing

When you insert many of the standard Vectorworks objects, they automatically assign themselves to particual classes. If you dont want this to happen you have to turn off Auto Classing. If you tun on Auto Classing, all of your standrd Vectorworks objects will be assinged to their standrd classes.

For Vectorworks training:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #055 - Preferences - Use Sound

This is a Vectorworks preference, Which means it applies to all files. You will find this preference on the Session tab in the Vectorworks preferences. If you activate Use Sound, every time you move near a clickable point you will hear a click from your computer. Some people find this useful, other people find it extremely annoying. You can turn down the volume of the sound so that when it clicks it is quiet.

For Vectorworks training:

http://store.archoncad.com

 

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Vectorworks Tip #054 - Sending Large Files with Hightail

When you try to share files with another user, you are likely try to e-mail the files to them. But there is a limit to the size of the files you can e-mail, usually about 5 MB. One of the ways of sharing very large files is to use an online resource like www.hightail.com. Hightail allows you to create a free online account where you can upload your files and then send a link to that. You can also pay a subscription and have access to a large online storage facility we you can send very large files, up to 10 GB per file.

 

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Vectorworks Tip #053 - Basic Tools - Flip Vertical

This is a another command from the contextual menu. This command makes it really fast to mirror an object vertically. Because you can use this from the contextual menu, you don't have to select the object, just right-click on it and choose the command.


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #052 - Basic Tools - Flip Horizontal

This is a command from the contextual menu, it makes it really fast to mirror an object. Because you can use this from the contextual menu, you don't have to select the object, just right-click on it and choose the command.


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #051 - Text - Find and Replace Text

If you need to find a word or phrase in your file and edit it, this command will do that. It will find single instances of the word, or can replace all occurrences in the entire file. This is a great way to update your drawings.

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #050 - Text - Check Spelling

I sometimes spell words wrong, and sometimes I just type them wrong. Vectorworks has a check spelling command on the text menu, but the quick way is to use the contextual menu (right-click).

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Book Review - Building Construction Illustrated

I used this book Building Construction Illustrated when I was at college learning to be an Architect. It is well written, and it clearly explains the basic concepts of building construction. I recently bought this book again, in Kindle form so that I can have it with me whenever I need to access it. If you are starting out, or need a refresher, get this book.

 

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Vectorworks Tip #049 - Document Preferences - Auto Classing

When you insert many of the standard Vectorworks objects, they automatically assign themselves to particular classes. If you dont want this to happen you have to turn off Auto Classing. If you tun on Auto Classing, all of your standard Vectorworks objects will be assigned to their standard classes.

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:

http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #048 - Basic Tools - Contextural

The contextual menu is accessed when you right-click. If you right-click on an object you will get a menu that shows commands appropriate to the object, if you right-click in an empty part of the drawing you will get a different menu. The menus will change depending the objects you click on. The contextual menu is often the quickest way to access commands.


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #047 - Preferences - Use Sound

This is a Vectorworks preference, Which means it applies to all files. You will find this preference on the Session tab in the Vectorworks Preferences. If you activate Use Sound, every time you move near a clickable point you will hear a click from your computer. Some people find this useful, other people find it extremely annoying. You can turn down the volume of the sound so that when it clicks it is quiet.


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #046 - Basic Tools - Automatic Drawing Coordination

This is a Document Preference. It controls the linking of the Sheet Borders to the sheet number and name. If you activate this preference, standard sheet borders will automatically update when you edit the sheet numbers and names.


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

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Vectorworks Tip #045 - Basic Tools - Clip Surface

This is like the opposite of the Add Surface and it also makes it easy to create complex shapes. Like Add Surface, you can access this command from the Modify menu or the Contextual menu (right-click).


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

Vectorworks Tip #044 - Basic Tools - Viewports

Viewports are the most powerful way of creating drawings and Vectorworks. Viewports allow you to create drawings with different:

• scales
• layers
• classes
• class attributes
• hatch settings
• line weight settings
• lights
• view settings
• rendering mode
• crop

If you're not using viewports you're only running on half your cylinders.

 

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

 

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Vectorworks Tip #043 - Basic Tools - Add Surface

This is a great command. Add Surface makes it easy to create complex shapes by adding together simple shapes. You can access this command from the Modify menu, or the easier way, right click on the objects you want to add.


For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
http://store.archoncad.com

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