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Saturday, January 31, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #208 - Site Modeling - 2D Polys to 3D Contours

image032If you have a set of 2D polygons that represent contours, you can use the command 2D Polys to 3D Contours from the Landmark or AEC menu. This command will take your set of 2D polygons and convert them into 3D polygons at the appropriate heights. Then you can use these polygons to create your site model. Use this command with polygons that have regular elevation spacings.

the leader in Vectorworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Friday, January 30, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #207 - Working Planes with Dimensions

image030Sometimes when you place a dimension, the dimension snaps to objects that you are not intending it to. In this image you can see how the dimension has snapped to the front of one object and to the rear of the other giving me a measurement of the distance between the two objects, but not the one I want. If you set your Active Plane to Screen Plane, you can measure the distance between the two objects on the screen plane, which might be the dimension you are looking for.

the leader in Vectorworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #206 - Stories and Design Layers

image031Stories are the collection of settings for each floor; Design Layers are where you draw the information. You could think of Design Layers as being the container that you store all your design work in.

the leader in Vectorworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #205 - Attribute palette - Patterns

image029Attribute palette - Patterns. Patterens are the old way to create hatches. They do not always print the way you think they will, but the top line of patterns are still useful for creating tones. I often use the ones shown in this image.

the leader in Vectorworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Living With a Chromebook 3


You are tied to using google docs, which is not bad for most things, but I’m working on a project where I have to share Word documents. This is not so easy with google documents, because some of the formatting gets lost. We are also tracking the changes in the word document, which shows up differently in the google document. So, when I’m working with others and they are using google, the chromebook will be fine, but when I’m working with others that want to use Microsoft Word,  it is not a good idea to use google.

Since I started to write this post, I found that MS Word has an app for the Chromebook. I have a subscription to Office 365, and I can use my online word docs on my Chromebook, provided that i have stored the word documents in my OneDrive. 

I have tried to access the word docs in my dropbox. I can view them online, but i have to download them to edit them, and when I do, they open in Google Docs. That's not so bad, unless i use a lot of images in my documents. If the document is converted to Google Docs, the images are much easier to edit. So that's the solution, but if i wanted to use Google Docs, why not just use them all the time and get rid of MS Word?

Your thoughts?


Saturday, January 24, 2015

Living with a Chromebook 2

I started to think that the chromebook can not be used offline, but it seems that there are some things that you can do. You obviously can’t update your website when you are off line, but you can add to and create documents using google drive. So right now, I’m writing this on the chromebook, without wifi coverage.

I use Vectorworks a lot, and you can’t use the Chromebook to run it. This means that the Chromebook will be used for the other things that I do, like maintaining my website, writing blogs, newsletters and so on.

Vectorworks Tip #204 - Site Modeling - Survey Input

image028Survey Input. There are several ways to import information into your files to use for site modeling. Some ways are more useful than others, depending on the information you get from site.


the leader in Vectorworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Friday, January 23, 2015

Podcast 212 – Duplicate Along Path

This is a great technique for duplicating objects so that they follow a path. You can choose to have a number of objects evenly spaced along the path, or you can choose the spacing between the objects. The objects can … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Vectorworks Tip #203 – Working Planes

These are fundamental for 3D work. Setting a Working Plane allows you to work directly on that plane, using all the planar and 3D objects that you need.

the leader in Vectoworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Thursday, January 22, 2015

cadmovie1501_08 – Stories, Layers and Levels – Part 8

Slabs at Different Heights If I use levels to setup my wall components, what will happen when I have slabs at different heights? Previous cadmovie Next cadmovie visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

cadmovie1501_07 – Stories, Layers and Levels – Part 7

Complex Wall Style When it comes to creating a more complex wall style, it is very important that you have already created all of the levels that you need. This image shows a more complex wall style already created. You … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

cadmovie1501_05 – Stories, Layers and Levels – Part 5

Creating Stories, Layers, and Levels If you understand how your levels can be used, then it is time to create your stories, layers and levels. To do this you can use the Organization dialog box. level-archoncad-subscription] [/level-archoncad-subscription] Previous cadmovie Next … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Vectorworks Tip #202 – What are Stories?

Stories are a collection of settings that control the elevations of your building projects. I used to say that stories are a collection design layers, but with Vectorworks 2015, this is not correct. Stories are made up of design layers … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

cadmovie1501_02 – Stories, Layers and Levels – Part 2

How Layers, Levels and Stories Work Together There is a hierarchy to the structure of layers, levels and stories. Stories control the overall building setup – the heights between the floors of the building. When you are setting up a … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

cadmovie1501_01 – Stories, Layers and Levels – Part 1

Design Layers and Classes Design Layers are an organizing concept to help you to develop your designs. You can think of layers as being containers. The design layer contains your design. Some people say “layers are where information is, classes … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Vectorworks Tip #201 – Attribute Palette – Create Hatch from Local Mapping

Once you change the mapping on a hatch, you might want to re-use the settings of the hatch again. An easy way to do this is to Create a New Hatch from a Locally Mapped hatch. This command is avaiable … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Podcast 211 - Test Yourself Exercise - 4

image023I am the author of the Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual. I was recently talking to a university tutor that uses this manual with the students. They wanted an exercise that would extend the students' knowledge of basic tools and commands. At the end of the fourth chapter of this manual the students should be able to draw a simple detail using basic tools and commands, including dimensions and annotation.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Online Workshop Calendar

Users haver requested an online calendar to see the dates for the upcoming online sessions. I use a google calendar anyway, so it is possible to share this on the Online Workshops page. This should give everyone the ability to … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Podcast 210 – Why is my Vectorworks Plant Schedule Wrong?

When you use the standard Vectorworks Plant counting schedule, it does not always count the spacing, height, and spread accurately. The problem is that multiplies the values of these by the number of plants or the number of plant groups … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Friday, January 16, 2015

Living with a Google Chromebook - 1


I’ve just taken delivery of a Google Chromebook. I’ve been wanting to try one of these for a long time. The first thing I noticed was that it is tied to your Google Account. This is not too bad if you only have the one account, but I have two google accounts. It’s OK though, it wasn’t too hard to sort out.
As Advertised, the Chromebook starts up very quickly. I think this means that I can shut it down rather that putting it to sleep, because the startup is so quick. This should save me lots of battery time.
One of my main concerns is the constant need to connect to the internet. I’ll have to see how this works out. My quick test was unsuccessful when I tried to work offline. Shame…. That means that I have to always be connected to write a document.

Because it uses the Google Chrome operating system, you can’t run Vectorworks on it, but i thought it might be useful for blogging and maintaining my website.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #200 – What is the Best Tip?

200! I was trying to think of something important to tell you for my 200th Vectorworks Tip. I was wondering if there was something crucial like 3D modeling, site modeling, layers and classes, etc. So what do I think is … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #199 - Basic Tools - Local Mapping of a Hatch

image024You can use the Attribute palette to change the angle, size, offset, and flipping of the hatch. Click on the Fill Hatch Settings button to open the dialog box, turn on Local Mapping, then edit the settings to suit.

the leader in Vectoworks training:
http://learn.archoncad.com

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Podcast 209 - Test Yourself Exercise - 3


image002
I am the author of the Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual. I was recently talking to a university tutor that uses this manual with the students. They wanted an exercise that would extend the students' knowledge of basic tools and commands. At the end of the third chapter of this manual the students should be able to draw simple objects using basic tools and commands.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Should Furniture be on its Own Layer?

I’m writing my manual for the January online workshops and I am thinking about the structure of layers and stories. Traditionally I put all my furniture on the same layer as the walls. But I am thinking that if you … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Sunday, January 11, 2015

SST_1501- Layers, Levels, and Stories

Design layers are one of the fundamental organizing concepts in Vectorworks, They are used to break the design into manageable chunks but they should not be confused with classes. Use design layers of and classes to create the structure for … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Friday, January 09, 2015

cadmovie1073 – Creating and Managing Libraries – Part 5

There are several parts to your graphic library. We have already covered using classes for your line weights, colors and line styles. But there are other graphic things you can store in your library. Hatches, gradients and images each have … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

cadmovie1072 – Creating and Managing Libraries – Part 4

Layer and class standards are part of developing your library. When you create symbols you will use specific classes. When you create other information on the drawings you will use layers and classes. It would be easier to have a … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

cadmovie1071 – Creating and Managing Libraries – Part 3

The structure for your Library should follow a structure that you can understand and use. For example, when I am drawing details I like to have a symbol folder with all my steel sections, another symbol folder with all my … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

cadmovie1070 – Creating and Managing Libraries – Part 2

If you are going to use a library, you have to create symbols. When you create a symbol, you have to think about how that symbol will be used because this will have a major impact on the insertion point … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Vectorworks Tip #198 – 3D Modelling – Solid Section

The Section Solid command allows you to use one object to create a section through other 3D objects. In practice this command can be a lot like the Subtract Solid command. So the technique is to make sure you create … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Thursday, January 08, 2015

Podcast 208 – Test Yourself Exercise – 2

I am the author of the Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual. I was recently talking to a university tutor that uses this manual with the students. At the end of the second chapter of this manual the students should be able … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Vectorworks Tip #196 – Basic Tools – Assigning a Hatch

Use the Attributes palette to assign hatches to your objects. Click on the Fill Style pop-up and choose hatch. After choosing Hatch, click on the pop-up menu to choose the hatch from the current file or from Default Content. visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

How to Find and Download a Manual from This Website

The site contains over 80 manuals that are created in the PDF form future read are the online or off-line. If you want to read the manuals off-line you will have to download them and save them to your computer … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Vectorworks Online Webinar – January 2015

Layers, Classes and Stories Vectorworks Uses the organizing methods of layers and classes to create your drawings, and for the last few versions it has used stories to control the three-dimensional model for architectural projects. Vectorworks 2015 has improved the … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Welcome to 2015

Welcome to 2015 It seems to me that many parts of the world are coming out of the recession and I know many Vectorworks users are getting busy. If you are getting busy, you need to maximise your productivity in … Continue reading visit http://ift.tt/1hjblTM

Podcast 208 - Test Yourself Exercise - 2

image001 copyI am the author of the Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual. I was recently talking to a university tutor that uses this manual with the students. At the end of the second chapter of this manual the students should be able to draw simple objects and extrude them to create an object. The students sometimes forget just how much they have learned from the simple exercise, so I have created a Test Yourself exercise to allow the students to taste their knowledge from the second chapter.