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Thursday, February 23, 2017

epodcast199 - Create Similar Object



When you are creating your projects, you often want to create more objects like to ones you already have. You could copy an paste an object, but then you have to move it and edit it. The Create Similar Object command sets the same tool, class, and tool settings as the original. This allows you to move a new location and start using the correct tool instantly.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

epodcast198 - Slab Drainage


Vectorworks 2017 introduced Slab Drainage. There is a specific tool to use to create the drainage. This tool has several modes that allow you to add a drain, edit the location and direction, connect drains together, and edit the valleys. The slab drainage can change the entire slab, or it can taper a component of the slab, but it only works with slabs.

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

epodcast197 - Select Similar Tool


I use this tool a lot to select a group of things that are similar. You can define how similar they are. They could be the same class, the came object type, or a combination of these. You can save your favorite settings so that you can recall them easily.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

epodcast196 - Door With Custom Height Sidelight



If you are using Windoor, you can use the vertical divisions to create a full height door with ½ height sidelight next it. With the standard Vectorworks doors and windows you can’t create this object using the same technique, but there is a way to do it. create the door and sidelight that you require and make sure that the jam of the door in the sidelight overlap.  Select the door and window. Make a symbol from them.
When you create a door, choose the option to use Symbol Geometry and use your door symbol. This allows you to use the door object and add it to your schedule.

Friday, February 10, 2017

epodcast195 - Keeping Viewports Rendered


epodcast195_converting_viewports_to_groups

When you open a file, you sometimes find that all the viewports need updating. This can be frustrating and time consuming. There are a few things you can try. You can enable the Viewport Cache or you can convert the viewports to bitmaps. 

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Thursday, February 09, 2017

podcast 224 Align & Distribute

You can use the contextual menu to activate Align/Distribute.


podcast 223 - Roadway (Custom Kerb)

Of all the roads available in Vectorworks, this is the most flexible.


podcast 222 - Adding and Using WebBroswer Favorites/Bookmarks

Saving Favorites/Bookmarks makes it easy to return to a page on a web site. This movie tries to show you in a simple way how to save these.


Podcast 221 - Exporting web view using Vectorworks 2017

In November 2016 my subscription workshop will be looking at creating an interior design project. As part of the project I wanted to show people how they can export the design so that other people can look at it, and Vectorworks 2017 has a facility for exporting your design as a virtual reality project (called web view). This movie is an introduction to using web view with Vectorworks 2017. You will see how you can view the project, export the project and then view this this a web browser..


2D Timed Exercise Version 2017

I was asked to draw this simple house as a timed exercise to compare drawing techniques with other prorgams.  You can see the Autocad version here:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/getting-started/caas/screencast/Main/Details/af10251e-0457-4b1d-ad17-d6983a96b656.html

Bamboo Spark

I often use the Bamboo Spark to take notes in meeting and when I am training others. the great thing about it is that you write on regular paper and the Spark then sends the electric version of your notes to your device. The Bamboo Spark software works on your iPad or android device.
It is a great utility for recording your notes and you can use it with Bamboo Paper to colour your notes and sketches.


Podcast 220 - Creating Downspouts With Vectorworks 2017

A few months ago I covered Roof Accessories with my subscription group. I covered using Extrude Along Path… to create the downpipes (downspouts), but I did not cover this plug-in. This plug-in is a very quick way of creating your downpipes (downspouts) few models, and it is also free from this website (https://andreafacchinello.wordpress.com).Thank you Andrea this is a great utility!


Podcast 219 - Sketching on an iPad using Procreate

Using an app like Procreate does allow you to trace over a photo, but I prefer to sketch over the photo so that it is not a direct copy. I used to have great drawing tutor (Pat Hanley) that kept telling use to focus on the “Big Issues” when drawing.

You can read more about this here:
http://learn.archoncad.com/2016/06/28213/sketching-on-an-ipad/


podcast 218 - Apple iOS 9 - WiFi Assist

One of the new features of iOS9 is WiFi Assist. this tells your phone to use cellular data when the phone is connected to a low quality WiFi signal. This will mean that your phone looks for the best signal whether it is WiFi or cellular.

Podcast 217 - Microsoft Word Tips - Styles

When I create documents using Microsoft Word, I always make sure that I set up my paragraphs using styles. Styles allow you to control the font, size, justification, et cetera. They are very powerful and they are easy to apply.

podcast 216 - Full Screen Window Macintosh Yosemite

I recently upgraded my computer to Yosemite. I have a habit of wanting to see my drawing window full-screen. However, when I click on the green button to make my drawing wonderful screen I have been losing my menubar. In this movie I will show you how to change this. I am sure that many people know this trick already but when I found that I was very happy.



Saturday, February 04, 2017

epodcast194 - Interactively Scaling a Viewport By Dragging

epodcast194_scaling_viewports_by_dragging

You can't change the scale of the viewport by interactively scaling it (using the selection tool  to drag the corner).  But you are allowed to do this to a group. If you make the viewport into a group, then you can  and interactively scale it.

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Friday, February 03, 2017

epodcast193 - Plants and Row Spacing

epodcast193_plant_row_spacing

Vectorworks 2017 introduced a change to the plant spacing. in the past your plant spacing was a specific number and that was it. Now, plant spacing can be a specific number or it can be "Best Fit." The idea of best fit is that Vectorworks will try to put as many plants as it can using the spacing that you have specified,  but it will always place plant start click and at the end click. As well as that, Vectorworks added the option to have the row spacing different from the plant spacing.

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Thursday, February 02, 2017

Archoncad Vectorworkout Subscription 10 Years Old!

10 Years Old!
Who would have thought. When I started this 10 years ago the internet was still new, the idea of online training was still in its infancy. Now, it is everywhere. I started this subscription service with a few members and now we have hundreds of subscribers.