Vectorworks Tip #261- Reshape Tool - Concept

The Reshape tool is used to edit the vertices that control Polyline-based objects. This tool allows to move the vertex, change the vertex type, add a vertex, remove a vertex, and hide edges.

Vectorworks Tip #260 - Site Modeling - Site Modifiers - Align Stations

When you place a road, there is an option to send the station to the surface of the site model. But when you do that, the road might have some steep slopes as it follows the site. Aligning the stations vertically allows you to smooth out the slopes in the road. You can choose which stations are aligned on the settings dialog box.

Vectorworks Tip #259 - Hardscape - Concept

A hardscape is used to create flat hard areas (typically paving or decking). It is usually used to create the plan view of the paving, but it can also be used to create a 3D part and it can be used as a site modifier.

Vectorworks Tip #258 - Walls - Setting Curtain Wall Frame Preferences

There are two main parts to the curtain wall, the frames and the panels. The frames have options to control the boundary and intermediate frames. There are several options, so work your way though the options carefully.

Vectorworks Tip #257 - Creating a Line Type

Use the Resource Browser to create a new Line Type. Use World Units for line types that should be based on real world sizes. Keep the graphics short and simple. If you make the main part of the line type too long, it will not be able to follow curves, or go around corners.

Vectorworks Tip #256 - Site Modeling - Site Modifiers - Custom Kerb

This is the road to use when you what to create a road and have flexibility over the shape and kerb arrangement. This road allows you to use the Reshape tool to add vertices, hide kerbs and change vertex types. In the image you can see that the road is not a uniform width.

Vectorworks Tip #255 - Plants - Placing a Plant Schedule

After you have placed plants, you can count them. Vectorworks comes with pre-made plant schedules that will count all the plants in the design. You can access these from the Tool > Reports > Choose Schedule... command and place them anywhere in the drawing. 

Vectorworks Tip #254 - Walls - Creating a Curtain Wall Style

Creating a curtain wall style is similar to creating a regular wall style - both use the Wall Preferences dialog box. The difference in creating a curtain wall style is that you click on the curtain wall option which will show you different settings for the definition of a curtain wall. The insertion options for a curtain wall are the same as the insertion options for regular wall (top bound, bottom bound, class, and offsets).

 

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Vectorworks Tip #253 - Attribute Palette - Line Types - Local Mapping

Use the Attribute palette to adjust the line type settings of complex line types to suit the current situation. Click on the Line Type Settings button on the Attribute palette to edit the settings and change the local mapping of the line type.

 

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Vectorworks Tip #252 - Site Modeling - Site Modifiers - Polygon Road

The Polygon Road tool is the road tool to use if you want to create a road that has the typical straight-curve-straight road look. Because this is a polygon road, you can reshape the curve accurately using the Reshape tool.

Vectorworks Tip #251 - Plants - Creating Custom Plant Classes

As well as the default classes for your plants, you can also create your own classes to control parts of the plants. In this image, you can see several other classes that deal with plants but are not the default classes. I use these classes to control the visibility of my plants allowing me to create concept drawings and construction drawings from the same plant by changing the class settings in the viewpoints. This saves me a lot of time redrawing plans.

Vectorworks Tip #250 - Curtain Wall - Concept

Vectorworks 2015 introduced a new type of wall, the curtainwall. For many years users have been asking for a wall type that would be able to create curtain walls for commercial buildings. Now we have it. There is not a special tool to create curtain walls, it is just another wall type.

Elevation Maker Updated to 2015

A user has pointed out that Elevation Maker 2010 no longer works with Vectorworks 2015 SP3. That was a surprise to me and it turns out that they were right, and the error is because Vectorworks has changed some of its code, which required updating of my plug-in's code. The Elevation Maker has now been updated and is called Elevation Maker 2015.
I have updated the plug-in and I have added it to this page....

Vectorworks Design Summit April 27-29 2015 (one week to go!)

Next week the Design Summit hosted by Nemetschek Vectorworks will start in Philladelphia. This design summit should be really exciting. I was looking at the Keynote addresses and there are going to be some amazing presentations.

Vectorworks Tip #249 - Attribute Palette - Quick Way to Assign Line Types

Another method to assign a line type is to use the resource browser. Drag-and-drop the required line style from the resource browser onto the object.

Vectorworks Design Summit April 27-29 2015 - Session 2 Creating and Managing Libraries

CREATING AND MANAGING LIBRARIES  |  APPROVED FOR 1 AIA LU & 1 LA CES

Jonathan Pickup, Author and Director of Training, archoncad

Wednesday 4:30PM – 5:30PM

It is tempting to think that you only need to have one library file for all your resources; however, this is not the most effective way to use CAD software. Learn Pickup's approach for storing default content resources, so they appear when you want to use them.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Increase productivity by creating and managing a library for regularly used objects and resources.
2. Catalog library information in the best place.
3. Organize default content and explain where CAD software stores it.
4. Recognize how to create a symbol and why symbols are the most efficient way to create repeatable objects.

View site...

Vectorworks Design Summit April 27-29 2015 - Session 1 BIM for Landscape

BIM FOR LANDSCAPE  |  APPROVED FOR 1 AIA LU & 1 LA CES

Jonathan Pickup, Author and Director of Training, 

Tuesday 2:00PM – 3:00PM

BIM isn't only for architecture; rather, its principles can be used to speed up the production of landscape projects and drawings. Attendees will learn to attach to a model, for example, the amount of water each plant needs for irrigation or the embedded energy for each square meter of concrete.

Vectorworks Tip #248 - Site Modelling - Site Modifiers - NURBS Road

The NURBS road is useful for creating a smooth curving road. It is also very useful in that you can adjust the elevation of each station point. the other road types allow yo to edit the start elevation and slope, but the NURBS road is more flexible when editing the elevations.

Introduction to the Archoncad Website April 2015

When users join this web site, it's possible that they might find the extent of the information on the site daunting. I have been using this site for years (after all, I created it), so I know my way around. But what if you are new? I thought it would be nice (and useful too) to have an online session to show all the new users around.

Read more...

Vectorworks Tip #247 - Plants - Default Plant Classes

Many of the plant objects that come standard with Vectorworks have a class structure already. You could call this the default class structure for plants. Generally the outline of the plant is on a specific class (Plants-Component-Outline) the color fill is on a specific class (Plants-Component-Color Fill) and the line work is on a specific class (Plants-Component-Interior Linework). Having parts of the plant on different classes allows you to choose which parts you want to be visible in the various viewports.

Vectorworks Tip #246 - Using Levels to Create Short Walls

Levels are a great way to create short walls, you can create a level to control the top of the wall, then set the top bounding of the wall to that level. Any time you need to adjust the height of the walls, or you need to do is to adjust the level in the walls will automatically update.

Vectorworks Tip #245 - Attribute Palette - Assigning Line Types

There is more than one way to assign a line type to an object. The first way is to use the attributes palette. This method requires you to choose line type first, then choose the actual line type require. Some users suggest that this is too many clicks.

Vectorworks Tip #244 - Site Modelling - Site Modifiers - Roads Concept

Roads can be used as a site modifier. On the Object Info palette are options to make the road a site modifier, add the Grade Limits, and the set the offset for the Grade Limit.

Vectorworks Tip #243 - Plants - Plant Shadows

Plant shadows can be individual to each plant, or can be connected to the document preferences. If you connect the plant shadows to the document preferences, it allows you to control all of the plant shadows on the entire document from one dialog box. If you create your plant shadows with a black color and a 50% opacity, the plant shadows appear to be gray and see-through.

Vectorworks Tip #242 - Levels and Wall Components

As well as using levels to control the overall height of the wall, you can also use levels to control the height of wall components. This will give you the ability to have some components extend beyond the bottom of the wall (as in the case of the Bottom of Cladding) or to control the absolute height of the wall component (as in the case of the skirting).

Chromebook Tips #003 - Shift Select

When you are selecting a objects or text on the screen, use the shift key with the arrow keys.

Vectorworks Tip #241 - Attribute Palette - What are Line Types

There are many times when you drawing linear objects in Vectorworks where you do not want to have solid line. In this case you would want to use a Line Type. There are two sorts of line types, simple (dashed) and complex (lines with graphic editions). Earlier versions of Vectorworks called them Line Styles, but they lacked the ability to create complex line types.
This image shows several different line types. You will notice that the line types can be simple dashed lines or they can be more complex like batt insulation or footprints.

Chromebook Tips #002 - Delete

The Chromebook has a backspace key which is used to delete object. This key always deletes the character to the left of your cursor, so it is a backspace. If you want to delete the character to the right of your cursor (like delete on a windows machine) use the alt+backspace key combination.

Chromebook Tips #001 - Help

To get help on a Chromebook, use the ctrl+/ key combination. This will open the Help Window. It has useful tips and tricks, and the Help Search area.

Vectorworks Tip #239 - Site Modelling - Site Modifiers - Multiple Pads

You can add more than one pad inside a Grade Limits (boundary). This allows you to create several site modifiers to create the changes you want inside a single Grade Limits.

Vectorworks Tip #239 - Plant tool - Mass Planting

When you place a group of plants you have a choice to turn on Mass Planting. If you activate the mass planting option, Vectorworks will group your plants together removing all of the lines with the plants overlap. In the image you can see two groups of identical plants. The left group of plants has Mass Planting activated, the group of plants on the right has Mess Planting deactivated. You can see the difference between the two groups of plants one just shows a large shape, the other shows individual plants and it shows them overlapping.

Vectorworks Tip #238- Levels and Simple Walls

Levels can be used to control the elevations of walls. If you set up the required levels, you can use the Object Info palette to connect the walls to the levels. If you change the level elevations, it will update the walls.

Vectorworks Tip #237- Attribute palette - Creating a Tile

Tiles are substantially easier to create than hatches. Where a hatch uses repeatable lines, a tile uses a repeatable set of lines, polygons, circles, rectangles, etc. This means that instead of trying to figure out how the lines repeat you can just draw what you want. Because tiles contain objects like rectangles, circles etc., you can also add colors to your tiles, making them extremely graphic.

You create a new tile by using the Resource Browser. Right-click in the Resource Browser, choose New Resource…, name the tile and then draw the repeating tile passion that you require.

Vectorworks Tip #236 - Site Modeling - Site Modifiers - Pads with Slope

When you create a pad you can choose to set that pad to a slope. You can control the start and direction of the slope using the slope indicator on the pad object. The bottom of the slope will use the elevation from the object info palette.

Vectorworks Tip #235 - Plant Tool - Placing Plants in a Triangular Array

Use this mode when you want to place multiple plants in a triangular array Vectorworks will use the plant size and spacing from the plant definition, and the plants will be placed orthogonally on the screen. Use the rotate plan tool to rotate the plan to suit the site boundary if you need to.

Architect_066 Architect Special Interest Group March 2015(pm)

In this session we looked at how to create a window with a sloping (raking) head and a sloping (raked) sill. It is possible to make a window or windoor object that has a sloping or raking head, but not a sloping or raking sill. If you create a symbol for the 3D component of the window you want, it can be used with the Vectorworks Window (Use Symbol Geometry). 

Read more...

Vectorworks Tip #234 - Levels and Stairs

When you create your stairs, you can choose to connect the start (bottom step) and the end (top step) of your stair to levels. This will allow you to create several levels to control the starting and stopping of stairs so that they matched the various levels in your project.

Architect_065 Architect Special Interest Group March 2015 (am)

In this session we looked at note databases and how they work with the Callout tool. This includes how to place a callout, how the callout can get the text form a database, how to place the callout as a keynote and how to connect the callout to a legend. 

Read more...

Vectorworks Tip #233 - Attribute Palette - Modifying the Local Mapping of a Tile

There are times where you want to change the rotation or the scale of your tile, but just for one object. In this situation you can use the attributes palette to change the local mapping of the tile assigned to the object. You can also use the attribute mapping tool to change the local mapping of a tile on an object.

3D Modelling Special Interst Group - March 2015

In this session we looked at as many of the standard tools on the 3D Modelling toolset. Many users do not know what the tools can be used for, so this is the first session (of several) that will look at the tools in detail.

Vectorworks Tip #232 - Site Modelling - Site Modifiers - Pads.

These are your first type of site modifier. They are usually flat, but you can add a slope to the pad if you want. Use pads to create flat or sloping areas on a site model. Pads can be square, rectangular, round, polygonal, any shape you want...

Vectorworks Tip #231 - Plant Tool - Place Multiple Plants in Rectangular Array

Use this mode when you want to place multiple plants in a rectangular array. Vectorworks will use the plant size and spacing from the plant definition, and the plants will be placed orthogonally on the screen. Rotate the plan to suit the site boundary if you need to.

Vectorworks Tip #230 - Stories and Levels - Slab Levels

Levels can be used to control the setting out of your slabs (the Z reference level). If you set this up carefully, this can be a very powerful setting to automatically control the height of your ceiling relative to the structural objects.

What is the Archoncad Website all About?

This is a short introduction to the archoncad website. We will be looking at the resources that are there and how to use them. If you are new to my website you may find that this introduction will allow you to get a lot more from this web site.

There are several manuals, movies, podcasts, and library files here. This webinar will help you to find where things are stored and how they are tagged.

Please register for Archoncad Subscription Webinar on Mar 16, 2015 9:00 AM NZDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5359338897038500097

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Brought to you by GoToWebinar®
Webinars Made Easy®

Vectorworks Tip #229 - Attribute Palette - Assigning a Tile

Like the other attributes, you can use the Attribute palette or the Resource Browser to assign tiles to your objects

Vectorworks Tip #228 - Site Modeling - Site Modifiers Concept

Site Modifiers are used to modify the site model. they are a few tools that can create a site modifier. you generally need two parts to the site modifier, the modifier itself and an object to limit the extent of the modification.

Kensington Plug-in Keyboard

I ordered this new keyboard because I am planning on travelling again. I could use the nice little Apple bluetooth keyboard, but some planes do not allow you to use any wireless technology. This keyboard is not wireless, it plugs straight into the lightning connector, and it uses the power from the iOS device. It is marketed as suitable for the iPad, but I am using it on an iPhone 6+.

Unboxing

On unboxing the keyboard, i realised that it is substantially bigger that the keyboard that I am used to, the Apple bluetooth keyboard. I also thought that the design wasn't as nice either. 

The keyboard is sold as a full-sized keyboard, so that will control the actual size and placement of the keys, but there is a bezel around the keys that adds to the size of it. I'm not sure I will be able to carry the keyboard with me everywhere I want to. 

Using the Keyboard

When I connected the keyboard to my phone, it started working straight away. There is no software to install, no bluetooth connection to make, you just plug it in and start typing. 

This keyboard will make it substantially easier to write long notes, reports, and blogs. 

When you use a keyboard connected to an iOS device, you can use many of your familiar keyboard shortcuts, like copy (command+C) and paste (command+V). There are other shortcut keys that are inculded on this keyboard, like the Home key (that will take you back to the home screen), the Alt/Option key that changes the delete key to delete right. 

Conculsion

This is a great keyboard if you need to have a plug-in keyboard that is not wireless. After using it for about 30 min I got very comfortable with it. It is cheaper than the Apple Bluetooth keyboard. 

Vectorworks Tip #227 – Plant Tool – Placing Multiple Plants by Spacing

Use this mode to place multiple plants. This mode uses the plant spacing from the plant definition, rather than the click, and it places the plants along the path between the clicks. You can draw a line or a polygon and Vectorworks will place the plants along it for you.

Vectorworks Tip #226 – Stories and Levels – Levels and Columns

Levels can be used to control the bottom bound and the top bound of columns. The levels can be in the current story, in the story above (the top of a column), or the story below (for the bottom of the column). This gives you a lot of flexibility to control the height of your columns automatically.

Vectorworks Tip #225 – Attributes – Tiles

Tiles are a great way to create graphic fills for your drawings. Tiles allow you to draw lines, polygons, circles, rectangles, etc. to make repeatable patterns.