VectorWorks movies on youtube

I've started to place my podcasts on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/archoncad

VectorWorks 2009 Announced

You might all know this already, but the latest version of VectorWorks has been announced:

http://www.nemetschek.net/

I am now in the process of upgrading my manuals to the new version. i always take this opportunity to look at the manuals, see if I can make them easier to use and make VectorWorks easier to learn. I will be adding podcasts to my podcast site and adding the same podcast to youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/archoncad

What Does the online Use Group cover

I had an interesting chat the other day with one of my old clients. They were unsure about  some of the recent topics that we have covered in the online user group.  They had a phone call recently from a large client the other day that wanted to know if they planned a new development, where would it be seen from. We covered a technique for this a couple of months ago.

The interesting part of me was that when my client originally saw this topic they weren’t sure that it was a useful technique. Now they have a need for this and they can respond to their client positively and show a skill level far above the competition. This is what I want the user group to do for everyone.

Check out the user group at:
http://www.archoncad.co.nz/usergroup/join_int.php

What Does the online Use Group cover

I had an interesting chat the other day with one of my old clients. They were unsure about  some of the recent topics that we have covered in the online user group.  They had a phone call recently from a large client the other day that wanted to know if they planned a new development, where would it be seen from. We covered a technique for this a couple of months ago.

The interesting part of me was that when my client originally saw this topic they weren’t sure that it was a useful technique. Now they have a need for this and they can respond to their client positively and show a skill level far above the competition. This is what I want the user group to do for everyone. 

Check out the user group at:

http://www.archoncad.co.nz/usergroup/join_int.php

Is VectorWorks powerful enough

I was chatting to an old friend the other day and he suggested that there are many people that can use VectorWorks in a way that looks competent, but really they don’t understand the power of VectorWorks. 

That got me thinking, do people really understand the power of VectorWorks? For example I have know people that use groups instead of symbols, or they cut and paste instead of using layer linking (or design layer viewports). Some of these simple techniques can make VectorWorks faster and make it easier to use VectorWorks. 

there might be several (maybe hundreds) of tricks that could make you more effective at VectorWorks. These are the sorts of topics we cover in the cadsupportonline user group. check out the user group at:

http://www.archoncad.co.nz/usergroup/join_int.php

WinDoor Numbers windows in Vectorworks

I have just finished my cadsupportonline user group manual on windoor. This 3rd party plug-in for VectorWorks is well worth the money you have to pay for it. One thing that I really like about windoor is the ability to number the windows and doors.

The window numbers are not in order, but you can re-order the numbers...
This is a really productive trick and makes Windoor well worth while.

Layer Linking or Design Layer Viewports

if you have upgraded to VectorWorks 2008 you might be looking for the Create Layer Link... command. If you are using VectorWorks Fundamentals you will find it, but not if you are using VectorWorks Architect or Landmark or any of the other flavours of VectorWorks. That’s because the command is not longer in the same place, in fact the command has been removed from the menu bar al together. 

Instead of a layer link use a Design Layer Viewport (DLVP). The DVLP is similar to a layer link when you use it, but it is much more powerful. In VectorWorks 2008 you can crop layer links, but with a DLVP you can turn classes or layers on and off and change the graphic style of classes/

Layer Linking or Design Layer Viewports

if you have upgraded to VectorWorks 2008 you might be looking for the Create Layer Link... command. If you are using VectorWorks Fundamentals you will find it, but not if you are using VectorWorks Architect or Landmark or any of the other flavours of VectorWorks. That’s because the command is not longer in the same place, in fact the command has been removed from the menu bar al together.

Instead of a layer link use a Design Layer Viewport (DLVP). The DVLP is similar to a layer link when you use it, but it is much more powerful. In VectorWorks 2008 you can crop layer links, but with a DLVP you can turn classes or layers on and off and change the graphic style of classes/

Macintosh Leopard and VectorWorks Quickview

I’ve just installed VectorWorks on my new macintosh and i noticed that the VectorWorks files show you a preview of the file before you open it. It’s really odd to see the rendered view of the project in the finder.

This is a real advantage. You can see the plan before you open the file, so you know if you are opening the correct file, or the correct version of the project.

cadsupportonline user group topic past movies

I’ve just finished uploading the movies for user group manual and extended podcasts. I realised that there are now 150 movies in all the issues to date and 26 extended podcasts! I was just surprised at how much was available....

When you join the user group you get access to all the current back issues (and the movies and podcasts).  

If you are not a member of the cadsupportonline user group you should visit this page to join.

http://www.archoncad.co.nz/usergroup/join_int.php

Drawing by hand, or drawing with the computer?

I’m working on a quick concept drawing for a client and they had some minor comments. Move this, add windows here, move this over there... you know how it goes. It took me about 15 minutes to make the changes, update the plans, elevations and 3D views, then email it to the client. This is not a lot of time.

Over breakfast I got to thinking, it was a lot of changes in a short amount of time. I used to have clients complain as they were learning VectorWorks that they were quicker when they were drawing by hand. But the changes I made to the concept plan could not have been made in such a short time by hand, and you could not have scanned the plant and emailed it... 

When you think you are quicker drawing by hand you have to remember that drawing on the computer lets you generate 2 or 3 alternatives with very little extra work, and any changes can be made quickly, much more quickly than a hand drawing. 

If you are using VectorWorks yet, and you are still drawing by hand, change now! Start the new year with a new purpose, with a new business tool, start using VectorWorks effectively. 

I can help:

www.archoncad.com

jon@archoncad.com

VectorWorks 2008 updated

One of the new features of VectorWorks 2008 is the ability to keep it up to date. On the About VectorWorks screen is a button now to check for updates.

On a Macintosh you should :
Go to the Menu Bar
Choose VectorWorks > About VectorWorks...

On a Windows machine you should:
Go to the Menu Bar
Choose Help > About VectorWorks...

If you have installed the first version of the Service Pack 2 then you will see this Check For Updates... button. Click on this button to check for updates.

You will be taken to a web page that will tell you if your software is up to date or not. If you need to download a new version, you will be given the instructions you need.

My only concern is that the latest update is called Service Pack 2. This is not the first time the update has been called service pack 2 and my clients are starting to get confused about their updates...

Environmentally Friendly VectorWorks Support

I have been helping several of my clients over the internet now, ant it just occurred to me that this is one of the best ways to provide environmentally friendly support. If you ask a consultant to visit you for support, they might have to drive 30 minutes for more to get to you office. Of course they have to drive back to their office afterwards. That is leaving a carbon footprint, it’s using petrol and so on.

What about getting training when you need it over the internet. It leaves a small carbon footprint, but you will be using a computer anyway, so it’s not like driving your car for an hour or too.

So, for environmentally friendly VectorWorks support, contact me, Jonathan....

jon@archoncad.co.nz

Back at Work?

I know it looks like I’ve been on holiday. The truth is that I’ve been working on manuals fir the VectorWorks 2008 upgrade and I’ve been busy doing that, and the user group manual for January 2008.

I did take a  day off work yesterday to indulge myself and family. We went to a fantastic place in New Zealand for an old fashioned morning tea. If you are ever in the neighborhood you should book for morning tea or lunch:
http://www.oruawharo.com/

Tell Peter that you hear it from me.

cadsupportonline user group topics 2008 for Vectorworks

I have just finished the cadsupportonline user group notes for January 2008. The user group notes are much more like a manual than notes, so from now on I’ll be referring  the notes as a manual, or monthly manual. The January manual covers 30 productivity tricks that you should be using. Starting at the beginning of the year using VectorWorks productively seemed like a good idea to me and some of the users agree...

“I have been working my way through the latest issue of cadsupportonline - slowly as there are a lot of interesting points. So far I have thought "Yes I know that" but in quite a few cases there has been an extra bit that will make things so much faster.

Thanks for starting the year with such a good topic and I look forward to staying in touch and learning heaps more.”

I have a list of topics for the user group manuals for 2008, but there is room for your comments and suggestions. Leave comments here. Thanks
Jonathan

PS. If you are not a member of the cadsupportonline user group you should visit this page to join.

http://www.archoncad.co.nz/usergroup/join_int.php

Landscape Tutorial Manual for Vectorworks now shipping!

6tth January 2008 (Napier) Archoncad announce that the Landscape Tutorial Manual for VectorWorks 2008 is now shipping. This is the long awaited upgrade to the successful landscape tutorial manual for VectorWorks 12.

for more information please visit:
www.archoncad.com

Drawing by hand, or drawing with the computer?

I’m working on a quick concept drawing for a client and they had some minor comments. Move this, add windows here, move this over there... you know how it goes. It took me about 15 minutes to make the changes, update the plans, elevations and 3D views, then email it to the client. This is not a lot of time.

Over breakfast I got to thinking, it was a lot of changes in a short amount of time. I used to have clients complain as they were learning VectorWorks that they were quicker when they were drawing by hand. But the changes I made to the concept plan could not have been made in such a short time by hand, and you could not have scanned the plant and emailed it...

When you think you are quicker drawing by hand you have to remember that drawing on the computer lets you generate 2 or 3 alternatives with very little extra work, and any changes can be made quickly, much more quickly than a hand drawing.

If you are using VectorWorks yet, and you are still drawing by hand, change now! Start the new year with a new purpose, with a new business tool, start using VectorWorks effectively.

I can help:
www.archoncad.com
jon@archoncad.com

VectorWorks 2008 updated

One of the new features of VectorWorks 2008 is the ability to keep it up to date. On the About VectorWorks screen is a button now to check for updates. 

On a Macintosh you should :

Go to the Menu Bar

Choose VectorWorks > About VectorWorks...

On a Windows machine you should:

Go to the Menu Bar

Choose Help > About VectorWorks...

If you have installed the first version of the Service Pack 2 then you will see this Check For Updates... button. 

Click on this button to check for updates. 

You will be taken to a web page that will tell you if your software is up to date or not. 

If you nee to download a new version, you will be given the instructions you need. 

My only concern is that the latest update is called Service Pack 2. This is not the first time the update has been called service pack 2 and my clients are starting to get confused about their updates...