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