Architectural Technologist – AECnetwork

The Konstrukshon blog has an article about the AECnetwork.

The AEC Network is an informal, free of charge, global network for the construction sector. All are welcome in this network, all we ask (and this is very important) is that members do not spam other members with sales approaches. We would like to foster an atmosphere where people can openly discuss their areas of expertise and look for collaboration and do not want to discourage participation due to unwanted spam.

Architectural Technologist – The Biker

Just when I thought life was hard, i saw this video on the Konstrukshon blog. This video has nothing to do with Vectorworks, but is it inspirational. When you think life is hard, watch this video and see how this person can do the impossible.

http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=1651

Support Konstrukshon.com

There is one web site I always check out for architectural technology and Vectorworks:

http://blog.konstrukshon.com

This week the author, Steve, joined an online demonstration of BIM and Vectorworks. The review is well worth a read. http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=1595

Steve also has an article about CAD Class tables and what classes should be used for. Again, well worth a visit. http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=1569

Just tell Steve I sent you.

3D Modeling Manual for Vectorworks 2009 now Available

My new manual is now shipping from NNA. http://www.nemetschek.net/training/guides.php

3D Modeling in Vectorworks $75

The Vectorworks 3D Modeling Tutorial manual, by Jonathan Pickup, is a must-have workbook for anyone seeking to learn how to free-form model with Vectorworks. The manual will bring you to a competent level of 3D capability through exercises aimed at building a foundation of 3D Vectorworks skills. Specifically, you’ll learn how to create 3D forms through the use of extrudes, sweeps, solids, NURBS, loft surfaces, and 3D primitives.

One of my clients has just finished a course that uses this manual, and she was very happy:

“I have just completed Jonathon’s 3D course, and it has opened a whole new world for me. My design is no longer restricted to rectilinear planes. I can now do angled surfaces and compound curves, spin them around to have a look at them, and chop them into templates for fabrication.” Juliet, Exhibition Designer

Share Files on line

I’ve just been chatting with a friend of mine in the UK. He was talking about sharing files with other architects and it reminded me to tell him about an application one of my clients showed me, dropbox. Dropbox is an application that allows you to share files across your computers and it allows you to share the files with others.

It’s easier than a USB flash drive, and it’s quicker than email. Steve and I tried a small experiment. He created a shared folder for me, and he added a Vectorworks file to it.

I created a Workgroup Reference to the file and added it to my drawing using a Design Layer Viewport. This lets me move his file around, I can rotate it and so on.

This is not a lot different than traditional working.

Because this is a Workgroup Reference, I can update the reference if Steve updates the file from the other side of the world.

Go to the Navigation palette, and update the reference.

The Design Layer viewport updates. This is all over the Internet, and it is almost live. It did take about a minute for the update to appear on my computer, but I still this this is a fantastic way of shared working over the Internet.

Take my advice, go get dropbox.

Get training. Beat your competition. http://www.archoncad.co.nz/training/online_training.php

Permeable Paving

This isn’t really to do with Vectorworks, but I just had a call from this company:

http://www.suretechindustries.co.nz/

This is from their web site

• Works for both grass and gravel
• Big panel size means quick and easy installation
• Panels are lightweight and can be nested together, reducing storage and transportation costs
• UV stabilised injection moulded polypropylene will last a life time
• Made from 100% recycled materials
• Super strong - able to withstand 700 tonnes per square metre
• Can be pegged down for slope stabilisation
• Interlock securely - won't creep
• Designed to allow turf roots to grow without restriction

Help! I can’t Print to PDF!

One of my clients just phoned up in a panic. They were trying to print a job to PDF. All the drawings except for one printed without the text boxes. I thought it might be a font problem, so I suggested a change to Arial (always a fallback font).

“had a few veiwports and referenced viewports on the page - all that use Avante Garde. Then 2 schedules and 1 worksheet - also all used avante garde. No text at all would actually appear in the PDF - even fonts that were not avante garde. Once I deleted the suspect schedule viewport every other bit of text began to appear - then I changed the font to Arial made a new viewport and it worked fine.”

Short Sharp Manual - Intermediate Worksheets

Following the release of the short sharp manuals last month, I have added a new manual to the Short Sharp Manual page.

This manual is about Intermediate Worksheets. Not beginners worksheets, intermediate worksheets. The manual looks at 10 different worksheet examples to will focus on several worksheet issues. We will learn how to solve these issues using worksheets. We will look at several specific worksheet techniques to solve specific problems:
Counting Car Parks
Counting Site Areas (impermeable surface)
Building Occupancy for car park requirements
Building Occupancy for fire design.
Problems with design layer viewports.
Counting Landscape areas with several sites.
Problems counting just one sort of joist.
Bracing worksheet using connected worksheets, IF statements and sorting.
Roof Area calculations for downpipes or roofing materials.
Wall Area scheduling for quantity take-offs.

Find the manual here: http://www.archoncad.com/intermediate-worksheets.html