Taking CAD beyond the drawing Board with Vectorworks

My friend Bill and I have been involved with several Vectorworks clients helping them to integrate Vectorworks into other aspects of their business.

In this case the client sells solar hot water systems and solar PV systems. The client would like to know the orientation of the house relative to the sun, how big the roof area is, and how many panels could reasonably be placed on the sloping roof. We can in fact do far more!

The answer is to get an image from the Internet showing the house and orientation to North. You then use the Vectorworks tools to create a 3-D model of the roof and walls. Using the 3-D model of the roof you  place the solar water and PV panels. When you place the panels on the roof they  align to the slope of the roof, so you know exactly how many panels you can place. 

The panels are linked to a worksheet. With the panels in place, simply update the worksheet  which will show the cost of each panel, the total cost of all the panels, cost of installation, council permits etc. So your 2D drawing  has generated a quotation!

Bill and I have trained several clients to use these reporting and quoting functions inside Vectorworks. Clients like IceBreaker find that Vectorworks can change the way they do business.

For more information please contact Bill…  bill@megabits-ANZ.net
Jonathan at jon@archoncad.co.nz

Novedge Webinar Series Episode 39: Introduction to BIM with Vectorworks Architect

Earlier on today I was presenting a webinar for Novedge, a Vectorworks reseller in America. The topic was an introduction to BIM using Vectorworks architect.  the webinar was recorded and you can now watch this recording on YouTube.

One of the main concepts in using Vectorworks Architect is called Building Information Modeling (BIM). What this means is that as you draw a wall in Vectorworks, it is more than a plan representation of a wall. The wall has texture, knows when a window is inserted, and can have information attached to it. Many parts of the Vectorworks drawing are like this: they are much more than they seem. A door, for example, is more than the plan representation of the door. It has a model part, and you can attach information about the door, door hardware, or even the supplier and cost of the door. This information can be generated as a report whenever you want it.

Many of the topics that I showed during this webinar have been covered in my monthly subscription service.  So if you are a subscriber you will recognize many of the tricks I have shown you, if you are not a subscriber you might notice there are lots of quick tricks that I use.

Almost all of today's webinar is covered in the Vectorworks Architect Tutorial manual sold by Novedge on the website. Check it out here.

Icebreaker Breaks New Ground

I was really pleased to see this case study about Icebreaker.  Icebreaker has been a client of mine for some time,  and so I was really pleasing to see Vectorworks do a case study about how they have implemented the training I have completed with them.

The case study is worth reading. It is amazing to see the changes the icebreaker have implemented by using Vectorworks. It has really changed the way they design the shops, price them, report on the clothing in the stores, and present their proposals to their clients.

Icebreaker started with a new sales team leader, and he wanted to know how best to put Vectorworks in place.  To start with,  I had him attend one of my Essential Tutorial courses so that he would learn the basics of Vectorworks in a structured way. Next we set up a series of ten online sessions that would allow us to work through one project, implementing Vectorworks in a way that they had never seen before. Icebreaker set out several things that they would like to achieve with Vectorworks. Not only were we able to achieve these things, but we were able to do much more.

I thoroughly recommend downloading and reading this case study. I hope it will change the way you think about Vectorworks.

If you would like to change your business like icebreaker did, please get in touch with me, I know I can help you.

Introduction to BIM with Vectorworks Architect

One of the main concepts in using Vectorworks Architect is called Building Information Modeling (BIM). What this means is that as you draw a wall in Vectorworks, it is more than a plan representation of a wall. The wall has texture, knows when a window is inserted, and can have information attached to it. Many parts of the Vectorworks drawing are like this: they are much more than they seem. A door, for example, is more than the plan representation of the door. It has a model part, and you can attach information about the door, door hardware, or even the supplier and cost of the door. This information can be generated as a report whenever you want it.

Time: February 15, 2012 from 11am to 12pm
Location: Online (PDT)
Website or Map: http://www.novedge.com/webina…
Event Type: webinar
Organized By: NOVEDGE LLC.

Register for the webinar now...

Vectorworks Architect Online Test

When you employ staff, wouldn't it be nice to know that the new employee has a good level of Vectorworks skill?

When you think about training your staff, wouldn't it be great to know where the training was needed?

Now you can.

I have created an online Vectorworks Architect test. This test covers 9 major areas with 63 questions.

I would expect the test to take about 30 mins if the user is very competent.

I completed the test in 18 minutes, but then I knew what all the questions and answers would be.

There are a range of questions using True/False statements, Multiple Choice, Multiple Correct, and questions where the user has to label images.



This test is ideal for:

• employers to test new employee
• employers that want to know where to invest in their staff
• school and university leavers 
• employment agencies