The standard Vectorworks preselection colour is orange. The standard Vectorworks colour for selected objects is also orange, Which makes it hard to see when object is selected and when it is preselected. This can cause some confusion. If you change the preselection colour it to make it easier to see the difference between selected and preselected objects. 
The projection tool has three modes. In the first mode you can use a planar object to split a NURBS curve. In the picture I have used a rectangle to split a curving NURBS surface. In the final image you can see that I have separated the original NURBS surface from the split one. Notice how the rectangle has split the NURBS surface so that the plan view is still a rectangle but in 3-D it's still a curving surface.
Unlike the standard Vectorworks animation, Animationworks allows you to create moving objects inside your Vectorworks files. This means that you can create a walk-through movie where objects move as you walk through. There are several options for this, the first option is when you get an object to move along a path. For example in this scene there is a truck that moves across the front of the building just before the walk-through starts.
The Smart edge snap is very powerful, but it is not one of the snaps that you should leave on most of the time. The Smart Edge allows you to create objects that are parallel to an edge, allows you to create offsets from that smart edge. 
The snap box is the area around your cursor that allows Vectorworks to snap onto objects. If you go to your Vectorworks preferences you will find that you can change the size of the snap box and change the size of the selection box(this is the area around the cursor allows you to select objects). Changing the snap and selection boxes can make it easier to draw, but you must try these out, because changing them too much can make it more difficult to draw.
I use the Extract Tool to extract the faces of 3-D models. You can then use the extracted face to apply planar graphics. In this image you can see that I have applied hatching to the walls and roof of the building. This is using the extract face option from the extract tool.
One of the things that I really like about animation works is the ability to use multiple cameras along the path. This allows you to set some cameras that look along the path and some cameras the focus on a particular point. For example, you could create a walk through a project where you followed the path for some distance then changed to a camera that focused on a particular part of the design as you flew around this part, then change back to a camera that followed the path again.
Snap to object is one of the snaps that you absolutely must turn on if you want to draw accurately in Vectorworks. If you do not activate the snap you cannot draw accurately relative to other objects and you will not be able to dimension accurately. If you double click on the snap to object it has several options for you to choose from. If you reduce the number of choices, you can speed up your dimensioning. Reinstate all these choices for accurate designing.
The Extract tool can be used for several different things, one of the things I use this tool for is to extract the edges from 3-D objects. This can be a really useful way to get a path that you can then use with Extrude Along Path. You'll find this tool used in my 3D Modelling Manual available from Vectorworks.
For many of my clients, this time of the year is when they come back to school and work after the summer holidays. So, if you have been having a holiday (lucky you) welcome back. It is time to get your Vectorworks up to speed again. If you are (like me) enjoying your mid-winter work, maybe its time to invest a little time to make your Vectorworks run better. This is the theme of the newsletter this month.
If you double click on the Snap to Grid you will see a dialogue box with all the snap to grid options. I do not use Snap to Grid very often, usually because I'm drawing relative to other objects. But when you need to draw a objects,like this wall, and you want control the length of the quickly, use the snap to grid with a large grid setting so that you can draw the wall quickly. In this example I have used a wall, but this equally applies to other situations like set design and landscape. If you want more information about Snaps, have a look at my Guide to Productivity available here.
Windoor is a Vectorworks plug-in from Australia that allows you to create custom windows and doors. Unlike the standard window or door object, Windoor allows you to put doors and windows in the same frame, much like you would do in reality. Unfortunately, this plug-in is only available to users in Australia and New Zealand, but if you do have a copy that you have previously bought and you live outside these areas, you are able to upgrade it. I find Windoor to be very powerful when creating doors and windows.
When you combine the instant push/pull technique on planar objects with Automatic Working Planes, you get a very quick way to do 3D modelling. In step one you draw your planar object on the automatic working plan. In step two you move to the planar object, it should highlight. In step three you pull your planar object through your model. In step four hold down the alt/option key and click. Vectorworks will use your new extrusion object to subtract from the original object.
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