Vectorworks Tip 424 - Where To Put Site Modifiers

Many uses believe that the only place that you should store site modifiers is on the same layer as the site model. While this works very well, it is not the only place that you can locate your site modifiers. The site model settings dialog box allows you to choose where site modifiers can be located. They can be on the same layer as the site model, on any layer, on visible layers, or you can select which layers you want to put your site modifiers on.

Vectorworks Tip 423 - Cool Tricks With Symbols 3 - Records

Some objects in Vectorworks already have information attached to them. Symbols allow you to attach your own information to them using record formats. This allows you to create a symbol that has your own specific information attached and this information can also link to text and the symbol so that when you update the information on the Object Info palette the text and the symbol will also update. I am covering this at the design summit in Chicago, so you might still have time to come in join my session.

Drawing Basics - Line Weights

Line weights are extremely important. A drawing that has all of its lines with the same weight (same line thickness) is difficult to read. It's a very common practice to use different line weights to represent different parts of your drawing. To start with, all the background information should have a thin line, and objects that require emphasis should have a thicker line.

Vectorworks Tip 422 - Creating a Complex Stair With The Custom Stair Tool

Building on from the previous posts about the custom stair tool, if you remember that the stair is a kit of parts you can assemble all the parts you need to create extremely complex stairs.

Vectorworks Tip 421 – Project Sharing – Privileges

When you are setting up a project sharing project you will want to limit the privileges of the users. Not everybody should have administrator privileges. There are a range of privileges that allow users different access to the file. The administrator has full privileges allowing them to add or remove users, change the privileges of users, change any resource in the file, etc. you can also create users that have limited access to parts of the file. The restricted access to the file can prevent people from updating or creating new layers, updating or creating new classes, editing resources, and is also a read-only privilege that doesn't allow any changes at all.

Vectorworks Tip 420 - What Is A Site Modifier?

In simple terms a site modifier is a special object that will allow Vectorworks to change (or modify) a site model. Not every object can be a site modifier, but there are a large number of objects that can be. A site modifier needs a three-dimensional object to tell Vectorworks where to make the changes to the site model (sometimes called a pad), and it also requires an object to limit the extent of the change (called a grade limits).

Vectorworks Tip 420 - What Is A Site Modifier?

In simple terms a site modifier is a special object that will allow Vectorworks to change (or modify) a site model. Not every object can be a site modifier, but there are a large number of objects that can be. A site modifier needs a three-dimensional object to tell Vectorworks where to make the changes to the site model (sometimes called a pad), and it also requires an object to limit the extent of the change (called a grade limits).

Vectorworks Tip 419 - Cool tricks with symbols 2 - Auto Class

The next amazing track with symbols is the ability to control what class the symbol will be assigned to. For example, whenever I use a symbol for a lighting switch, it is always assigned to the class that I require (services – electrical), regardless of the active class on the view bar. This means that I can activate my symbol and not have to worry about what my active classes, the object will automatically be assigned to the correct class. This dramatically improves my productivity because my objects are automatically assigned to their required classes. I will be looking at using symbols to create and manage your libraries at the design summit in Chicago

Detaling Basics - Cold Bridge

A Cold Bridge refers to a break in the insulation in the building that allows the transfer of heat. Usually this is a break in the insulation that allows the heat to escape – which can also be thought of as the cold coming into the building. This often occurs at building junctions and requires careful detailing. This also occurs with areas of different insulation values such as the studs on a wall.

Vectorworks Tip 418 - Creating a Dog-Leg Stair With The Custom Stair Tool

Remember that the custom stair tool is designed to be used as a kit of parts. This means that to create a dogleg stair we need three parts: a straight flight, a U-Landing, and a straight flight for the final part of the stair. Once you understand that the stair uses a kit of parts, it becomes much easier to create the stair that you want.

Vectorworks Tip 417 - Setting Up a Project for Sharing

Setting up a project for project sharing is reasonably straightforward, but make sure you store the project in a suitable location so that everyone ca access it. DO NOT store this project in a online syncronised folder (like Box, Dropbox, etc). Set up the Admin privelges and start working. 

Vectorworks Tip 416 - DXF/DWG Dimensions

If you get the units wrong when you're importing a DXF/DWG file, you will end up with information that is the incorrect size. This can be fixed, but it is better to get the units correct. One of the techniques I use is to check the scale settings to see if the scale looks about right for the units chosen.

Detaling Basics - Pressure Differential

Pressure Differential is the difference in pressure between the inside and outside. If the pressue difference is great, water can be drawn up vertical faces, through gaps, and into the building. The solution is to have air seals at all joints.

Vectorworks Tip 414 - Creating a Straight Stair With the Custom Stair Tool

The custom stair tool is not part of the default workspace, you have to edit yourself from the legacy category. The custom stair tool is very flexible and is designed to be used like a kit of parts. In this tip will just look at a simple straight stair, but in later tips we will look at more complex stairs.

Vectorworks Tip 413 - What Is Project Sharing?

Project sharing is the ability to have several people working on a project where all theinformation is saved in a single project file. In the past you could use Reference Files, but these only shared information in one direction. Project sharing allows several people to share the information in both directions. We will be covering this in manual and online sessions in May 2016. Book Now...

Vectorworks Tip 412 - DXF/DWG Units

If you get the units wrong when you're importing a DXF/DWG file, you will end up with information that is the incorrect size. This can be fixed, but it is better to get the units correct. One of the techniques I use is to check the scale settings to see if the scale looks about right for the units chosen.

Vectorworks Tip 411 - Why Use Symbols Instead of Groups?

Symbols give you incredible abilities to attach information edit the information and control repeatable objects. In this example I've created a file with 100 tables. In the first file the tables are using the table and chair object. This file size is 10 MB. In the second example I've created one table and chair (exactly the same table and chair as the other file) made it into a symbol and repeated the symbol instance 100 times. This file size is .3 MB. This is a dramatic reduction in the size the file by using symbols. So my first reason for using symbols is that they're much more memory efficient. I will be looking at using symbols to create and manage your libraries at the Design Summit in Chicago

Detaling Basics - Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is where the water is moving. Generally, this is where the water is being blown by strong winds. I have used the roof example, which is common where I live. The wind often blows water up the roof slope, and under flashings. The flashings will stop a lot of the water, but without a stop end on the roofing, the water can enter the building.

Vectorworks Tip 410 - Curved Stair

This is like the simple stair but for curved stairs. This means that it is useful for simpl curved stairs, but it is not useful if you want detailed stair. Like the Simple Stiar, this is great at concept stage.

SST_1604 - Subdivision Modeling

Subdivision modelling is a new area for Vectorworks. It was introduced it Vectorworks 2016 and it will allow Vectorworks to create extremely complex smooth curving shapes.

Subdivision services have been around for some time as a computer technology, but not implemented in computer programs very often. The subdivision surfacing techniques employed by Vectorworks have been developed by Pixar Inc. and Vectorworks are using their system.

“subdivision surfaces are polygon mesh surfaces generated from a base mesh object through an iterative process that smooths the mesh while increasing its density” www.holmes3d.net/graphics/subdivision/

Because this is a new technology for many Vectorworks users it it may seem unusual in the way that you edit a subdivision surface. in the chapter on basic concepts I will explain this new technology and how you can edit objects.

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Vectorworks Tip 409 - Selecting A Subdivision Handle

The subdivision handles allow you to pull, stretch, scale, or even rotate the face of your subdivision surface to change shape. When you select the subdivision handle you will get the transform widget (if using the transform mode). This is one of the basic concepts of using subdivision services, being able to select the subdivision handle that you want. You can select more than one subdivision handle and move them all together

Vectorworks Tip 408 - DXF/DWG - Line Weights.

Older versions of AutoCAD did not carry line weight information and they used to use colours to represent line weights for printing. Some users of AutoCAD still use colours to represent line weights. When you imported DXF/DWG file you can specify which colours are equal to its line weights. Vectorworks uses line weights directly without reference to colours to this technique can convert the objects to the correct line weights.

Vectorworks Tip 407 - Symbols And Groups

Groups are a collection of objects, while a symbol is a special object in Vectorworks that is designed to be used with repeatable objects. The symbol uses the concept of an instance (a symbol on the drawing) and the definition (the information used to create the symbol). When you place a similar new drawing you are placing an instance, when you edit the symbol either from the drawing or from the resource browser you are editing the definition. When you edit the definition of a symbol every instance of that symbol in the drawing will update. I will be looking at symbols at the Design Summit in Chicago.