In this session, we talked about the lack of detail on Vectorworks doors, demonstrated how to create a workgroup reference file, discussed the zooming in and out issue, covered using Multiple View Panes, as well as the Section-Elevation Marker tool and the Data Tag tool, and discussed some Stair tool oddities.

 

Topics Covered:

• 00:07    The Vectorworks door is limited as far as the level of detail you can get. You can’t show a planted or rebated stop. You can’t stretch it to change its length. Everything has to be done through the Object Info palette or through the settings. When I detail a building, I like to give the contractor the rough opening, so in Vectorworks, I tend to include the shim gap in with the jamb width. That way, my jamb creates the rough opening that I need on the drawing when I dimension it. Keep in mind that when you use a door with a double leaf, the Vectorworks measurement assumes that the leaves are touching in the middle—it doesn’t allow for any kind of center detailing.
• 06:20    Someone wondered if there was a way to give an engineer or contractor a stripped-down view of a Vectorworks project, taking out all of the extra details. My first thought on this was to create a workgroup that attaches to another file and to export to that file just the level of information that you want to share. Using the Layer Import option for References in the Organization dialogue box, you can create a reference file that includes just the layers you want. For additional control, you could turn off everything you don’t want that person to see and create a Saved View for them. Under Tools, you can also use the Purge command to get rid of unused objects, as well as eliminating objects outside of the page boundary. If you need to share this with someone regularly, keep a general file that is already referenced to your project file. When you need to inform someone, you just need to update the referenced file, save it under a new name, cut the reference on the new file, purge and delete whatever additional objects you desire, and send the file off.
• 16:20    Some users have had an issue with zooming in and out. I suspect that it has something to do with the display and the Navigation Graphics option. Make sure that you keep your version of Vectorworks updated. They do include fixes in the updates. Rebooting can often fix things. With multiple views, the computer needs to work harder. You can try each of the various Navigation Graphics settings—one may work better with your particular computer than the others.
• 20:15    Some people don’t enjoy using the Multiple View Panes as much as I do. I find it to be a really powerful way to draw. For example, having a plan view and a 3D view open, I can move things around in one view—getting a better view of my work area—without interrupting my work in the other view. I also like using the floating window.
• 26:40    Next, we discussed the Section-Elevation Marker tool and the Data Tag tool. I discovered a bug where if you use the Section-Elevation Marker tool in the first mode, you can’t reference another viewport. If you use it in the Unconstrained Mode, you’ll find the Link to Viewport option in the Object Info palette. I use this tool to reference details. This tool will eventually be replaced by the Data Tag tool, which includes tags specific to all kinds of objects such as windows and doors. When I choose the window tag and go near a window, the tool highlights the window in red. Watch out because Vectorworks will also highlight the windows on the other side of the building! The tags automatically pull information from the window object. Once you’ve placed them, you can move the tags around. This is a job where it’s useful to use Multiple View Panes—having an elevation view and a plan view open will make the job easier. You can change the information that you show in the tag. Maybe you’d like to show the window’s height and width with its tag number.
• 41:40    We finished the session by discussing how, in the Stair tool, the preview window allows you to click on treads, but it doesn’t seem to accomplish anything. We demonstrated how clicking on a winder will bring up the Winder Parameters dialogue box and clicking on a stair corner will let you change the angle. One useful thing in Stair Settings is the Use Minimum/Maximum Values setting, which will ensure that your stair always stays within code—it will give you a warning if you fall outside the limits. Also, if you spend time setting up the Stair Construction or 2D Graphics settings, be sure to create styles for them so that you can save yourself that time in the future!

Architect November 2018

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