Architect Special Interest Group March 2020

In this session, we covered the Publish command, reviewed lining up and changing the graphics of a Custom Stair, and looked at using a Fastener object for creating 2D or 3D nuts and bolts.

Topics Covered:

• 00:06    It seems like I hardly ever print these days—I just publish and look at PDFs. So, we started the session by showing how to customize your workspace so that the ctrl P shortcut activates the Publish command instead of the Print command. You will want to do this, too, if you mostly use the Publish command. A handy feature in the Publish dialog box is the Save a Set command, which allows you to save a drawing collection once you’ve moved them over to the publishing window from the Sheets and Saved Views Available window. If your set changes, you can replace a sheet with another one. You can save multiple sets. For example, you might have a Building Control set and a Client set. We looked at the difference between raster-based and vector-based information. Rasterizing your drawing converts your drawing into dots. If you import a PDF with vector-based information, you can click to the geometry in the drawing and ungroup the objects. If you don’t want someone to be able to click to parts of your drawing, you should send them a raster-based file.
• 18:10    We started a discussion on the Custom Stair tool by first reviewing the standard Stair tool. The Custom Stair doesn’t work using Stories, but just uses Layer Elevations, with an Upper Floor and Lower Floor. We looked at what to do if the stairs for different floors don’t line up—they should line up! In a rotated view, my stair didn’t appear to line up correctly, even though it did in the normal 2D/plan view. We covered how to get Stair Break graphics right. Remember that it’s one stair appearing on two floor plans.
• 34:54    Vectorworks offers 3D nuts and bolts, but often in 3D, I just extrude a circle, although I might use the 3D bolt object in a detail. The Fastener object is very versatile and offers both the nut and the bolt in one object. You can specify the size, the screw/bolt type, the top lock washer, the top washer, the bottom washer, the bottom lock washer, and the nut. The question is whether you need that much detail in a drawing. In any case, it’s good to know that it’s there if you need it! The Fastener object allows you to switch between 2D and 3D.

Architect March 2020

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