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Online Webinars
Use this calendar to register for the online sessions. Use the link is in the description to register.
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Workshop Topics
2025
January 2025 – Space Object
Space objects are really important for putting room labels on, room numbers, finishes room finishes, volumes, and areas. later on this year we will be covering room finishes, but before we do that we need to make sure we understand space objects and how they store information.
In this session we will learn:
- How to set up your preferences to use space objects effectively
- how to save space object Styles
- how to use data tags with space objects in the design layer
- how do use data tags with space objects in viewport annotations
February 2025 – Creating a Template File
A template file can speed up the drawing documentation enormously. A good template will speed you up and make it easy for you design and draw your projects. Poor template will slow you down and make it awkward. We will have to look at whether we use stories and levels or whether we just use design layers for Architectural projects.
If your projects are similar, a template can be used to do most of the work for you. If your projects are varied, a complex template will not be useful, so we will look at when to use a complex template and when to use a simple one.
The other question that always comes up is how much information should be in the template and how much should be in your library.
In this session we will learn:
- How to create a template
- when to use a complex template and when to use a simple template
- where to store your template
- what things absolutely must be in your template to ensure that your drawing system works
March 2025 – Room Finish Schedule
Room finishes are extremely useful for Architectural projects because they can show the finishes on all of the walls. Vectorworks 2025 has updated the way room finishes are created and the library of finishes has been completely changed.
In this session, we will be looking at what information we can attach to the room, using spaces, how to create your own finishes, and how to report and present the room finishes.
In this session we will learn:
- How to assign room finishes
- How to create your own room finishes
- How to create a room finish report
April 2025 – Stories and Levels
It has been a long time since we looked at stories and levels. I often get asked about using stories for Architectural projects or not. My answer is that if you want to use stories you have to go all in. There is no halfway measure to using stories because once you start using them you can then start to use levels with your walls, wall components, symbols, etc
When you use stories for all of your projects they are extremely powerful. But, if you’re going to use stories you do have to use storage with all projects.
We will be looking at the concept of stories and levels, how to assign stories and levels, how to control these, and how stories and levels can be used to control symbols, wall components, and how to store your stories and levels in your template
In this session we will learn:
- What are stories and levels
- How to create stories and levels
- How to connect stories and levels to walls, slabs, and wall components
- How to connect stories and levels to symbols.
May 2025 – Fence Tool
We have covered the fence tool previously, but this time we want to look at how to create complex fences. Last time we looked at this we did cover the basic concept fences but we stuck to simple fences. This time we’re going to look at more complex fences that you may need to create in the real world.
In this session we will learn:
- How to create a fence
- how to save a fence style
- how to create a complex fence
June 2025 – Curb Tool
This is a completely new tool in Vectorworks 2025. so we need to cover what the tool does, what it’s intention is, and how to use it effectively.
In this session we will learn:
- How to use the curb tool
July 2025 – Hardscape Tool
This workshop will be a deep dive into hardscapes. I’ve had a request to look at the detail of creating Hardscapes in 3D modeling, joining sloping hardscapes, controlling slopes on hardscapes, and applying textures, then saving this as a style to library.
In this session we will learn:
- creating a hardscape style
- using hardscapes on slopes
- joining hardscapes
- hardscape profiles
- assiging textures to hardscape components
August 2025 – Site Modeling
Last year we looked at the introduction to site Maine and this year we’re going to take that further by looking at the detailed cut and fill calculations that you can do with site models. We will have to cover the basics quickly but then we will move onto the difference between existing and proposed site modifies, how to calculate the earthworks cut / fill, and how to create a worksheets to calculate volumes for each site modifier and the cut/fill summary for project.
In this session we will learn:
- create a site model
- control site model settings
- add site modifiers
- create site modifier report
September 2025 – Alterations and Additions
It’s been a long time since we’ve looked at alterations and additions. We will look at a project, a simple project so that we get the idea, where we want to remove some walls, extend the house and we will need to create drawings that show the existing, demolition, imposed.
Some people propose using design layers to keep the existing as it is, and new design layer for the demolition, and further design layer for the proposed design. This is not the way that I recommend doing it because it means making changes on three layers should you make a change later on the project.
We will look at the relationship between stories and levels and alterations.
In this session we will learn:
- How to draw the existing project.
- wall styles for existing and demolished
- how to deal with the existing, demolished, and proposed roof
- how to set up the drawings to show the existing, the demolition work, and the proposed design
- strategies for measuring buildings.
October 2025 – What’s New in Vectorworks 2026
Every year Vectorworks updates and we need to look at what is new and how to use it.
In this session we will learn:
- we will learn what is new in Vectorworks 2026.
November 2025 – Drawing Production
I have had a request to run a workshop on drawing production. there are several parts to this workshop but they all relate to working efficiently. Some techniques will be used to work efficiently during the documentation process while others are to work efficiently once the documentation is completed. I will have a file already set up with all the information needed then we will use that file to create the saved views, to show the connection to the viewports, ing the drawings, managing the title blocks, etc.
In this session we will learn:
- managing saved views
- Saved views and connection to viewports
- Creating a drawing
- managing a title block
- creating a drawing issue
- Publishing drawings when project ready to issue
- Revisions sheet records.
December 2025 – Wrap Up of 2025
At the end of the year, we always review what we have covered and we plan our sessions for next year. This session is open to the public so they can see what they have missed out on and I want to hear what topics they would like covered.
Special Interest Groups
Landscape special interest Group
Vectorworks Landmark is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) package (2D, 3D, and information) for landscape architects, landscape designers, architects, and contractors. The topic depends on the attendees. We will discuss the topics that are troubling attendees and choose the most important topics. If you want your topics covered, you must attend and tell us what you want help with.
Special Interest Group – Getting Started
It is fair to say that these sessions are for beginners, but they are more than that. These sessions are for fundamental concepts. We often get experienced users at these sessions because they want to ensure they are using Vectorworks correctly. We look at your issues and drill down to the basics to ensure that users are effective.
Special Interest Group – 3D Modeling
3D work is really fun, but it might be confusing how to get started. The special interest group this to help you understand how to get started with 3D modeling. Depending on the users that attend, We could be looking at simple 3D modeling, or we could be looking at complex objects and how to create them. Remember that if you want to guide the conversation, or if you want questions answered, you must attend.
Special Interest Group – Architect
Vectorworks Architect is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) package (2D, 3D, and information) for architects, interior designers, engineers, residential and commercial designers, and contractors. The topics depend on the attendees. We will discuss the topics that are troubling attendees and choose the most important topics. Attend to have your topics covered.
We record the webinars, so if you register to join a webinar you are giving approval to be recorded and have the movie posted online.
archoncad holds two types of monthly webinars:
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS and SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Both types of webinars are recorded and available to Archoncad subscribers after they occur. However, the best way to learn Vectorworks and have your questions answered is to attend the live sessions.
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS explore a specific predetermined topic (i.e. Outdoor Lighting). Each month’s topic is set prior to the webinar and an online manual is available to guide the session. Each topic will start out assuming that you know nothing about the topic, so the basic concepts will be covered. The workshop will then move into the move advanced parts of the topic.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS are about an aspect of Vectorworks (i.e. 3D modeling) that is important to your profession. The actual items discussed are proposed by the attendees. If you have questions you would like answered on this aspect, this is the place to bring them. If you want your topics covered, you must attend. Except for the Getting Started group, you should expect to see intermediate and advanced topics being covered. If you are new to Vectorworks then you should be attending the Getting Started sessions until you are more proficient.
We record the webinars and post them online, which means that you come back later and watch any webinars that you have missed. We aim to keep the webinars from the last two years here.
When you join webinar, it is best to use a USB headset with a mic so that all the background noise is minimised. If you have a lot of background noise it might be best to keep yourself on mute.
What you need to know about attending the online workshops:
First, you have to register for an online session. Scroll down the page to find all the sessions and click on a link to Book for a Session.
When you register for a session, use the link: Show in my Time Zone. This will change the registration page and all subsequent emails to your time zone. The reminder emails have a link to add the session to your calendar, these will also be in your time zone.
What do you need to join a session?
- High-Speed Internet. We use GoToWebinar (a small bit of software that you will have to download, it’s free) to run these sessions over the Internet. So, you will need a high-speed Internet connection and a high-speed computer network. I have noticed that clients on a wireless network have a lesser experience, so try connecting directly to your computer network.
- Mic and Headset Because we talk to each other, a head set with a microphone is important. Try to find an easy to use USB headset and mic, this will make it better for you and others (you will create less feedback, echos and background noise). Here is the headset I use…
All sessions will be recorded and posted online. Registering for these sessions confirms your agreement to be recorded.