Vectorworks Fundamentals Users Guide

19852011NemetschekVectorworks,Incorporated.AllRightsReserved.NemetschekVectorworks,Inc.,hereafterreferredtoasNemetschekVectorworks,anditslicensorsretainallownershiprightstotheMiniCADVectorworkscompuwellasVectorwgovernoriginaconfidemaynootherwsoftwarinteropuponreVectoTheVecandilluSusanCThismfurnishinaccoinformuseonlnotbecVectorwresponthatmaExceptpublicasystemelectrontheexpVectorw

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Macintosh,QuickDraw3D,QuickTime,andQuartz2DareregisteredtrademarksofAppleComputer,Inc.MicrosoftandWindowsareregisteredtrademarksoftheMicrosoftCorporationintheUnitedStatesandothercountries.terprogramandallothercomputerprogramsasdocumentationofferedbyNemetschekorks.UseofNemetschekVectorworkssoftwareis

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IfyouwVectorwautomabasisfr(SeeSeFundamVectoThelicecanbeorbyclbox.avenotalreadydoneso,pleaseregisteryourcopyectorworkssoftwarewithNemetschekorksathttp://register.nemetschek.net.ouldliketoreceiveautomaticnotificationoforkssoftwareupdates,youcanselecttoticallycheckforupdatesonaweeklyormonthlyomtheSessiontabofVectorworkspreferencesssionPreferencesonpage 21intheVectorworksentalsUsersGuide.)

rworks License AgreementnseagreementbindingtheuseofthissoftwarefoundintheVectorworksReleaseNotesdirectoryickingLicenseintheAboutVectorworksdialog

Table of Contents Preface ........................................................................................................................................................... i

Installing Vectorworks Products................................................................................................................................ i

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Codating Vectorworks Products............................................................................................................................... ii

w Features.......................................................................................................................................................... iii

arning Vectorworks ............................................................................................................................................. xi

chnical Support and Training .............................................................................................................................xiii

ctorworks Service Select .................................................................................................................................. xiv

duction ................................................................................................................................................1derstanding Vectorworks.....................................................................................................................................1

e Fundamentals Workspace ................................................................................................................................4

e View Bar ...........................................................................................................................................................7

lettes and Tool Sets.............................................................................................................................................9

lette Layout Options...........................................................................................................................................10

t Box Functionality .............................................................................................................................................14

ditional Key Functionality...................................................................................................................................15

reen Tips............................................................................................................................................................15

ject Editing Mode...............................................................................................................................................16

tting Vectorworks Preferences...........................................................................................................................17

tting Document Preferences ..............................................................................................................................28

tting Quick Preferences .....................................................................................................................................33

ntext Menus.......................................................................................................................................................34

ing Started .........................................................................................................................................39eating a New File ...............................................................................................................................................39

ening a File........................................................................................................................................................39

ing Finder Quick Look (Macintosh OS X 10.5+ Only)........................................................................................41

sing a File .........................................................................................................................................................43

ving a File ..........................................................................................................................................................43

verting to the Last Saved Version .....................................................................................................................45

nverting Previous Version Files.........................................................................................................................45

ii | Table of Contents

Exiting Vectorworks ...............................................................................................................................................51

Drawing Techniques ..............................................................................................................................................51

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Undoing and Redoing Actions ...............................................................................................................................52

ving Around.......................................................................................................................................................53

lecting Objects ...................................................................................................................................................58

tting Up the Drawing ..........................................................................................................................................71

tting Default Object Attributes............................................................................................................................80

eating Templates................................................................................................................................................80

inting...................................................................................................................................................................81

ing Drawing Tablets...........................................................................................................................................86

ing Structure ....................................................................................................................................89ganizing the Drawing .........................................................................................................................................89

naging Layers ...................................................................................................................................................93

naging Classes ...............................................................................................................................................105

tting Class and Design Layer Options .............................................................................................................113

naging Viewports ............................................................................................................................................113

naging Saved Views .......................................................................................................................................114

tting Visibilities .................................................................................................................................................118

rkgroup Referencing .......................................................................................................................................121

ing with Snapping..........................................................................................................................133tting Snapping Parameters ..............................................................................................................................133

awing with Snapping ........................................................................................................................................147

artCursor Cues ...............................................................................................................................................153

g Vectorworks Resources..............................................................................................................157raries ...............................................................................................................................................................157

fault Content in Vectorworks Fundamentals and Renderworks ......................................................................157

ing the Resource Browser ...............................................................................................................................159

derstanding Symbols.......................................................................................................................................173

Table of Contents | iii

Creating New Symbols ........................................................................................................................................175

Inserting Symbols ................................................................................................................................................178

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Reiting Symbols ...................................................................................................................................................183

cord Formats ...................................................................................................................................................191

obal Symbol Commands ..................................................................................................................................199

ting Objects.....................................................................................................................................207ctorworks Modeling Environment....................................................................................................................207

ing the Data Bar...............................................................................................................................................209

eating Lines......................................................................................................................................................213

eating Rectangles ............................................................................................................................................218

eating Rounded Rectangles.............................................................................................................................221

eating Circles ...................................................................................................................................................223

eating Ovals .....................................................................................................................................................227

eating Arcs .......................................................................................................................................................229

eating Quarter Arcs ..........................................................................................................................................234

eating Polylines ................................................................................................................................................234

eating Triangles ...............................................................................................................................................241

eating 2D Polygons ..........................................................................................................................................242

eating 3D Polygons ..........................................................................................................................................249

sing and Opening Polygons and Polylines .....................................................................................................249

eating Spheres .................................................................................................................................................251

eating Hemispheres .........................................................................................................................................252

eating Cones ....................................................................................................................................................253

eating Loci........................................................................................................................................................255

ng Objects .......................................................................................................................................257iting Object Information....................................................................................................................................257

ving Objects ....................................................................................................................................................263

tting, Copying, and Pasting Objects ................................................................................................................268

moving Objects................................................................................................................................................270

iv | Table of Contents

Duplicating Objects ..............................................................................................................................................273

Smoothing Objects...............................................................................................................................................279

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Drmposing and Decomposing Objects and Surfaces .........................................................................................280

lecting Connected Objects...............................................................................................................................281

cking and Unlocking Objects............................................................................................................................282

tating Objects ..................................................................................................................................................282

rroring Objects..................................................................................................................................................286

nverting Objects ..............................................................................................................................................289

ouping Objects .................................................................................................................................................291

gning and Distributing Objects .........................................................................................................................292

mpressing Images ...........................................................................................................................................295

cing Bitmaps ...................................................................................................................................................296

ct Operations ..................................................................................................................................297truding Objects.................................................................................................................................................297

eeping Objects ................................................................................................................................................301

shaping Objects...............................................................................................................................................302

fsetting Objects ...............................................................................................................................................315

mming and Clipping Objects............................................................................................................................318

sizing Objects ..................................................................................................................................................320

earing Objects .................................................................................................................................................324

ining Objects ....................................................................................................................................................324

mbining and Connecting Objects ....................................................................................................................326

litting Objects and NURBS Surfaces ...............................................................................................................332

eating Fillets and Chamfers .............................................................................................................................335

iting Object Surfaces .......................................................................................................................................339

taining Engineering Properties ........................................................................................................................345

taining Volumetric Properties ..........................................................................................................................346

afting Aids ........................................................................................................................................................347

Table of Contents | v

9 Adding Text and Annotation..................................................................................................................353Inserting Text .......................................................................................................................................................353

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12 AddStrdifying Text......................................................................................................................................................357

ing Text Styles .................................................................................................................................................364

ecking Spelling ................................................................................................................................................367

ding and Replacing Text .................................................................................................................................369

erting Callouts .................................................................................................................................................370

erting a Leader Line ........................................................................................................................................375

ding a Sheet Border.........................................................................................................................................376

ing Notation Objects ........................................................................................................................................385

anced 3D Modeling........................................................................................................................393 Power Pack Fundamentals ............................................................................................................................393

eating NURBS Curves .....................................................................................................................................400

RBS Surfaces .................................................................................................................................................402

tracting Geometry ............................................................................................................................................420

RBS Surface-curve Interaction .......................................................................................................................422

eating Helix-Spirals ..........................................................................................................................................432

eating Contours................................................................................................................................................434

lids Operations.................................................................................................................................................434

nverting to Generic Solids ...............................................................................................................................443

ating Building Elements ................................................................................................................445eating Floors ....................................................................................................................................................445

eating Walls......................................................................................................................................................445

iting Walls ........................................................................................................................................................464

eating Roof Faces ............................................................................................................................................473

eating Roof Objects..........................................................................................................................................478

iting Roof Objects ............................................................................................................................................480

ing Building Elements...................................................................................................................495uctural Shapes and Details .............................................................................................................................495

vi | Table of Contents

Inserting and Editing Symbols Within a Wall .......................................................................................................509

Creating Columns ................................................................................................................................................520

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Useating Simple Stairs .........................................................................................................................................522

lying Object Attributes ..................................................................................................................525e Attributes Palette ..........................................................................................................................................525

nsferring Attributes ........................................................................................................................................526

l Attributes ........................................................................................................................................................530

n Attributes ......................................................................................................................................................532

acity Attributes ................................................................................................................................................532

e Style Attributes .............................................................................................................................................533

rker Attributes..................................................................................................................................................538

ing Hatch Fills ..................................................................................................................................................541

ing Tile Fills......................................................................................................................................................548

ing Gradient Fills..............................................................................................................................................552

ing Image Fills .................................................................................................................................................557

pping Fills with the Attribute Mapping Tool .....................................................................................................561

plying Colors....................................................................................................................................................566

wing the Drawing ............................................................................................................................575ing Standard Views..........................................................................................................................................575

ojection .............................................................................................................................................................577

rspective .........................................................................................................................................................578

ulating Movement ..........................................................................................................................................578

tting a 3D View ................................................................................................................................................585

tting a Camera View in Renderworks ..............................................................................................................586

to Objects........................................................................................................................................................591

to Page Area ...................................................................................................................................................592

wing History ....................................................................................................................................................592

ing Working Planes..........................................................................................................................................593

Table of Contents | vii

15 Creating and Mapping Textures..........................................................................................................607Renderworks Commands and Tools....................................................................................................................607

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Paxtures and Shaders..........................................................................................................................................608

eating Textures ................................................................................................................................................609

iting Textures and Shaders..............................................................................................................................622

eating Image Prop Objects...............................................................................................................................626

ding 3D Plants .................................................................................................................................................628

eating Layer Backgrounds ...............................................................................................................................629

plying and Mapping Textures ..........................................................................................................................635

plying Textures to Symbols, Walls, and Roofs ................................................................................................651

plying Renderworks Backgrounds ...................................................................................................................656

dering the Drawing ........................................................................................................................659ding Light .........................................................................................................................................................660

vanced Renderworks Lighting .........................................................................................................................674

eparing to Render.............................................................................................................................................681

ndering with Vectorworks ................................................................................................................................681

ndering with Renderworks...............................................................................................................................689

ndering a Selected Area..................................................................................................................................701

tch Rendering ..................................................................................................................................................703

naging Lights and Cameras with the Visualization Palette .............................................................................705

ensioning and Constraints ...........................................................................................................709ensioning .......................................................................................................................................................709

rking Object Centers .......................................................................................................................................726

gular Dimensioning..........................................................................................................................................727

c Length Dimensioning.....................................................................................................................................729

nverting Objects to Dimensions.......................................................................................................................730

difying Dimensions..........................................................................................................................................731

asuring Distance .............................................................................................................................................738

rametric Constraints ........................................................................................................................................740

viii | Table of Contents

18 Presenting Vectorworks Drawings .....................................................................................................753Animating Drawings with QuickTime ...................................................................................................................753

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Maesenting Drawings with Sheet Layer Viewports ...............................................................................................762

tting Sections...................................................................................................................................................783

yer Linking........................................................................................................................................................784

orting and Exporting Files ............................................................................................................789porting Files .....................................................................................................................................................789

porting Files .....................................................................................................................................................791

porting a Rendered Drawing............................................................................................................................799

F and DWG File Formats ................................................................................................................................803

F/DWG File Export..........................................................................................................................................806

F/DWG File Import ..........................................................................................................................................818

rksheets ...........................................................................................................................................833eating Worksheets ...........................................................................................................................................833

ing Worksheets................................................................................................................................................837

tering Data in Spreadsheet Cells.....................................................................................................................851

tering Data in Database Rows.........................................................................................................................857

rksheet Functions ...........................................................................................................................................861

porting Worksheets ..........................................................................................................................................868

porting Worksheets..........................................................................................................................................869

rksheets as Graphic Objects ..........................................................................................................................870

ng Scripts ........................................................................................................................................871eating Custom Selection Scripts ......................................................................................................................871

eating Custom Tool/Attribute Scripts................................................................................................................872

eating VectorScripts .........................................................................................................................................874

nning VectorScripts .........................................................................................................................................874

naging VectorScripts.......................................................................................................................................875

naging Script Palettes .....................................................................................................................................877

Table of Contents | ix

A Using the Workspace Editor .................................................................................................................879Creating or Editing a Workspace .........................................................................................................................879

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Indexdating Custom Workspaces and Plug-in Objects ............................................................................................889

dards and Resources.....................................................................................................................891raries in Vectorworks Fundamentals and Renderworks..................................................................................891

rsors in Vectorworks Fundamentals ................................................................................................................893

ctorworks Circle/Arc Conventions....................................................................................................................900

rvey Bearings...................................................................................................................................................900

rrelated Color Temperature .............................................................................................................................900

chitectural Scale ...............................................................................................................................................901

derworks Shader Definitions .........................................................................................................903ader Types.......................................................................................................................................................903

.........................................................................................................................................................927

x | Table of Contents

Preface

WelcomtechnoltoolsfoworkshTheVebuiltin

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4. CetoVectorworksFundamentalssoftwareaCADprogramthatincludesallthe2Dand3Dtoolsandogyyouneedinoneeasytouse,costeffectivepackage.Inadditiontoprecisiondrafting,itprovidespowerfulr3Dmodelingthatcanbeusedtocreate,present,andevenmanufacturedesigns.Builtindatabaseandeetcapabilitieshelptrackcostsandmaterials.Ahostofimportandexportformatsmakesiteasytosharefiles.ctorworksFundamentalsproductalsoincludesextensivesymbollibraries,defaultdrawingresources,andascriptingenvironmentthatcanbeusedtoautomateroutinetasks.

lling Vectorworks Productsctorworksinstallationprogramliststheinstallationsystemrequirements,anyknowninstallationissues,andormationthatdidnotmakeitintothedocumentation.Toensureasmoothinstallation,confirmthatsystemmentsaremetandtakenoteofanyissuesorincompatibilitiespriortoinstallingthesoftware.tallationprogramcaninstalltheVectorworksDesigner,Renderworks,Architect,Landmark,Spotlight,andentalsproductsinanycombination.Theprogramdetermineswhichproductstoinstallbasedontheserial

r.

ftwarelicenseallowsforonecopytobemadeforbackuppurposes.TheVectorworkssoftwareshouldbeuponaregularbasis.Thesebackupsareinvaluableinrestoringusercustomizedsettingsthatmaybeiselosteitherbyacomputerfailureorbyreinstallationofthesoftware.

g and Removing Serial Numbersinstallationyouaretypicallyrequiredtoentertheserialnumber,whichisprovidedwiththeVectorworkse.Ifyouarenotpromptedtoentertheserialnumberduringinstallation,youmustenteritthefirsttimetheisaccessed.Youmayalsoneedtoupdateaserialnumbertoenablemoreproducts.

aserialnumber:pentheVectorworksprogram.heSerialNumbersdialogboxopensthefirsttimetheprogramisaccessed.Thereafter,itisaccessedbyclickingerialNumbersfromtheSessiontabofVectorworkspreferences.

lickAdd.heAddNewSerialNumberdialogboxopens.ntertheserialnumberexactlyasitappearsonthelabel.Theserialnumberiscasesensitive.Thelettersoandienotusedinserialnumbers;enterzerooroneinstead.lickAdd.

ii | Preface

ThelistofEnabledProductsintheSerialNumbersdialogboxdisplaysallproductsenabledbythisserialnumber.Forsecurity,serialnumbersthatbeginwiththeletterAarepartiallyhiddenwherevertheydisplayinV

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nlyoneserialnumbercanbeappliedatatime.Whentheserialnumberisset,clickDone.oveaserialnumber:lickSerialNumbersfromtheSessiontabofVectorworkspreferences.heSerialNumbersdialogboxopens.lecttheserialnumbertoremove,andthenclickRemove.lickDone.

ng the Vectorworks License AgreementnseagreementfortheVectorworkssoftwarecanbeviewedatanytime.thelicenseagreement:nWindows,selectHelp>AboutVectorworks,oronMacintoshselectVectorworks>AboutVectorworks.lickLicensetodisplaythelicenseagreementtext.lickOKtwicetoreturntotheprogram.

ork ProtectionourunmultiplecopiesoftheVectorworksprogramacrossanetwork,serialnumbersarecheckedwhentheislaunched,andalsoperiodicallythroughoutthesession.meserialnumberisfoundtobeinuse,theAllSerialNumbersInUsedialogboxopens.Fromthisdialogbox,serInformationtodisplaytheUserName,ifgiven,andtheIPaddressoftheotherlocation.ClickEditrstodeletetheexistingserialnumberandenteranewone.Oncethesituationisresolved,clickRetryrstoregainaccesstotheprogram.Iftheserialnumberisstillinuseafterthreeattempts,theprogramticallyshutsdown.

ting Vectorworks ProductsorkssoftwareupdatesarecalledServicePacks,andareconsideredmaintenancereleases.Thereareseveralobtainupdates:lickCheckforUpdatesfromHelp>AboutVectorworks.Alternatively,selectHelp>CheckforUpdatesindows)orVectorworks>CheckforUpdates(Macintosh).

dialogboxopenstoindicatewhetherthesoftwareisuptodate,orifanupdateisavailable.Ifanupdateisailable,clickMoreInfotoopenawebbrowsertodisplayanddownloadavailableupdates.Ifitisinconvenientupdatethesoftwareatthistime,clickCancel.lecttoAutomaticallycheckforupdatesonaweeklyormonthlybasisfromtheSessiontabofVectorworkseferences(seeSessionPreferencesonpage 21).pdatesareavailablefordownloadatwww.vectorworks.net/downloads

New Features | iii

New FeaturesThisreRender

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XrayleaseincludesmanynewfeaturesandsignificantenhancementstotheVectorworksFundamentalsandworksproducts,andtotheFundamentalsworkspace,asdescribedinthefollowingsections.

ectorworks Fundamentals FeatureslowingtablecontainsalistofnewandimprovedfeaturesforthereleaseoftheVectorworks2012software,andesthesectionwherethefunctionalityisdocumented.

re Purpose Location

xtsensitivehelpandPDF TheVectorworkshelpsystem,keyboardshortcutfile,andPDFfileshavebeenupdatedtoreflectversion2012functionality

Notapplicable

ewquickpreferencens

TheShowGridandShowPageBoundaryoptionsarenowavailableforeasyaccessfromtheQuickPreferencesmenuontheToolbar

SettingQuickPreferencesonpage 33

rprintimprovements LibraryfileswhichcanonlybeusedwithspecificDesignSeriesproductsarenowclearlyidentifiedasfingerprinted

WatermarkedandFingerprintedFilesonpage 40

BatchConvertstatistic Anewstatisticisnowavailableforlistingthenumberoffilesthatwerenotprocessedduringthebatchconversionprocessduetobeingdamaged

ConvertingPreviousVersionFilesasaBatchonpage 46

vedzooming Duringazoomoperation,thenormalappearanceofthedrawingismaintainedinmostcases,resultinginimprovedandaccuratezooming

Zoomingonpage 54

identobjectselection WhentheSelectiontoolisactive,thenewCoincidentSelectionkey(Jbydefault)orSelectCoincidentObjectscommandidentifiesandallowsselectionofoneormoreobjectswhoseedgesorpointsarecoincident.

CoincidentObjectSelectiononpage 61

Fillsmode ThenewXrayFillsModekey(theBkeybydefault)allowsyoutoseeandselectobjectsthatarehiddenbehind2Dobjectsthathaveafill

XrayFillsModeonpage 62

iv | Preface

Drawbackg

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Feature Purpose Locationingenvironmentroundoptions

TheInteractiveAppearanceSettingsdialogboxnowhasoptionstosetthebackgroundcolorsindividuallyforsheetlayers,designlayersinTop/Planview,anddesignlayersin3Dviews.Ifablackbackgroundisinuse,thebackgroundwillstillalwaysbeblack,butthesettingsforthevariousinteractivedrawingelementscannowbecustomized.

ConfiguringInteractiveDisplayonpage 65

levelsinclassmenu Usingdashes,classnamescannowbedesignatedwithuptofourlevelsofhierarchy

CreatingClassesonpage 106

yrendersettingsforviews

Whensavingviewsoreditingsavedviews,theRenderSettingsparameterhasbeenrenamedtoSaveRenderModeandOptions,tobemoreclear

ManagingSavedViewsonpage 114

robjectsupportforolediting

Whenpastingalayerplaneobjectfromtheclipboardintoasymboldefinition,anewoptionallowstheobjecttobeassignedtothescreenplaneforcorrectrepresentationin2Dview

EditingSymbolsonpage 183

gpagebasedsymbols Wheneditingpagebased(green)symbols,theeditingwindowisautomaticallysettoa1:1scaleforeasyediting.Otherobjectsintheeditingwindowthatarenotata1:1scalearestillvisible,butarenotsnappable.

EditingSymbolDefinitionsonpage 185

valof20characterlimitcordfieldnames

Previously,thelengthofafieldnameinarecordformatwaslimitedto20characters;now,thelimithasbeenextendedto63characters

CreatingRecordFormatsonpage 191

itedlengthforrecordtext Previously,thelengthofatextfieldinarecordformatwaslimitedto255characters;thetextlengthisnowunlimited

CreatingRecordFormatsonpage 191

aticworkingplane Toassistwithdrawingin3Dwithcertaindrawingtools,anautomaticworkingplaneappearsonsuitableobjectsurfacesasthecursormovesoverdrawingobjectswiththetoolselected.Simplyselectatoolandclicktocreateobjectsonany3Dsurface.Theautomaticworkingplanegreatlyimprovesandspeedsup3Ddrawingworkflows;2Ddrawingworkflowsremainunchanged.

TheAutomaticWorkingPlaneonpage 208,UnderstandingtheWorkingPlaneonpage 593

pullmodeforplanartools Anewmodeforplanartoolsallowsgeometrytobeextrudedimmediatelyaftercreation

Push/PullModeofPlanarToolsonpage 208

New Features | v

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Feature Purpose LocationstofrequentlyusedgsintheToolbar

ThefollowingtoolsnowhaveeasyToolbaraccesstosettings: DoubleLine DoubleLinePolygon RegularPolygon MovebyPoints Connect/Combine Fillet Chamfer ChamferEdge FilletEdge

CreatingDoubleLinesonpage 215,DoubleLinePolygonToolonpage 247,Regular(Equalsided)Polygononpage 248,MovingObjectsbyClickingonpage 265,Connect/CombineToolonpage 326,FilletToolonpage 335,ChamferToolonpage 337,ModifyingEdgesbyChamferingonpage 438,ReshapingEdgesbyFilletonpage 439,ConnectingRoofFacesonpage 475,MovingSymbolsinWallswiththeMovebyPointsToolonpage 514

nearceditingvements

Anewpolylineradiusvertex,createdbytheTangentArcandPointonArcmodes,ismucheasiertoreshapethanarcvertices.Thenewcontextmenucommand,ConvertArctoRadiusPolyline,convertsthearcverticesofapolyline(orpathpolyline)toradiusvertices,totakeadvantageoftheeasierediting.Thenewsmoothingcommand,RadiusSmoothing,similarlyusesradiusverticestosmoothapolylineorNURBScurve.

CreatingPolylinesonpage 234,ConvertingPolylineVerticesfromArctoRadiusonpage 309,SmoothingObjectsonpage 279,andPolylineParametersonpage 261

rverecordsduringupoperation

WhenyouusetheUngroupcommandonanobjectthathasrecordsattachedtoit,younowhavetheoptiontodiscardtherecordsortransferthemtotheungroupedobjects

Ungroupingonpage 291

dReshapetool The2DReshapetooland3DReshapetoolhavebeencombinedintoasingleReshapetool,availablefromtheBasicpalette.Thecurrentlyselectedobject(s)andtheviewdeterminethereshapefunctionalityavailable,makingitmucheasiertoreshapeobjects.

ReshapingObjectsonpage 302

pingmultipleverticesofScurves

IntheMoveVertexmodeoftheReshapetool,severalverticesofaNURBScurvecanbeselectedbypressingtheShiftkeyorcreatingamarquee

ReshapingNURBSCurvesonpage 312

eclosedshapesfromopensusingtheOffsettool

TheOffsettoolhasanewpreferencetoCloseOpenCurves;whenselected,linesaredrawnatbothendsoftheoriginalandoffsetobjects,tocreateaclosedshape

OffsettingObjectsonpage 315

vi | Preface

Callou

Tangeusing

Wallt

Automrotati

Creatlocall

Hiddeimpro

Dime

CropObjec

ExporVersio

Expor

Feature Purpose Locationtimprovements NowyoucanformatcallouttextbeforeplacementfromtheCalloutPreferencesdialogbox,androtatecallouttexttoaspecificanglebeforeorafterplacement.

CreatingaCalloutObjectonpage 371

nt/normalcurvecreationtheAnalysistool

NewoptionscandrawatangenttoaNURBScurve,ordrawanormaltoaNURBSsurface

AnalyzingNURBSCurvesandSurfacesonpage 422

opandbottomheights Thestartingandendingpeaksofwalls(topandbottom)canbeadjustedindependently,withoutaffectingtheoverallwallheight.Thisisusefulwhenreshapingwalls,whenadjustingwallswiththeFitWallstoRoofcommand(VectorworksArchitectrequired),andwhenwallcomponentsdonotfollowwallpeaks.

ChangingWallPeakHeightonpage 467

aticallyscalingandngtilefills

Anewoptionwhencreatingtilefillsautomaticallyscalesandrotatesthemwithinwalls,whichisextremelyusefulforcreatinginsulationfillsforwallsandwallandslabcomponents

DefiningTilesonpage 548

enewhatch/tilefromymappedhatch/tile

Anewcontextmenumakesiteasytocreateanewhatchortiledefinitionfromalocallyeditedhatchortile

CreatingaNewResourcefromaLocallyMappedHatchorTileonpage 563

nlineintersectionedgevements

Fordesignlayersandviewportsthatusehiddenlinerendering,thenewoptionGenerateIntersectingLineswillgeneratelineswheresurfacesintersect

LineRenderOptionsonpage 686

nsioning3Dfeatures Thedimensioningtoolsnowcansensethe3Dfeaturesunderthecursor,toimprove3Ddimensioningworkflows

Dimensioningonpage 709

VisiblecheckboxontInfopalette

ThevisibilityofviewportcropobjectsisnowcontrolledbytheCropVisiblesettingontheObjectInfopalette.Previously,thevisibilitywascontrolledbychangingthecropobjectsattributes,orbychangingthecropobjectsclassvisibilityintheviewportsettings.

PropertiesofSheetLayerViewportsonpage 766inthisguide;intheDesignSeriesUsersGuide,PropertiesofDesignLayerViewportsonpage 696,PropertiesofSheetLayerSectionViewportsonpage 711,andPropertiesofDesignLayerSectionViewportsonpage 715

ttoFivePreviousnsofVectorworks

SupporthasbeenincludedtoexportfilestothefivemostrecentolderversionsofVectorworks

ExportingFilesonpage 791

tParasolidX_Tupdate ParasolidX_Texporthasbeenupdatedtoexporttothelatestversion,23.0

ExportinginParasolidX_TFormatonpage 797

New Features | vii

SuppoDXF/D

Suppodurinexpor

SuppoDWGexpor

SuppoDXF/Dimpor

SaveD

Optioobjectexpor

Optiodurin

Saveldurin

Feature Purpose LocationrtforimagefillsduringWGimportandexport

ImagefillscannowbeexportedasDXF/DWGclippedimages;previously,imagefillswereexportedassolidtypehatches

ClippedDXF/DWGimagesnowimportasclippedpolygonswithimagefills;previously,clippedimageswouldbecomeunclippeduponimport

DXFandDWGFileFormatsonpage 803

rtforgradientfillsgDXF/DWGimportandt

GradientfillscannowbeexportedasDXF/DWGgradienttypehatches;previously,gradientfillswereexportedassolidtypehatches.

GradienttypeDXF/DWGhatchesnowimportasobjectswithagradientfill;previously,theywereimportedasobjectswithasolidfill.

DXFandDWGFileFormatsonpage 803

rtforversion2012DXF/filesforbothimportandt

OntheDXFDWGExportOptionsdialogbox,thereisnowaversion2011/2012option

DXFandDWGFileFormatsonpage 803

rtfortransparencyofallWGentitiesduringtandexport

TransparencywasaddedwithDXF/DWGversion2011;thispropertyisnowsupportedduringbothimportofDXF/DWGentitiesandexportofVectorworksentities

DXFandDWGFileFormatsonpage 803

XF/DWGexportoptions Multiplesetsofexportoptionscannowbesavedandreusedwhennecessary.

DXF/DWGExportOptionsonpage 865

ntoexportonlyselectedsduringDXF/DWGt

OntheDXFDWGExportOptionsdialogbox,anewoptionwillExportOnlySelectedObjects;previouslytheVectorworksprogramexportedallobjectsthatwerevisibleintheselectedportionsofthedrawing.

DXF/DWGExportOptionsonpage 865

ntoexporthatchesgDXF/DWGexport

OntheDXFDWGExportOptionsdialogbox,theExportHatchesoptionnowcontrolstheexportofhatchfills;previously,hatcheswerealwaysexported.

DXF/DWGExportOptionsonpage 811

ineweightmappingsgDXF/DWGimport

IfyousaveasetofoptionsfromtheDXFDWGImportOptionsdialogbox,anymappingsyoucreatedontheMapLineWeightstoColorsdialogboxarenowsavedalso;previously,thelineweightmappingswerenotkeptwiththeothersavedsettings.

GraphicAttributesTabonpage 827

viii | Preface

NewDWG

Increasummworks

Remoworks

Workimprounits

New

Feature Purpose LocationoptionforimportofDXF/clippedblocks

OntheDXFDWGImportOptionsdialogbox,theIgnoreBlockClippingoptionimportsaclippedblockasanormalscaledorunscaledVectorworkssymbol.Bydefault,theoptionisdeselected,andaclippedblockisimportedasacroppeddesignlayerviewport(ifDesignSeriesisinstalled)orasacroppedlayerlink.

ObjectsTabonpage 830

sednumberofsortsandariesallowedforheetcolumns

Previously,asetofdatabasesubrowsinaworksheetwaslimitedtothreesortandthreesummaryoperators.Nowupto20sortsandanunlimitednumberofsummariesareallowed.

DatabaseRowSortandSummaryFunctionsonpage 845

ve255characterlimitforheetcells

Previously,thelengthofatextblockinaworksheetcellwaslimitedto255characters;thetextlengthisnowunlimited

FormattingWorksheetCellsonpage 846

sheetfunctionvementsfordocument

Severalworksheetfunctionsthatdidnotreturnvaluesintheexpecteddocumentunitshavebeenreplacedwithnewversions.Eacholdfunctionhasbeenrenamedtothesamenamewitha_Legacysuffix(asinArea_Legacy).Thelegacyfunctionsnolongerappearintheinterface,butexistingworksheetsthatusethefunctionswillstillworkproperly.Thefollowingfunctionsareaffected:

Area,BotBound,LeftBound,Length,Perim,RightBound,SurfaceArea,TopBound,Volume,Xcenter,Ycenter,Zcenter

Additionally,thefollowingfunctionswereremovedbecausetheybecameredundant:

CriteriaArea,CriteriaSurfaceArea,CriteriaVolume

WorksheetFunctionsonpage 861

searchcriteria Whencreatingcustomselectionscriptsandspecifyingsearchcriteria,penpattern,story(DesignSeriesrequired),andopacitycanbesetassearchcriteria

CreatingCustomSelectionScriptsonpage 871

New Features | ix

New RThefolfunctio

Faster

Workimpro

Work

Toolp

Conte

Feature Purpose Locationenderworks Featureslowingtablecontainsalistofnewandimprovedfeaturesforthisrelease,andindicatesthesectionwherethenalityisdocumented.

viewportvisibilityresets Viewportvisibilityresetsarenowthreetotentimesfaster;thiswillbeparticularlynoticeableincomplexfileswithnumerousviewports.AbroadrangeoffunctionsintheVectorworksapplicationareaffected,includingzooming,panning,switchinglayers,openingandsavingfiles,editinggroups;andupdatingofviewports,pluginobjects,andreferencedobjects.

Notapplicable

sheetdataformatvements

Theworksheetdatastructurewasrevisedtoallowforfeatureimprovementsinthisandfutureversions

Notapplicable

spacechanges The3DModelingtoolsethasbeenstreamlined,withthefollowingtoolsremoved:

SymbolInsertiontool(nowlocatedinBasicpaletteonly)

Reshapetool(locatedinBasicpaletteonly) NURBSCircletool NURBSArctool ExtrudedRectangletool ExtrudedPolygontool Cylindertool

Variouslocations

alettescocoaconversion OntheMacintosh,somedisplayissueswithtoolpalettesandtearoffpaletteshavebeenfixed

Notapplicable

ntfor2012 Thewww.caddetails.comlibraryhasbeenmovedtotheObjectsLandscape&Sitefolder

Notapplicable

x | Preface

Feature Purpose Location

Attribimpro

OpenimprouteMappingtoolvements

VariouschangestotheAttributeMappingtoolmakeiteasiertoworkwith,includingthefollowing:

Thetoolnowworksbetterwithsnapping.whichsolvesproblemswitherraticmovementofthetextureframe.Additionally,aplanarfilternowensuresthatonlyrelevantsnappointsareshown.

Whenyouresizeatextureframe,adotteddiagonallineisnowdrawnacrossthetextureimage,tomaketheaspectratioconstraintmoreclear.Ifsnappingisinuse,graydottedlinesaredrawnfromtheresizehandletopossiblesnappoints.

Thecursornowchangeswhenitisover3Daxes,toindicatethatyoucanclickontheaxestobringupthe3Dmappingcontrols.

NewoptionsontheToolbarallowyoutochoosewhethertoscaleandrotatethetexturebythecenterofthetextureframe,orbythehandleoppositetothehandlethatwasclickedon.Previously,scale/rotatebycenterwasactivatedbypressingtheAltkey(Windows)orOptionkey(Macintosh).

AutoalignmenthasbeenchangedfromanoptionforthePlanemaptypeintoaseparatemaptype(AutoAlignPlane).

Whenyoutrytousethetoolonapluginobjectthatisnotsupported,analertdisplays;previously,thetexturecontrolswoulddisplaybutnotfunction.

Thecylinderandspheremaptypeshavebeenimprovedtomakemovementofthetextureframemoreintuitive.

ApplyingandMappingTexturesonpage 635

GLshadowvements

TheappearanceofshadowsinOpenGLrenderinghasbeengreatlyimproved;responsivenesswhenusingtheFlyoverandWalkthroughtoolswithOpenGLshadowshasalsoincreased

OpenGLonpage 684

Learning Vectorworks | xi

LearThereaandPD

User T

dd

TSppr

Thefolclickc

Rende

Artist

Bricks

Impro

Conve

(Maci

(Wind

Feature Purpose Locationning VectorworksreanumberofwaystolearnhowtousetheVectorworksprogram,includingtrainingCDs,bothonlinehelpFversionsoftheuserguides,andbothonlineandclassroomtraining.

s GuideshisguideistheVectorworksFundamentalsUsersGuide.Itisacomprehensivereferenceforallusersescribingthecoretools,commands,andfeaturesintheVectorworksFundamentalsproduct.TheguidealsoescribesthepresentationcapabilitiesoftheRenderworksproduct,foruserswhopurchasedit.heVectorworksDesignSeriesUsersGuidedescribesthefeaturesintheVectorworksArchitect,Landmark,otlight,andDesignerproducts.ItisdesignedforuserswhohavepurchasedoneormoreDesignSeriesoducts.

lowingtabledescribestheconventionsusedintheguides.Allinstructionsintheguidesarebasedonlickdrawing.

rworksstyles Renderingparameters,includingrendersettings,lightingoptions,andbackgroundinformationcanbesavedasaRenderworksStyleresource,tobereappliedlaterandsharedbetweenfiles.TheRenderworksproductincludesseveralrealisticandartisticpreconfiguredstylesforcommonlightingsituations.

RenderworksStylesonpage 690

icRenderworksstyles ArtisticRenderworksoptionsnowincludeparameterssuchasedgecolorandthickness,tofurthercustomizetheartisticlook.TheartisticparameterscanbesavedaspartofaRenderworksStyleresource.

ArtisticRenderworksOptionsonpage 695

shaderdimensions FortheBricksshader,thedimensionsofbricksandmortargapjointsarenowsetbyrealworlddimensionvalues,whichismuchmoreintuitive

ColorShadersonpage 903

vedmetallicshader InternaladjustmentshavebeenmadetoimprovetheappearanceandvisualeffectoftheMetallicreflectivityshader

Notapplicable

ntion Meaning

ntosh) Macintoshspecificinstructionows) Windowsspecificinstruction

IndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsintheVectorworksArchitectandDesignerproductsonly

xii | Preface

VectoThehelComm

TheheltotopicTheVe

boldblueiclick

doubl

right

KeyacombShiftKeycasinAclick

click

select

Conte

Convention Meaningrworks Help SystempsystemallowsquickaccesstocomprehensivereferenceinformationabouttheVectorworksprogram.ands,tools,anddialogboxesarelinkedtotheappropriatehelptopic,providinginstantinformation.psystemalsoofferslinkstorelatedtopics,allowsfulltextsearches,andcontainsanindexandtableofcontentssacrossallproducts.ctorworkshelpsystemincludesthefollowingvolumes:

IndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsintheVectorworksLandmarkandDesignerproductsonly

IndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsintheVectorworksSpotlightandDesignerproductsonly

IndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsintheVectorworksArchitect,Landmark,andDesignerproductsonlyIndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsintheVectorworksArchitect,Spotlight,andDesignerproductsonlyIndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsinalloftheVectorworksDesignSeriesproductsaswellasDesigner

IndicatesfunctionalitythatexistsintheRenderworksproductonly

text Indicatesaspecificbutton,command,class,orexplicitlynameditemndentedtext Indicatesanote,tip,orwarning

Clickthemousebuttonandrelease.TheleftbuttonisalwaysimpliedinWindows.eclick Clicktwotimesquicklyonthemousebuttonandreleaseclick Clickwiththerightmousebuttonandrelease;ontheMacintosh,holddowntheCtrlkeyand

clickthemousendmouseination,asinclick

Holddownthecommandkey(s)andclick;inthisexample,holddowntheShiftkeyandclick

ombination,lt+Shift+D

Holddownthecommandkey(s)andpressthespecifiedletterornumberkey;inthisexample,holddownboththeAltandShiftkeys,andpresstheDkey

click Clickthemousebuttononceandrelease.Movethecursortothedesiredlocationandclickagain.Thisisthedefaultdrawingpreferencefortheprogramatinstallation.

drag Clickoncewiththemousebuttonanddonotrelease.Drag(move)thecursortoadesiredlocationandthenrelease.Clickonanobjectwiththemouse,orclickdragoveranobjectwithmarqueeselection,tohighlightit.Theobjectishighlighted,and/orhandlesdisplayontheobjecttoindicatethatitiscurrentlyactive.Thistermalsoreferstoexecutingmenucommands.

xtmenu AmenucommandaccessedbyaCtrlclick(Macintosh)orrightclick(Windows)

Technical Support and Training | xiii

Welcome:Instructionsforusingthehelpsystem VectorworksFundamentals:ContextsensitiveonlineversionoftheVectorworksFundamentalsUsersGuide V V

ta P

ToacceConten

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TechnTechnicreseller

United

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TrainiFordet TuectorworksDesignSeries:ContextsensitiveonlineversionoftheVectorworksDesignSeriesUsersGuideectorScriptLanguageGuide:DescriptionoftheVectorScriptlanguage,whichcanbeusedtoautomateroutinesksDFFiles:ProvideslinkstocompleteuserguidePDFs,theVectorScriptLanguageGuide,andotherhelpfullinksssthehelpsystem,selectHelp>VectorworksHelpfromwithintheprogram.InthehelpsystemTableofts,opentheWelcomebookforcompleteinstructionsonhowtousethesystem.

nical Support and Trainingreavarietyoftechnicalsupportandtrainingoptionsavailabletoyoutoensureyoursuccesswiththeorksproductandtosupportyourbusinessneeds.

ical Supportalsupportisavailableforregisteredusersinseveralways.Internationalusersshouldcontacttheirlocalfordetailsconcerningtechnicalsupport;forresellerinformation,seewww.vectorworks.net/internationalStatesuserscancontactTechnicalSupportusingthefollowingmethods:all443.542.0411ndanemailtotech@vectorworks.netisitthetechnicalsupportknowledgebaseatkbase.vectorworks.netoucontactTechnicalSupport,provideabriefdescriptionoftheproblemthatincludesspecificdetailsabouttionsweretakenpriortotheproblemsoccurrence.Themoreinformationyoucangiveyoursupportspecialist,ieritwillbetosolveyourproblemquickly.oucontactTechnicalSupportbyphone,pleasehaveaccesstoyourcomputerandbereadytotellthespecialist:ectorworkssoftwareserialnumberectorworkssoftwareversionnumberperatingsystempeofcomputerbeingusedmountofRAMinstalledinthecomputeristofanyrecentchangestothecomputerssetup(suchasnewfonts,software,orhardware)eshootingshootingaproblempriortocallingTechnicalSupportwillalsoaidinaspeedyresolution.Basicshootingtipsinclude:sttoseeiftheproblemoccursinanew,blankfilesttoseeiftheproblemoccurssystemwide(especiallyprintandfontproblems)opyandpastepartofthedocumenttoanewfiletoseeiftheproblempersistsunthecomputerinSafeMode(Windows)toseeifthereisasystemconflictheckthecommunitymessageboardtoseeiftheproblemhasalreadybeenreportedorresolvedchboard.vectorworks.net

ngailsabouttrainingoptions,visitwww.vectorworks.net/trainingtorialmanuals

xiv | Preface

Oneononeonlinetraining Customizedonsitetraining H

Tocont

OtherThefol D V V In P T

w V L

VectoVectorwatjustaVectorwlibrarieWhenysoftwaraccesstincludiServiceandsonclassroomtrainingactatrainingspecialist,call1.877.202.8871(intheUnitedStates)orsendanemailtotraining@vectorworks.net

ResourceslowingadditionalresourcesareavailabletoNemetschekVectorworksusers:ocumentationupdatesthroughtheonlinehelpAutoUpdateContentorCheckforUpdatesfeaturesectorworkscommunityboardtechboard.vectorworks.netectorworksYouTubechannelwww.youtube.com/vectorworksdependentlocalusergroupswww.vectorworks.net/community/usergroups.phplanetVectorworksglobalcommunityauthorednewsletterplanet.vectorworks.netheeDispatchNemetschekVectorworksauthorednewsletterww.vectorworks.net/community/edisp_subscribe.phparioussocialmediasites,suchasFacebook,Twitter,Delicious,LinkedIn,andFlickrISTSERVuserlistswww.nemetschek.net/community/mailinglists.php

rworks Service SelectorksServiceSelectisasoftwareserviceagreementthatallowssubscriberstopurchaseVectorworkssoftwarefractionofthecostofanewlicense.Inadditiontoprovidingthemostcosteffectivewayofowningorkssoftware,VectorworksServiceSelectprovidesbenefitssuchasadditionalbrandnameandgenericsavailableonlytosubscribers,learningresources,preferredsupportstatus,andpredictabilityforyourbudget.ouareinanactiveVectorworksServiceSelectagreement,youllreceivenewupgradestoyourVectorworkseandincrementalproductenhancements.YoullalsobethefirsttoknowofnewreleasesandalwayshaveothelatestandgreatestinVectorworksproducts.Arangeofsupportandtrainingresourcesareavailable,ngphonesupportandvideolibrarieswithtechtipsandhowtotutorials.TolearnmoreaboutVectorworksSelect,visithttp://serviceselect.vectorworks.net/learnmore.

Introduction 1UndeThisseoverviepossibl

IntuitTheVeimmedthelear

ModeTheParThiskerobustn

Inmosdoboth

SymbHybridwhichcAgoodina3D

Oneadinformrstanding VectorworksctiondescribesthecoreconceptsoftheVectorworksprogram;eachconceptisdescribedbrieflyinthisw.Theactualimplementationoftheseconceptsaredescribedthoroughlyintheirrelevantsections.Wheree,therelevantsectionsarereferenced.

ive Design and Drafting PackagectorworksprogramisanessentialgraphicdesigntoolforanyonewhowishestouseCADsoftwareiately.Theprogramemphasizesrapid,accuratedrawingandeasyobjectselection.Thiseaseofuseminimizesningcurve,sothatideascanbeconvertedintodrawingsquickly.

ling Environmentasolidmodelingkernel(aSiemensPLMproduct)wasintegratedintotheprogramstartingwithversion2009.rnelprovidesthegeometricfoundationforsophisticatedmodelingoperations.TheParasolidkernelprovidesess,consistency,andhighperformanceinmodelingaswellasdraftingoperations.tCADprograms,itispossibletocreateeithera2Dora3Ddrawing.TheVectorworksprogramallowsyouto,withdrafting,modeling,andeditingoccurringinanyview.

olssymbolsdisplaya2Dor3Drepresentationdependingontheview.Thesoftwareincludessymbollibraries,ontainanumberofpreconfiguredhybridsymbols;alternatively,createyourownsymbols.exampleofahybridobjectisadoor.ItdisplaysasalinedrawinginTop/Planviewandasafullyformeddoorview.

vantageofworkingwithsymbolsisthat3Dmodelsareautomaticallycreatedfrom2Ddrawings.Formoreationonsymbols,seeUnderstandingSymbolsonpage 173.

3D ViewTop/Plan View

2 | Chapter 1: Introduction

SmartCursor

Designcurrentcreatesperpenpage 13

ImageAnimaTheimbeeninobjectttheimaalsous

LayerLayersfeature

Desigwell.ThaspectsaspectssheetannotaviewpoownfilClassesClassesvisibilitnestedApartisnapshdetailiwithprecisionusingtheSmartCursor.Byprovidingaseriesofcues(includingtextdisplayedatthecursorslocation)thatupdatewitheverymoveofthemouse,thedrawingoptionsareclear.UsetheSmartCursortonapstospecificpointsrelativetootherobjectsortotemporarilysetaneworigin(datum).Drawexactdicularlines,angles,andmore.TheSmartCursorisdescribedindetailinDrawingwithSnappingon3.

Previewgepreviewisusedforavarietyoffunctions,includingdrawingobjects,placingobjects,andtheSmartCursor.agepreviewistheimagedisplayedastheobjectisdrawn,afteratoolhasbeenselectedoranoperationhasvoked,butbeforetheobjectisphysicallyplacedinthedrawing.Theimagepreviewmayexactlyresembletheobeplaced,oritmaybearepresentationofthatobject,suchasitsboundingbox.Duringthedrawingprocess,gepreviewcontainsafeedbacksegment,whichgathersinformationfordisplayintheDatabar.TheprogramesthissegmenttoproperlyinvokeSmartCursorcues.

s, Classes, and Viewsandclassesprovidetheframeworkfordrawings.Viewportsandviewsdisplayandpresentdrawings.Thesesworktogethertoprovideflexibleorganizationalandviewingcapabilities.nlayers(wheredrawingsarecreated)canhaveheight.Ifawalliseightfeethigh,thedesignlayercanbeasisallowsforatrue3Drepresentationofamodel.Showandhidedesignlayersasneeded,todisplaycertain

ofadesign.Objectsplacedtogetherindesignlayersarerelatedinspace.Designlayershelpautomatesomeofwallcreationaswellasprovideotheradvantages.Eachdesignlayercanhaveadifferentscale.Speciallayersareusedforcreatingviewports;thesearemultiplelinkedviewsofadrawing,completewithtion,andreadyforthepresentationofafinaldesigntoaclient.IntheVectorworksDesignSeriesproducts,rtsalsocanbecreatedondesignlayers.Adesignlayerviewportcanshowoneormoredesignlayersfromitse,orfromanexternalfile.associateobjectsacrosslayers;theyclassifyobjectsandcanhavespecificdisplayattributes,suchascolor.areusedtospeedthedrawingprocess,sinceattributescanbespecifiedatobjectcreation,andtocontroltheyoftheserelatedgroups.Eachobjectcanonlybeassignedoneclass,buteachobjectcanbecomposedofotherobjects,whichcaneachbeassignedadifferentclass.cularviewofthedrawing,suchasonewhichshowsonlycertainlayersandclasses,canbesaved.Takeaotofacombinationoflayersandclassesandthenprinttheview.Layers,classes,andviewsaredescribedinnDrawingStructureonpage 89.

Datum

Intersection

Understanding Vectorworks | 3

ViewportsWhenadesigniscomplete,ittypicallyneedstobepresentedtoaclientwithviewsfromseveraldifferentdirections,complecreateViewpoprojectreflecttInbothviewpotheVeclayerssViewpoPresen

PlaneEachdrconstana3Dobdetaili

VectoTheVeown.CthatfitVectorS

SeetheGuideiReferenVSFuncislocat

WorkTheVebelistetewithdetails,annotations,dimensions,andtitleblocks.ToaccomplishthisintheVectorworksprogram,viewportobjects,whichcanshowotherdesignlayersinthisfile,orevendesignlayersinotherfiles.rtscandisplayentireaswellascroppedviewsofadrawing,withspecifiedlayerandclassvisibilitysettings,ion,rendermode,andorientationparameters.Ifthedrawingchanges,theviewportscanbeeasilyupdatedtohechanges.theVectorworksFundamentalsandtheVectorworksDesignSeriesproducts,youcancreateoneormorertsonasheetlayer,andeachviewportcanshowoneormoredesignlayersfromthecurrentfile.Additionally,torworksDesignSeriesproductsallowyoutocreateoneormoreviewportsonadesignlayer,andthedesignhowncanbeeitherfromthecurrentfile,orreferencedfromanotherfile.rtsaredescribedinPresentingDrawingswithSheetLayerViewportsonpage 762inthisguide,andintingDrawingswithDesignLayerViewportsonpage 689intheVectorworksDesignSeriesUsersGuide.

s and 3D Spaceawinglayerhasanassociatedlayerplane.Thisactivelayerplaneispermanentlyplacedandcanbeusedasatreferencepointfordrawingin3Dspace.Asecondplanecanbeplacedataspecificangleorrotationtocreatejectrelativetothatplane.Thismodifiableplaneiscalledaworkingplane.WorkingplanesaredescribedinnUsingWorkingPlanesonpage 593.

rScriptctorworksprogramhasacomprehensivescriptcapabilitycalledVectorScript.Useexistingscriptsorcreateyourustomizetheworkingenvironmentwithscripts,orcreatecustomizedplugintools,commands,andobjectsyourneeds.Youcansavevaluabletimeandeffortbycreatingreusablefunctionsfordrawingswiththecriptscriptinglanguage.SeeUsingScriptsonpage 871fordetails.VectorScriptLanguageGuideforanintroductiontotheVectorScriptlanguage.TheVectorScriptLanguagesavailableaspartofthehelpsystem,andalsoasaPDFfileinthehelpsystem.TheVectorScriptFunctionceisacomprehensivecommandreferenceavailableonline.Itislocatedin:VWHelp/VectorScriptReference/tionReference.html.AnothersourceofdeveloperorienteddocumentationrelatedtotheSDKandVectorScriptedathttp://developer.vectorworks.net

sheetsctorworksprogramhascomprehensiveworksheetanddatabasefunctionality.Objectattributesandrecordscandinaworksheet,andspreadsheetcalculationscanbeperformedonthisdata.Forexample,listalltheroomsin

4 | Chapter 1: Introduction

adrawing,andautomaticallycalculatethenumberofbedrooms.Createaworksheetlistingtheitemsrequiredtofurnishtheroomsandthecost.WorksheetsaredescribedinCreatingWorksheetsonpage 833.

The FWhentFundamsessionworksp

Customanothe

Men

Bpa

Toolpa

Vecto

Attribpa

Snapundamentals WorkspaceheVectorworksFundamentalsprogramisstarted,themainwindowopenswithanew,blankfile;theentalsworkspaceisselected,andcontainsmenus,palettes,andtoolsetsinadefaultlayout.Duringawork

,palettesmaybeopened,closed,andmovedaroundasnecessary.Whentheapplicationisclosed,thelastacesettingsarepreservedandrestoredforthenextsession.workspacescanbecreated,asdescribedinCreatingorEditingaWorkspaceonpage 879.Toswitchtorworkspace,selectTools>Workspaces,andthenselecttheworkspacefromthelistofthoseavailable.

u bar

asiclette

File name

Setslette

Object Info palette - the Render tab displays if Renderworks is installed, or if the Design Series uses sketch rendering

Vectorworks Application Window on Windows

View bar

Rulers

rworks version

uteslette

Tool bar

Horizontal scroll barMessage bar

ppingalette Resource

Browser

Floating Data bar

Print area border

Message bar menu

Data Bar and Edit Group Options list

View bar menu

Vertical scroll bar

Quick Preferences menu

Zoom Line Thickness preference shortcut

The Fundamentals Workspace | 5

WindowclickdrThefol

Comp

Menu

Titleb

Databs,palettes,toolsets,anddialogboxesthatcontainasizinghandleintheirbottomrightcornercanberesized;agthesizinghandletothedesiredlocation.lowingtabledescribessomeoftheworkspacefeaturescommontoallVectorworksproducts.

onent Description

bar ContainspulldownmenusthataccessVectorworkscommandsar Allwindows,palettes,toolsets,anddialogboxeshaveatitlebar;clickanddraganytitlebar

tomovetheitemtothedesiredlocation.SeePaletteLayoutOptionsonpage 10.ar Dependingonthetoolandontheactionbeingperformed,theDatabardisplaysinformation

suchascoordinatedata,length,andangle.UsetheDataBarandEditGroupOptionslisttosettheDatabareithertofloatwiththecursor,ortobestationaryontheDatabar.SeeUsingtheDataBaronpage 209formoreinformation.TheseoptionscanalsobesetfromtheselectionslistedunderWindows>DataBarOptions.

Vectorworks Application Window on Macintosh

6 | Chapter 1: Introduction

FundWhenVFundam

TheFuortooldifferendescripcrossreExampandrooSeeCrVectorwandAr

Toolb

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Component Descriptionamentals and Design Series WorkspacesectorworksDesignSeriesproductsareinstalled,additionalworkspacesareavailableinadditiontotheentalsworkspace.

ndamentalsworkspacecommandsandtoolsalsoappearinDesignSeriesworkspaces.Insomecases,commandfunctionalityisextendedintheVectorworksDesignSeriesproducts,andthelocationintheworkspacemaybet.IfacommandortoolisdescribedintheVectorworksFundamentalsportionofthedocumentation,thetionincludesastatementaboutwhichVectorworksDesignSeriesproductisrequired;whereapplicable,aferencelinkreferstoadditionalinformationintheVectorworksDesignSeriesportionofthedocumentation.lesincludestraightandroundwalls,windows,doors,columns,sheetborders,callouts,objectsfrompolyline,fobjectcreation.eatingDesignSeriesSlabsandWallsonpage 91andCreatingtheBuildingShellonpage 131intheorksDesignSeriesUsersGuideforalistofcommandsthatappearindifferentlocationsintheFundamentalschitect,Landmark,orSpotlightworkspaces.

ar Displaysthevariousmodesoftheactivetool;clickamodetoselectit.Thebaralsodisplaysmodeinformationandaccessesthetoolpreferences,ifany.TheToolbarisdividedintosectionsgroupedbymodefunction.Tomoveeasilythroughthemodesectionsfromthekeyboard,presstheU,I,O,P,[ (leftbracket),and ](rightbracket)keys.EachkeycorrespondstoaconsecutiveToolbarsection(seetheModeModifiershortcutsinModifyingSnappingandModeShortcutsonpage 887).

bar Containsbuttonsandpulldownmenusthatcontroltheviewinvariousways(seeTheViewBaronpage 7)

gebar Displaystoolexplanations,undomessages,minoralerts,andaprogressbar(whenapplicable).ToalsodisplaycursorlocationfieldsontheMessagebar,clickthetriangleatthefarrightofthebar;selecttheoptiontodisplayallpositionalfields,onlycursorbasedlocationfields,ornocursorlocationfields.

ingarea ThisistheopenportioninthemiddleoftheVectorworksapplicationwindowwheredrawingsarecreated;itincludesboththeprintareaandthespacethatsurroundsit

area Withinthedrawingarea,agrayborderdefinestheprintarea,ifshown.Onlytheobjectsthatareincludedwithintheprintareaareprinted.Theprintareaisdividedintopages;eachpageequalsaphysicalsheetofpapertobeprinted.Aprintmarginisbuiltinforeachpage(seeThePrintAreaonpage 81).

s Basedonthecurrentmeasurementsystem,rulersmakeiteasiertopreciselycreateandplaceobjectswithinthedrawing.The0,0pointontherulersrepresentstheoriginoftheworkingplaneaxes.TheSetOrigincommandmovestheworkingplaneorigintothelayerplaneorigin(seeSetOriginonpage 78).

TherulerscanbehiddenwithanoptionintheVectorworkspreferences(seeSettingVectorworksPreferencesonpage 17).Basedonthecurrentmeasurementsystem,twogridsystemsmakeiteasiertopreciselycreateandplaceobjectswithinthefile.Tohidethereferencegrid,deselectShowGridLines(seeSnapandReferenceGridsonpage 77).

The View Bar | 7

The View BarTheViethedra

Comp

Previo

NextClasse

Activlist

DesigSheetshortc

PreVie

Newbarislocatedalongthetopoftheapplicationwindow.Itprovidesquickaccesstovariousoptionsthataffectwingview.SomeViewbaritemshaveequivalentmenucommands.

onent Description

usView Displaysthepreviousviewthatwascreatedbyapan,zoom,orscrollinthedrawingarea;Vectorworkskeepstrackofupto50views

View Displaysthenextview;Vectorworkskeepstrackofupto50viewsstabshortcut OpenstheClassestaboftheOrganizationdialogboxeClass/Classes Displaystheactiveclass,andactivatesaclassthatisselectedfromthelist;anicontothe

leftofeachnameindicatesthecurrentvisibilitysettingoftheclass(seeSettingVisibilitiesonpage 118formoreinformation).Atrianglenexttotheclassnameindicatesthattheclasshassubgroupsthatcanbeselectedindividually(forexample,awallclasswithexteriorandinteriorsubgroups).

nLayerstab/Layerstabut

DependingonwhetheraDesignLayeroraSheetLayerisactive,openseithertheDesignLayerstabortheSheetLayerstaboftheOrganizationdialogbox

Shortcut to the Classes tab of the Organization dialog box

vious w

xt View

Active Class/ Classes list

Shortcut to either the Design Layers tab or the Sheet Layers tab of the Organization dialog box

Active Layer/Layers list

Look At Working Plane

Current Layer Scale (display only)

Shortcut to theLayer Scale

dialog box

Fit to Page Area

Fit to Objects

Zoom In/OutCurrent Zoom

Current View/ Standard Views list

Unified View (Vectorworks Design Series required)

Current Render Mode/ Render Modes list/ Available render options

View bar menu

Rotated View options(Vectorworks Design

Series required)

Active Planes list

Saved Views menu

Working Plane modeActive Layer Plane mode

8 | Chapter 1: Introduction

Activelist

Active

LookPlane

Saved

Layer

Fitto

Fitto

Zoom

Curre

Work

Activemode

CurreStand

Component DescriptionLayer/Layers Displaystheactivelayer,andactivatesadesignlayerorsheetlayerthatisselectedfromthelist.Theareatotheleftofeachnameindicatestheviewandvisibilityofthelayer.Dependingontheview,anyofthefollowingiconscandisplayfordesignlayers;sheetlayersarealwaysinTop/Planview:

Thevisibilityofthelayerisindicatedasfollows: Blackiconthelayerisvisible Grayiconthelayerisgrayed Noiconthelayerisinvisible

Planeslist Displaystheactiveplane.Dependingonthecurrenttool,view,andpresenceofnamedworkingplanes,alsoactivatesaplanethatisselectedfromthelist.SeeTheActivePlanesListonpage 595.

AtWorking Changestheviewtobeperpendiculartotheworkingplane;inotherwords,rotatestheX,YaxestothescreenXandscreenYposition

Viewsmenu Activatesasavedviewthatisselectedfromthelist.SelectEditViewtoopentheSavedViewstaboftheOrganizationdialogbox,orselectSaveViewtoopentheSaveViewdialogbox;seeCreatingorEditingSavedViewsUsingtheSavedViewsMenuonpage 117.

Scaleshortcut OpenstheLayerScaledialogbox;thescaleoftheactivedesignlayerdisplaystotheright.SeeChangingtheScaleoftheDrawingortheActiveDesignLayeronpage 72.

PageArea Dis