Tips and Tricks
From VectorWiki
This page lists tips and tricks from a variety of sources. The individual articles are listed following the organizational scheme of the VW manual. If any of the existing items really aren't in the correct section, feel free to move them.
Individual Articles
Read-Me Info
Operating System and Hardware Information
- General
- Macintosh
- Windows
- Linux
Installing and Updating
- General
- 2008
- 12
- Updating to VectorWorks 12.5.2
- VectorWorks 12 - Installing From Hard Disk (Windows Only) (NNA KB)
- Why isn't VectorWorks 12 starting to install when I insert my disc? (NNA KB)
- VectorWorks 12 is not installing CD 2 or CD 3. (NNA KB)
- VectorWorks 12 - Machintosh Install Failure (NNA KB)
- After updating a B and C series serial number to VectorWorks 12.5, I keep getting an error message about the dongle not working. (NNA KB)
- 11
Welcome
Help System
- What's Context Sensitive Help? (NNA KB)
- Why isn't my Help file working? (NNA KB)
- Technical Bulletin: VectorWorks 2008 Help System Update (for Macintosh) (NNA KB)
VectorWorks
Preface
- List of new tool locations (NNA KB)
- List of new command (menu) locations (NNA KB)
- Improved 2D Reshape Tool (NNA Online Video)
- New View Bar (NNA Online Video)
- Heads-Up Display (NNA Online Video)
- Rotatable 2D Views (NNA Online Video)
- Dashed Lines Improvements in VectorWorks 11 (NNA KB)
Introduction
- Object Properties (NNA KB)
- Selecting Objects
- Can I pan the view of my drawing while in the middle of using a tool? (NNA KB)
- Refresh the Screen (NNA KB)
- Get the Length of a Line Without Dimensioning It (NNA KB)
- How do I get rid of the grey squares I see in the drawing space? (NNA KB)
- Where are log files stored in VectorWorks 12? (NNA KB)
- Does the mouse have any new functions in VectorWorks 12.5? (NNA KB)
Getting Started
- Introduction to VW (Cadalyst article by Jonathan Pickup)
- VectorWorks 2008 Preferences (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- How to Disable the Zoom Line Thickness Preference (NNA KB)
- Can I get rid of the minor alerts that VectorWorks displays? (NNA KB)
- Creating Template Files (NNA KB)
- Printing
- Is there an easy way to move an object from one class or layer to another? (NNA KB)
- What is a quick way to scroll through my layers? (NNA KB)
- What happens when you paste an object that’s in an invisible class? (NNA KB)
Drawing Structure (see also Presenting VectorWorks Drawings)
SmartCursor and Constraints
- Using the Snap Grid (VectorLab)
- I no longer get the resize cursor when I hover my mouse over an object's handles. How can I get it back? (NNA KB)
- Can I snap to points on a grayed class or layer? (NNA KB)
Using VectorWorks Resources
- Find Resources Using the Resource Browser (NNA KB)
- How do I create a hybrid symbol? (NNA KB)
- How can I find resources that exist in other files? (NNA KB)
- Improved Library Management (NNA Online Video)
- Why are symbols disappearing in my drawing? (NNA KB)
- How do I eliminate a 2D or 3D component of a symbol? (NNA KB)
- How to Add "Favorites" Files to the Resource Browser (NNA KB)
- Adding objects to the Resource Browser (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Creating 2D Objects
Applying Object Attributes
- How do I edit an Image-filled object? (NNA KB)
- How can I create an image file from image fill and texture resources that exist in a VectorWorks file? (NNA KB)
- How can I create a gradient? (NNA KB)
- Unlimited Color Choices (NNA Online Video)
- Transferring Plug-in Parameters with the Eyedropper Tool (NNA KB)
- Object Opacity (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- Object based Opacity (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Editing 2D Objects
- How can I split selected objects with the Split tool? (NNA KB)
- How can I hatch a part of an object, but not the whole thing? (NNA KB)
- How To Fillet all Corners of a Rectangle in One Step (NNA KB)
- How do I stick two or more objects together? (NNA KB)
- Scale by Distance (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- Scale Objects by Distance (NNA Online Video)
- Move/Duplicate/Distribute by Points Tool (NNA Online Video)
- Automatic Object Centering when Editing (NNA Online Video)
- New Polygonal Selection Mode (NNA Online Video)
- How can I get the surface measurement of an arc? (NNA KB)
Creating 3D Objects
- Creating a Revolved Rail Surface (NNA KB)
- Hiding 3D Loci (NNA KB)
- Can I smooth mesh objects so they appear more rounded? (NNA KB)
- Extrude along Path Tutorial (Architosh VW forum)
- Sweep Tutorial (Architosh VW forum)
Advanced 3D Modeling
- Advanced 3D Modeling (NNA Online Video Library)
- How do I temporarily reduce the number of vertices to perform solids operations? (NNA KB)
Editing 3D Objects
- How can I extend an exiting NURBS curve or surface? (NNA KB)
- How do I change the height of an Extruded object? (NNA KB)
Common Functions and Utilities
Viewing and Rendering
- Setting the visibility of light sources (NNA KB)
- Do I have to insert a light in the drawing before rendering? (NNA KB)
Dimensioning and Annotating
- Dimension Standards (Cadalyst article by Jonathan Pickup)
- How can I change what the actual dimension reads on the screen? (NNA KB)
- Aligning Text (NNA KB)
- In VectorWorks 12.5 on Windows, why do tabs in my text objects show up as little boxes? (NNA KB)
- Changing Dimension Standards (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- Chain Dimensioning (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Creating Floors, Walls, and Roofs
- Creating Floors (Architosh VW forum)
- Draw and Edit Walls in 3D (NNA Online Video)
- Creating a Dormer with Multiple Windows (NNA KB)
- Create and Insert Dormers and Skylights into Roofs (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- Roofs Tutorial (Architosh VW forum)
Importing and Exporting Files (see also Design Series section)
- Can I batch import DXF/DWG files? (NNA KB)
- Exporting to DXF/DWG (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- How do I handle invisible blocks in DXF/DWG files? (NNA KB)
- Exporting Worksheets to DXF/DWG (NNA Online Video)
- DXF DWG Error Codes (NNA KB)
- What does the following error message mean: Open DWG Library Error: 309 ? (NNA KB)
- Importing DWGs (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- Tracing Images (NNA KB)
- Exporting PDFs (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Using Working Planes
Worksheets (see also Managing Project Information)
- Two-Way Worksheets (NNA Online Video)
- How do I add cells together in a worksheet? (NNA KB)
- How do I summarize the total number of unique objects within a schedule, without redundancy? (NNA KB)
- Showing the Z of an Object in a Worksheet (VectorLab)
- Different ways to organize column data in a worksheet (NNA KB)
- Is there a simple way to get a list of walls length and surface? (NNA KB)
- Pull Records into a Worksheet to Create Reports (NNA KB)
- Formatting Cells in Worksheets (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Using Scripts
Presenting VectorWorks Drawings (see also Drawing Structure)
- Viewports FAQ (NNA Techboard)
- How can I save viewports so they are always rendered when I open the file? (NNA KB)
- How can I create custom views in my viewports? (NNA KB)
- Double-Click Viewport Options (NNA KB)
- How do I set a solid color to the background of a viewport, in order to block other objects behind it? (NNA B)
- Viewport Layer Overrides (NNA Online Video)
- Navigating between Crop and Annotation Views of a Viewport (NNA Online Video)
- Navigating between Design Layers and Viewports (NNA Online Video)
- Support for Associative Dimensions in Viewport (NNA Online Video)
- Why does my viewport have a red and white stripe around it? (NNA KB)
- How can I see other viewports when editing a specific viewport? (NNA KB)
- Modifying Viewports for Printing (NNA KB)
- Why should I rename my viewports? (NNA KB)
- Using multiple viewports to enhance presentation quality (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Creating and Mapping Textures
- How can I color tint an existing RenderWorks image-based texture? (NNA KB)
- How can I change the scale of a texture easily? (NNA KB)
- Changing the Angle and Scale of a RenderWorks Texture (NNA KB)
Rendering with RenderWorks
- What can I use the Leather Shader for? (NNA KB)
- How do you simulate a fluorescent lamp in RenderWorks? (NNA KB)
- Applying an image to a 3D object (NNA KB)
- Controlling RenderWorks Radiosity (NNA KB)
- What is Artistic RenderWorks? (NNA KB)
- Image Props (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Using the Workspace Editor
- How do I save screen space? (NNA KB)
- How do I prevent my palettes from automatically docking? (NNA KB)
- Zoom Out Tool Keyboard Shortcut (NNA KB)
- Accessing the menu commands without using keyboard shortcuts (NNA KB)
- Custom Tool Set Icons (NNA KB)
- Undocking Palettes (NNA KB)
Standards and Resources
RenderWorks Shader Definitions
Design Series
Using Standards
Space Planning and Programming
Creating Architectural Drawings
Creating Architectural Elements
- Walls, Windows, and Doors
- Stairs
Adding MEP Information to the Design
Site Modeling
- Reshaping DTM Contours with the 2D Reshape Tool
- Is it possible to create a Property Line from a polygon? (NNA KB)
- How do I enter the bearing information for the Property Line tool? (NNA KB)
- Creating a Swale (VectorLab)
- How can I use coordinate geometry, or COGO, to speed drafting processes typically used with Landmark? (NNA KB)
Modifying the Site Model
Planting and Irrigation Design
- Improved Plant Tool (NNA Online Video)
- Standalone Plant Database (NNA Online Video)
- How can I add additional 3D plant symbols with the Plant tool? (NNA KB)
- Plant IDs and Corresponding Names (NNA KB)
- Importing a plant library into VectorWorks 12 from VectorWorks 11 (NNA KB)
- Adding new plants to the Place Plant tool (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Lighting Positions and Labels
Creating and Editing Instruments
Adding Accessories and Objects
Paperwork and Schedules
Visualizing the Lighting Design
Annotation and Detailing
Hardware
Machine Components
Bearings
Springs
Welding and Surface Texture Symbols
Drafting and Design Aids
Drawing Notation
Managing Project Information (see also Worksheets)
Managing Drawing Graphics
- How do I use the new Sketch feature in VectorWorks 11.5? (NNA KB)
- Creating a custom title block and configure it to interact with the Object Info Palette (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- How can I edit my title block and still use Issue Manager? (NNA KB)
- Issue Manager (NNA Video Tech Tip)
Creating Drawing Views
- Stack Layers (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- How can I use Section Viewports to create live sections and interior elevations? (NNA KB)
- Optimizing Section Viewport Performance (NNA KB)
- Looking for a quicker way to access the Organization dialog box from the Navigation palette? (NNA KB)
- Using the Navigation palette to speed up your work (NNA Video Tech Tip)
- How can I create a front section of a machine part using Section Viewports? (NNA KB)
Importing and Exporting Files (see also VectorWorks section)
- How do I use the new SketchUP import? (NNA KB)
- Importing SketchUp files on Intel Macs (NNA KB)
- Support for Geo-Referenced Image Files (NNA Online Video)
Advanced Topics
- How can I check to see if a resource is named the same as a plug-in object? (NNA KB)
- How do I change the class automatically assigned to a plug-in object? (NNA KB)
Collections of Tips and Tricks on Other Sites
- NNA Online Video Library (or see individual articles listed above)
- NNA Knowledge Base (or see individual articles listed above)
- archoncad Podcasts (free video tips and tricks)
- archoncad blog
- Vectortasks Free Training Movies
- Podcasts by Dan Jansenson and Pat Stanford
- Tom Greggs' User Group Newsletters
- VectorLab VectorWorks Page
- University of Liverpool Tutorials
