Vectorworks & Drawings in General

• A set of drawing can have pages with different revision number.  That is, Page 2 may revised E times; while Page 6 may revised only A time.

Drawing revision past learnings 

Step and tasks need done when revising drawings.

Tidy drawings present professionalism. Use consistent text size and font for the drawings. Here, you have some flexibility.

The key is consistency.

For example, if font size 10 doesn't fit on the drawings, we should change some text to font 8 and apply the same font size for all other text.

Refreshing Homes drawings use only the following font and text size:

• Akrobat, Akrobat Bolt or Akrobat light

• Font size 8, 10 or 12 point

Follow the video.  Quick steps:

1. Create a new VW to import

2. Tidy up Classes

3. Import and check units

4. Copy the imported information from the new VW file to the file we work on. 

Problem 1 - Classes

Problem 2 - Scale.  In particular [symbol] cannot rescale and disappear from the drawings.

Solution: 

• Always open a new Vectorworks file

• Solution to Problem 1 - Add Suffix to class when importing.  

• Solution to Problem 2 - Use the Custom unit.   Trail and error.  Import the DWG in a new VW file and find the correct unit.  Try until the unit is right.  After finding the correct custom unit, copy the imported drawing from the VW file into the project VW file.

Select 'Custom'.  -> Under "DXF/DWG Units = ???"   Change ??? until the imported drawing is in the correct scale.  Find it is in the correct scale by measuring one of the lines.  

• Note that: Often symbol in DWG file have different scale.  We cannot rescale symbol after importing.  The symbols will disappear from the drawing.

Problem - When we export a drawing into DWG, sometimes some drawings changes the scale. 

Reason - 1) Occur on Sheet Layer; 2) When there are multiple viewports on one Sheet.

Solution: 

• Avoid multiple viewports on one 'Sheet Layer'.  

• If unavoidable, all viewports are in same scale.  

What if we can't put everyone in the same scale?  Video 1:30

Refreshing Homes Rule:

• Drawings other consultants will use.  Including Site Plan, Floor Plan & Structural Plans.  One viewport scale only per plan.  

• Drawings other consultants do not use.  Mostly interior elevations, can have viewports in different scales.

Watch the video and get familiar with ‘Check out’ and ‘Release’. 

Release everything at the end of that day.

Note – You MUST access the ‘Vectorworks Project File’ directly from cloud. 

Install OneDrive client on your computer.  Access directly from the Cloud.  Any other way to access the Project File will confuse Vectorworks.  

Works will get loss.

Export 3D model for client walk through

Follow these steps:

• Delete unwanted line or object.   Turn on relevant model layer only.

• Set origin near the model. To set origin go to: Tools > Origin > User > Origin > Select next mouse click.  Click near the model.

• Use the camera to set the default view. To set camera go to: Visualization tool > Rederworks camera.

• Export the model: File > Export > Export web view (3D only) [VW2022]

• Set our company’s logo

Note: Draw edges will create edges, but it is not very accurate.  Keep this uncheck.

Applying texture with Vectorworks

• Floor Plan

• Elevation

Steps to find the right texture

How to create Webview? 

That is - A model available on the web for client to walk through.