Nemetschek VECTORWORKS ARCHITECT GETTING STARTED GUIDE

2011 Getting Started Guide

The contents of this printed guide and accompanying exercise CD were originally created for Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. by Steve Hader.

Vectorworks and MiniCAD are registered trademarks of Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Renderworks is a trademark of Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Windows is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3

Section 1: Program Installation and Setup

Installing the Vectorworks Architect Program Exercise 1: Launching the Program and Opening the Starting File Exercise 2: Adjusting Preference Settings

Section 2: Laying Out Room Areas

Exercise 3: Drawing Exterior Walls Exercise 4: Drawing Interior Walls Exercise 5: Drawing Second-Floor Walls and Adding a Stair

Section 3: Creating Architectural Elements

Exercise 6: Creating the First-Floor Plan Exercise 7: Creating the Second-Floor Plan

Section 4: Working with Multiple Level

Exercise 8: Creating and Modifying the Roof Exercise 9: Editing Architectural Elements

Section 5: Creating Construction Documents

Exercise 10: Generating Construction Drawings. Exercise 11: Adding Annotations Exercise 12: Printing Construction Drawings.

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Introduction

Welcome to Vectorworks Architect! This tutorial will introduce you to key tools and techniques for drawing and editing as well as provide a streamlined workflow to provide the proper framework for exploring the full power of Vectorworks Architect on your own.

Important: For free tutorial updates, bonus content, and instructional videos from the Architect Getting Started website, see www.nemetschek.net/training/2011/architect-

2011-getting-started-guide.php.

Overview of the Modeling Process

In this thematic tutorial, you use Vectorworks Architect to design a modern vacation home. You begin with a pre-configured (but otherwise blank) starting file, and continue using this single file for all design phases and documents. You complete the project by creating and printing various construction documents:

Note: The house

design in this tutorial

was adapted from

the award-winning

Dwell Home design

by Resolution: 4

Architecture.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 3

As you work through 11 continuing exercises, you develop the house design using a combination of standard Vectorworks and Vectorworks Architect tools to complete the following design features and documentation processes in order:

• Room layouts (walls)

• Architectural elements (floors, doors,

windows, and other symbols)

• Multiple level features (roof)

• Construction documents (commonly used)

• Annotations

• Batch Printing

Notes:

1) Starting with Exercise 3 (p. 16), you can

optionally open completed exercise files (from the

DVD’s Data Set folder or www.nemetschek.net/

training/2011/architect-2011-getting-started-

guide.php) to check your model or to skip ahead

to the beginning of the next exercise. For

example, open the GS -V WA x10.vwx file

(completed Exercise 10) to start at the beginning

of Exercise 11. See General Exercise Tips (p.

6) for more information.

2) This tutorial focuses on creating or setting

up only the most common construction

documents for a house design project.

4 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

How to Use This Tutorial

This tutorial is also provided as an e-Book in PDF format. You can view the PDF tutorial on-screen for enhanced electronic benefits including navigation links and search features. If you choose to view the tutorial on-screen, you can optionally enable Reflow viewing mode (available from the View menu only in the Adobe Reader 7 or Adobe Acrobat 7 programs, available from the View > Zoom menu in newer versions) to display the text with a wrapping effect similar to a web browser. You can then adjust the Zoom level and resize both the tutorial and Vectorworks windows to display them side-by-side as on p. 6.

Notes:

1) You can review workflow sequencing and

locate specific procedures by scanning the

process lists at the start of each section. The

process lists are also hyperlinked to facilitate

navigation.

2) If you view the tutorial on-screen, look for the

Previous View and Next View tools at

the bottom of the screen (or available in the Page

Navigation tool bar in newer versions). These useful

tools—available in Adobe Reader and Acrobat—let

you revert or repeat navigational changes by page

controls, bookmarks, and hyperlinks.

3) The Adobe Reader Search tool

provides more extensive options for searching

text than the Find command.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 5

General Exercise Tips

Use the following tips to facilitate working with your exercise drawing files:

• Read each step carefully and make sure

your results match the figures. If your results vary from the figures, stop immediately and review the previous steps. If you can’t find the problem quickly, start the exercise over with the appropriate supplied file.

• Alternate methods are shown for acti-

vating many tools, commands, and modes. Use the method that works best for you.

• In many cases, you must click in the

drawing area after using the Navigation palette before continuing with the next step.

• Watch for SmartCursor cues that appear

when you hover your cursor over significant drawing object geometry. Pause briefly over snap points to display the red snap box, and watch for the red confirmation dot displayed temporarily after you complete the snap. When too many red snap boxes are displayed in congested areas, you can press the Esc key once to clear the display, or you can temporarily disable all snaps by holding down the backquote key (`).

• For some operations, additional view

adjustments may be required. For these cases, press the Z key for the Snap Loupe shortcut, or use the Zoom, Pan, and Fit to Objects tools as required. If you have a mouse wheel, use it to zoom in and out.

• To pan across the drawing at any time

(even if a tool or command is active), hold down the Space bar and drag the cursor.

• If you inadvertently cleared a selection

required for an active tool or command, press Space bar + X temporarily, and then select the object(s).

• Many tools have different operational

modes, which you can select in the Tool bar (located above the drawing window).

• Keep the Object Info palette open. To

open it, select Window > Palettes > Object Info. It displays valuable information and

provides access to key properties of selected objects.

• Press the Esc key to cancel any

operation. If you are using a tool, it will still be active, but you can then start drawing again or choose another tool. Sometimes, you must press the Esc key before you use a keyboard shortcut to activate another tool.

• Use the Undo command in the Edit

menu to revert steps as necessary (both drawing and view changes are reverted).

6 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

• For tools that create multiple segments

(such as the Wall tool), press the Delete key once while the tool is active to revert a single segment, or press it repeatedly to revert additional segments.

• If multiple files are open, you may need

to click the Resource Browser’s Home button

if your house file isn’t active.

• Object artifacts may remain in the

drawing area after some drawing and editing operations. To refresh the screen and clear the artifacts, double-click the Pan tool (in the Basic tools palette).

• Save your files often to prevent data loss.

Important:

1) Exercise steps in this tutorial are based on default preference settings from a new installation of the Vectorworks Architect program. Results for some steps may vary from the figures if your preference settings differ from the defaults.

2) Close any open files before you open a completed exercise file (only if you plan on using it to start the next exercise).

Using Metric Units with Exercises

All exercise data set files for this tutorial are set to use imperial units. If you want to use metric values for the exercise steps, enter the values exactly as shown in [square brackets, with the unit mark], and Vectorworks will convert the values accordingly. If you want to measure distances or drawing objects for reference, use the appropriate dimension tool and object snaps to create temporary dimensions, which are set by default to display alternate units in metric values. Delete the temporary dimensions when finished.

Note: For proper exercise operation—and to

validate your results with the imperial figures—do

not change the document’s units setting to metric.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 7

Checking Your Work

The GS -V WAxCheck.vw x file is included in the Data Set folder so you can verify the accuracy of your file. If you want to use this file to check your work:

1. Copy the Data Set folder on the DVD to any location on your hard disk.

2. In step 3 of Exercise 1 (p. 10), open the GS-V WAx01.vwx file in the Data Set folder, and then save the file under the name House.v wx in the Data Set folder on your hard disk.

Notes:

1) Before you use any of the supplied files to

start any other exercise, save your current file

under a different name, and then open the

read-only file (from the Data Set folder on your

hard disk) and save it as House.vwx in the Data

Set folder.

2) You must name your file “House“ and

save it in the Data Set folder to ensure the

GS-VWAxCh eck.v wx file works properly.

3. After saving your House.vwx file at the

end of exercises 3 through 11, open the GS-V WA xCheck.v wx file from the Data Set folder on your hard disk, and then follow the exercise-specific checking instructions exactly as shown in the last steps of the exercise.

Keyboard Shortcuts

All keyboard shortcuts included in this guide are based on the Windows operating system. If you’re using a Macintosh, use the Option key instead of the Alt key, and use the Cmd key instead of the Ctrl key. Refer to the Vectorworks 2011 Shortcuts PDF file (available from the Online Help) to print a complete list of your own keyboard shortcuts.

8 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Section 1: Program

Installation and Setup

In this section, you start by installing the Vectorworks Architect program. Following installation, two exercises cover the following program setup and interface adjustment processes:

• Activating the Architect Workspace (p. 10)

•

Opening the Starting File (p. 11)

• Adjusting Vectorworks Preferences (p. 12)

• Adjusting Snapping Settings (p. 13)

• Adjusting Grid and Smart Point Settings (p. 13)

• Setting the Default Font (p. 14)

• Adjusting the Navigation Palette Display (p. 14)

• Adjusting Quick Prefs (p. 14)

In these exercises, you activate (or reset) the Vectorworks Architect interface, and then you adjust program preference settings and adjust the interface.

Installing the Vectorworks Architect Program

Note: If you have already installed Vectorworks Architect, start with step 2 below.

1. Follow the installation instructions in the ReadMe le located in the root folder of your

installation DVD.

2. Start the program. You can do this by selecting Programs > Vectorworks2011 > Vectorworks2011 from the Windows Start menu.

3. From the menu, select Help > Check for Updates. If updating is necessary, follow

the on-screen instructions.

4. Close Vectorworks (if it’s still running) to reset the program.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 9

Exercise 1: Launching the Program and Opening the Starting File

In this exercise, you launch the application and activate the Vectorworks Architect workspace. After a brief orientation of the Architect interface, you then open the supplied

starting le.

Activating the Architect Workspace

You start by launching the Vectorworks program.

1. From the Windows Start menu, select Programs > Vectorworks2011 > Vectorworks2011.

10 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

2. From the menu, select Tools > Workspaces > Architect. If the Architect

workspace is already active, select it again to reset the interface. Position the Navigation palette where shown, and

examine key areas of the interface identied in the following gure.

Opening the Starting File

Next, you open the supplied starting le. To save time, this starting le contains many pre-congured resources, and is already

fully set up for creating a two-story structure without a basement.

Note: Before you open the supplied starting file,

see Checking Your Work (p. 8).

3. From the menu, select File > Open. In the Open Vectorworks Drawing dialog box, open the Data Set folder and open the (read-only) GS-VWAx01.vwx boundary is displayed, and it’s ready for

laying out the rst oor room areas.

4. From the menu, select File > Save As

, and save the le under the name

House.vwx. You can now skip ahead to Exercise 2 (p.

12), or you can use the Online Help system to review the following commands

that were used to set up this le:

• Document Setup – Species layer

scale, drawing area (page setup), sheet border, and title block settings used by the Create Standards Viewports command.

• Model Setup – Creates basic design

layers, with appropriate height settings for 3D objects.

• Create Standard Viewports – Cre-

ates design layer, sheet layer, sheet layer viewport, and class schemes appropriate for selected construction documents. Also creates matching “working” views, which you use throughout the project to facilitate

le navigation.

le. The page

• Standard Naming – For enabling the

Auto-classing option to assign class names and attributes to many of the objects you create. Visibility of these classes is handled automatically in sheet layer viewports and saved views generated by the Create Standard Viewports command.

Notes:

1) Design layers are used in architectural

projects as spatial containers for creating

drawing objects.

2) Sheet layers provide a 2D-only page layout

environment for printing.

3) Sheet layer viewports are individual 2D “live

camera view” objects that reside on sheet layers

but display 2D and 3D drawing objects on design

layers. When you modify drawing objects on a

design layer, the viewport itself doesn’t change,

but it displays the changes in the design layers.

4) Classes are used to control display

properties of drawing objects.

Important: As you start the tutorial, do not be concerned if you don’t fully understand the file structure and setup commands. As you progress through the exercises, you will see how the file structure works in context of a design project. For step by step file setup instructions from the Architect Getting Started website, see www.nemetschek.net/ training/2011/architect-2011-getting-startedguide.php.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 11

Exercise 2: Adjusting Preference Settings

In this exercise, you verify and adjust program preferences.

Adjusting Vectorworks Preferences

Next, you verify or adjust key application preference settings to ensure proper exercise operation, turn on scroll bars to facilitate navigation, and increase the maximum number of undos so you can revert exercise steps if necessary.

1. Click bar and select Vectorworks Preferences. In the Vectorworks Preferences dialog box, select the Edit tab, and then verify or adjust settings as shown (keep the dialog box open for the next three steps).

on the far right side of the Tool

2. Select the Display tab, and enable the Scroll bars option, and then verify or adjust other settings as shown.

3. Select the Session tab, and then enter 100 in the Maximum number of undos

eld. Verify or adjust other settings as shown.

12 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

4. Select the Interactive tab, and then change the cursor’s Selection box size and Snap box size, and verify or adjust other settings as shown at right. Click OK to save the settings and close the dialog box.

Adjusting Snapping Settings

5. Verify or adjust options in the Snapping palette (as shown at right), and then click the X in the palette’s upper right corner to close it.

Adjusting Grid and Smart Point Settings

6. Press Ctrl + 8 to display the SmartCursor Settings dialog box. If a tip is displayed, click OK and then select Grid from the Category list. Clear the Show Grid Lines and Print Grid Lines checkboxes, and verify or adjust other settings (.125” [3.18mm], 1/2" [12.70mm]) as shown at left. From the Category list, click Smart Point, and verify or adjust settings as shown at right. Click OK to close the dialog box and save the changes.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 13

Setting the Default Font

Next, you adjust the default font.

7. From the menu, select Text > Font > Arial to set the default font (if it’s not set to Arial already), and then select Text > Size > 12 to set the default font size to 12 point (if it’s not set to 12 already).

Adjusting the Navigation Palette Display

8. If your Navigation palette is not already displayed, from the menu, select Window > Palettes > Navigation. If necessary, expand the Navigation palette by dragging the lower right corner to resize it.

9. In the Attributes and Navigation palettes, turn on Auto Hide

(Windows only).

Adjusting Quick Prefs

Next, you display appropriate Quick Prefs on the Tool bar for instant access at all

times when any le is open.

10. Click on the far right side of the Tool bar, and then from the Quick Prefs menu:

• Select Auto Join Walls to display the

Auto Join Walls

• Select Hide Details to display the

Hide Details

button on the Tool bar.

Section 2: Laying Out Room Areas

In three exercises, this section covers the following processes in the home design project:

• Drawing Connected Walls (p. 16)

• Applying Geometric Constraints to Walls (p. 18)

• Adjusting Dimension Preferences (p. 19)

• Dimensioning Walls (p. 20)

• Dynamically Adjusting the Layout (p. 20)

• Precisely Adjusting the Layout (p. 21)

• Drawing the Functional Area Walls (p. 25)

• Drawing the Pantry Wall (p. 26)

• Completing a Wall Y-Join with a Geometric Constraint (p. 26)

• Dimensioning Walls (p. 27)

•

Copying Walls for the Second Floor Plan (p. 29)

• Joining Walls (p. 30)

• Drawing Remaining Walls (p. 31)

• Dimensioning Walls (p. 31)

• Inserting a Stair Object (p. 32)

• Modifying the Stairwell, Foyer, and Deck Walls (p. 33)

In these exercises, you work on design layers as you start the design by drawing wall objects (using unique wall styles for

maximum exibility) in approximate

proportions. You then:

• Place geometric constraints on

related walls.

• Automatically create associative

dimensions for all walls.

• Use a combination of dynamic and

precise methods to progressively tighten the accuracy and dene basic spatial relationships of the rooms.

Note: Although you can also use space planning

tools and massing models, this tutorial covers

tools for drawing walls directly.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 15

Exercise 3: Drawing Exterior Walls

In this exercise, you draw the exterior walls to dene the rst oor envelope. The completed exercise is shown in the following gure.

Drawing Connected Walls

You start the exercise by setting an appropriate zoom level, and then you draw four walls using the 6.5" [165.1mm] Generic Ext style to represent the storage room. You use this wall style as a unique placeholder for exterior walls until you replace it with the nal conguration in Exercise 9 (p. 60). To create this wall style, a default content wall style was duplicated and renamed (the

original style was not modied) to avoid:

• Conicts for other users who may

already be familiar with the properties of the default content style.

• Unintentionally replacing other walls in

a project that may have the default content style property.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 2—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy— open the GS-VWAx02.v w x le.

16 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

2. From the View bar, click Fit to Page Area click Wall [165.1mm] Generic Ext from the Wall Style

drop-down list (if it’s not already active).

Note: Before you continue, view the animation of

steps 3 through 9 (AGSx03_03-09.mov file from

the DVD’s Movies folder or www.nemetschek.

net/training/2011/architect-2011-getting-started-

guide.php).

3. Draw four connected walls in clockwise order, starting at the lower left corner, approximately where shown at left (use the page border for approximate positional

reference): Draw the rst two segments, and

then use angle snaps and acquire a Smart Point (see Note 2 on p. 17) at the starting vertex to control the length of the third segment to keep the walls square.

. From the Building/Shell tool set,

. In the Tool bar, select 6.5"

Notes:

1) Drawing exterior connected walls in a

clockwise direction ensures that the interior and

exterior sides are oriented correctly.

2) Before you draw the last segment, pause the

cursor briefly over the starting vertex until the

Smart Point is acquired (red box displayed). Pause

the cursor one time to acquire a Smart Point; pause

the cursor a second time to clear a smart point.

4. From the Basic tools palette, cclick the Selection Tool

. In the Tool bar, make

sure the Enable Connected Walls Mode

option is enabled. Drag two of the walls

to verify the connections, as shown at right.

Next, you draw the L-shaped exterior walls

that dene the perimeter of the functional

area and living room.

5. Press the 9 key for the Wall tool shortcut. Use the same drawing technique to draw six connected walls in clockwise order, starting at the lower left, approximately where shown.

6. Press the X key for the Selection Tool shortcut. Drag various walls from the L-shaped room to verify the connections, as shown.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 17

Applying Geometric Constraints to Walls

Next, you apply colinear constraints to four walls to maintain the distance between them and their alignment.

7. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection. click the Zoom tool

. In the Tool bar, make sure Marquee Zoom Mode is active, and then draw a marquee around the area shown (at left) to zoom in. From the Dims/Notes tool set, hold down the left mouse button on the Constrain Coincident tool

to open the yout palette, and then click

Constrain Colinear , as shown below.

8. Click the midpoints of the wall segments

in order, (shown below) to place colinear constraints between the midpoints and constrain the walls along their centerlines (notice the horizontal colinear constraint indicators either constraint fails, zoom in and try again.

), shown in the next gure. If

18 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

9. Press the X key and then drag one of the upper and one of the lower constrained walls to verify the constraints (both constrained walls move together), as shown at left. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection. From the View bar, click Fit to Page Area

to adjust the display.

Adjusting Dimension Preferences

Next, you verify or adjust dimension creation and precision preferences.

10. Right-click a blank area and select Document Preferences. In the Document Preferences dialog box, select the Dimensions tab. Verify or adjust settings (8 Mils [.2032mm]) as shown, and then click OK.

11. From the menu, select File > Document Settings > Units. In the Units dialog box,

select the General Display and Dimensions tab. Verify or adjust settings, as shown at left. Select the Dual Dimensions tab, and then verify or adjust settings as shown at right. Click OK to save the settings.

Dimension Notes:

1) Associative dimensions “attach”

themselves to drawing objects by placing

parametric constraints on vertices of selected

geometry. Parametric constraints let dimensions

move and update values when you move or

resize associated geometry, or (for linear and

chain dimensions only) modify associated

geometry if you change the Length parameter.

2) To turn off display of the parametric

constraints, select Tools > Options >

Vectorworks Preferences from the menu, and

then select the Display tab and turn off the Show

Parametric Constraints option (leave the

display on for these exercises).

3) If the Associative Dimensions option is

disabled, any dimensions you create will not be

attached to—or control— geometry you snap to.

4) The Dimension Exterior Walls command

optionally creates associative dimensions, but it

cannot create them for all objects.

5) Refer to the Online Help’s Associative

Dimensioning topic for more information.

6) In your own files, you can create or import

custom dimension standards and use them

individually or replace default standards (in the

active drawing only) if you need to adjust any

parameters such as Offset Text size. Refer to the

Online Help’s Using Custom Dimension

Standards topic for more information.

7) For your own drawings with dimensions

based on multiple standards, you can set the

current dimension standard from the Tool bar

when any dimension tool is active.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 19

Dimensioning Walls

Next, you use the Dimension Exterior Walls command to automatically dimension

the rst-oor exterior walls.

12. From the menu, select AEC > Dimension Exterior Walls. In the

Dimension Exterior Walls dialog box, adjust settings as shown at right, and then click OK to create the dimensions. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection. Examine the completed dimensions, shown below (your values will vary; you remove duplicate dimensions later in this exercise).

Dynamically Adjusting the Layout

Next, you use different methods to dynamically resize and reposition the

exterior walls as you continue to rene the

building envelope.

13. From the Basic tools palette, click the Selection Tool . In the Tool bar, make

sure the Enable Connected Walls Mode

option is active. Drag individual connected wall segments, starting with the vertical walls from right to left, and then the horizontal walls from top to bottom, approximately as shown at left. As you would when

you dynamically rene spatial relationships

in your own designs, try to get within ±1’-0” [.305m] of the dimensions shown (do not reposition dimensions until later in this exercise). Notice that the dimensions update

to reect changes and provide instant

positional and size feedback as you adjust the layout (leave the Selection Tool active for the next four steps).

20 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

14. In the Tool bar, click the click the Enable Connected Walls Mode

option to disable it, and then make sure the Enable 2D Cursor Rectangular Selection Mode

option is enabled. Draw a marquee selection as shown at left. Move the entire selection by dragging any selected wall to the right until the distance between the rooms is between 27’-0” [8.230m] and 29’-0” [8.839m], as shown at right (notice that all selected walls and dimensions move together). Now that the “closed loop” move operation is complete, reset the default status of the Enable Connected Walls Mode option by pressing the P key to toggle (enable) it.

Warning: Drag closed loops with the Enable

Connected Walls Mode option disabled

only when all connected walls are selected.

Partial selections will be disconnected from

unselected walls.

Tip: You can use the 2D Reshape tool to

resize subsets of selected walls. For step by step

instructions from the Architect Getting Started

website, see www.nemetschek.net/training/

2011/architect-2011-getting-started-guide.php.

Precisely Adjusting the Layout

Next, you edit the length parameter of key dimensions to precisely adjust the size and position of all walls.

15. Double-click the vertical dimension text to activate editing mode, as shown at the far

left. Click the bottom x point (circled for

clarity) to select it, or press the Tab key

repeatedly to toggle x points until the bottom x point is selected. Enter a new

value of 15’9” [4.801m], and then press Enter to accept the new value. The

dimension and walls update to reect the

change, as shown in the next image.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 21

16. Repeat the length parameter editing

process for the other ve key dimensions in

the order shown. Click or use the Tab key to

control the xed positions (circled, with

corresponding key dimension numbers) as required (see Note below ).

• Dimension 1: 26'1" [7.950m]

• Dimension 2: 21'9" [6.629m]

• Dimension 3: 28'9" [8.763m]

• Dimension 4: 15'9" [4.801m]

• Dimension 5: 9'9" [2.972m]

Note: Your initial dimensions may vary. If a

dimension edit causes an unintentional change to

another dimension, press Ctrl + Z for the Undo

command shortcut to revert the change, and try

again with a different fix point.

Next, you use the Selection Tool and the

oating data bar to index the house position with the le's origin.

Note: You move the layout to ensure proper

operation with the supplied exercise checking

file. In your own designs, you may find it helpful

to index the design with the origin for more

meaningful world coordinates (because the entire

design resides in the positive XY quadrant for

Cartesian coordinates), and for more predictable

results when referencing files.

17. From the Basic tools palette,click the Select Similar tool

. Click one of the walls (away from the dimensions), and

then conrm that all

10 walls are selected in the Object Info palette, as shown at right. Press the X key, and then press the P key to toggle off Enable Connected Walls Mode. Start dragging the lower left corner endpoint (shown below at left; if necessary, press the Z key and make sure you drag the endpoint, as shown below at right).

22 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Move your cursor slightly (do not release the left mouse button) and then press the Tab

key ve times to highlight the X value in the oating data bar. Enter 0 (zero) for the value,

and then press the Tab key and enter 0 (zero) for the Y value. Press Enter twice to move the selected walls. Press the P key to toggle Enable Connected Walls Mode on, and press the X key twice to clear the selection. Press Ctr l + 6 for the Fit to Objects shortcut to see the entire layout.

Notice that the rulers conrm the lower left

corner is on the origin (0,0), as shown below.

Tip: Use the Snap Loupe whenever you need to

temporarily zoom in and select a point. For best

Snap Loupe performance, press Ctrl + 8, select

the General Category, and then disable the

Zoom Line Thickness in Snap Loupe option.

Next, you delete duplicate dimensions, and then you reposition the remaining dimensions to clean up the drawing.

18. Right-click the text of the dimensions circled at left (one at a time), and select

Delete Dimension

from the context menu

to remove them from the drawing. Drag the remaining dimensions (by dimension lines; not text) into place, approximately where shown at top below.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 23

Next, you lock all dimensions to prevent inadvertent changes.

20. Press the X key twice to clear the selec-

tion, and then press Ctrl + S to save the le.

Note: The walls won’t change position or resize

when you lock all associated dimensions, but you

can still modify wall properties and insert objects

into them.

19. From the menu, select Window > Script Palettes > Scripts. Drag the Scripts

palette to the left of the Navigation palette, and then double-click the Custom Select All Dims script. All dimensions are now selected. Right-click the text of one of the dimensions, and select Lock from the context menu. The selection highlight color turns gray (and the Object Info palette updates) to indicate all selected objects are locked, as below.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

21. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the

Check EX03 saved view to activate it.

22. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and

the master le’s drawing objects are

displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid

directly on top of the master le’s drawing

objects (check dimensions for completeness; ignore dimension alignment).

23.

After checking your le’s accuracy,

close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active). If your drawing is

inaccurate, close your le and continue with

the next exercise by starting with the

supplied le.

24 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Exercise 4: Drawing Interior Walls

In this exercise, you draw and dimension the internal walls. The completed exercise is

shown in the following gure.

Drawing the Functional Area Walls

You start the exercise by drawing walls using the 4.5" [114.3mm] Generic Int placeholder (see p. 16) wall style.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 3—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx03.v wx le.

2. Press the 9 key for the Wall tool shortcut. In the Tool bar, select the 4.5” [114.3mm] Generic Int wall style. To start

the rst segment, move your cursor over the

left vertical wall, and then click the wall (when it’s highlighted), approximately where

point 1 is shown at left. Complete the rst

segment by holding down the Shift key and clicking approximately where point 2 is shown at left. Complete the second segment by holding down the Shift key to vertically constrain the cursor, and then snap to the existing wall approximately where point 3 is shown at left (when the exterior wall is highlighted). Notice that the internal walls were automatically joined at the corner, and to the existing walls on both exterior ends, as shown at right (leave the Wall tool active for the next two steps).

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 25

3. With the Wall tool still active, use the Shift key to draw two vertical wall segments and another L-shape series with a corner connection, approximately where shown (highlighted for clarity; to start and terminate connections with existing wall, click when existing walls highlight).

Drawing the Pantry Wall

Next, you draw a vertical interior wall segment for the pantry wall.

4. With the Wall tool still active, use the Shift key to draw a vertical wall segment—from top to bottom—connected with the vertical segment, approximately where shown.

Completing a Wall Y-Join with a Geometric Constraint

Next, you complete a Y-join corner by connecting the interior pantry wall to the exterior wall corner with a coincident constraint.

5. From the Dims/Notes tool set, hold down the left mouse button on the Constrain Colinear tool and then click Constrain Coincident . Click the top left corner of the pantry wall segment and then click the inside corner of exterior walls to connect the vertices by placing a coincident constraint between them, as shown.

to open the yout palette,

26 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Dimensioning Walls

Next, you create linear dimensions, add dimensions to an existing chain dimension, and then modify the length values to precisely position the interior walls.

6. From the Dims/Notes tool set, click Constrained Linear Dimension the Tool bar, make sure Constrained Linear Mode

is active. Snap to the appropriate

wall endpoints (see Notes below gure) to

create two constrained linear dimensions, as shown (highlighted).

Notes:

1) Snap to the endpoints marked with green

squares, which indicate the parametric constraint

points of associative dimensions.

2) The first two clicks determine dimension

points (if prompted, accept default wall

selections); the third click orients and places the

dimension.

3) Pick up points of existing dimension

geometry, and then use SmartCursor cues to

align new dimensions as you create them.

4) Make sure the dimensions you create are

associative (green squares are displayed on both

ends). If not, press Ctrl + Z and try again.

. In

5) Press the X key, and then drag dimension

lines or text if you need to move either. You can

also select multiple dimension objects, and then

drag their dimensions lines together.

6) In your own drawings, you can dynamically

or precisely adjust witness line lengths for one or

more dimension objects. Refer to the Online

Help’s “Editing Dimensions with the Mouse” and

“Editing Dimension Properties” topics for more

information.

Next, you unlock two of the existing chain dimensions so you can add dimensions for the new interior walls.

7. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Custom Select All Dims script to activate it.

Right-click any of the selected dimensions, and select Unlock from the context menu. Leave all dimensions selected, and then right-click the 25’-6” [7.772m] dimension text and select Add Dimension from the context menu (the cursor changes shape to indicate that the added dimension’s endpoint must be

specied). Snap to the vertical wall’s endpoint

to add a dimension, as shown at left. Repeat the process to add three more dimensions (to the right-most dimension) by snapping to appropriate wall endpoints to complete the chain dimension, as shown at right.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 27

8. Press the X key, and then double-click each dimension and change the values to

match the following gure (change the xed point as necessary; see Notes below gure).

Notes:

1) You only need to adjust the four left chain

dimensions; the 4’-5” [1.346m] dimension on the

right side will be corrected automatically.

2) If you experience a bug that alters any wall

T-joins when you change dimension values, use

the Wall Join tool with T Join Mode

to re-create the joins.

Next, you lock all dimensions.

9. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Custom Select All Dims script. Right-click one of the selected dimensions, and select Lock from the context menu.

10. Press the X key twice to clear the selec-

tion, and then press Ctrl + S to save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

11. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the

Check EX04 saved view to activate it.

12. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and

the master le’s drawing objects are

displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid

directly on top of the master le’s drawing

objects (check dimensions for completeness; ignore dimension alignment).

13.

After checking your le’s accuracy,

close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active). If your drawing is

inaccurate, close your le and continue with

the next exercise by starting with the

supplied le.

28 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Exercise 5: Drawing Second-Floor Walls and Adding a Stair

In this exercise, you copy a subset of walls from the Mod-Floor-1 layer, and then you paste

them in-place on the Mod-Floor-2 layer to start the second-oor plan. Next, you clean up wall intersections, and then you constrain the exterior second-oor walls to the mating rst-oor walls. You then complete the exercise by inserting a stair object and modifying the layout to t the stair conguration. The completed exercise is shown in the following gure.

Copying Walls for the Second-Floor Plan

You start the exercise by copying ten walls, and then you paste them in place in the Mod-

Floor-2 layer to start the second-oor plan.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 4—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx04.vwx le.

2. Press Ctrl + 6 to display the entire oor

plan. Press the X key, and then hold down the Shift key and select the ten walls shown.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 29

3. In the Object Info palette, verify that ten walls are selected, and then press Ctrl + C to copy them. In the Navigation palette, select the Saved Views tab, and then double-click the Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it (in the View bar, notice the Mod-Floor-2 layer is now active, as shown at right). From the menu, select Edit > Paste in Place to copy the walls to the same X and Y coordinates

on the second oor,

as shown below

Joining Walls

Next, you use the Wall Join tool to clean up wall intersections and corners.

4. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection. From the Building Shell tool set, click Wall Join

in the Tool bar. Click wall segments in order, approximately where shown The wall corners are joined and trimmed, as shown.

, then click L Join Mode

Important: Avoid clicking too close to the end of each wall segment. If you click at the end of the segment, the walls will not join properly.

Note: If you experience a bug that alters any

existing wall joins in the previous or next steps,

use the Wall Join tool with either

L Join Mode or T Join Mode as

appropriate to re-create the join.

5. With the Wall Join tool still active, click wall segments 1 and 2 in order, approximately where shown at left, and then click T Join Mode

in the Tool bar. Click wall segments 3 through 8 in order, approximately where shown at left. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection. You can now see that all wall corners are appropriately joined and trimmed, as shown at right.

Note: To save time, you skip the repetitive

process of applying geometric constraints to the

second floor walls to link their length and position

with mating walls on the first floor. If you want to

apply these optional constraints or learn about

related design benefits not covered in this

tutorial, save your file now and refer to the

step-by-step instructions from the Architect

Getting Started website; see www.nemetschek.

net/training/2011/architect-2011-getting-started-

guide.php. After applying the constraints, you can

continue with the next step.

30 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Drawing Remaining Walls

Next, you draw the remaining interior

second-oor walls in their approximate

positions.

6. From the Building/Shell tool set, click Wall . In the Tool bar, make sure the

4.5” [114.3mm] Generic Int wall style is still

active. Use the Shift key to draw the remaining the interior walls approximately where shown (highlighted for clarity).

Dimensioning Walls

Next, you use the same dimension/

modication technique as the previous two

exercises (with minimal instruction) to

complete the second oor layout.

7. Use either the Dimension Exterior Walls command or the Constrained Linear

Dimension tool Chain Mode

to create associative dimensions, and then

change the length and xed points as

necessary to precisely position the interior walls from the previous step, as shown at right (with chain dimensions).

with Constrained

(see Notes below gure)

Notes:

1) The dimensions shown are the only

dimensions required to complete the second-floor

interior wall layout (see Note 3). The other walls

were copied from the first floor and pasted in the

correct position on the second floor. To save time

in this exercise, you skip the repetitive process of

creating dimensions for all second-floor walls

normally required for construction documentation.

2) To automatically associate dimensions with

T-joined wall intersections with the Dimension

Exterior Walls command, select Centerlines

from the Dimension to Wall drop-down list, and

select Center of Openings from the Dimension

drop-down list in the Dimension Exterior Walls

dialog box. If you prefer dimensions to wall

edges, use the Constrained Linear Dimension

tool , and double-click the snap point in the

chain to terminate the dimension string.

3) If you applied the optional constraints after

step 5 (p. 30), any dimensions associated with

second-floor exterior walls will also control

mating (constrained) walls on the first floor, even

though the first-floor walls already have

dimensions associated with them. Vectorworks

allows multiple-dimension control (from

dimensions in design layers and sheet layer

viewport annotations) over associated objects.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 31

Inserting a Stair Object

Next, you insert a custom stair plug-in object. You then drag and nudge the stair object into position.

8. In the Navigation palette, double-click the Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions.

Note: You can use the Toggle Dimension

Class Visibility

exercises to check dimensions or hide them to

reduce clutter.

9. From the Building Shell tool set, click Custom Stair Wall Insertion Mode , if it’s active, to turn it off, and then enable the Align Object Left

then snap to the wall edge, where shown.

script at any time in any of the

. In the Tool bar, click

option. Snap rst to the corner and

corner of the platform and releasing it on the top right inside corner of the stairwell, as shown at right.

Note: The Custom Stair tool was pre-configured

for this file. The Stair Settings dialog box would

normally be displayed for the first custom stair

object inserted in a file. For subsequent

insertions in your own files, click Preferences

from the Tool bar before placing the custom

stair to set default parameters. If you change

Stair Settings dialog box parameters, all

subsequent insertions are affected.

The stair object is created (shown above at left). Press the X key, and then move the stair object by dragging the upper right

32 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

10. Zoom in on the stairs by pressing Ctrl + 6 for the Fit To Objects shortcut, and then hold down the Shift key and press the Left and Down arrow keys one time each to make sure the stairs are close to the walls but not touching them, as shown above.

Modifying the Stairwell, Foyer, and Deck Walls

Next, you shorten the stairwell divider wall to accommodate the stair platform and handrails.

11. From the View bar, click Previous View , and then press the X key and select the

stairwell divider wall below the stair (notice the selection highlight is visible under the stair object). Click the top grip when the resize cursor is displayed to “pick up” the endpoint (do not snap to another point after you click the top grip, or the wall will not remain vertical). Move your cursor, press the Tab key three times and enter 0 for the ±X value, and then press Enter. Notice the vertical constraint indicator, as shown at top left. Move your cursor to the inside edge of the horizontal stair handrail, and then press the Z key for the Snap Loupe shortcut (to temporarily

and SmartCursor point cue

zoom in). Click the midpoint of the stair handrail’s inside edge to resize the wall (and close the Snap Loupe), as shown at top right. In the Object Info palette, select Start from the Caps drop-down list, as shown at left.

Click in a blank area of the drawing to clear the selection and examine the wall cap, shown at right.

Next, you use the 2D Reshape tool to shorten the kitchen wall’s left edge to make a 3’ wide opening into the foyer.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 33

12. In the Scripts palette, double-click the

Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to show all dimensions. Right-click the 6’-2 1/4” [1.886m] dimension and select Unlock from the context menu. From the Basic tools palette, click 2D Reshape

. Make sure that the Move Polygon Handles Mode is active in the Tool bar. Select the horizontal kitchen wall. Click the left grip to “pick up” the endpoint, and then move the cursor to display the oating data bar. Type 3’ for the ±X value, press Tab and enter 0 (zero) for the ±Y value, and then press Enter twice to complete the reshape operation, as shown at top. In the Object Info palette, select Start from the Caps drop-down list. From the Building Shell tool set, click Remove Wall Breaks

. Draw a marquee from lower left to upper right, approximately as shown at bottom left (see

Note below gure). Notice that the wall break

was removed (the wall line is now continuous). Lock the 6’-2 1/4” [1.886m] dimension, and then press the X key twice to clear the selection. Examine the shortened wall, as shown at bottom right.

13. In the Navigation palette, double-click the Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it. Notice that the custom stair object inserted in the Mod-Floor-1 layer is also displayed in the (currently active) Mod-Floor-2 layer. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide dimensions. Press the X key twice, and then hold down the Shift key and select the six walls shown below. In the Object Info

Note: Remove only the wall break of the vertical

wall (do not remove the wall break on the left

edge of the horizontal kitchen wall).

Next, you change the height of the deck and stairwell walls to make balustrade walls. You then shorten the stairwell wall.

34 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

palette, disable the Link Wall Height to Layer ±Z option,

and then change the ±Z value (3’0”

[.914m]), as shown. Click a blank area, and then select the stairwell wall. Click the top grip, hold down the Shift key, and then click the right front stair edge to resize the wall. Use the

Remove Wall Breaks

tool to remove the

break at the resized

end, and then select Start from the Caps drop-down list in the Object Info palette to complete the stairwell wall, as shown at left.

14. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script

to show the dimensions. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Examine the

completed second-oor walls, as shown.

15. Save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

16. Open the (read-only) GS-V WAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette, double-

click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to

activate it, and then double-click the Check EX05 saved view to activate it.

17. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary

to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects

are displayed in red, and the master le’s

drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master

le’s drawing objects.

18. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX05 saved

view to activate it.

19. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in blue, and the master

le’s drawing objects are displayed in their

default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the

master le’s drawing objects.

20. After checking your le’s accuracy, close the active le (your House.vwx le should

now be active). If your drawing is inaccurate,

close your le and continue with the next exercise by starting with the supplied le.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 35

Section 3: Creating

Architectural Elements

In two exercises, this section covers the following processes in the home design project:

•

Creating Floor Slabs from the First-Floor Exterior Walls (p. 38)

• Saving Settings for the Select Similar Tool (p. 39)

•

Changing Foor Slab Properties (p. 40)

• Inserting Doors (p. 41)

• Copying a Door Using Ctrl + Drag (p. 41)

• Creating Different Door Types (p. 42)

• Creating a Cased Opening (p. 44)

• Inserting Windows (p. 44)

• Examining the Design in a 3D View (p. 46)

• Saving a 3D Reference View (p. 47)

•

Creating Floor Slabs from the Second-Floor Exterior Walls (p. 48)

• Copying and Inserting the Remaining Doors and Windows (p. 49)

• Examining the Design in Various 3D Views (p. 52)

In these exercises, you continue working in 2D oor plans (on design layers) as you:

• Create auto-bounded oor slabs from existing walls.

• Rene the house design by inserting a variety of architectural elements (intelligent

plug-in objects).

After inserting architectural elements, you use simple view controls to examine the 3D objects that were created automatically by the 2D tools.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 37

Exercise 6: Creating the First-Floor Plan

In this exercise, you create slab objects, and then you place common architectural elements

in the rst-oor plan. The completed exercise is shown in the following gure:

Creating Floor Slabs from the First-Floor Exterior Walls

You start by creating two auto-bounded

oor slab objects from the rst oor’s

exterior walls using the Ground slab style. As you did with wall styles (see p. 16), you use this slab style as a unique

placeholder for the rst oor’s slabs until you replace them with the nal conguration

in Exercise 9 (p. 60).

38 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

1. Open the GS-VWAx05.vwx le in the Data Set folder. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions.

2. From the Building Shell tool set, click the Slab tool Picked Walls Mode , and then select Ground from the Slab Style drop-down list.

In the drawing area, click the four storage (rectangular) room walls, and then click Press to Complete Operation Tool bar to create the slab, as shown at top right. With the Slab tool still active, click the six exterior walls that form the L-shaped perimeter of the functional area and living room, and then click Press to Complete Operation shown at bottom right.

Notice that even though both slab objects reside below the Z height of the walls, they are displayed on top of them due to the creation order (or stacking order) of objects in the Mod-Floor-1 layer.

. In the Tool bar, enable

in the

to create the slab, as

Saving Settings for the Select Similar Tool

Next, you save two congurations of

attribute matching settings for the Select Similar tool.

3. From the Basic tools palette, click the Select Similar tool

click Select Similar Preferences . In the Select Similar Preferences dialog box, verify or adjust settings as shown below.

. In the Tool bar,

In the Selection Options section, click Save. In the Assign Name dialog box, enter Object for the

name, as shown. Click OK to save the settings. Notice that the Object saved setting is now displayed in the Use Saved Settings drop-down list (and is now active), as shown at left. Keep the Select Similar Preferences dialog box open.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 39

4. In the Other section, enable the Class option, as shown above. Click Save and save the settings as Class

and Object, as shown. With the new Class and Object saved setting active (as shown

at top right), click OK to save the settings (leave the Select Similar tool active).

Changing Floor Slab Properties

Next, you change the slab objects’ class and layer properties.

5. With the Select Similar tool still active, click either of the two slab objects. In the

Object Info palette conrm that two slabs

are selected and then change the following:

• Slab objects' class property to

Structural-Slab (if a message dialog box is displayed, enable the Always do the selected action option, and click Yes).

• Slab objects' layer property to

Mod-Slab-1. The slab objects seemingly

disappear (see Note below gure) but are

actually present under the walls because of the layer order saved in the Floor Plan-1 view, as shown.

Note: The slab objects no longer appear selected

because of the Floor Plan-1 saved view’s layer

option settings. If you were to activate the

Mod-Slab-1 layer (do not activate it now), you

would see that the floor object is still selected.

40 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Inserting Doors

Next, you use the Door tool to insert a plug-in object.

6. Zoom in on the kitchen and functional area, as shown at left. From the Building Shell

tool set, click the Door tool

• Click the foyer

wall approximately where shown at left.

• Move your cursor

to orient the door as shown below at left (notice how your cursor

position ips the door

side and swing), and then click to place the door plug-in object, as shown below at right.

Note: The Door tool was pre-configured for this

file. The Door Settings dialog box would normally

be displayed for the first door object inserted in a

file. For subsequent insertions in your own files,

click Preferences from the Tool bar before

placing the door to set default door parameters. If

you change the Door Settings dialog box

settings, all subsequent insertions are affected.

7. In the Object Info palette, verify a “Door In Wall” is selected (as shown). If it isn't drag the door to reinsert it in the wall. Leave the door selected for the next step.

Copying a Door Using Ctrl + Drag

Next, you create two more doors by copying the existing door object dynamically by dragging it while pressing the Ctrl key.

8. Hold down the Alt key, and then click Zoom In/Zoom Out

necessary) until the storage room is visible. Press the X key, and then hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys and drag the foyer door (drag it from its insertion point: the middle of the door’s wall break) to create a copy (highlighted at left) in the storage room wall. If your copied door doesn’t break the wall, try again and release the mouse button when the Object/Horizontal SmartCursor cue is displayed. In the Object Info palette, click the Flip button one time to change the swing as shown. Hold down the Ctrl key, and drag the foyer door to create the front door, approximately where shown (highlighted) at right.

(repeatedly if

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 41

Creating Different Door Types

Next, you copy one of the 3’-wide door objects and then modify the copy to create a door that is 2’6” [.762m] wide.

9. Press the X key twice, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the front door (by its insertion point: the midpoint of its wall break) to the center of the stairwell closet wall, as shown above at left. In the Object Info palette (shown at right), adjust the new door’s settings:

• Change the

Door Width to 2’6” [.762m].

• Change the

Door Height to 6’8” [2.032m].

• Change the

Open Angle to 15, and then press Enter to incorporate the change.

• Click the Flip button as necessary to

orient the door as shown above at right.

Note: You change the open angle to 15 degrees

so you can easily distinguish the 2’6” [.762m]-

wide door.

10. Zoom in on the area shown at left. Press the X key, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the stairwell closet door to the bathroom wall, approximately where shown below.

42 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Next, you use the same copy and modify method to create a bi-part pantry door and slider doors for the living room.

11. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the bathroom door to the pantry wall, as shown below at left. In the Object Info palette, change the following details of the new door.

• Width to 2’0” [.610m]

• Conguration to Swing Bi-part

• Open Angle to 30

Drag the bi-part door if necessary to reposition it, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to create a second bi-part door in the pantry wall, approximately where shown (highlighted) below at right.

12. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 3’ [.914m]-wide foyer door to the left living room wall, approximately where shown below at left. In the Object Info palette, edit the new Door Width (7’0” [2.134m]) and

Conguration

properties, as shown. Use the Ctrl + drag method to create a copy above, and then select both and use Shift + Ctrl + Drag to copy both to the opposite wall to create a total of four slider doors in the orientations (use the Flip option as necessary) and approximate positions, as shown below at right.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 43

Creating a Cased Opening

Next, you use the 3’-wide door to create a cased opening.

13. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 3’-wide foyer door to the horizontal bathroom wall, approximately where shown above. In the Object Info palette:

• Change the

Conguration to

Cased Opening.

• Scroll down,

and change the Jamb Width to 0 (zero) and press Enter to incorporate the change.

• Scroll up and click Set Position. Click

the wall corner (circled at left) for the reference point, and then click the cased opening’s lower left vertex for the object point. Adjust settings in the Enter Offset dialog box, as shown above at left. Then click OK to set the cased opening’s jamb

ush with the wall edge, as shown below.

Inserting Windows

Next, you activate the Window tool, and then you insert two windows.

14. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then from the Building Shell tool set, click the Window tool

• Click once to

position the window in the left kitchen wall, approximately where shown at right.

• Click outside and

to the left of the kitchen to specify the rotation. The window plug-in object is created, as shown at left

• With the Window

tool still active, insert another window in the wall (click outside to specify rotation), as shown at right.

Note: The Window tool was pre-configured for

this file. The Window Settings dialog box would

normally be displayed for the first window object

inserted in a file. For subsequent insertions in

your own files, click Preferences from the

Tool bar before placing the window to set default

window parameters. If you change the Window

Settings dialog box settings, all subsequent

insertions are affected.

44 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Next, you change properties of the last window to create a 7’ [2.134m]-wide picture window.

15.

With the window still selected, conrm

in the Object Info palette that the window is in the wall, and then:

• Change the Overall Width to 7’0”

[2.13 4 m].

• Change the Overall Height to 8’0”

[2.438m].

• Scroll down and change the Num V

Muntins to 1.

• Change the Muntin Width to 4”

[101.60mm].

• Change the Muntin Depth to 1”

[25.40mm], and then press Enter to update the window settings.

• Drag the window so that its outside

top jamb edge is ush with the inside edge

of the living room wall, as shown at right.

16. Press the X key, and then use the Shift + Ctrl + drag method (and the Ctrl + drag method) to copy the 7’ [2.134m]-wide picture window seven times (highlighted for clarity) for a total of eight picture windows, as shown below (see Note).

Note: Ctrl + drag automatically orients window

exteriors.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 45

Next, you copy the 2’ [.610m]-wide window.

17. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the small window one time, and then select both and use Ctrl + drag to copy both windows to create a total of four 2’ [.610m]-wide windows, approximately where shown (highlighted for clarity).

Note: In your own designs, you would now create

associative dimensions for the windows and

doors, (and edit length values as necessary). To

save time, you skip this step in this exercise and

in Exercise 7. Instead, you optionally create

window and door dimensions later in Exercise 11

(p. 81).

Examining the Design in a 3D View

Next, you activate different 3D views so you can examine the architectural elements you just inserted.

18. From the menu, select View > Standard Views > Top. Press the X key

twice, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Notice that 2D object details (such as door swings and wall breaks) disappear in this 3D top view, as shown at top left. From the View bar, select the Isometric view from the Standard View drop-down list, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. The viewing angle is changed, as shown at bottom left.

Notice that even though you were previously working in 2D, Vectorworks Architect automatically created 3D objects.

Note: Do not be concerned about the inappropri-

ate single hung windows; you change properties

of all windows later in Exercise 9 (p. 60).

Left

46 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Saving a 3D Reference View

Next, you save a view with the current display attributes that you use in other exercises later in the tutorial.

19. In the Navigation palette, select the Saved Views tab, and then right-click the blank area below the list and select New. In the Save View dialog box, change the View Name and Layer Options, and

conrm (or adjust) other settings as shown

at top right, and then click OK to save the view. Notice that the new view is now displayed in the list with the 3D view icon

, as shown at bottom right.

20. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view, and then press

Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display, as shown.

Tip: You can optionally create a design layer

section viewport (with an offset section line) to

examine the house in a 3D cutaway view as the

design evolves. For step by step instructions

from the Architect Getting Started website, see

www.nemetschek.net/training/2011/architect-

2011-getting-started-guide.php.

21. Save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

22. Open the (read-only) GS-V WAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the

Check EX06 saved view to activate it.

23. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette) and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and the

master le’s drawing objects are displayed in

their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid directly on top of

the master le’s drawing objects.

24. After checking your le’s accuracy, close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active). If your drawing is

inaccurate, close your le and continue with

the next exercise by starting with the

supplied le.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 47

Exercise 7: Creating the Second-Floor Plan

In this exercise, you use a variety of 2D and 3D tools and techniques to complete the

second-oor plan. The completed exercise is shown in the following gure:

Creating Floor Slabs from the Second-Floor Exterior Walls

You start by creating two auto-bounded

oor slab objects from the second oor’s

balustrade and exterior walls using the Mechanical placeholder (see p. 38) slab style.

1. If you did not complete Excercise 6—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx06.v w x le.

2. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimen-

sions. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display.

48 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

3. From the Building Shell tool set, click the Slab tool

that Picked Walls Mode is enabled, and then select Mechanical from the Slab Style drop-down list. Click the three balustrade walls and the bordering exterior wall, and then click Press to Complete Operation shown at left. With the Slab tool still active, repeat the process with the same slab style

to create the second oor slab from the four

. In the Tool bar, make sure

to create the deck slab, as

exterior second

oor walls, as

shown at right.

4. Hold down the Shift key, and then select

the other second oor slab object (both

should now be selected). In the Object Info palette, change the Slab objects’ Class property to Structural-Slab and their Layer property to Mod-Slab-2 to correct the display order, as shown.

Notes:

1) You notch the second-floor slab to accom-

|modate the stairwell later in Exercise 9 (p. 60).

2) You could combine the deck floor slab with

the second-floor slab, but they are created

separately in this tutorial because of their

structural and functional differences.

3) Although the deck sur face would normally

have a slightly lower elevation than the floor

surface for drainage purposes, they are both the

same elevation (both slabs are the same

thickness) in this tutorial for display purposes.

4) To save time in this tutorial, you ignore the

overlapping area between both slab objects. If you

want to fix this in your model, you can optionally

create a virtual wall segment as a surrogate

auto-boundary for the slab. To do this, delete the

deck slab you just created, and then draw a

horizontal virtual wall segment (with zero height)

connected to the vertical balustrade walls slightly

above the horizontal exterior wall. Create the

auto-bounded slab by picking all three balustrade

walls and the virtual wall, and then change the

slab’s class and layer properties. Use the

Constrain Colinear tool to place a collinear

constraint between the virtual wall and the outside

edge of the second floor’s exterior wall.

Copying and Inserting the Remaining Doors and Windows

Next, you copy doors and windows from the

rst oor (that you created in Exercise 6),

and then you copy and modify them as

necessary to complete the second-oor plan.

5. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. Press the X key

twice, and then right-click one of the bi-part pantry doors, and select Create Similar Object from the context menu. If a message dialog box is displayed (as shown), enable

the Don’t show this dialog again option, and then click OK. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view. Insert the bi-part door into the middle of the hall closet wall and orient it as shown at right.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 49

6. Press the X key, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the bi-part door into the guest bedroom closet wall, as shown above (use the Flip option if necessary). With the new closet door still selected, change the Door Width to 4’2” [1.270m] in the Object Info palette. Drag the new door into position, as shown below at left. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 4’2” [1.270m] door, approximately where shown below at right.

7. Repeat the Create Similar Object process (step 5) to create a 2’6” [.762m]-wide

door from the rst oor and position it in the middle of the second oor’s master bedroom

hallway wall and orient it as shown above at top. Press the X key, and then use the Ctrl + drag and Flip option to copy the 2’6” [.762m]-wide door four times (highlighted for clarity) in the orientations and approximate locations as shown above at right.

8. Repeat the Create Similar Object process to create a 7’ [2.134m] slider door

from the rst oor and position it in the second oor’s family room wall and orient it

as shown at left. Press the X key, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to create an adjacent copy of the 7’ [2.134m] slider, approximately where shown at right. Use the Flip control as necessary.

9. Repeat the Create Similar Object process to create a 7’ [2.134m]-wide picture

window from the rst-oor plan and position it in the second oor’s master bedroom wall,

and then click outside the wall to orient it as shown at left. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 7’ [2.134m]-wide picture window eight times, approximately where shown at right (highlighted for clarity).

50 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

10. Repeat the Create Similar Object process to create a 2’ [.610m]-wide window

from the rst-oor plan and position it in the second oor’s master bedroom hallway wall,

and then click outside the wall to orient it as shown (leave the window selected for the next three steps).

Tip: In your own designs, you can adjust layer

visibilities (with Show/Snap Others layer mode

active), and then Ctrl + Alt + click objects on other

layers to activate the Create Similar Object

command.

Next, you use the Move by Points tool to precisely move and copy the 2’-wide window in the master bedroom hallway wall

to complete the oor plan.

12. Press Shift + M for the Move by Points tool shortcut. In the Tool bar, enable Move Mode

. For the start point, click the

selected window’s midpoint, as shown below.

For the end point, click the insertion point of the master bedroom walk-in closet’s door, as shown at left. The window stays in the wall and is now centered with the walk-in closet’s door, as shown at right (leave the window selected for the next step).

11. Zoom in on the area shown.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 51

13. With the Move by Points tool still active, snap to the same midpoint on the window as the previous step, and then hold down the Ctrl key and snap to the insertion point of the master bathroom door’s opening, as shown at left. The window is copied, and the copy is now centered with the master bathroom’s opening, as shown at right (leave the copied window selected and the Move by Points tool active for the next step).

Note: Holding down the Ctrl key temporarily

enables the Retain option for the original object.

Note: In your own designs, you would now create

associative dimensions for the windows and

doors (and edit length values as necessary). To

save time, you skip this step in this exercise (as

you did in Exercise 6). Instead, you optionally

create window and door dimensions later in

Exercise 11 (p. 84).

Examining the Design in Various 3D Views

Next, you edit the Unied Isometric saved

view to display additional layers and classes, and then you examine the new elements with the Flyover tool.

15. In the Navigation palette, activate the

Unied Isometric saved view. Press the X

key twice to clear the selection. Notice that the saved view does not show objects on

the second oor, as shown.

14. Use either the Ctrl + drag method or the Move by Points tool

to create fourteen additional copies of the 2’-wide window, where shown (highlighted for clarity).

52 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

16. In the Navigation palette, right-click the Unified Isometric saved view and select Edit. In the Edit Saved View dialog box, click Layers. Adjust visibilities as shown at right, and then click OK. Click

Classes, and turn on visibility of the Roof-Main class. Click OK twice to save

the edits. Double-click the saved view to see the change, and then press the X key twice to clear the selection, as shown.

17. From the Basic tools palette, click the Flyover tool

. In the Tool bar, make sure Interactive Origin Mode is enabled. Start dragging the cursor to dynamically examine the model. Press Ctrl + 6 to re-center the view. Click to stop the motion, and change the center of rotation by clicking on various object vertices (on the active layer), and then continue dragging the cursor to change the viewing angle.

18. In the Navigation palette, activate the

Note: To save time, you just turned on visibility

for objects that don’t exist yet, but you create

them later in the tutorial.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 53

Floor Plan-2 view. From the menu, select View > Align Layer Views. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimen-

sions. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display.

19.

Save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

20. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the

Check EX07 saved view to activate it.

21. Use the Zoom

and Pan

tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in blue, and

the master le’s drawing objects are

displayed in their default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid

directly on top of the master le’s drawing

objects.

22.

After checking your le’s accuracy,

close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active). If your drawing is

inaccurate, close your le and continue with

the next exercise by starting with the

supplied le.

(in the View bar) as

Section 4:

54 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Section 4: Working with

Multiple Levels

In two exercises, this section covers the following processes as you continue the home design project:

• Saving a “Working” View for the Roof (p. 56)

• Creating the Ceiling Slab (p. 57)

• Creating the Roof (p. 57)

• Creating Gabled Ends on the Slanted Roof (p. 58)

• Fitting Walls to the Roof (p. 58)

• Examining the Completed Roof (p. 60)

• Editing Windows (p. 61)

• Creating a Corner Window (p. 62)

•

Notching the Second Floor’s Floor Slab (p. 62)

• Replacing Wall Styles (p. 64)

• Creating Wall End Caps (p. 65)

• Replacing Slab Styles (p. 67)

In these exercises, you:

• Create a ceiling slab for the top oor and a slanted roof by modifying default roof

edge settings.

• Fit affected walls to the slanted roof.

• Modify windows.

• Convert two windows into a corner window.

• Notch the second oor’s oor slab.

• Replace the placeholder wall and slab styles and create wall end caps.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 55

Exercise 8: Creating and Modifying the Roof

In this exercise, you create a at roof object, and then you modify its conguration. The completed exercise is shown in the following gure:

Saving a “Working” View for the Roof

Next, you save a view to facilitate working with the roof later in the development cycle.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 7—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx07.vwx le.

2. In the Navigation palette:

• Select the Classes tab, and turn on

visibility of the Roof-Main class.

• Select the Design Layers tab, turn on

visibility of the Mod-Roof layer, and then make it the active layer, as shown at left.

• Select the

Saved Views tab, right-click the blank area below the list and select New.

56 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

In the Save View dialog box, adjust the View Name and Active Class settings as shown at right and then click OK to save the view.

• Notice that

the new view is displayed in the list, as shown at left.

• Double-click the Roof Model saved

view to activate it (in the View bar, notice that Roof-Main is now the active class).

• Select the Design Layers tab and

make the Mod-Floor-2 layer active.

Creating the Ceiling Slab

Next, you create an auto-bounded ceiling

slab object from the second oor’s exterior

walls.

3. From the Building Shell tool set, click the Slab tool . In the Tool bar, make sure

that Picked Walls Mode is enabled, and then select Ceiling from the Slab Style drop-down list. Click the four exterior

second-oor walls, and then click Press to Complete Operation

ceiling slab, as shown at top right. In the Object Info palette, change the Slab object’s Class property to Structural-Slab and its Layer property to Mod-Roof to position its elevation correctly. The slab is no longer selected, as shown at bottom right.

to create the

Creating the Roof

Next, you create a slanted roof object from

the second oor’s exterior walls.

4. Press the X key, and then select any one

of the second oor’s four exterior walls.

From the menu, select Edit > Select

Connected Objects, and then conrm that

four walls are selected in the Object Info palette. From the menu, select AEC > Create Roof. In the Create Roof dialog box, change settings as shown at left (click OK if the message dialog box shown at right is displayed).

Tip: In your own designs, you can specify either

a Rise:Run ratio (in inches), or angle value (in

degrees) for the Roof Pitch.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 57

5. Click OK to create the roof. Notice that the Mod-Roof layer is now active and that two objects are selected (the new ceiling and roof objects). Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then select only the roof. The roof’s control points are now displayed, as shown.

Creating Gabled Ends on the Slanted Roof

Notice that Vectorworks created a hip roof by default. Next, you modify the roof to create the desired gabled ends and pitch.

6. Select the roof’s left control point, as shown at left. In the Edit Roof Settings dialog box, select the Gable option, and then click OK to create the gabled end, as shown at right. Repeat the process to change the right side to a gable end.

7. Select the roof’s rear side control point (near the left vertical balustrade wall). In the Edit Roof Settings dialog box, select the

Gable option, change the Eave Overhang to 2'6", and then click OK to update the roof,

as shown below at top. Select the roof’s front side control point (directly opposite the rear side control point). In the Edit Roof Settings dialog box, leave the Roof Edge Shape’s

Eave option selected, change the Pitch to

4.00°, change the Bearing Height to 0’6”

[Step test: Verify if this is reqd], change the Eave Overhang to 1'0", and then click OK. In the Object Info palette, disable the Create Gable End Walls option to complete the roof, as shown below at bottom.

58 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Next, you use the Fit Walls to Roof

command to extend the second oor’s

exterior walls to the roof bottom.

8. In the Navigation palette:

• Select the Saved Views tab and

activate the Unified Isometric saved view. Press the X key, and then click in a blank area of the drawing to clear the current selection. Notice the slanted roof, as shown at top right.

• Select the

Design Layers tab, and then turn off visibility of the Mod-Roof roof layer, as shown.

Hold down the Shift key and select the four exterior walls, as shown at bottom right.

9. From the menu, select AEC > Fit Walls to Roof. Enable the

Constrain Tops of walls to 3D geometry option,

and then select the Mod-Roof layer from the drop-down list, as shown at right. Click OK to complete the operation, as shown at left.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 59

Examining the Completed Roof

Next, you examine the at roof in various

3D views.

10. In the Navigation palette, select the Saved Views tab and activate the Unified Isometric saved view. Press the X key, and then click in a blank area of the drawing to clear the current selection. From the View bar, select OpenGL from the Current Render Mode to various standard 3D views, or use the Flyover tool pleted roof, as shown.

11. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 view. From the menu, select View > Align Layer Views. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimen-

sions. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display.

12.

Save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

13. Open the (read-only) GS-VWA xCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 03 Roof Model saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX08 saved view to activate it. Your roof is displayed in green, and the master

le’s roof is displayed in its default color.

You should see your green roof overlaid

directly on top of the master le’s roof.

drop-down list. Switch

to examine the com-

14. After checking your le’s accuracy, close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active). If your drawing is

inaccurate, close your le and continue with

the next exercise by starting with the

supplied le.

60 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Exercise 9: Editing Architectural Elements

In this exercise, you edit various architectural elements to complete the basic house design.

The completed exercise is shown in the following gure:

Editing Windows

You start the exercise by simultaneously modifying properties of all windows.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 8—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx08.vwx le.

2. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. From the

Basic tools palette, click the Select Similar tool from the Active Settings drop-down list, and then click any window. In the Object Info palette:

• Verify 37 window objects are

selected.

• Change the Sash Operation to

Casement (wait a few seconds for the windows to update after each change).

. In the Tool bar, select Object

• Scroll down and change the Sash

Width to 3” [76.20mm], and press Enter.

• Change the Sash Depth to 4”

[101.60mm], and then press Enter. Press the X key twice, and notice that all windows

were modied, as shown.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 61

Creating a Corner Window

Next, you change properties of the two smaller master bedroom windows to create a corner window.

Notching the Second Floor’s Floor Slab

Next, you notch the second oor’s oor slab

at the stairwell.

3. Hold down the Shift key, and then select the two windows shown at left. Press Ctrl + 6 to zoom in, then scroll down to the bottom

of the Object Info palette, and then:

• Enable the Corner Window option.

Notice that both windows automatically move to the corner position.

• Select Mitered Sash from the Corner

Condition drop-down list, and examine the mitered sash, as shown below at left.

• Select Corner Post from the Corner

Condition drop-down list, and change the size to 5” [127.00mm]. Press Enter to update the windows, and examine the corner post,

as shown in the next gure.

• Select Flush Glass from the Corner

Condition drop-down list, and then click in a blank area to clear the selection. The completed corner window is shown below at right.

4. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display, and then zoom in on the area shown above (notice the window sash width and depth changes from step 2). Right-click the oor to the left of the stairwell balustrade, and select Force Select. The Mod-Slab-2 layer is automatically activated. From the Basic palette, click Rectangle

and then enable Rectangle Mode

in the Tool bar. Draw a rectangle by

snapping to the point of the stair’s up arrow

and then snapping to the bottom ight’s up line anywhere above the rst point,

approximately where shown.

62 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

From the Basic tools palette, click Visibility

. In the Tool bar, click the Visibility for

Classes

and Invisible buttons to enable them. Click the stair object to turn off visibility of its class. Press 4 for the Rectangle tool

shortcut, and then snap to balustrade wall vertices to draw a second rectangle, as shown below at left. Press the

X key and select the rst rectangle, and then

resize it by clicking its top right grip and snapping to the inside wall corner (you can optionally press the Z key to temporarily zoom in), as shown below at right.

5. Shift + select the stairwell rectangle to add it to the selection (two rectangles should be selected), as shown at left. Right-click the selection, and then select Add Surface to combine both rectangles into a single polygon, as shown at right.

6. Hold down the Shift key, and select the

oor object to add it to the current selection.

From the menu, select Modify > Clip Surface

to clip the polygon from the oor

slab. Press the X key twice to clear the

current selection, and notice the oor’s

stairwell notch (shown at left). Click Previous View

in the View bar to

display the stairs, as shown at right.

Note: The polygon is now part of the slab

object’s profile.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 63

Replacing Wall Styles

Next, you replace the generic (placeholder) wall styles from Exercise 3 (p. 16) with

the nal styles.

7. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display, and

then right-click any one of the second oor’s

four exterior walls (not the balustrade walls) and select Force Select from the context menu. From the menu, select Edit > Select Connected Objects. In the Object Info

palette, conrm that four walls on the

Mod-Floor-2 layer are selected and then select Replace from the Style drop-down list. In the Wall Replacement dialog box, select Ext-Wood-Flr-2, and then adjust other settings as shown at left. Click OK to replace the wall style. After several seconds, all exterior walls are updated. Clear the current selection so you can see the new exterior wall style with additional components, as shown at right.

8. Repeat the Select Connected Objects/ style replacement process for the three balustrade walls. Select Ext-Wood-

Balustrade for the new style, and enable the Replace Height option in the Wall Replace-

ment dialog box settings as shown, and then click OK to complete the replacement.

64 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

9. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. From the

Basic tools palette, click the Select Similar tool

. In the Tool bar, select Class and Object from the Active Settings drop-down list, and then click any interior wall. In the Object Info palette:

• Verify that 19 wall objects are selected.

• Select Replace from the Style

drop-down list, and then select Int-Gypsum Bd for the new style, and specify the remainder of the Wall Replacement dialog box settings the same as you did for step 7. Click OK to complete the replacement.

10. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. With the Select Similar tool still active, click one of the

exterior walls. In the Object Info palette:

• Verify that ten wall objects are selected.

• Select Replace from the Style

drop-down list, and then select Ext-Wood- Flr-1 for the new style, and specify the remainder of the Wall Replacement dialog box settings the same as you did for step 8. Click OK to complete the replacement. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then zoom in on the stairwell/ pantry area shown at left. Notice the new wall style components, as shown at right.

Notes:

1) It’s not necessary for this exercise, but you

can optionally use the Wall Join tool with T

Join Mode to re-create any incorrectly

displayed component intersections on both

floors.

2) To save time in this tutorial, you replaced

the placeholder wall styles with styles that have a

compatible overall thickness. When you replace

wall styles with different sized components in

your own designs, you can align edges of various

wall components (or the entire wall) as required.

Creating Wall End Caps

Next, you create wall end caps for the stairwell wall and pantry wall.

11. From the, click Wall End Cap . From the Tool bar, enable Component

Wrap Mode Cap Preferences

Cap preferences dialog box, make sure the Extend Cap Past Wall Endpoint option is disabled (because this design is based on overall wall thicknesses), and then click OK. Click in the middle of the stairwell wall’s gray gypsum components close to the wall cap (but do not click the edges) to create the wall end cap which wraps them continuously around the end as shown. If your end cap does

not match the gure,

undo the wall end cap, and then zoom in and try again.

, and then click Wall End

. In the Wall End

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 65

Next, you draw a rectangle, and then you use the Wall End Cap tool’s Add Mode to join the rectangle to the pantry wall's core so that it extends to the exterior wall's core. You use the Wall End Cap tool because the Wall Join tool can’t join these components

in this particular conguration.

12. Zoom out, and then zoom in on the corner where the pantry wall meets the exterior walls, as shown at left. Press 4 for the Rectangle tool shortcut, and then snap to endpoints to draw a rectangle between the pantry wall’s core and the exterior wall’s core, as shown at right.

13. From the Building Shell tool set, click Wall End Cap Mode

, and then enable Add

in the Tool bar. Click the middle

of the pantry wall core (near its top edge), and then click inside the rectangle. The area of the rectangle is added to the core, as shown at left.

Press the X key, and then select the pantry wall below the end cap. Notice that the start point is now at the end of the wall cap, as shown below at left. Select only the wall end cap near its top edge. In the Object Info Palette, enable the Extend Cap Past Wall Endpoint option to complete the end cap. Select only the pantry wall and notice that the start point is now correctly at the edge of the exterior wall, as shown at right.

Note: The Wall End Cap tool’s Clip Mode

can’t clip the exterior horizontal wall’s gypsum

component because of the joined end. If it wasn’t

a joined end, you would clip the rectangle from

the exterior wall’s gypsum component before you

add it to the pantry wall’s core component. In this

particular case you could break the corner L- join,

but it would alter the shape of the auto-bounded

slab associated with these walls.

Now that all wall and slab components are

in their nal congurations for accurate data

extraction purposes (not covered in this tutorial), you hide component details for drawing clarity.

66 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

14. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. On the far right side of the Tool bar, enable the Hide Details quick pref. All individual wall components are now hidden, as shown at right.

Replacing Slab Styles

Next, you replace the generic (placeholder)

oor slab styles from Exercise 6 (p. 34) and Exercise 7

15. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. Press the X

key twice, and then hold down the Shift key,

and select both oor slabs on the

Mod-Slab-1 layer. In the Object Info palette, select Replace from the Style drop-down list. In the Slab Replacement dialog box, select Ground-Hardwood, and adjust other settings as shown at left, and then click OK to replace the slab style. Clear the current selection so you can see the new slab style with additional components, as shown at right.

(p. 48) with the nal styles.

16. Repeat the Shift + select and replace-

ment process for the second oor’s oor

slabs (select the Mechanical-Duct Gap slab style, and enable only the Replace Height option in the Slab Replacement dialog box). Clear the current selection so you can see the new slab style with additional components, as shown.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 67

Note: The auto-boundary edge settings for the

final slab styles’ components automatically adjust

wall component heights and/or slab component

widths to create and maintain accurate junctions

where walls meet floor and ceiling slab objects.

You will see these junctions clearly after you

complete the "Creating a section viewport" section

(p. 72) and "Editing section viewport display properties" section (p. 74) in Exercise 10.

17. Use 3D view controls and OpenGL render mode to examine the model (as shown). In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. From the menu, select View > Align Layer Views. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display.

18.

Save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

19. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view

to activate it, and then double-click the

Check EX09 saved view to activate it.

20. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and the

master le’s drawing objects are displayed in

their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid directly on top of

the master le’s drawing objects.

21. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX09 saved view to activate it.

22. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette) and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary

to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects

are displayed in blue, and the master le’s

drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master

le’s drawing objects.

23. After checking your le’s accuracy, close the active le (your House.vwx le should

now be active). If your drawing is inaccurate,

close your le and continue with the next exercise by starting with the supplied le.

68 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Section 5: Creating

Construction Documents

In two exercises, this section covers the following processes in the construction documentation stage of the home design project:

•

Creating Floor and Roof Plans (p. 70)

• Creating Elevations (p. 71)

• Creating a Section Viewport (p. 72)

• Editing Section Viewport Display Properties (p. 74)

• Inserting Appliance Symbols (p. 75)

• Inserting Kitchen Symbols (p. 76)

•

Inserting Plumbing Fixture Symbols (p. 77)

• Creating Dimensions (p. 81)

• Adjusting Dimension Visibility in Multiple Viewports and Saved Views (p. 82)

• Saving Batch Export PDF Sets (p. 84)

•

Exporting a Saved Set to a PDF File (p. 85)

In these exercises, you use a variety of 2D and 3D tools to create basic versions of commonly used construction documents from viewports (that display objects on multiple design layers) on sheet layers. create corresponding architectural and annotation objects as required. After completing the

drawings, you save batch export PDF sets, and then you export a saved set to a PDF le.

For some documents, you also work with external les or

Note: Depending on the type of construction document, you create annotations in design layers or

directly inside the viewport (in viewport annotation mode) based on suggested best practices.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 69

Exercise 10: Generating Construction Drawings

In this exercise, you complete the initial setup steps of commonly used construction drawings by arranging and modifying viewports to display your model. The completed

exercise is shown in the following gure:

Note: To save time, you skip the process of

creating fully detailed construction documents.

Creating Floor and Roof Plans

You start by activating the oor and roof

plan sheets and arrange or modify the viewports as necessary.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 9—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx09.v wx le.

2. In the Navigation palette, activate the Sheet-Floor Plan-1 sheet layer, and then

clear the current selection (if anything is selected). Press Ctrl + 6, and notice that the viewport is not centered, as shown at left.

Drag any object in the oor plan to reposition

the viewport in the approximate center of the drawing sheet, as shown at right.

Note: For illustration clarity, all pre-configured

sheet layer viewports in this file have their Show

Wall Components advanced property option

70 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

disabled. These sheet layers and viewports were

created with the Create Standard Viewports

command, which enables this option by default.

3. Repeat the process for the

Sheet-Floor Plan-2

sheet layer. In the Navigation palette, activate the Sheet-Roof Plan

sheet layer. Select only the viewport, and then click Layers in the Object Info palette. In the Viewport Layer Properties dialog box, turn on visibility of the Mod-Floor-2 layer (shown at left) and then click OK. Reposition the viewport approximately where shown at top right.

Creating Elevations

Next, you adjust the viewport in the Sheet-Elevations-1 sheet layer to show the front elevation. You then copy the viewport to create the rear elevation.

4. Activate the Sheet-Elevations-1 sheet layer. Select only the viewport, and then in the Object Info palette:

• Disable the Display Planar Objects

option.

• Click Classes. Hold down the Alt key,

and click in the rst column to turn on

visibility of all classes, and then click OK.

• Change the View to Front.

• Change Background Render to

Hidden Line. Notice the striped highlighting around the viewport (indicating that it needs to be updated).

Reposition the viewport, as shown.

5. Start dragging the viewport straight up, and then hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys to create a copy, as shown at left. For the new viewport, change the View to Back, as shown at right.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 71

6. Shift + select the front elevation viewport. In the Object Info palette, verify that two Viewports are selected, and then click Update to hide the lines. Click in a blank area of the drawing to clear the selection and examine the elevations, as shown.

Note: In your own designs, you would repeat this

process to create right and left elevation

viewports on other sheets as necessar y. To save

time in this exercise, you skip the repetitive

process of creating additional elevation viewports.

Creating a Section Viewport

Next you create a live section viewport of the house.

7. In the Navigation palette, select the Viewports tab, and then double-click the VP-Floor Plan-1 viewport to select it (and activate the Sheet-Floor Plan-1 sheet layer). With the viewport still selected, select View > Create Section Viewport from the menu.

To dene the section line, click point 1, and

then hold down the Shift key (the preview line should be just inside the exterior wall) and click point 2, where shown at top left. Move the cursor to see how to control the view direction, and then double-click below the line (when the view direction arrow points down), as shown at middle. Notice that the section marker is created (shown at bottom left),

72 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

8. In the Create Section Viewport dialog box:

• Disable the Name Viewport as Dwg

No./Sheet No. option.

• Adjust other

eld values, as shown

at left.

• Click Layers,

and adjust visibilities as shown in the next

gure, and then click

OK.

• Click Classes,

and turn on visibility of the Roof-Main class, and then click OK.

• Click

Advanced Section Properties. In the

Extent tab, select Infinite for the Length Range, Depth Range, and Height Range. Select the Attributes tab, and select the Separate Cross Sections option, enable the Use Attributes of Original Objects option, and then verify or adjust other settings as shown above at right. Select the Display tab, and disable the Cast Shadows

of Objects Removed by Section option, enable the Show Wall and Slab Components option,

and then click OK twice. After several seconds, the viewport—with drawing label—is created, the

Sheet-Sections-1 sheet layer is activated

(identied in the view bar as A4.1 [Sheet-

Sections-1]), and the viewport is placed in the center of the sheet by default. Click in a blank area to clear the selection, and then select and delete the non-section viewport. Drag the section viewport into position, approximately where shown below.

Notes:

1) The existing viewport was created when the

Create Standard Viewports command was used

to set up this file.

2) To optionally fix the ceiling/wall junction, edit

the Ceiling slab definition and set the Rafters’ Auto-

Bound edge offest to Inner face of wall core.

3) The drawing label automatically picked up

the sheet number because automatic drawing

coordination is enabled.

4) To optionally fix the drawing label length,

right-click the drawing label and select Edit

Annotations. Select the drawing label, and then

in the Object Info palette, select Auto-Fit from the

Line Length Mode drop-down list. Click the

orange Exit Viewport Annotation button (in the

upper right corner of the drawing area) to return to

the sheet layer.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 73

Editing Section Viewport Display Properties

Next, you add depth to the section by changing the section viewport’s Projection setting and then you change the viewport properties to improve legibility.

9. In the Object Info palette, select Oblique Cabinet 30 from the Projection drop-down

list, and then click Update to incorporate the change. Press Ctrl + 6 to see the completed section viewport, as shown (leave the section viewport selected for the next step).

Tip: You can also create offset section sheet

layer viewports (but you cannot change their

projection). If you create an offset design layer

section viewport, you can set up any 3D view or

projection in the design layer and display the

design layer section viewport in a sheet layer

viewport. For step-by-step instructions for

creating an offset section design layer viewport

from the Architect Getting Started website, see

www.nemetschek.net/training/2011/architect-

2011-getting-started-guide.php.

10. In the Object Info palette, scroll down and click Section Line Instances. In the Section Line Instances dialog box, select the Viewports tab, and then select the VP-Floor Plan-1 viewport, as shown at to right (the check

mark identies a

section line instance). Then click Activate. Viewport annotation

mode for the VP-Floor Plan-1 viewport is automatically activated, and the section line is object selected. Press Ctrl + 6 to see both section line markers. In the Attributes palette, select Solid for both the Fill Style and Pen Style, and then select black for the Solid Fill Color, as shown at bottom right. In the Object Info palette, select Dwg No. over Sheet No. from the Text Style drop-down list (see Tip

below gure). Click the orange Exit Viewport Annotation button (in the upper right corner

of the drawing area), and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Examine the completed section line, as shown below.

Next, you navigate back to the section line instance from the section viewport, and then you adjust section line properties.

74 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Tip: It’s not necessary for this exercise, but you

can optionally change the ending marker to

match the beginning marker. To do this, click

Section Marker Style(s) in the Object Info

palette. In the Set Marker Style(s) dialog box,

select Match Beginning and then click OK.

Inserting Appliance Symbols

Next, you insert appliance symbols in the upstairs hall bathroom. You can choose to optionally follow steps 11 through 19, where you insert various symbols and plug-in

objects in both oor plans. Or to save time, you can close your le and open the GS-V WA x10-Step20.v wx le (with the

symbols and plug-in objects already inserted) and skip ahead to step 20 (p. 79).

11. Open the Equip-Residential Appliances-Imp.vwx

this le open through step 18—don’t close your house le—see Note below). In the

Resource Browser, click Home to activate the Equip-Residential Appliances-Imp

Note: This file is also included with Vectorworks

Architect in the following folder:

[Vectorworks application folder]\Libraries\

Objects-Building Architecture & Interior

12. From the Window menu, select your

house le to activate it. In the Navigation

palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions. Press Ctrl + 6, and then zoom in on the hall bathroom. In the Resource

le in the Data Set folder (keep

le.

Browser, notice that the Equip-Residen- tial Appliances-Imp

le is still active, and

then open the Symbols/Plug-in Objects folder (if it’s not already open). Double-click the

Clothes_Washer_Top symbol to activate the Symbol Insertion

tool. In the Tool bar,

enable Wall Insertion Mode (if it’s not already enabled) and Align Actual Insertion

Point Mode

, and then move your cursor—with phantom preview—over the wall, approximately where shown at left. Double-click to complete the insertion, as shown at center. In the Object Info palette:

• Make sure that Symbol in Wall is dis-

played (or undo the placement and try again).

• Select Left Edge from the Insert

drop-down list.

• Select No Break from the Break

drop-down list.

• Click Set Position, and then for the

reference point, snap to the wall’s top left inside corner. For the object point, snap to either corner on the top edge of the clothes washer. In the Enter Offset dialog box, specify an offset of 3’10” [1.168m], and then click OK

to move it into its nal

position, where shown. See Symbol Insertion Notes (after step 18) for additional information.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 75

13. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and repeat the previous step to insert the Clothes_Dryer_Sm symbol with an offset of 2” [50.80mm] between the clothes washer (as shown), and then press the X key twice to clear the selection.

Inserting Kitchen Symbols

Next, you insert various symbols and plug-in objects (with minimal instruction) to complete the kitchen.

14. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimen-

sions. Press Ctrl + 6, and then zoom in on the kitchen area. Insert kitchen symbols in the order listed below. To do this, note the

source VWX le of the symbol, and then if

the symbol is located in:

• You r House.v w x le: Double-click the

symbol in your House.vwx le’s Resource Browser and insert it where shown at right (and also shown in p. 77 below the table in a bird’s-eye perspective view for clarity).

• Another le: Open the VWX File

specied (in the Data Set folder—see Note below lower gure; keep VWX les open

through step 18), and then switch the focus

back to the house le. In the Resource

Browser, activate the VWX File you just opened (if necessary, open the symbol folder, and scroll down), and then double-

click the symbol and insert it where shown. See Symbol Insertion Notes (after step 18) for additional instructions. Use the Move by

Points tool

Note: The Equip-Residential Appliances

SubZero USA.vwx file is also included with

Vectorworks Architect in the following folder:

[Vectorworks application folder]\Libraries\

Objects-Building Architecture & Interior.

as necessary.

76 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Order Source VWX File Symbol or Folder > Symbol

1 House 2CompSinkCabinet

2 House IslandCornerCabinet

3 Equip-Residential Appliances-Imp Dishwasher

4 House IslandCountertop

5 House 2CompSink

6 Equip-Residential Appliances-Imp Range_30_Gas

7,8 House *RangeBaseCabinet

9 Equip-Residential Appliances-Imp Range Hood 30

10,11 House RangeWallCabinet

12 Equip-Residential Appliances SubZero USA Built-in Refrigeration > **642 Stainless

15. Zoom in on the bathroom as shown.

16. Open the Sanitary-Fixtures.vwx

the Data Set folder. In the Resource Browser, activate the Sanitary-Fixtures.

vwx

le (scroll down as necessary), and

then double-click symbols in the order listed in the table below at left and place them in the bathroom where shown. See Symbol Insertion Notes (after step 18),

Inserting Plumbing Fixture Symbols

Next, you insert plumbing xture symbols (with minimal instruction) in the rst and second oor plans.

*After you insert item 7, use the Mirror tool with

Duplicate and Mirror Mode enabled to create

item 8. **Insert this symbol in the center of the pantry wall and then in the Object Info palette; change the Class to None, and select Full break with caps from the Break drop-down list.

le in

Order Symbol

1 WC Wall Floor Tank

2 Lav Pedestal

Note: The Sanitary-Fixtures.vwx file is also

included with Vectorworks Architect in the

following folder: [Vectorworks application

folder]\Libraries\Objects-Building Services.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 77

17. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimen-

sions, and then press Ctrl + 6, and zoom in on the area shown below.

Symbol Insertion Notes:

1) You can drag symbols out of the Resource

Browser and drop them into the drawing, but you

double-click them to make them active so you

can use the cursor’s phantom preview to facilitate

accurate placement.

2) Make sure Wall Insertion Mode is

active when inserting symbols. You don’t have to

insert symbols in walls, but if you do, the symbols

will move along with the walls when you drag wall

segments to move or resize them.

3 Use Insert = Left edge (or Right edge),

and Break = No break options as required.

18. Insert symbols and plug-in objects in the order listed in the table below and place them in the bathrooms where shown below. See Symbol Insertion Notes for additional instructions.

Order Source VWX File Symbol

1, 2 Sanitary-Fixtures WC Wall Floor Tank

3, 4 House VanitySink

5 House Shower

6, 7 House Bathtub

4) Click the Selection Tool to terminate the

Symbol Insertion tool after each symbol

insertion, and then drag symbols and/or use the

Flip and Set Position controls as necessary to

orient and move them into their correct position.

You can also use temporary associative

dimensions to position symbols.

5) In some cases, you

may have to insert the

symbol in another location

away from other symbols,

and then drag and snap

it—or use the Set Position

control—to move it into its

correct position.

6) When correctly

inserted, all symbols should

display the “In Wall” suffix

after the symbol name in the

Object Info palette.

78 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

19. Close all three symbol les.

20. If you skipped steps 11 through 19, open the GS-VWAx10 -Step20.vwx

le. In

the Navigation palette, select the Viewports tab, and then double-click the Section 1 viewport to activate it. Press Ctrl + 6 to zoom in on the selected viewport. With the viewport still selected, click Update in the Object Info palette. Press the X key, and then click in a blank area to clear the selection. Notice that the viewport updated with the appliance, kitchen, and plumbing

xture symbols, as shown.

Note: You can move the section line if the

sectioned bathtubs outside walls block the view

inside both bathtubs, or if you want to examine

the model at a different section point. To do this,

right-click the VP-Floor Plan-1 viewport and

select Edit Annotations, and then press the X

key and drag the section line to move it. With the

section line selected, click Navigate to Section

Viewport in the Object Info palette, and then

press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Click Update

in the Object Info palette to see the change.

21. Save the file.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 79

If you set up your files as instructed in the Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of your file.

Note: The methods used in the GS-VWAx-

Check.vwx file to compare your drawing file with

the master files cannot compare viewports. You

must manually check the accuracy of all of your

viewports and any objects you created in

viewport annotation editing mode.

22. Open the (read-only) GS-V WAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette, double-

click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check

EX10 saved view to activate it.

23. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary

to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects

are displayed in red, and the master le’s

drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master

le’s drawing objects.

24. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Ch eck EX10 saved

view to activate it.

25. Use the Zoom

and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette) and the Previous View tool

(in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in blue, and the

master le’s drawing objects are displayed

in their default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid directly on top

of the master le’s drawing objects.

26. After checking your le’s accuracy, close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active). If your drawing is

inaccurate, close your le and continue with

the next exercise by starting with the

supplied le.

80 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Exercise 11: Adding Annotations

In this exercise, you complete the rst and second oor plans by adding dimensions, and

then you simultaneously adjust dimension visibility in a viewport and saved view. The

completed exercise is shown in the following gure:

Creating Dimensions

You start the exercise by creating linear and chain dimensions for architectural objects

on both oors.

1. If you did not complete Exercise 10—or

you are unsure of your le’s accuracy—

open the GS-VWAx10.vwx le.

2. Activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view,

and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Use the Constrained Linear Dimension tool Mode

remaining associative dimensions, approximately where shown at right. Activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view, and then repeat the process to create the remaining associative dimensions, approximately where shown at bottom right.

with either Constrained Chain

or Constrained Linear Mode

(see Notes) as necessary to create the

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 81

Notes:

1) Click window and door insertion points (the

plug-in object will pre-highlight to confirm the

insertion point will be selected) to create

associative linear and chain dimensions. It’s not

necessary for this exercise, but you can optionally

change dimension length values as desired.

2) You can unlock existing dimensions and

reposition the dimension or text (by dragging), as

necessary. See also Notes on p. 27.

3) If you haven’t created specific dimensional

relationships (optional in previous exercises), you

can alternately run the Custom Select All Dims

script, and then press the Delete key to remove

all dimensions from the drawing. You can then

run the Dimension Exterior Walls command to

re-create all dimensions on both floors. To

automatically associate dimensions with T-joined

wall intersections with the Dimension Exterior

Walls command, select Centerlines from the

Dimension to Wall drop-down list. Then select

Center of Openings from the Dimension

drop-down list in the Dimension Exterior Walls

dialog box.

4) Refer to Exercise 13 in the “Getting Started

with Vectorworks Fundamentals” guide for an

overview of creating a text block and a callout

3. In the Navigation palette, select the Classes tab, and then right-click the Dimension class and select Visibilities.

The Organization dialog box is displayed with the Dimension class selected (in Visibilities mode). Resize the Organization dialog box (if necessary) so you can see the entire list of viewports and saved views. The Dimension class is visible by default in all saved views and viewports automatically created with the Create Standard Viewports command (but not the two saved views that you created), as shown.

4. Turn off visibility for the VP-Roof Plan viewport, and then turn on visibility for the Roof Model saved view, as shown. Click OK to close the Organization dialog box and save the changes.

Adjusting Dimension Visibility in Multiple Viewports and Saved Views

Next, you use the Organization dialog box to simultaneously adjust visibilities in a viewport and saved view to hide or show dimension objects.

82 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

Examine the changes in the oor plan

sheet layers, and then save the le.

If you set up your les as instructed in the

Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of

your le.

6. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx

le. In the Navigation palette,

double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the

Check E X11 saved view to activate it.

7. Use the Use the Zoom

and Pan

tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool (in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and

the master le’s drawing objects are

displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid

directly on top of the master le’s drawing

objects.

8. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Chec k EX11 saved view to activate it.

9. Use the Use the Zoom

and Pan

tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool (in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in blue, and

the master le’s drawing objects are

displayed in their default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid

directly on top of the master le’s drawing

objects.

10.

After checking your le’s accuracy,

close the active le (your House.vwx le

should now be active).

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 83

Exercise 12: Printing Construction Drawings

In this exercise, you save a batch of export PDF sets, and then export one of the saved sets

to a PDF le.

Saving Batch Export PDF Sets

You start the exercise by saving a batch

export PDF set of oor plans from various sheet layers in multiple drawing les.

1. If you did not set up your les as

instructed in the Checking Your Work section (p. 8), copy the Data Set folder on the DVD to any location on your hard disk. Open the G S -V WAx11.v w x the Data Set folder on your hard disk, and

then save the le under the name GSVWAx12.vwx in the same folder.

2. From the menu, select File > Export > Export PDF (Batch). In the Batch Export

PDF dialog box:

• Drag the lower right corner to

increase the dialog box’s height and width, and then move it as high up on the screen as possible.

• Notice the available sheets and saved

views from the <Active File> on the left side.

• Double-click the right edge of the

Name column’s header to t the column

width to the text, as shown.

• Click Select Folder, and navigate

to the Data Set folder on your hard disk.

le from

Click the Data Set folder name to open it, and then click the Batch Export folder. Click OK to add the sheets and saved views

from les in the Batch Export folder to the

available list.

3. Hold down the Ctrl key, and select the following sheets. Then click the > arrow to move them to the Sheets and Saved Views to Export list, as shown:

• <Active File>: A2.1 [Sheet-Floor Plan -1]

• <Active File>: A2.2 [Sheet-Floor Plan-2]

• GS-VWA_BE1.vw x: A1.1 [First Floor Plan]

• GS-VWA_BE1.vw x: A1.2 [Second Floor Plan]

• GS-V WA _ BE2.vwx: A1.1 [First Floor Plan]

• GS-V WA _ BE2.vwx: A1.2 [Second Floor Plan]

84 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

In the Sheets and Saved Views to Export list, double-click the right edge of the Name and File Name column headers, and then drag the number in the # column of various sheets as required to reorder them as shown.

4. Click Save a Set. In the New Saved Set dialog box, change the name to

Floor Plans, and select the Path relative to the active document option, as shown,

and then click OK to save the new set. Leave the Batch Export PDF dialog box open for the next step.

Next, you save a batch export PDF set of presentation drawings.

5. Click the << arrow to clear the Sheets and Saved Views to Export list. Repeat the selection/move/column resize/reorder process to populate the Sheets and Saved Views to Export list as shown.

6. Click Save a Set. In the New Saved Set dialog box, change the name to

Presentations, select the Path relative to the active document option, and then click

OK to save the new set.

Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide | 85

Exporting a Saved Set to a PDF File

Next, you export the Floor Plans set saved

to a PDF le.

7. Click Manage Sets. In the Manage Saved Sets dialog box, select the Floor Plans saved set, and then click Recall. The Manage Saved Sets dialog box is automatically closed, and only the sheets from the Floor Plans saved set are now displayed in the right side of the Batch Export dialog box, as shown.

8. Make sure that the Export as separate les option is disabled, and then click Export. In the Export PDF dialog box, adjust settings as shown, and then click Export. In the Export as PDF Document dialog box, navigate to the Batch Export folder, and then

change the default (active VWX) le name to

Floor Plans.pdf. Click Save to create the

PDF le. After several seconds, the PDF le

is created and opened in your default PDF

viewer. Examine the multi-sheet PDF le, and then close your viewer when nished.

9. Congratulations! You have now completed the tutorial!

86 | Vectorworks Architect 2011 Getting St arted Guide

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