Nemetschek VECTORWORKS FUNDAMENTALS 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.

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..........................................................................................................................5

Section 1: Program Installation and Setup..............................................................................9

Installing the Vectorworks Fundamentals Program...........................................................9

Exercise 1: Launching the Program and Opening the Starting File..................................10

Exercise 2: Adjusting Preference Settings.........................................................................12

Section 2: Drawing Organization...........................................................................................15

Exercise 3: Examining Key Drawing Structure Features.................................................16

Section 3: View and Visibility Controls..................................................................................21

Exercise 4: Working with View Controls..........................................................................22

Section 4: 2D Drawing Tools................................................................................................27

Exercise 5: Drawing 2D Objects......................................................................................28

Exercise 6: Drawing Multi-Segment 2D Objects..............................................................33

Section 5: Manipulating and Modifying Objects....................................................................37

Exercise 7: Resizing and Reshaping Objects..................................................................38

Exercise 8: Moving and Copying Objects........................................................................41

Exercise 9: Modifying Objects with Boolean Operations.................................................52

Exercise 10: Creating Fillets and Chamfers....................................................................55

Exercise 11: Modifying Object Properties........................................................................57

Exercise 12: Working with Resources.............................................................................63

Section 6: Annotation Tools..................................................................................................67

Exercise 13: Creating Text..............................................................................................68

Exercise 14: Creating Dimensions...................................................................................71

Section 7: Drawing Presentation..........................................................................................75

Exercise 15: Working with Sheet Layers.........................................................................76

Exercise 16: Working with Viewports...............................................................................78

Exercise 17: Printing the Drawing....................................................................................81

Introduction

Welcome to Vectorworks Fundamentals! This tutorial will introduce you to key Vectorworks concepts and basic tools and techniques for drawing and editing, so you can explore the full power of Vectorworks Fundamentals on your own.

Important: For free tutorial updates, completed exercise files, and instructional videos from the Fundamentals Getting Started website, see www.nemetschek.net/training/2011/

fundamentals-2011-getting-started-guide.php.

Overview of the Tutorial

In this tutorial, you open files in various stages of completion, and then you either practice navigation controls or create basic drawing objects using precision or dynamic drawing techniques. You use a variety of drawing and editing tools to create objects from scratch or by reusing geometry from other objects. Working with these tools and techniques will help you understand fundamental Vectorworks concepts and functionality in a true design context.

As you progress through 17 exercises, you will be introduced to the following program features:

• Program Installation and Setup

• Drawing Organization

• View and Visibility Controls

• 2D Drawing Tools

• Manipulating and Modifying Objects

• Annotation Tools

• Drawing Presentation

Note: Starting with Exercise 5 (pg 28), you can

optionally open and examine completed exercise

files (from the DVD’s Data Set folder or www.

nemetschek.net/training/2011/fundamentals-

2011-getting-started-guide.php). See General

Exercise Tips (pg 7) for more information.

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How to Use This Tutorial

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 shown.

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 toolbar 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.

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3) The Adobe Reader Search tool provides

more extensive options for searching text than

the Find command.

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).

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• 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).

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.

• Starting in Exercise 5 (pg 26), save your files often to prevent data loss.

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

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Note: For proper exercise operation—and to

validate your results with the imperial figures—do

not change the document’s units setting to metric.

Keyboard Shortcuts

All keyboard shortcuts included in this guide are based on the Windows operating system. If you’re using a Mac, 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.

Section 1: Program

Installation and Setup

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

• Activating the Standard Workspace (pg 10)

• Opening the Starting File (pg 11)

• Adjusting Vectorworks Preferences (pg 12)

• Adjusting Grid and Smart Point Settings (pg 13)

• Turning Off the Page Boundary (pg 14)

• Setting the Default Font (pg 14)

• Adjusting the Attributes Palette Display (pg 14)

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

Installing the Vectorworks Fundamentals Program

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

1. Follow the installation instructions in the ReadMe file 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. After updating, close Vectorworks (if it’s still running) to reset the program.

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Exercise 1: Launching the Program

Resource Browser

and Opening the Starting File

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

Activating the Standard Workspace

Start the exercise by launching the Vectorworks program.

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

View bar

Tool bar

Attributes palette

Snapping palette

Basic tools

Tool Sets

2. From the menu, select Tools > Workspaces > Fundamentals. If the Funda-

mentals workspace is already active, select it again to reset the interface. Position the Navigation palette where shown, and examine key areas of the interface identified in the following figure.

Object Info palette

Scroll bar

Message bar

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Opening the Starting File

Next, you open the supplied starting file of a house design adapted from the awardwinning Dwell Home design by Resolution: 4 Architecture.

Note: You examine the structure of this file in

Exercise 3.

3. Close any open files, and then from the menu, select File > Open. In the Open Vectorworks Drawing dialog box, open the Data Set folder and open the read-only GS-VWFx01.vwx file. The first floor plan is displayed as shown. Keep the file open for the next exercise.

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Exercise 2: Adjusting Preference Settings

In this exercise, you verify and adjust program preferences.

Adjusting Vectorworks Preferences

Start the exercise by verifying or adjusting key application preference settings to ensure proper exercise operation. Then turn on Scroll bars to facilitate navigation, and then you increase the maximum number of undos so you can revert exercise steps if necessar y.

1. Click on the far right side of the Tool 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.)

2. Select the Display tab, and enable the Scroll bars option. Then verify or adjust

other settings as shown.

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Adjusting Grid and Smart Point Settings

5. 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 and Print Grid checkboxes, and verify or adjust other settings (.125” [3.18mm], 1/2” [12.70mm]) as shown at top. From the Category list, click Smart Point, and verify or adjust settings as shown at bottom. Click OK to close the dialog box and save the changes.

3. Select the Session tab, and then enter 100 in the Maximum number of undos field. Verify or adjust other settings as shown.

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

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Turning off the Page Boundary

Next, you turn off the page boundary for clarity in the drawing area.

6. From the menu, select File > Page Setup. In the Pages section of the Page Setup dialog box, clear the Show page boundary checkbox, as shown. Click OK to save the settings, and notice that the page boundary is no longer displayed in the drawing area.

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 Attributes Palette Display

8. If your Attributes palette is not already displayed, from the menu, select Window > Palettes > Attributes, and then turn on Auto Hide (Window Shade for Mac). Keep the file open for the next exercise.

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Section 2: Drawing

Organization

In one exercise, this section provides an overview of the following file structure features:

• Using the Organization Dialog Box (pg 16)

• Examining Layer Structure (pg 17)

• Examining Class Structure (pg 19)

• Examining Object Attribute Controls (pg 20)

In this exercise, you examine the structure of a sample architectural file so you can see how the drawing objects are organized.

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Exercise 3: Examining Key Drawing Structure Features

In this exercise, you open an architectural sample file and examine the layer and class structure. You then learn the basic control options for displaying object attributes.

Note: Due to the complex nature and permutations of drawing structure features and controls, this

exercise provides only an introductory overview. Refer to the nline Help for more detailed information.

Using the Organization Dialog Box

Start the exercise by opening the Organization dialog box and then examining various tabs and control features.

Note: The Organization dialog box provides

single-point viewing, creation, and modification

control of drawing structure elements.

1. From the menu, select Tools > Organi- zation to display the Organization dialog

box. Select different tabs, and then examine a few of the items listed on each tab. Notice (as shown in the following examples) that:

• You can click an attribute column heading to sort the entire list (click the column heading again to toggle the sort order).

• You can right-click an item or a blank area inside the list to display the context menu.

• You will find different command buttons

for different tabs displayed on the bottom. Keep the Organization dialog box open for the next step.

Note: The References tab has no items listed

because there are no referenced files in this

sample drawing.

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Examining Layer Structure

Next, you examine key design layer attri-

butes and controls and explore the structure of design layers in this sample file.

Notes:

1) Design layers are primarily used as spatial

containers for creating drawing objects and/or to

control object stacking order.

2) Sheet layers are primarily used as a 2D-only

page layout environment for printing.

2. In the Organization dialog box, select the Design Layers tab, and examine the following key layer attributes:

• Spatial attributes: the varying Z and ±Z

values define layer base heights (elevations) and thicknesses, respectively

• Visibility attributes: visible, invisible,

gray, colors, and opacity

• Stacking order attribute: integers indicate the display order (or which objects are on top of others; for example, number 1 is on top of all others)

3) Layer color overrides are used for clarity in

the sheet layer viewports that you modify, start-

ing with step 5.

3. Click Cancel to close the Organization dialog box without saving changes. Next, you turn on visibility of layers in sequential order, simultaneously in two sheet layer viewports to expose the objects that they contain. As you virtually rebuild the design on-screen from the ground up, you see exactly how layers act as spatial containers in this file.

4. In the View bar:

• Click Saved Views, and then select the Sheet Layer-Auxiliary Views saved view

from the drop-down list (as shown at below) to activate it.

• Notice that the Sheet Layer-Auxiliary

Views sheet layer is now active, with 2 blank viewports selected, as shown at bottom.

Notes:

1) This file structure was created with Vector-

works Architect’s setup commands.

2) This file uses layers primarily as spatial

containers for architectural elements on different

elevations.

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5. In the Object Info palette:

• Notice that 2 viewports are selected (see

Note below), as shown below at left.

• Click Layers to display the Viewport

Layer Properties dialog box. Move the dialog box so you can see both viewports, and then turn on visibility of the Mod-

Slab-1 layer, as shown above at right. Click Preview, and notice that floor objects in

the Mod-Slab-1 layer are displayed in both viewports (in black color), as shown at below Leave the Viewport Layer Properties dialog box open for the next step.

Note: 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 design layer changes.

6. For each of the following layers—one at a time, in the order listed—turn on visibility, and then click Preview:

• Mod-Floor-1 (wall and architectural element objects are displayed in red color, as shown at top left)

• Mod-Slab-2 (floor objects are displayed in green color, as shown at top right)

• Mod-Floor-2 (wall and architectural element objects are displayed in blue color, as shown at bottom left)

• Mod-Roof (the roof object is displayed in magenta color, as shown at bottom right)

7. Click OK to save the layer visibility changes and close the Viewport Layer Properties dialog box, and then press the X key twice to clear the selection.

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Examining Class Structure

Next, you examine key class attributes and controls, and then you explore the class structure of this sample file.

Note: Classes are primarily used to control display

properties and visibility of drawing objects.

8. In the View bar, click Saved Views, and then select the Floor Plan-2 saved view from the drop-down list to activate it. Notice that the Mod-Floor-2 design layer is now active.

9. Press Ctrl+Shift+O for the Organization dialog box shortcut, and then select the Classes tab. Notice that all attributes for classes either control visibility or object display, as shown.

10. Drag the Organization dialog box’s lower left corner to reduce its size, and then move it as high up on the screen as possible. Scroll as necessary, and then for each of the following classes—one at a time, in the order listed—click in the Class Name column to select the class. Change the attribute as directed, and click Preview to see the effect.

• Wall Exterior: Click Edit, and then select any light gray Fill Color in the Edit Class(es) dialog box (click the buttons at the bottom of the color palette to display other color palettes). Click OK to shade exterior walls, as shown at left.

• Structural-Slab: Click Edit, and then select any light beige Fill Color in the Edit Class(es) dialog box (click the buttons at the bottom of the color palette to display other color palettes). Click OK to shade the floor, as shown at center.

• Dimension: Change Visibility to Invisible (click in the Invisible column) to hide the dimensions, as shown at right.

Next, you change attributes or visibility of a few classes so you can see how classes are used in this file.

Tip: Double-click a class to open the Edit

Class(es) dialog box.

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11. Click OK to close the Organization dialog box and save the changes.

Tip: If one or more of your drawing objects has

disappeared in your own files, the problem may

be related to a class and/or layer assignment or

visibility issue. Turn on the Show/Snap/Modify

Others Layer Option, and then use the Custom

Selection command (with appropriate criteria)

to find it. You can then correct class and layer

properties if necessary.

Examining Object Attribute Controls

Next, you examine object display controls in the Attributes palette.

12. If necessary, click the Attributes palette to expand it, and then examine the controls for object fill and pen styles, opacity, line style, and markers. There are three primary methods you can use to apply these attributes:

• Default: When no objects are selected, the current settings are applied to all subsequently created objects. Default settings are persistent, but you can change them at any time when no objects are selected.

• By selection: When objects are selected,

any setting you change is only applied to the current selection. When you clear the selection, the prior default settings are restored.

• By class The active class (or automatically assigned class) applies its settings to objects created. An arrow icon indicates “by class” settings.

Notes:

1) Certain types of

objects (such as walls)

provide their own control

of these attributes, and are

not affected by Attribute

palette settings.

2) You use the Attributes palette later in Exercise

5 (pg 28) and Exercise 11 (pg 57).

13. Close your file. Do not save changes.

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Section 3: View and

Visibility Controls

In one exercise, this section covers the following processes for navigating drawings and controlling the display of drawing objects:

• Zooming and Panning (pg 22)

• Changing Class and Layer Visibility Options (pg 24)

• Creating a Saved View (pg 25)

• Activating a Saved View (pg 25)

In this exercise, you continue working with the sample architectural file from Section 2 (pg 15) as you practice using navigation and visibility controls in a Vectorworks drawing with multiple layers and classes.

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Exercise 4: Working with View Controls

In this exercise, you learn how to navigate the drawing and control display of layers and classes. You complete the exercise by creating a saved view.

Zooming and Panning

You start the exercise by using different methods to control the display magnification.

1. Open the GS-VWFx03.v wx file in the Data Set folder. The file opens with the stair object selected on the second floor plan, as shown. Leave the stair selected for the next two steps.

2. From the Basic tools palette, click the

Zoom tool . In the Tool bar, enable Marquee Zoom Mode (if it’s not

already active), and then draw a marquee from lower left to upper right to zoom in on the area around the living room, as shown.

3. From the View bar, click Fit to Objects

. The view is adjusted to t the selected

stair object to the screen.

4. Press the X key twice to clear the selection. From the View bar, click Zoom In/ Zoom Out , once, and then click it again to zoom in on the center of the stair object.

5. Hold down the Alt key, and then click Zoom In/Zoom Out twice to zoom out

so you can once again see the entire stair object.

6. From the View bar, select 100% from the Current Zoom drop down list to zoom out.

Tips:

1) You can also use your mouse wheel to zoom

in and out.

2) You can specify an exact value for the Current

Zoom magnification level. To do this, click the

Current Zoom value to highlight it, and then type a

new value. Press Enter to incorporate the change.

7. From the click Fit to Objects . Since no object is selected, the view is adjusted to fit all objects to the screen.

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8. From the Basic tools palette, click the Zoom tool , and then zoom in on the hall

bathroom and hallway, as shown.

Next, you use different methods to move the view.

9. From the Basic tools palette, click the Pan tool . To pan to the left side of the floor plan, move the cursor to the left side of the screen, and hold down the left mouse button and drag straight across to the right side of the screen. Repeat the process as necessary until you reach the left end of the floor plan (shown at right top). Reverse the direction to pan to the right until the stair object is visible, as shown at right bottom.

10. Experiment panning the drawing using the scroll bars:

• Drag the bars to move the view up,

down, left, or right.

• Click the arrows on the ends of the

scroll bars to pan in smaller increments.

• Click the blank area between the

scroll bars and arrows to pan one screen width at a time.

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Changing Class and Layer Visibility Options

Next, you adjust layer visibilities in the Organization dialog box, and then you change options for class and layer visibility.

11. If any objects are selected, press the X key twice to clear the selection. Press Ctrl+6 for the Fit to Objects shortcut.

12. Press Ctrl+Shift+O for the Organization dialog box shortcut. Select the Design Layers tab, and then:

• Turn on visibility of the Mod-Floor-1 layer (click in the Visible column), as shown

• Turn off visibility of the

Mod-Slab-2 layer (click in the Invisible column), as shown

• Click OK to close the Organization dialog box and update the display, as shown below

13. Press the X key, and then try to select (left-click) the kitchen sink on the first floor. Although the cursor previews the sink’s snap points, you can’t select it because the Show/Snap Others layer option is currently active. From the menu, select View > Layer Options > Show/Snap/Modify Others. Move your cursor over the sink and notice that the pre-selection highlight is now displayed, as shown below. Select the sink and notice the Class and Layer properties in the Object Info palette’s Shape pane, then press the X key

twice to clear the selection.

Warning: Use caution when the Show/Snap/

Modify Others layer option is active. You should

only use this option temporarily (do not enable

this option in your saved views) until you become

more comfortable using Vectorworks.

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Tip: You can also right-click an object on an

inactive layer or class and use the Force Select

context menu command to select it, but this

command also changes the active layer.

14. Right-click the drawing background (outside the exterior dimensions), and then select Layer Options > Gray/Snap Others from the context menu. Objects on the first floor (the Mod-Floor-1 layer) are now grayed, as shown.

Creating a Saved View

Next, you create a saved view based on the current display settings.

15. From the menu, select View > Save View. In the Save View dialog box, adjust

the settings as shown, and then click OK to save the view. In the View bar, click Saved Views, and notice that the new view is now displayed in the list, as shown at right.

Activating a Saved View

Next, you revert previous views, and then you activate the view you just saved to verify that all settings are restored.

16. In the View bar:

• Click Previous View repeatedly (until it’s grayed out ) to restore the view that was active when you opened the file.

• Select Floor Plan-2 Overlay from the Saved Views drop-down list, and notice that the view is restored exactly as you configured it.

17. Close your file. Do not save changes.

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Section 4:

2D Drawing Tools

In two exercises, this section covers the following processes for drawing basic 2D objects:

• Drawing Rectangles (pg 28)

• Drawing Lines (pg 29)

• Drawing Arcs (pg 31)

• Drawing a Circle (pg 32)

• Drawing an Oval (pg 32)

• Drawing Polygons (pg 33)

• Drawing a Polyline (pg 35)

In these exercises, you use basic 2D drawing tools to start drawing the outline and components of a remote control transmitter. After completing the exercises in the section, your drawing should look similar to the following figure.

Notes:

1) You develop the remote control transmitter design over the next eight

(continuing) exercises.

2) For educational purposes, most drawing operations in these exercises

are grouped by similar functions. As a result, you don’t draw many of the

remote control’s components in the normal order of creation—from star t to

finish. For these cases, you draw a portion in one exercise and then continue

drawing or modifying geometry in one or more subsequent exercises.

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Exercise 5: Drawing 2D Objects

In this exercise, you start laying out the remote control components by drawing basic 2D objects. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Drawing Rectangles

You start the exercise by drawing different types of rectangles to represent various components of the remote control.

1. Open the GS-VWFx05Step01.vwx file in the

Data Set folder. The file opens with some construction geometry (gray lines), a rectangle, and a line already drawn.

Next, you use the Rounded Rectangle tool to draw the remote control’s LED display panel.

2. From the Basic tools palette, double-click the Rounded Rectangle tool to display the Create Object dialog box. Change the settings (2.000 [50.80mm],

1.500 [38.10mm], .250 [6.35mm]; ignore X and Y settings) as shown at right.

Important: Make sure that the Box Position (fixed point) is set to center and that the Position At Next Click option is enabled. Click OK, and move the cursor over the gray vertical centerline and press the T key to set a surface snap. Snap (left-click when the Surface SmartCursor cue is displayed) to the centerline approximately where shown at right, to create the rounded rectangle, as shown below.

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Next, you use the Rectangle tool to draw the remote control’s enter button (at the center of the directional buttons).

3. From the Basic tools palette, double-click the Rectangle tool to display the Create Object dialog box. Change the settings (.600 [15.24mm], .300 [7.62mm]; ignore X and Y settings) as shown at left.

Important: Make sure the Box Position (fixed point) is set to center, and the Position At Next Click option is enabled. Click OK and then snap to the center of the large rectangle (shown at right), to create the small rectangle.

Note: You can alternately use Center and Corner

Rectangle Mode to draw the rectangle by

snapping to the center of the large rectangle and

entering the appropriate ±X and ±Y values in the

floating data bar. You can also use this method in

your own designs to dynamically draw centered

rectangles without the floating data bar. If you

choose to try this, activate Rectangle Mode

(when nished) for the next step.

Next, you draw a rectangle to form the base of an arrow indicator on the directional buttons.

4. With the Rectangle tool still active, click the lower left and upper right corners to create another rectangle approximately where shown at left. In the Object Info palette, select the Shape tab (if it’s not already active). Change the Width to .120 [3.05mm] and the Height to .200 [5.08mm], and then press Enter to resize the rectangle, as shown at right.

Drawing Lines

Next, you draw lines to divide the directional controls and provide boundaries or guidelines that you use later in this exercise and in Exercise 6 (pg 33).

5. From the Basic tools palette, click the

Line tool . Snap to bottom end of the

rounded rectangle’s top left arc, as shown at left. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the line vertically, and then click directly above the start point to complete the line, approximately where shown at right.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 29

6. With the Line tool still active, snap to the top left corner of the existing rectangle, and then hold down the Shift key to constrain the line horizontally. Then snap to the angled guideline to complete the line, as shown at left. Repeat the process to create another horizontal line on the opposite side, as shown (highlighted) at right.

7. With the Line tool still active, create a guideline at a 45° angle by snapping to the bottom left corner of the enter button, and then using the Shift key, as shown at left (make sure the line extends outside the large concentric rectangle). Repeat the process to create two more guidelines (for a total of three) at 45° angles, as shown at right.

8. With the Line tool still active, snap to the top left corner of the profile guideline, as shown at left. Start moving your cursor

toward the right. Enter 2 [50.80mm] to activate the floating data bar’s L field and set the value. Then press Tab (a circular constraint indicator is displayed) and enter 8 for the floating data bar’s A field (angle). Press Enter once to display the constraint (shown above), and then press it again to create the angled line, as shown at right.

Next, you use the floating data bar to draw the top (transmitter) edge of the remote control.

30 | Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide

Tip: You can check the length and angle of this

line (when it’s selected) by clicking the polar

coordinate button in the Object Info palette.

If you do this, be sure to click the Cartesian

coordinate button when nished to ensure

proper operation of exercises in this tutorial.

Drawing Arcs

Next, you turn off object fills in the Attributes palette and then draw arcs for the remote control’s left edge and for the top and bottom edges of the directional controls.

9. Press the X key twice to clear the selection. In the Attributes palette, change the Fill Style to None, as shown at top. From

the Basic tools palette, click the Arc tool . In the Tool bar, enable

Arc by 2 Points

and a Specied

Radius Mode . Click the bottom vertex of the remote control’s left edge (angled gray line), and then click the top vertex (the start point of the last line you drew). In the Arc Radius dialog box, enter 45 [1143.00mm] for the Radius value (shown at center), and then click OK to create the arc, as shown at bottom.

Notes:

1) You change the Fill Style to None to prevent

arcs and subsequent drawing objects from ob-

scuring other drawing and construction geometry.

2) You enter precise radius values for all arcs

in this exercise to ensure accuracy. In your own

designs, you can dynamically determine an

appropriate radius by using the Arc tool’s Arc by

2 Points and a Point on Arc Mode , which

you use later in Exercise 8 (pg 41).

10. With the Arc tool still active, repeat the process to draw an arc (from left to right) with a radius of 9 [228.60mm] on the endpoints of the remote control’s top edge (the line at an 8º angle), as shown.

11. With the Arc tool still active, repeat the process to draw an arc (from left to right) with a radius of 4.88 [123.95mm] on the top edge of the large concentric rectangle. Then draw an arc (from right to left) on the bottom edge with the same radius, as shown (highlighted for clarity).

Note: You would normally use one of the copy

operations to create the bottom arc by duplicating

the top arc, but you draw it in this exercise to

practice creating arcs.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 31

Drawing a Circle

Next, you draw a circle for the center function button.

Drawing an Oval

Next, you draw an oval to represent the lower left keypad button.

12. From the Basic tools palette, click the Circle tool . In the Tool bar, enable Circle tool . In the Tool bar, enable Circle by Radius Mode . For the center of the rounded rectangle (shown at left), and then start moving the cursor and type .19 [4.83mm] to set the floating data bar’s L (radius) field. Press Enter twice to complete the .380 [9.65mm] diameter circle, as shown at right.

Note: You move this circle into its correct

position later in Exercise 8 (pg 41).

13. From the Basic tools palette, click the Oval tool . In the Tool bar, enable Oval by Box Mode . Draw a diagonal line

from lower left to upper right to create an oval, approximately where shown at top. In the Object Info palette, change the Width to

.430 [10.92mm], and change the Height to .300 [7.62mm]. Then press Enter. Press the

X key twice to clear the selection, and examine the completed oval, as shown at bottom.

14. Save the file.

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Exercise 6: Drawing Multi-Segment 2D Objects

In this exercise, you continue laying out remote control components by drawing polygons and polylines. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

You start this exercise by using the 2D Polygon tool to draw a triangle that you use as an arrowhead indicator for the directional buttons.

1. Open the GS-VWFx05.vwx file in the Data Set folder.

2. Zoom in on the area shown at left. From the Basic tools palette, click the 2D Polygon tool . Then in the Tool bar, enable Polygon From Vertices Mode . Start the polygon by clicking approximately where point 1 is shown (at center). Hold down the Shift key to constrain the cursor horizontally, and then click approximately where point 2 is shown. Click point 3, and then click the start point again—when the Endpoint SmartCursor cue is displayed—to close the polygon (see Notes below figure), as shown at right.

2) Do not be concerned about the accuracy

or the intentional asymmetrical shape of your

polygon because you reshape it later in Exercise

7 (pg 38).

Next, you temporarily turn off visibility of a class and then modify the outer concentric rectangle to facilitate creation of the directional buttons.

3. From the View bar, click Classes . In the Organization dialog box, turn off visibility of the Outline class, as shown, and then click OK.

Notes:

1) The polygon closes and terminates when

you click the start point. If your polygon doesn’t

close, press the Delete key to undo the last seg-

ment, and then click the start point again.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 33

4. Press the X key, and then select the outer concentric rectangle (only the rectangle should now be selected), as shown.

From the menu, select Modify > Decompose. In the Object Info palette, notice that lines are now selected. Hold down the Shift key, and click both vertical lines to remove them from the selection (2 lines should now be selected), as shown left. Press the Delete key to remove the horizontal lines from the drawing, as shown right.

Next, you use the Polygon tool to create the directional buttons from the inner boundaries of other drawing objects.

5. Press the 8 key for the 2D Polygon shortcut, and then enable Polygon From Inner Boundary Mode in the Tool bar. Click anywhere inside the “left” directional button’s boundary lines to create the polygon, as shown right. Click again anywhere inside the “up” directional button’s boundary lines to create another polygon, as shown left.

6. From the View bar, click Classes . In the Organization dialog box, turn on visibility of the Outline class, and then click OK.

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Drawing a Polyline

Next, you draw a polyline by cubic vertices to create curvature that is more pointed than an arc for the top edge of the volume/ channel buttons.

7. From the Basic tools palette, click the Polyline tool . In the Tool bar, enable Cubic Vertex Mode , and then specify

the start point by snapping to the left vertex of the left horizontal guideline, as shown.

For the midpoint, move the cursor over the gray vertical centerline and press the T key to set a surface snap. Snap to the centerline, approximately where shown left Complete the polyline by double-clicking the right vertex of the right horizontal guideline, as shown right.

Next, you hide some of the construction lines by changing their class property to the Geometry Ref class (which is already set to invisible).

8. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select the right horizontal guideline, and all three angled lines that divide the directional buttons (if you accidentally select one of the other objects, select it again to remove it from the selection set), as shown.

In the Object Info palette, select Geometry Ref from the Class drop-down list, as shown, to hide the construction lines.

Note: You draw a multi-segment polyline using

different modes in the “Cropping a viewport “

section in Exercise 16 (pg 78).

Tip: Use this method in your own designs to

preserve construction geometry in case you need

to modify the design later.

9. Save the file.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 35

Section 5: Manipulating

and Modifying Objects

In six exercises, this section covers the following commonly used processes for modifying, moving, and duplicating existing drawing objects:

• Moving a Reshape Handle (pg 38)

• Using the 2D Reshape Tool (pg 39)

• Interactively Scaling Objects (pg 39)

• Copying Objects (pg 41)

• Rotating Objects 90 Degrees (pg 43)

• Moving and Nudging Objects (pg 43)

• Offsetting Objects (pg 44)

• Creating the Volume Button with a

Polygon Fill (pg 45)

• Creating a Duplicate Array (pg 45)

• Mirroring Objects (pg 46)

• Resizing an Arc (pg 46)

• Duplicating Objects Along a Path (pg 47)

• Creating Rotated Copies of Objects

(pg 48)

• Using the Move by Points Tool (pg 48)

• Creating the Outer Function Button with

a Polygon Fill (pg 49)

• Creating Groups (pg 50)

• Aligning Objects (pg 51)

• Combining Objects (pg 52)

• Subtracting Objects (pg 53)

• Intersecting Objects (pg 53)

• Clipping Objects (pg 54)

• Creating Fillets (pg 55)

• Creating Chamfers (pg 56)

• Hiding Construction Geometry (pg 57)

• Creating Objects for Color Fills (pg 58)

• Changing Object Stacking Order (pg 59)

• Modifying Object Attributes (pg 60)

• Transferring Object Attributes (pg 62)

• Creating a Symbol (pg 63)

• Inserting a Plug-In Object (pg 65)

In these exercises, you complete the remote control transmitter design by modifying and/ or duplicating the 2D geometry you created in Section 4 (pg 27). You then continue working with the sample architectural file from Section 3 (pg 21) as you learn how to create and insert symbols. After completing the exercises in the section, your drawings should look similar to the following figures.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 37

Exercise 7: Resizing and Reshaping Objects

In this exercise, you use different methods to change the orientation, size, and shape of existing objects. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Moving a Reshape Handle

You start the exercise by moving a reshape handle to change the left horizontal guideline to a vertical guideline.

1. Open the GS-VWFx06.v wx file in the Data Set folder.

2. From the Basic tools palette, click the Selection Tool . In the Tool bar, make sure Single Object Interactive Scaling Mode is active. Select the left horizon-

tal guideline, and then click the left vertex to “pick it up,” as shown left Move the cursor

over the left edge of the left directional button, and then press the T key to set a surface snap. Click the surface extension line—when the Vertical SmartCursor cue is displayed—near the bottom of the edge of the display (approximately where shown at center) to change the line’s orientation to vertical, as shown at right.

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Using the 2D Reshape Tool

Next, you reshape the arrowhead indicator for the directional buttons.

3. Zoom in on the area shown at right. Press the X key twice, and then double-click the arrowhead polygon. Notice that all of the polygon’s reshape handles are now displayed directly on it. Also notice that the 2D Reshape tool

(in the Basic tools palette) is now active. In the Tool bar, enable Move Polygon Handles Mode , and then click the bottom center reshape handle to “pick it up.” Click the center of the rectangle to reshape the edge (and center it with the rectangle), as shown at left. Click the arrow point reshape handle, and then click the top center point of the rectangle. The arrow is now symmet ric, as sho w n at right .

the new vertex and change the triangle to a wedge, as shown at right. Leave the polygon selected for the next step.

Interactively Scaling Objects

Next, you use the Selection Tool to scale the arrowhead indicator.

5. Press the X key to activate the Selection Too l. Notice that reshape handles are now

displayed on the polygon’s bounding box. Click the top center reshape handle, and then click above—and to the right of—the point, as shown.

4. With the 2D Reshape tool still active, enable Add Vertex Mode in the Tool bar. Click the bottom center reshape handle (shown at left) to add a vertex. Hold down the Shift key and move your cursor slightly above the point, and then click to position

Notice that moving a bounding box reshape handle maintains the arrowhead’s symmetry (even though you clicked to the right).

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 39

Select the rectangle, and then move its top center reshape handle to the interior wedge vertex, as shown at left. Shorten the arrow’s tail by moving the rectangle’s bottom center reshape handle, approximately where shown at right.

6. In the Tool bar, enable Unrestricted Interactive Scaling Mode . Hold down

the Shift key and click the arrow wedge to add it to the current selection. In the Object Info palette, verify that 2 objects are selected. Click the arrow’s top right reshape handle and then move the cursor and click to complete the reshape operation, approximately where shown at left. Notice that both objects are now scaled together. Experiment with changing the overall shape of the arrow by moving different reshape handles,

as shown in the next two gures. When nished experimenting, reset the Selection

Too l’s default mode by enabling Single Object Interactive Scaling Mode

in the Tool bar. Click Previous View in the View bar so you can see all resized and reshaped objects.

Tip: When you already know the exact size of a

completed triangle in your own designs, you can

use the Triangle tool to draw it directly.

You can optionally create a temporary line—and

use its vertices as snap points to index the

triangle’s first side—by drawing a line with the

Line From Center Mode .

7. Save the file.

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Exercise 8: Moving and Copying Objects

In this exercise, you use a variety of precise and dynamic methods to move or copy existing drawing objects. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Copying Objects

You start the exercise by moving the arrow objects into the “up” directional button.

1. Open the G S -VWFx 07.v w x file in the Data Set folder. The file will open with the arrow wedge and rectangle already selected.

2. Press the X key to activate the Selection Too l. Hold down the left mouse button on

the top edge of the arrow rectangle, and then start moving the cursor to “drag” both arrow objects. Release the mouse button when the arrow objects are inside the “up” directional button, approximately where shown.

Next, you use the “Ctrl+drag” method to copy the arrow objects into the “left” directional button.

3. Start dragging the arrow objects to the left, and then hold down the Ctrl key (notice a plus sign is displayed near the cursor to indicate copy mode is active) and release the mouse button to copy the arrow objects when they are inside the “left” directional button, approximately where shown.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 41

Next, you copy the keypad oval and then resize and rotate it for the first top power button.

the X key twice to clear the selection, and examine the completed power button, as shown at right.

4. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then press Ctrl+6 to display all drawing objects. Use the Ctrl+drag method to copy the keypad button (oval) to the top of the remote control, approximately where shown at left. In

the Object Info palette, change the Width (.200 [5.08mm]), Height (.400 [10.16mm]), and Rotation (-60.00º) values, as shown, and then press Enter. Press

Tip: In addition to resizing the

oval, you can also rotate it

(and many other 2D objects)

dynamically with the Selection

Too l by pressing the Alt key

and dragging a corner reshape

handle.

Next, you copy the center function button to create a round button for the keypad.

5. Use the Ctrl+drag method to copy the center function button (circle) to the center of the keypad oval, as shown at left. Click the circle’s radius reshape handle, and then snap it to the oval’s top center point to resize the circle’s diameter to match the oval’s height (.300 [7.62mm]), as shown

42 | Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide

Note: You copy and reposition

the round keypad button later

in this exercise.

Rotating Objects 90 Degrees

Next, you rotate the copied arrow objects 90 degrees to orient them correctly for the “left” directional button.

6. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select the arrow wedge and rectangle in the left directional button, as shown at left. From the menu, select Modify > Rotate > Rotate Left 90º. The arrow objects now point to the left, as shown at right. Leave the arrow objects selected for the next step.

Moving and Nudging Objects

Next, you move the arrowheads by the center point of the rectangular base to center them with the directional buttons.

7. Start dragging both arrow objects by the bottom center point of the rectangle (as shown at left), and then release the mouse button on the right midpoint of the “left” directional button, as shown at right.

Hold down the Shift key and then press the Left arrow key repeat-

edly to nudge the arrow into position, approximately where shown above.

8. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select both arrow objects for the “up” directional button. Repeat the centering and nudging process (with the Shift and Up arrow keys) to position the objects approximately where shown.

Next, you move the polyline to index its position relative to the top edge of the directional button’s arc, and then you use the Move command to raise the polyline and function button (circle) into position.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 43

9. Drag the curved polyline by its midpoint to the midpoint of the “up” directional button’s arc, as shown.

10. Hold down the Shift key, and then select the function button (circle) to add it to the current selection (2 objects should now be selected). From the menu, select Modify > Move > Move. In the Move Selection dialog box, change the Y Offset value to .440 [11.18mm] (as shown), and then click OK to move both objects, as shown at right.

Offsetting objects

Next, you offset several objects to either create new boundary or centerline objects, or to change the original object’s size.

Enter. Hold down the Alt key, and then select the arc that forms the top curved edge of the remote control outline. Release the Alt key, and then click below the arc to offset it (.400 [10.16mm] to the inside) to create the power switch array centerline, as shown below at left. For the following offsets, use the temporary Alt key method to select each object, and start each offset operation in the Too l ba r by:

• Changing the Distance to .060

[1.52mm] and pressing Enter. Offset the arc (click it to the right of the “up” functional button, and offset it to the outside) at the top of the directional button rectangle to create the lower boundary for the volume button, as shown highlighted in the next figure.

• Changing the Distance to .020

[.51mm] and pressing Enter. Offset the vertical centerline (to the left) to create the right boundary for the volume button, as shown highlighted in the next figure.

• Enabling Offset Original Object Mode . Offset the “left” and “up” direc-

tional buttons, and then the enter button (.020 [.51mm] to the inside) to resize them, as shown highlighted at right.

11. From the Basic tools palette, Offset tool . In the Tool bar, enable both Offset by

Distance Mode and Duplicate and Offset Mode , and then change the Distance value to .400 [10.16mm] and press

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Creating the Volume Button with a Polygon Fill

Now that all boundary objects are in place, you create a polygon for the volume button.

12. From the Basic tools palette, click the 2D Polygon tool

. In the Tool

bar, enable Polygon

From Inner Bound-

ary Mode . Click anywhere inside the

volume button boundaries to create the polygon, as shown.

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

tion, and then carefully select only the offset centerline (the offset line that formed the right boundary of the volume button), and then press the Delete key to remove it from the drawing (but do not delete the remote control centerline).

Creating a Duplicate Array

Next, you create a rectangular array of the oval-shaped button.

14. Select the oval keypad button (do not select the round button inside it). From the menu, select Edit > Duplicate Array. In the Duplicate Array dialog box, adjust settings (.600 [15.24mm], .500 [12.70mm]) as shown above, and then click OK to create the keypad array, as shown at right.

Note: Do not be concerned if your keypad button

array is not centered; you align them with other

components later in this exercise.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 45

Mirroring Objects

Next, you use the Mirror tool to create opposite-hand copies of the remote control’s left edge and volume button.

Resizing an Arc

Next, you use the offset arc’s reshape handles to extend it to the remote control’s right and left edges.

15. Press the X key twice, and then hold

down the Shift key and select the volume button (polyline) and the remote control’s left edge (arc), as shown at left. From the Basic tools palette, click the Mirror tool

, and then enable Duplicate and Mirror Mode . Snap to top and bottom endpoints of the remote control’s centerline to specify the mirror line and create mirrored copies of the objects. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and examine the mirrored copies, shown at right.

16. Select the arc offset from the top edge, as shown at top. Click the left reshape handle, and then move your cursor over the left edge of the remote control (where the arc is farthest away from other objects, and no Smart Cursor extensions are displayed) and press the T key to set a surface snap on the edge. Click the edge when the Surface/Tangent SmartCursor cue is displayed, as shown at top, to resize the arc, as shown at center. Repeat the process to extend the arc’s opposite end (see Note below figure), as shown at bottom.

Note: You may need to press the Z key to acti-

vate the snap loupe so you can temporarily zoom

in and select the right edge with the Sur face/

Tangent SmartCursor cue.

46 | Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide

Now that the arc is flush with the left and right edges, you shorten the arc (and keep it centered) by using equations to change the Start and End angle values in the Object Info palette.

17. In the Object Info palette, enter +2 (to add 2 degrees) at the end of the Start value.

Press Enter to incorporate the change, and notice that the arc is now shorter on the right side, as shown at left. Repeat the process to subtract 2 degrees (enter -2) from the End value, and then press Enter to shorten the left side of the arc, as shown at right.

Duplicating Objects along a Path

Next, you duplicate the power button along the offset arc path to create an array that follows the curvature of the top edge.

18. Hold down the Shift key and select the power button (rotated oval) to add it to the current selection (two objects should now be selected). From the menu, select

Edit > Duplicate Along Path. In the

Duplicate Along Path dialog box, adjust settings as shown at top, and then click OK to create the duplicates. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and examine the power button array, as shown at bottom.

Notes:

1) The position of the rotated oval (before the

duplication) does not affect the results.

2) You use the Duplicate Along Path com-

mand instead of creating a circular array to

evenly distribute the power button copies along

the path.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 47

Creating Rotated Copies of Objects

Next, you use the Rotate tool to copy multiple objects 180 degrees.

19. Hold down the Shift key and select the volume and channel buttons, the “left” and “up” directional buttons, and all four arrow objects, as shown below (in the Object Info palette, verify that 8 objects are selected). From the Basic tools palette, click the

Rotate tool . In the tool bar, enable Duplicate and Rotate Mode . For

the center of rotation, snap to the center of the enter button, and then hold down the Shift key, and click to the right of the first point (approximately where shown in the next figure) to set the reference angle. Hold down the Shift key, and then click on the other side of the center point (approximately where shown in the next figure) to specify the new angle and create the rotated copies, as shown in the next figure.

Using the Move by Points Tool

Next, you use the Move by Points tool to move the circular keypad button, and then you use Distribute Mode to create two copies and complete the new bottom row of circular buttons.

20. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then select the circular keypad button (inside the lower left keypad oval button). From the Basic tools palette, click the Move by Points tool . In the Tool bar, enable Move Mode , and then click Move by Points Preferences . Adjust settings as shown at top, and then click OK. For the start point, snap to the center of the oval directly above the circle in the next row, and then snap to the center of the circle to move it down and maintain equal row spacing, as shown in

the next gure. In the Tool bar, enable Distribute Mode , and then click Move by Points Preferences . Adjust settings

as shown in the next figure, and then click OK. Snap to the center of the lower left oval, and then snap to the center of the lower right oval. The copies are distributed over the selected distance and now match the keypad column spacing, as shown at bottom.

48 | Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide

Next, you use the Move by Points tool to copy the volume button’s profile geometry (arc and polyline).

21. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then hold down the Press Shift+M for the Move by Points tool shortcut, and then look at the Tool bar while pressing the U key two times to cycle through options until Move Mode is enabled. Click Move by Points Preferences

, and adjust settings as shown at center, and then click OK. Snap to the top center point of the polyline (the Fix SmartCursor cue is displayed) to specify the

start point. Hold down the Ctrl key to activate copy mode, and then snap to the top center of the circular function button to complete the copy operation. Press the X key twice to clear the selection and examine the copied objects, as shown at bottom

Tip: Press the U key to cycle through modes for

all tools.

Note: You can keep the Retain option enabled if

you prefer, but you may find it easier to keep the

default “move” behavior and use the Ctrl key to

activate copy mode.

Creating the Outer Function Button with a Polygon Fill

Next, you extend the arc to form the bottom boundary for the fill operation, and then you extend the polyline by drawing a short line segment to form the top boundary for the fill operation.

22. Select the arc you just copied (that forms the bottom boundary of the outer function button), and then click the left reshape handle and click again outside of the remote control’s left edge to lengthen the arc, approximately where shown at top Press the 2 key for the Line tool shortcut. Snap to the endpoint of the polyline, and then click approximately where shown at center to draw a parallel line that terminates outside of the remote control, as shown at bottom.

Notes:

1) You create an extension line because the

Connect/Combine tool doesn’t work with cubic

vertex polyline objects, and other reshaping

methods change the curvature, which for this

design is intended to match the curvature of the

volume button.

2) In this case, a parallel line is sufficiently

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 49

accurate for the short gap. If you need to match

curvature more precisely or over a longer dis-

tance, draw an arc using Arc by 2 Points and a

Point on Arc Mode, and then snap all arc points

on the polyline near the end you want to extend.

You can then adjust the arc’s reshape handles

accordingly.

Now that all boundary objects form a closed area, you create a polygon for the outer function button.

23. Press the 8 key for the 2D Polygon tool shortcut. In the Tool bar, make sure Polygon From Inner Boundary Mode

is still active. Click anywhere inside the function button boundaries to create the polygon, as shown at left. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select the function button’s construction objects (vertical line, polyline, arc, and extension line). In the Object Info palette, select Geometry Ref from the Class drop-down list to hide them, as shown at right.

Creating Groups

Next, you create groups of objects so you can align the groups with each other.

24. Draw a selection marquee from lower left to upper right around all 15 oval and round keypad buttons, as shown below at left. From the menu, select Modify > Group to create a single group object from all 15 buttons. Repeat the marquee selection process to create three more groups from the following objects:

• The directional buttons, and all four

volume and channel buttons (also include the construction geometry, except for the vertical guide line), as shown in the next figure.

• The outer function button and the

circular function button, as shown in the next figure.

• The four power buttons (ovals) at the

top of the remote control.

50 | Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide

Important: Hold down the Shift key and select

the arc centerline to remove it from the selection

after you draw the marquee (as shown) and

before you create the group.

Aligning Objects

Next, you lock the position of some components, and then you distribute and align the objects to place them in their final positions.

25. Press the X key twice, and then hold down the Shift key and select the remote control’s vertical centerline, power button group, and the power button arc centerline, as shown at left. Right-click the vertical centerline, and then select Lock from the context menu. The selection highlight color turns gray to indicate the objects are locked, as shown at right.

26. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select the locked arc centerline, the function button group, the display, the volume/channel/directional button group,

the keypad group, and the remote control’s bottom horizontal line, as shown at top (in the Object Info palette, verity that 6 objects are selected). From the menu, select Modify > Align > Align/Distribute. In the Align/Distribute Objects dialog box, adjust settings as shown at center, and then click OK to evenly distribute the objects along the vertical (Y) axis, as shown at bottom.

27. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select the keypad group and the locked vertical centerline. From the menu, select

Modify > Align > Align/ Distribute. In the Align/

Distribute Objects dialog box, adjust settings, and then click OK to center the keypad group with the centerline. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and examine the completed layout.

28. Save the file.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 51

Exercise 9: Modifying Objects with Boolean Operations

In this exercise, you use the area of existing objects (or you draw specific shapes) to modify objects or create new objects. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

1. Open the GS- VWFx08.vwx file in

the Data Set folder.

2. Zoom in on the area shown at right. Press the X key, and then right-click the arrow in the “up” directional button and select Ungroup from the context menu. Press the X key twice, and then hold down the Shift key and select both arrow objects (wedge and rectangle) inside the “up” directional button. Right-click the arrow, and then select Add Surface from the context menu. The area of both objects is added together to form a single polygon, as shown at left. Repeat the process three times to join the arrow objects

Combining Objects

You start the exercise by ungrouping the directional button group, and then you use the Add Surface command to join the ar- row objects together.

in the other directional buttons, as shown (highlighted for clarity).

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Subtracting Objects

Next, you change the stacking order of the arrow objects, and then you use the Clip Surface command to create arrow-shaped holes in the directional buttons.

3) You could have combined the arrow objects

and subtracted them from the directional buttons

before you created rotated duplicates, but in this

case, it’s better to verify the arrow “diamond”

pattern first.

3. Hold down the Shift key, and then select all four arrow objects. From the menu, select Modify > Send > Send to Front. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection. Hold down the Shift key and select the “up” directional button, and then select the arrow inside it. Right-click the arrow, and then select Clip Surface from the context menu. The area of the arrow is subtracted from the directional button, and only the arrow object is now selected (as shown at left). Press the Delete key to remove it from the drawing. Repeat the surface clipping and arrow deleting process three times to subtract the arrows from the other three directional buttons, as shown (highlighted for clarity) at right.

Notes:

1) You changed the stacking order of the ar-

rows because the clipping objects must be on top

of objects that they clip.

2) You see the effect of the arrow holes later in

Exercise 11 (pg 52).

Tip: You can use the Edit Polyline command to

modify or remove holes in polylines, or to copy

hole geometry for use outside of the clipped

polyline.

Intersecting Objects

Next, you ungroup the functional buttons and then draw a circle and use the Intersect Surface command to create an inner function button from the existing outer function button.

4. Right-click the circular functional button group and select Ungroup from the context menu. Press the 6 key for the Circle tool shortcut. In the Tool bar, make sure Circle by Radius Mode is enabled. For the center point, snap to the center of the circular function button, and then type .580

[14.73mm] to set the oating data bar’s L (radius) eld. Press Enter twice to complete the

1.160 [29.46mm] diameter circle, as shown.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 53

5. Press the X key, and then hold down the Shift key and select the outer function button to add it to the current selection, as shown at left. Right-click the outer function button, and then select Intersect Surface from the context menu. The common area of both objects is converted into a new polyline (the inner function button). Select only the intersecting circle (which is now a polyline), and then press the Delete key to remove it from the drawing so you can see the left edge of the new polyline, as shown at right.

Clipping Objects

Next, you use the Clip tool to complete both inner and outer function buttons.

6. Select the inner function button (created in the previous step), as shown.

From the Basic tools palette, click the

Clip tool . In the tool bar, enable the Removes Inside Mode and Clipping by a Circle Mode options. Snap to

the center of the circular function button to start the clipping circle, and then type .230

[5.84mm] to set the oating data bar’s L (radius) eld. Press Enter twice to complete

the circle, and clip the inner function button, as shown below.

7. Press the X key, and then select the outer function button, as shown at left. Press Shift+N for the Clip tool shortcut, and then repeat the clipping process with a .620 [15.75mm] radius clipping circle to create clearance between the inner and outer function buttons, as shown at right.

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8. Save the file.

Exercise 10: Creating Fillets and Chamfers

In this exercise, you complete various components by rounding or chamfering corners. The completed exercise is shown in the following figures.

the Fillet Radius value to:

• .300 [7.62mm], and then click OK. Click adjacent edges at the bottom of the

Creating Fillets

You start the exercise by creating fillets on the corners of the remote control outline.

1. Open the GS-VWFx09.v wx file in the Data Set folder.

2. Press theX key twice to clear the selection, and then adjust the display so the re-

mote control lls the screen. From the Basic

tools palette, click the Fillet tool . In the tool bar, enable Fillet and Trim Mode , and then click Fillet Preferences . In the Fillet Settings dialog box, change the Fillet Radius to .060 [1.52mm], and then click OK. Next, click adjacent arc edges (away from the corners—see Notes) at the top of

the remote control to create two llets shown

(highlighted for clarity) at top. For each of the

following llet operations, start by clicking

Fillet Preferences , and then change

remote control to create two fillets shown (highlighted) at center.

• .020 [.51mm], and then click OK. Click adjacent edges at the inner function button’s inside corners to create two fillets, shown (highlighted) at bottom.

Notes:

1) Some arcs may not display pre-selection

highlighting before you click them, but the fillet

will be created anyway.

2) If you select the arc too close to the corner,

the wrong side of the arc will be trimmed. If this

happens, undo the fillet and try again by clicking

farther away from the corner.

3) You will see the upper left corner fillet

clearly in Exercise 11 (pg 57), after you hide the

construction geometry.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 55

Now that the function buttons are complete, you create rotated copies for the function buttons on the right side of the circular function button.

3. Press the X key, and then hold down the Shift key and select the inner and outer function buttons, as shown at top. Press Alt+= for the Rotate tool shortcut. In the tool bar, make sure Duplicate and Rotate Mode is enabled. For the center of rotation, snap to the center of the circular function button, and then hold down the Shift key to constrain the cursor horizontally.

Click to the right of the rst point (shown

at center) to set the reference angle. Hold down the Shift key, and then click on the other side of the center point to specify the new angle and create the rotated copies, as shown at bottom.

Creating Chamfers

Next, you create chamfers on the enter button corners.

4. From the Basic tools palette, click the click the Chamfer tool . In the tool bar, enable Chamfer and Trim Mode , and then click Chamfer Preferences . In the Chamfer settings dialog box, adjust settings (.020 [.51mm]) as shown below, and

then click OK. Click the enter button’s edges to create four chamfers, as shown (highlighted) at left.

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5. Save the file.

Exercise 11: Modifying Object Properties

In this exercise, you complete the remote control design by hiding all remaining construction geometry, creating special “fill” polygons, and adding appropriately colored gradient and solid fills. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Hiding Construction Geometry

You start the exercise by unlocking and ungrouping all objects, and then you change the class property of all construction geometry to the Geometry Ref class (which is already set to invisible).

1. Open the GS-VWFx10.vwx file in the Data Set folder.

2. From the menu, select:

• Edit > Select All to add all drawing objects to the current selection set.

• Modify > Unlock to unlock any locked objects.

• Modify > Ungroup to ungroup any grouped objects.shown at center. In the location you specified.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 57

3. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then hold down the Shift key and select all 9 construction geometry objects (if you accidentally select one of the remote control components, select it again to remove it from the selection set), as shown at left. In the Object Info palette, select Geometry Ref from the Class dropdown list to hide the construction geometry. Only the remote control’s components should now be visible, as shown at right.

Creating Objects for Color Fills

Next, you use the Compose command to join existing geometry to create a polyline to serve as a background for the directional buttons, and then you create a polygon for the remote control body.

4. Select any one of the perimeter objects of the directional buttons, and then select Edit > Select Connected Objects from the menu to automatically select the connected lines and arcs, as shown below

From the menu, select Modify > Compose. Notice that selection handles are now displayed around the new polyline object, as shown below. In the Object Info palette, verify that the Closed option is enabled (if it is not, enable it).

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5. Click in a blank area of the drawing to clear the current selection, and then press 8 for the 2D Polygon tool shortcut. In the Tool bar, make sure sure that Polygon From Inner Boundary Mode is still active. Click anywhere inside the remote control boundaries, away from other components to create the polygon, as shown. Leave the polygon selected for the next step.

Changing Object Stacking Order

Next, you change the stacking order of the polygon you just made to facilitate selecting other components.

6. Press the X key, and then right-click the polygon you just made and select Send > Send to Back from the context menu. Leave the polygon selected for the next step.

Note: You can’t see the effect of the stacking

order change, but if you try to click other compo-

nents to select them before sending the polygon

to the back of the stacking order, you would

always select the polygon.

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Modifying Object Attributes

Next, you apply gradient and solid color fill attributes to various components.

7. In the Attributes palette, select Gra- dient from the Fill Style drop-down list, and then click Fill Gradient, and scroll down the list and select Metal Stainless Steel (shown below) to complete the remote control body fill, as shown at right.

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Next, you repeat the fill changing process for multiple objects.

Note: Change only one of each type of object

as indicated. You transfer properties to similar

objects in the next section of this exercise.

8. For each of the following objects, change the Fill Style to Solid (if it’s not already solid), and then select the Solid Fill Color as indicated (or choose your own colors):

• Left power button: bright red

• Circular function button: light gray

• Display: orange-green

• “Up” directional button: dark gray

• Directional button background (zoom in

if necessary to select it, and then zoom out again): black

Press the X key twice to clear the selection. Your remote control colors should look similar to the following figure.

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Transferring Object Attributes

Next, you use the Eyedropper tool to quickly transfer the attributes to similar objects.

9. From the Basic tools palette, click the Eyedropper tool , and then use pre-

selection indicators as you:

• Click the circular function button (to

pick up its attributes), and then hold down the Ctrl key (to apply the attributes) and click the two middle power buttons, the inner and outer function buttons, and all four volume/ channel buttons to change their attributes as shown at left.

• Click the “up” directional button, and

then hold down the Ctrl key and click the right power button, the other three directional buttons, the enter button, and all oval and round keypad buttons to change their attributes and complete the remote control, as shown at right.

Tip: You can optionally save and recall attribute

transfer settings for theEyedropper tool

to ensure accuracy and facilitate commonly used

transfer scenarios. To do this, click Eyedropper

Tool Preferences in the Tool bar, and then

select specic attribute criteria to transfer. Click

Save, and then enter a name in the Assign Name

dialog box, and click OK t to save the settings

for later recall by selecting them from the Active

Settings drop-down list.

10. Save the file.

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Exercise 12: Working with Resources

In this exercise, you create a symbol and then insert two instances. You complete the exercise by inserting a scale bar plug-in object. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Creating a Symbol

You start the exercise by opening an architectural file, and then you create a symbol of a queen size bed.

1. Open the GS-VWFx12-Step01.vwx file in the Data Set folder. The file opens with the second floor of the house displayed.

2. Press the X key, and then hold down the

Shift key and select the three rectangles (bed and two pillows) in the hall bedroom, as shown left. From the menu, select

Modify > Create

Symbol. In the Create Symbol dialog box,

adjust settings as shown at above, and

then click OK (the cursor changes shape to indicate that an insertion point must be specified). For the insertion point, snap to the bottom center of the bed rectangle, as shown at right. In the Create Symbol dialog box, click OK to place the symbol in the default destination folder, and remove the symbol geometry from the drawing.

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Next, you insert two instances of the BedQueen symbol in the floor plan.

3. In the Resource Browser, verify that your file is active (if not, click the Home button

), and then scroll down and open the Symbols/Plug-In Objects folder (if it’s not open already). Scroll down the list, and then doubleclick the Bed-Queen symbol. In the Basic tools palette, notice that the Symbol Inser- tion tool is now active. In the Tool bar, make sure Standard Insertion Mode ,

Wall Insertion Mode , and Align Actual Insertion Point Mode are all active.

Click the hall bedroom wall’s midpoint once,

where shown at top. Move your cursor above and below the wall (notice how

the symbol ips),

and then click above the wall to place the bed symbol in the wall, as shown at center. In the Object Info palette, verify that the symbol is inserted in the wall (see Notes below figure), and examine the available properties for a 2D symbol, as shown at bottom.

Notes:

1) If the symbol is not inserted in the wall,

press the Delete key to remove it from the draw-

ing and try again.

2) You insert the symbol in the wall so that if

you move the wall, the bed symbol moves with it.

Tips:

1) Use symbols in the early design stages as

temporary placeholders for geometry that you

fully develop later in the design process. You can

incorporate changes by editing symbols or by

replacing symbol instances with other symbols.

2) You can optionally scale symbol instances

by specifying a symmetric factor or asymmetric

X’ and Y’ factors in the Scaling section of the

Object Info palette.

4. With the Bed-Queen symbol still active, insert another instance in the master bedroom’s vertical wall (at the midpoint), oriented as shown.

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Inserting a Plug-In Object

Next, you insert a scale bar plug-in object into the drawing.

5. From the Dims/Notes tool set,click the Scale Bar tool . Double-click approxi-

mately where shown below to display the

Object Properties dialog box. Properties dialog box. Adjust settings (1/4” [6.35mm], 1’0” [.305m], 10’0” [3.048m]) as shown at the right, and then click OK to create the scale bar plug-in object

(shown above). In the Object Info palette, notice that unlike the simple Bed-Queen symbol, the plug-in object has parameters that let you change the size and configuration of each instance, as shown at right.

6. Save the file.

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Section 6:

Annotation Tools

In two exercises, this section covers the following key processes for adding text and dimensions to your drawings:

• Creating Text (pg 68)

• Creating a Callout (pg 69)

• Setting Dimension Preferences (pg 71)

• Creating Constrained Linear Dimensions (pg 72)

• Creating an Angular Dimension (pg 73)

• Creating a Radial Dimension (pg 73)

In these exercises, you continue working with the sample architectural file from Exercise 12 (pg 63) as you create general notes in a sheet layer, and then you activate a design layer to create a callout and floor plan dimensions.

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Exercise 13: Creating Text

In this exercise, you create a text block on a sheet layer, and then you create a callout in a design layer. The completed exercise is shown in the following figures.

box is displayed, and the Object Info palette displays text controls. In the Object Info palette, select 14 from the Size drop-down list, and then select Left from the Horiz. Align drop-down list. Click inside the text editing box, and then enter the text shown

Creating text

You start the exercise by creating a couple of standard notes in a text block.

1. Open the GS-VWFx13 -Step01.vwx file in the Data Set folder. The file opens with the first floor plan sheet layer active.

2. Zoom in on the upper left corner of the drawing sheet. From the Basic tools palette, click the Text tool . Click and drag the cursor to dene the text width limit, approximately where shown below. A text editing

. Press the Esc key to close the text editing box and create the standard notes [blank in beta 4; but the text is still present if you click inside the text box.]. Press the X key, and then if necessary:

• Drag the text box by the text to

reposition it.

• Drag a corner reshape handle to

resize the text box and complete the text, as shown at right.

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Note: To create a single line of text in your own

drawings, click the Text tool , and then

click to specify a start point. You can then either

start typing the text or adjust text settings in

the Object Info palette before you type the text.

Press the Esc key when finished.

Creating a Callout

Next, you activate a saved view, and then you create a callout in the Mod-Floor-2 design layer to identify exterior decking.

3. From the View bar, select Floor Plan-2 from the Saved Views dropdown list (shown at left) to activate it. In

the View bar, notice that the Mod-Floor-2 design layer is now active. Zoom in on the area shown below.

4. From the Basic tools palette, click the Callout tool . In the Tool bar, enable Towards target mode and Two-point mode , and then click Callout Tool Preferences . In the Callout Prefer-

ences dialog box, adjust settings as shown (2.5” [63.50mm], 1/4” [6.35mm]), and then click OK to save the settings.5.

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Click two points in order—start outside the deck above the dimensions, and then click inside the deck for the second point—approximately where shown at the top. In the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box, enter the callout text (shown at left), and then click

OK to place the callout in the drawing, similar to the one shown at bottom.

6. Save the file.

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Exercise 14: Creating Dimensions

In this exercise, you create a few different types of dimensions. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Dimension Notes:

1) Associative dimensions “attach” them-

selves to drawing objects by placing parametric

constraints on vertices of selected geometr y.

Parametric constraints let dimensions move

and update values when you move or resize

associated geometry or (for linear and chain

Setting Dimension Preferences

You start the exercise by adjusting dimension creation and precision preferences.

1. Open the GS-VWFx14- Step01.vwx file in the Data Set folder. The file opens with the Mod-Floor-2 design layer active.

2. Right-click a blank area and select Document Preferences. In the Document

Preferences dialog box, select the Dimensions tab. Adjust settings (8 Mils [.2032mm]) as shown, and then click OK.

dimensions only) modify associated geometry if

you change the Length parameter.

2) To turn off display of the parametric con-

straints, 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) Refer to the Online Help’s Associative

Dimensioning topic for more information.

5) In your own files, you can create or impor t

custom dimension standards and use them

individually, or to 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.

6) For your own drawings with dimensions

based on multiple standards, you can set the cur-

rent dimension standard from the Tool bar when

any dimension tool is active.

Vectorworks Fundamentals 2011 Getting St arted G uide | 71

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

select the General Display and Dimensions tab. Change the Angle Precision to 0 (zero), and then verify or adjust other settings.

Select the Dual

Dimensions tab, and

then verify or adjust

settings as shown

at left. Click OK to

save the settings.

Creating Constrained Linear Dimensions

Next, you use the Constrained Linear Dimension tool to create orthogonal dimen-

sions in the floor plan.

4. From the Dims/Notes tool set, click the Constrained Linear Dimension tool .

Snap to object vertices marked with green squares (parametric constraints of associative dimensions) to create dimensions approximately where shown (highlighted - see Notes below figure).

Notes:

1) The first two clicks determine dimension

points; the third click orients and places the

dimension.

2) Pick up points of existing dimension geom-

etry, and then use SmartCursor cues to align new

dimensions as you create them.

3) 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.

4) 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.

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Creating an Angular Dimension

Next, you create an angular dimension in the floor plan.

Creating a Radial Dimension

Next, you create a radial dimension in the floor plan.

5. From the Dims/Notes tool set, click the Angular Dimension tool . Click the in-

side wall edges (near the arrow points), and then click to place the angular dimension approximately where shown at top. In the Object Info palette, select Horizontal from the Text Rot drop-down list. In the Attributes palette, select Solid from the Fill Style drop-down list (shown at center), to complete the angular dimension, as shown at bottom.

Note: You change the Fill Style to Solid because

dimension fills are turned off (by the Dimension

class setting) in this file to properly display dual

dimensions.

6. From the Dims/Notes tool set, click the Radial Dimension tool . In the Tool bar, enable Interior Radial Dimension Mode and Right-Hand Shoulder Mode . Click the inside edge of the

curved wall, and then click to place the radial dimension approximately where shown.

7. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then save the file.

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Section 7:

Drawing Presentation

In three exercises, this section covers the following processes for printing drawings set up with viewports on sheet layers:

• Duplicating a Sheet Layer (pg 76)

• Adjusting Page Setup Settings (pg 77)

• Cleaning Up the New Drawing Sheet (pg 77)

• Creating a Viewport (pg 78)

• Cropping a Viewport (pg 79)

• Setting Up the Printer (pg 81)

• Printing to a File (pg 82)

In these exercises, you duplicate a sheet layer and then create a floor plan viewport (that displays objects on multiple design layers) on the new sheet layer. You then crop the viewport to hide extraneous objects. You complete the tutorial by setting up your printer and then printing the floor plan drawing to a file. After completing the exercises in the section, your drawing should look similar to the following figure.

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Exercise 15: Working with Sheet Layers

In this exercise, you duplicate an existing sheet layer and then modify its display properties and page setup settings. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

Duplicating a Sheet Layer

You start the exercise by duplicating an existing sheet layer.

1. Open the GS-VWFx15- Step01.vwx file in the Data Set folder. The file opens with the first floor plan sheet layer active.

2. Press Ctrl+Shift+O for the Organization dialog box shortcut. Select the Sheet Layers tab, and then right-click the Sheet-Floor Plan-1 sheet layer and select Duplicate from the context menu. Notice the sheet number for the new sheet layer was automatically incremented, as shown at top Right-click the Sheet-Floor Plan-2 sheet layer and select Edit from the context menu. In the Edit Sheet Layers dialog box, change the Sheet Title to Sheet-Floor Plan-2, as shown next. Keep the Edit Sheet Layers dialog box open for the next step.

Notes:

1) In your own drawings, click New if you don’t

have any existing sheet layers in the file.

2) You can also optionally create a new sheet

layer when you create a viewpor t. In this tutorial,

you create a viewport in Exercise 16 (pg 78).

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Adjusting Page Setup Settings

Next, you change page setup properties for the new sheet layer.

3. Click Page Setup, and adjust settings in the Page Setup dialog box, as shown. Click OK three times to save the settings and close all open dialog boxes.

Note: Your Horizontal and Vertical values in the Pages section may vary.

Cleaning up the New Drawing Sheet

4. In the View bar, notice that the SheetFloor Plan-2 sheet layer is now active. Press the X key, and then hold down the Delete key and click the general notes (text object) and viewport. Release the Delete key to remove both objects from the sheet.

5. Select the drawing border, and then scroll down in the Object Info palette and click Edit Title Block. In the Edit Title Block dialog box, select the Sheet tab, and then change the Sheet Title, as shown at right. Click OK to save the change, and then press the X key twice to clear the selection, and examine the new (empty) drawing sheet, as shown below.

6. Save the file.

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Exercise 16: Working with Viewports

In this exercise, you create and crop a viewport. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure.

• Verify other

settings (shown at left).

• Click Layers. In the Viewport Layer Properties dialog box, adjust visibilities as shown below and then click

OK.

Creating a Viewport

You start the exercise by creating a viewport on the new sheet layer from Exercise 15 (pg 76).

• Click OK to

1. Open the GS-VWFx15.vwx file in the

Data Set folder. The file opens with the (blank) second floor plan sheet layer active.

2. From the menu, select View > Create Viewport. In the Create Viewport dialog

box:

• Change the Viewport Name to VP- Floor Plan-2.

• Change the Drawing Title to Floor Plan 2.

• Select 3/16”=1’0” from the Scale drop-down list.

create the viewport. Drag the viewport into the approximate center of the drawing border, as shown below.

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Cropping a Viewport

6 6 7

Next, you crop the viewport to create a curved break line for the deck.

3. Press Ctrl+6 to zoom in on the selected viewport. Double-click any object in the viewport to activate editing mode. In the Edit Viewport dialog box, select the Crop option, as shown below at left, and then click OK to enter Viewport Crop mode. Press 5 for the

Polyline tool shortcut, and then enable Tangent Arc Mode in the Tool bar.

Start by snapping to the outside wall line, approximately where point 1 is shown. Continue clicking approximately where points 2 and 3 are shown, and then snap to the outside wall line approximately where point 4 is

shown (do not terminate the polyline yet) to create the curved section of the polyline. For the next vertex, enable Corner Vertex Mode

in the tool bar, and click approximately where point 5 is shown. Continue clicking points 6 through 7, and then double-click point 8 to terminate the polyline and crop the viewport. In the Object Info palette, enable the Closed option to complete the polyline (see Note below), as shown at bottom. Leave the polyline selected for the next step.

Note: A polyline does not have to be closed to crop a viewport; the Close option is shown here to demonstrate the proper technique for creating continuous-line crop objects.

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Next, you use the 2D Reshape tool to hide the straight edges of the crop polyline.

4. Press the – key for the 2D Reshape tool shortcut. In the tool bar, activate Hide or Show Edges Mode , and then click the midpoint reshape handle for each of the poly-

line’s ve straight segments to hide them so

that only the curved portion is now visible, as shown at top. Click Exit Viewport Crop to return to the sheet layer, and then press the X key twice to clear the selection. Press Ctrl+6 to adjust the display. Examine the completed viewport crop, as shown at bottom.

5. Save the file.

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Exercise 17: Printing the Drawing

In this exercise, you set up your printer and then print the sheet layer with the cropped viewport from Exercise 16 (pg 78).

Note: To save paper, you practice using print commands by printing to a file.

Setting Up the Printer

You start the exercise by setting your printer’s properties.

1. Open the GS-VWFx16.vwx file in the Data Set folder. The file opens with the second floor plan sheet layer active.

2. From the menu, select File > Page Setup. In the Page Setup dialog box, click

Printer Setup. In the Printer Setup dialog box, select the name of the desired printer (see Notes below figure), and then choose a paper size— or specify dimensions for a custom size—to match the 24” x 18” US Arch C size that you specified in the “Adjusting page setup settings” section in Exercise 15 (pg 75). Your printer setup dialog box might look similar to the following figure:

Notes:

1) The printer selection above is for illustration

purposes only. Due to the extensive variety

of printers available, it’s impossible to provide

explicit instructions and illustrations of settings

for your particular printer. For best results, select

a printer that you’re familiar with.

2) For some printers, you may have to adjust

page size and/or scaling for proper operation.

3. Click OK twice to save the settings and close both dialog boxes.

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Printing to a File

Next, you print the active sheet layer to a file.

4. From the menu, select File > Print. In the Print dialog box, enable the Print to

File option, and then enable the Pages from: 1 to: 1 option. Your Print dialog box

might look similar to the following figure. Click OK, and then specify a file name and location in the Print to File dialog box. Click Save to print the drawing to the location you specified.

5. Save the file. Congratulations! You have now completed the tutorial!

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