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 cant find the problem quickly, start the exercise over with the appropriate supplied file. Alternate methods are shown for activating 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).
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 Browsers Home button if your house file isnt active. Object artifacts may remain in the drawing area after some drawing and editing operations. To refresh the screen and clear the artifacts, double-click the Pan tool (in the Basic tools palette). Save your files often to prevent data loss. Important: 1) Exercise steps in this tutorial are based on default preference settings from a new installation of the Vectorworks Architect program. Results for some steps may vary from the figures if your preference settings differ from the defaults.

Move your cursor slightly (do not release the left mouse button) and then press the Tab key five times to highlight the X value in the floating data bar. Enter 0 (zero) for the value, and then press the Tab key and enter 0 (zero) for the Y value. Press Enter twice to move the selected walls. Press the P key to toggle Enable Connected Walls Mode on, and press the X key twice to clear the selection. Press Ctr l + 6 for the Fit to Objects shortcut to see the entire layout. Notice that the rulers confirm the lower left corner is on the origin (0,0), as shown below.
Next, you delete duplicate dimensions, and then you reposition the remaining dimensions to clean up the drawing.
18. Right-click the text of the dimensions circled at left (one at a time), and select Delete Dimension from the context menu to remove them from the drawing. Drag the remaining dimensions (by dimension lines; not text) into place, approximately where shown at top below.
Tip: Use the Snap Loupe whenever you need to temporarily zoom in and select a point. For best Snap Loupe performance, press Ctrl + 8, select the General Category, and then disable the Zoom Line Thickness in Snap Loupe option.
Next, you lock all dimensions to prevent inadvertent changes.
Note: The walls wont change position or resize when you lock all associated dimensions, but you can still modify wall properties and insert objects into them.
20. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then press Ctrl + S to save the file. If you set up your files as instructed in the Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of your file. 21. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx file. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX03 saved view to activate it. 22. Use the Zoom and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool (in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and the master files drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master files drawing objects (check dimensions for completeness; ignore dimension alignment). 23. After checking your files accuracy, close the active file (your House.vwx file should now be active). If your drawing is inaccurate, close your file and continue with the next exercise by starting with the supplied file.
19. From the menu, select Window > Script Palettes > Scripts. Drag the Scripts palette to the left of the Navigation palette, and then double-click the Custom Select All Dims script. All dimensions are now selected. Right-click the text of one of the dimensions, and select Lock from the context menu. The selection highlight color turns gray (and the Object Info palette updates) to indicate all selected objects are locked, as below.

15. Save the file.

Section 3: Creating Architectural Elements
In two exercises, this section covers the following processes in the home design project: Creating oor Slabs from the rst-Floor xterior alls (p. 38) Saving Settings for the Select Similar Tool (p. 39) Changing oor lab roperties (p. 40) Inserting Doors (p. 41) Copying a Door Using Ctrl + Drag (p. 41) Creating Different Door Types (p. 42) Creating a Cased Opening (p. 44) Inserting Windows (p. 44) Examining the Design in a 3D View (p. 46) Saving a 3D Reference View (p. 47) Creating oor labs from the econd-Floor xterior alls (p. 48) Copying and Inserting the Remaining Doors and Windows (p. 49) Examining the Design in Various 3D Views (p. 52) In these exercises, you continue working in 2D floor plans (on design layers) as you: Create auto-bounded floor slabs from existing walls. Refine the house design by inserting a variety of architectural elements (intelligent plug-in objects). After inserting architectural elements, you use simple view controls to examine the 3D objects that were created automatically by the 2D tools.
Exercise 6: Creating the First-Floor Plan
In this exercise, you create slab objects, and then you place common architectural elements in the first-floor plan. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure:
You start by creating two auto-bounded floor slab objects from the first floors exterior walls using the Ground slab style. As you did with wall styles (see p. 16), you use this slab style as a unique placeholder for the first floors slabs until you replace them with the final configuration in Exercise 9 (p. 60).
Creating Floor Slabs from the First-Floor Exterior Walls
1. Open the GS-VWAx05.vwx file in the Data Set folder. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions.
2. From the Building Shell tool set, click the Slab tool. In the Tool bar, enable Picked Walls Mode , and then select Ground from the Slab Style drop-down list. In the drawing area, click the four storage (rectangular) room walls, and then click Press to Complete Operation in the Tool bar to create the slab, as shown at top right. With the Slab tool still active, click the six exterior walls that form the L-shaped perimeter of the functional area and living room, and then click Press to Complete Operation to create the slab, as shown at bottom right.

Next, you use the same copy and modify method to create a bi-part pantry door and slider doors for the living room. 11. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the bathroom door to the pantry wall, as shown below at left. In the Object Info palette, change the following details of the new door. Width to 20 [.610m] Configuration to Swing Bi-part Open Angle to 30 Drag the bi-part door if necessary to reposition it, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to create a second bi-part door in the pantry wall, approximately where shown (highlighted) below at right.
12. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 3 [.914m]-wide foyer door to the left living room wall, approximately where shown below at left. In the Object Info palette, edit the new Door Width (70 [2.134m]) and Configuration properties, as shown. Use the Ctrl + drag method to create a copy above, and then select both and use Shift + Ctrl + Drag to copy both to the opposite wall to create a total of four slider doors in the orientations (use the Flip option as necessary) and approximate positions, as shown below at right.

Creating a Cased Opening

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

Inserting Windows

Next, you activate the Window tool, and then you insert two windows. 14. Press the X key twice to clear the selection, and then from the Building Shell tool set, click the Window tool. Click once to position the window in the left kitchen wall, approximately where shown at right. Click outside and to the left of the kitchen to specify the rotation. The window plug-in object is created, as shown at left With the Window tool still active, insert another window in the wall (click outside to specify rotation), as shown at right.
Note: The Window tool was pre-configured for this file. The Window Settings dialog box would normally be displayed for the first window object inserted in a file. For subsequent insertions in your own files, click Preferences from the Tool bar before placing the window to set default window parameters. If you change the Window Settings dialog box settings, all subsequent insertions are affected.
13. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 3-wide foyer door to the horizontal bathroom wall, approximately where shown above. In the Object Info palette: Change the Configuration to Cased Opening. Scroll down, and change the Jamb Width to 0 (zero) and press Enter to incorporate the change. Scroll up and click Set Position. Click the wall corner (circled at left) for the reference point, and then click the cased openings lower left vertex for the object point. Adjust settings in the Enter Offset dialog box, as shown above at left. Then click OK to set the cased openings jamb flush with the wall edge, as shown below.

Next, you change properties of the last window to create a 7 [2.134m]-wide picture window. 15. With the window still selected, confirm in the Object Info palette that the window is in the wall, and then: Change the Overall Width to 70 [2.134m]. Change the Overall Height to 80 [2.438m]. Scroll down and change the Num V Muntins to 1. Change the Muntin Width to 4 [101.60mm]. Change the Muntin Depth to 1 [25.40mm], and then press Enter to update the window settings. Drag the window so that its outside top jamb edge is flush with the inside edge of the living room wall, as shown at right.
16. Press the X key, and then use the Shift + Ctrl + drag method (and the Ctrl + drag method) to copy the 7 [2.134m]-wide picture window seven times (highlighted for clarity) for a total of eight picture windows, as shown below (see Note).
Note: Ctrl + drag automatically orients window exteriors.
Next, you copy the 2 [.610m]-wide window. 17. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the small window one time, and then select both and use Ctrl + drag to copy both windows to create a total of four 2 [.610m]-wide windows, approximately where shown (highlighted for clarity).
Note: In your own designs, you would now create associative dimensions for the windows and doors, (and edit length values as necessary). To save time, you skip this step in this exercise and in Exercise 7. Instead, you optionally create window and door dimensions later in Exercise 11 (p. 81).
Examining the Design in a 3D View
Next, you activate different 3D views so you can examine the architectural elements you just inserted. 18. From the menu, select View > Standard Views > Top. Press the X key twice, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Notice that 2D object details (such as door swings and wall breaks) disappear in this 3D top view, as shown at top left. From the View bar, select the Left Isometric view from the Standard View drop-down list, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. The viewing angle is changed, as shown at bottom left. Notice that even though you were previously working in 2D, Vectorworks Architect automatically created 3D objects.
Note: Do not be concerned about the inappropriate single hung windows; you change properties of all windows later in Exercise 9 (p. 60).
Saving a 3D Reference View
Next, you save a view with the current display attributes that you use in other exercises later in the tutorial.

3. From the Building Shell tool set, click the Slab tool. In the Tool bar, make sure that Picked Walls Mode is enabled, and then select Mechanical from the Slab Style drop-down list. Click the three balustrade walls and the bordering exterior wall, and then click Press to Complete Operation to create the deck slab, as shown at left. With the Slab tool still active, repeat the process with the same slab style to create the second floor slab from the four exterior second floor walls, as shown at right.
4. Hold down the Shift key, and then select the other second floor slab object (both should now be selected). In the Object Info palette, change the Slab objects Class property to Structural-Slab and their Layer property to Mod-Slab-2 to correct the display order, as shown.
Notes: 1) You notch the second-floor slab to accom|modate the stairwell later in Exercise 9 (p. 60). 2) You could combine the deck floor slab with the second-floor slab, but they are created separately in this tutorial because of their structural and functional differences. 3) Although the deck surface would normally have a slightly lower elevation than the floor surface for drainage purposes, they are both the same elevation (both slabs are the same thickness) in this tutorial for display purposes. 4) To save time in this tutorial, you ignore the overlapping area between both slab objects. If you want to fix this in your model, you can optionally create a virtual wall segment as a surrogate auto-boundary for the slab. To do this, delete the deck slab you just created, and then draw a horizontal virtual wall segment (with zero height) connected to the vertical balustrade walls slightly above the horizontal exterior wall. Create the auto-bounded slab by picking all three balustrade walls and the virtual wall, and then change the slabs class and layer properties. Use the Constrain Colinear tool to place a collinear constraint between the virtual wall and the outside edge of the second floors exterior wall.
Copying and Inserting the Remaining Doors and Windows
Next, you copy doors and windows from the first floor (that you created in Exercise 6), and then you copy and modify them as necessary to complete the second-floor plan. 5. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. Press the X key twice, and then right-click one of the bi-part pantry doors, and select Create Similar Object from the context menu. If a message dialog box is displayed (as shown), enable
the Dont show this dialog again option, and then click OK. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view. Insert the bi-part door into the middle of the hall closet wall and orient it as shown at right.
6. Press the X key, and then use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the bi-part door into the guest bedroom closet wall, as shown above (use the Flip option if necessary). With the new closet door still selected, change the Door Width to 42 [1.270m] in the Object Info palette. Drag the new door into position, as shown below at left. Use the Ctrl + drag method to copy the 42 [1.270m] door, approximately where shown below at right.

Note: In your own designs, you would now create associative dimensions for the windows and doors (and edit length values as necessary). To save time, you skip this step in this exercise (as you did in Exercise 6). Instead, you optionally create window and door dimensions later in Exercise 11 (p. 84).
Examining the Design in Various 3D Views
Next, you edit the Unified Isometric saved view to display additional layers and classes, and then you examine the new elements with the Flyover tool. 15. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. Press the X key twice to clear the selection. Notice that the saved view does not show objects on the second floor, as shown.
Note: Holding down the Ctrl key temporarily enables the Retain option for the original object.
14. Use either the Ctrl + drag method or the Move by Points tool to create fourteen additional copies of the 2-wide window, where shown (highlighted for clarity).
16. In the Navigation palette, right-click the Unified Isometric saved view and select Edit. In the Edit Saved View dialog box, click Layers. Adjust visibilities as shown at right, and then click OK. Click Classes, and turn on visibility of the Roof-Main class. Click OK twice to save the edits. Double-click the saved view to see the change, and then press the X key twice to clear the selection, as shown.
17. From the Basic tools palette, click the Flyover tool. In the Tool bar, make sure Interactive Origin Mode is enabled. Start dragging the cursor to dynamically examine the model. Press Ctrl + 6 to re-center the view. Click to stop the motion, and change the center of rotation by clicking on various object vertices (on the active layer), and then continue dragging the cursor to change the viewing angle. 18. In the Navigation palette, activate the
Note: To save time, you just turned on visibility for objects that dont exist yet, but you create them later in the tutorial.
Floor Plan-2 view. From the menu, select View > Align Layer Views. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. 19. Save the file. If you set up your files as instructed in the Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of your file. 20. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx file. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX07 saved view to activate it. 21. Use the Zoom and Pan
tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool (in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in blue, and the master files drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master files drawing objects. 22. After checking your files accuracy, close the active file (your House.vwx file should now be active). If your drawing is inaccurate, close your file and continue with the next exercise by starting with the supplied file.

Examining the Completed Roof
Next, you examine the flat roof in various 3D views. 10. In the Navigation palette, select the Saved Views tab and activate the Unified Isometric saved view. Press the X key, and then click in a blank area of the drawing to clear the current selection. From the View bar, select OpenGL from the Current Render Mode drop-down list. Switch to various standard 3D views, or use the Flyover tool to examine the completed roof, as shown. 11. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-2 view. From the menu, select View > Align Layer Views. In the Scripts palette, double-click the Toggle Dimension Class Visibility script to hide all dimensions. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. 12. Save the file. If you set up your files as instructed in the Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of your file. 13. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx file. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 03 Roof Model saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX08 saved view to activate it. Your roof is displayed in green, and the master files roof is displayed in its default color. You should see your green roof overlaid directly on top of the master files roof.
14. After checking your files accuracy, close the active file (your House.vwx file should now be active). If your drawing is inaccurate, close your file and continue with the next exercise by starting with the supplied file.
Exercise 9: Editing Architectural Elements
In this exercise, you edit various architectural elements to complete the basic house design. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure:

Editing Windows

You start the exercise by simultaneously modifying properties of all windows. 1. If you did not complete Exercise 8or you are unsure of your files accuracy open the GS-VWAx08.vwx file. 2. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. From the Basic tools palette, click the Select Similar tool. In the Tool bar, select Object from the Active Settings drop-down list, and then click any window. In the Object Info palette: Verify 37 window objects are selected. Change the Sash Operation to Casement (wait a few seconds for the windows to update after each change).
Scroll down and change the Sash Width to 3 [76.20mm], and press Enter. Change the Sash Depth to 4 [101.60mm], and then press Enter. Press the X key twice, and notice that all windows were modified, as shown.

Creating a Corner Window

Next, you change properties of the two smaller master bedroom windows to create a corner window. 3. Hold down the Shift key, and then select the two windows shown at left. Press Ctrl + 6 to zoom in, then scroll down to the bottom of the Object Info palette, and then: Enable the Corner Window option. Notice that both windows automatically move to the corner position. Select Mitered Sash from the Corner Condition drop-down list, and examine the mitered sash, as shown below at left. Select Corner Post from the Corner Condition drop-down list, and change the size to 5 [127.00mm]. Press Enter to update the windows, and examine the corner post, as shown in the next figure. Select Flush Glass from the Corner Condition drop-down list, and then click in a blank area to clear the selection. The completed corner window is shown below at right.

8. Repeat the Select Connected Objects/ style replacement process for the three balustrade walls. Select Ext-WoodBalustrade for the new style, and enable the Replace Height option in the Wall Replacement dialog box settings as shown, and then click OK to complete the replacement.
9. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. From the Basic tools palette, click the Select Similar tool. In the Tool bar, select Class and Object from the Active Settings drop-down list, and then click any interior wall. In the Object Info palette: Verify that 19 wall objects are selected. Select Replace from the Style drop-down list, and then select Int-Gypsum Bd for the new style, and specify the remainder of the Wall Replacement dialog box settings the same as you did for step 7. Click OK to complete the replacement. 10. In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. With the Select Similar tool still active, click one of the exterior walls. In the Object Info palette: Verify that ten wall objects are selected. Select Replace from the Style drop-down list, and then select Ext-WoodFlr-1 for the new style, and specify the remainder of the Wall Replacement dialog box settings the same as you did for step 8. Click OK to complete the replacement. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then zoom in on the stairwell/ pantry area shown at left. Notice the new wall style components, as shown at right.
Notes: 1) Its not necessary for this exercise, but you can optionally use the Wall Join tool with T Join Mode to re-create any incorrectly displayed component intersections on both floors. 2) To save time in this tutorial, you replaced the placeholder wall styles with styles that have a compatible overall thickness. When you replace wall styles with different sized components in your own designs, you can align edges of various wall components (or the entire wall) as required.

Creating Wall End Caps

Next, you create wall end caps for the stairwell wall and pantry wall. 11. From the, click Wall End Cap. From the Tool bar, enable Component Wrap Mode , and then click Wall End Cap Preferences. In the Wall End Cap preferences dialog box, make sure the Extend Cap Past Wall Endpoint option is disabled (because this design is based on overall wall thicknesses), and then click OK. Click in the middle of the stairwell walls gray gypsum components close to the wall cap (but do not click the edges) to create the wall end cap which wraps them continuously around the end as shown. If your end cap does not match the figure, undo the wall end cap, and then zoom in and try again.
Next, you draw a rectangle, and then you use the Wall End Cap tools Add Mode to join the rectangle to the pantry wall's core so that it extends to the exterior wall's core. You use the Wall End Cap tool because the Wall Join tool cant join these components in this particular configuration. 12. Zoom out, and then zoom in on the corner where the pantry wall meets the exterior walls, as shown at left. Press 4 for the Rectangle tool shortcut, and then snap to endpoints to draw a rectangle between the pantry walls core and the exterior walls core, as shown at right.

Press the X key, and then select the pantry wall below the end cap. Notice that the start point is now at the end of the wall cap, as shown below at left. Select only the wall end cap near its top edge. In the Object Info Palette, enable the Extend Cap Past Wall Endpoint option to complete the end cap. Select only the pantry wall and notice that the start point is now correctly at the edge of the exterior wall, as shown at right.
13. From the Building Shell tool set, click Wall End Cap , and then enable Add Mode in the Tool bar. Click the middle of the pantry wall core (near its top edge), and then click inside the rectangle. The area of the rectangle is added to the core, as shown at left.
Note: The Wall End Cap tools Clip Mode cant clip the exterior horizontal walls gypsum component because of the joined end. If it wasnt a joined end, you would clip the rectangle from the exterior walls gypsum component before you add it to the pantry walls core component. In this particular case you could break the corner L- join, but it would alter the shape of the auto-bounded slab associated with these walls.
Now that all wall and slab components are in their final configurations for accurate data extraction purposes (not covered in this tutorial), you hide component details for drawing clarity.
14. Press the X key twice to clear the current selection, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. On the far right side of the Tool bar, enable the Hide Details quick pref. All individual wall components are now hidden, as shown at right.
Next, you replace the generic (placeholder) floor slab styles from Exercise 6 (p. 34) and Exercise 7 (p. 48) with the final styles. 15. In the Navigation palette, activate the Unified Isometric saved view. Press the X key twice, and then hold down the Shift key, and select both floor slabs on the Mod-Slab-1 layer. In the Object Info palette, select Replace from the Style drop-down list. In the Slab Replacement dialog box, select Ground-Hardwood, and adjust other settings as shown at left, and then click OK to replace the slab style. Clear the current selection so you can see the new slab style with additional components, as shown at right.

Replacing Slab Styles

16. Repeat the Shift + select and replacement process for the second floors floor slabs (select the Mechanical-Duct Gap slab style, and enable only the Replace Height option in the Slab Replacement dialog box). Clear the current selection so you can see the new slab style with additional components, as shown.
Note: The auto-boundary edge settings for the final slab styles components automatically adjust wall component heights and/or slab component widths to create and maintain accurate junctions where walls meet floor and ceiling slab objects. You will see these junctions clearly after you complete the "Creating a section viewport" section (p. 72) and "Editing section viewport display properties" section (p. 74) in Exercise 10.

If you set up your files as instructed in the Checking Your Work section (p. 8), you can now optionally check the accuracy of your file. 19. Open the (read-only) GS-VWAxCheck. vwx file. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 01 Floor Plan-1 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX09 saved view to activate it. 20. Use the Zoom and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette), and the Previous View tool (in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in red, and the master files drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your red drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master files drawing objects. 21. In the Navigation palette, double-click the 02 Floor Plan-2 saved view to activate it, and then double-click the Check EX09 saved view to activate it. 22. Use the Zoom and Pan tools (in the Basic tools palette) and the Previous View tool (in the View bar) as necessary to examine the drawing. Your drawing objects are displayed in blue, and the master files drawing objects are displayed in their default colors. You should see your blue drawing objects overlaid directly on top of the master files drawing objects. 23. After checking your files accuracy, close the active file (your House.vwx file should now be active). If your drawing is inaccurate, close your file and continue with the next exercise by starting with the supplied file.
17. Use 3D view controls and OpenGL render mode to examine the model (as shown). In the Navigation palette, activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view. From the menu, select View > Align Layer Views. Press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display.

18. Save the file.

Section 5: Creating Construction Documents
In two exercises, this section covers the following processes in the construction documentation stage of the home design project: Creating Floor and oof lans (p. 70) Creating Elevations (p. 71) Creating a Section Viewport (p. 72) Editing Section Viewport Display Properties (p. 74) Inserting Appliance Symbols (p. 75) Inserting Kitchen Symbols (p. 76) Inserting lumbing xture ymbols (p. 77) Creating Dimensions (p. 81) Adjusting Dimension Visibility in Multiple Viewports and Saved Views (p. 82) Saving Batch Export PDF Sets (p. 84) Exporting a aved et to a PDF le (p. 85) In these exercises, you use a variety of 2D and 3D tools to create basic versions of commonly used construction documents from viewports (that display objects on multiple design layers) on sheet layers. For some documents, you also work with external files or create corresponding architectural and annotation objects as required. After completing the drawings, you save batch export PDF sets, and then you export a saved set to a PDF file.

Notes: 1) The existing viewport was created when the Create Standard Viewports command was used to set up this file. 2) To optionally fix the ceiling/wall junction, edit the Ceiling slab definition and set the Rafters AutoBound edge offest to Inner face of wall core. 3) The drawing label automatically picked up the sheet number because automatic drawing coordination is enabled. 4) To optionally fix the drawing label length, right-click the drawing label and select Edit Annotations. Select the drawing label, and then in the Object Info palette, select Auto-Fit from the Line Length Mode drop-down list. Click the orange Exit Viewport Annotation button (in the upper right corner of the drawing area) to return to the sheet layer.
Editing Section Viewport Display Properties
Next, you add depth to the section by changing the section viewports Projection setting and then you change the viewport properties to improve legibility. 9. In the Object Info palette, select Oblique Cabinet 30 from the Projection drop-down list, and then click Update to incorporate the change. Press Ctrl + 6 to see the completed section viewport, as shown (leave the section viewport selected for the next step).
Tip: You can also create offset section sheet layer viewports (but you cannot change their projection). If you create an offset design layer section viewport, you can set up any 3D view or projection in the design layer and display the design layer section viewport in a sheet layer viewport. For step-by-step instructions for creating an offset section design layer viewport from the Architect Getting Started website, see www.nemetschek.net/training/2011/architect2011-getting-started-guide.php.
10. In the Object Info palette, scroll down and click Section Line Instances. In the Section Line Instances dialog box, select the Viewports tab, and then select the VP-Floor Plan-1 viewport, as shown at to right (the check mark identifies a section line instance). Then click Activate. Viewport annotation mode for the VP-Floor Plan-1 viewport is automatically activated, and the section line is object selected. Press Ctrl + 6 to see both section line markers. In the Attributes palette, select Solid for both the Fill Style and Pen Style, and then select black for the Solid Fill Color, as shown at bottom right. In the Object Info palette, select Dwg No. over Sheet No. from the Text Style drop-down list (see Tip below figure). Click the orange Exit Viewport Annotation button (in the upper right corner of the drawing area), and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Examine the completed section line, as shown below.

Exercise 11: Adding Annotations
In this exercise, you complete the first and second floor plans by adding dimensions, and then you simultaneously adjust dimension visibility in a viewport and saved view. The completed exercise is shown in the following figure:

Creating Dimensions

You start the exercise by creating linear and chain dimensions for architectural objects on both floors. 1. If you did not complete Exercise 10or you are unsure of your files accuracy open the GS-VWAx10.vwx file. 2. Activate the Floor Plan-1 saved view, and then press Ctrl + 6 to adjust the display. Use the Constrained Linear Dimension tool with either Constrained Chain Mode or Constrained Linear Mode (see Notes) as necessary to create the remaining associative dimensions, approximately where shown at right. Activate the Floor Plan-2 saved view, and then repeat the process to create the remaining associative dimensions, approximately where shown at bottom right.
Notes: 1) Click window and door insertion points (the plug-in object will pre-highlight to confirm the insertion point will be selected) to create associative linear and chain dimensions. Its not necessary for this exercise, but you can optionally change dimension length values as desired. 2) You can unlock existing dimensions and reposition the dimension or text (by dragging), as necessary. See also Notes on p. 27. 3) If you havent created specific dimensional relationships (optional in previous exercises), you can alternately run the Custom Select All Dims script, and then press the Delete key to remove all dimensions from the drawing. You can then run the Dimension Exterior Walls command to re-create all dimensions on both floors. To automatically associate dimensions with T-joined wall intersections with the Dimension Exterior Walls command, select Centerlines from the Dimension to Wall drop-down list. Then select Center of Openings from the Dimension drop-down list in the Dimension Exterior Walls dialog box. 4) Refer to Exercise 13 in the Getting Started with Vectorworks Fundamentals guide for an overview of creating a text block and a callout
3. In the Navigation palette, select the Classes tab, and then right-click the Dimension class and select Visibilities. The Organization dialog box is displayed with the Dimension class selected (in Visibilities mode). Resize the Organization dialog box (if necessary) so you can see the entire list of viewports and saved views. The Dimension class is visible by default in all saved views and viewports automatically created with the Create Standard Viewports command (but not the two saved views that you created), as shown.
4. Turn off visibility for the VP-Roof Plan viewport, and then turn on visibility for the Roof Model saved view, as shown. Click OK to close the Organization dialog box and save the changes.
Adjusting Dimension Visibility in Multiple Viewports and Saved Views

Top Features in Vectorworks Architect 2011
Make 3D as Easy as 2D Vectorworks software is now, more than ever, a true 3D modeling environment. 2D planar objects can be created and edited within a planar context, where they display with all their attributes. You can work in Top/Plan view as usual, or switch to a 3D view and continue working in the same way, with the same tools and operations! Do BIM Better Whether youre dipping your toes into Vectoworks BIM-compatible technology or diving head-on into the process, youll find weve made BIM better with version 2011. The Vectorworks Architect program is even easier to use, and its state-of-the-art capabilities, new tools, and features help you get your job done faster and better, while communicating and exchanging files with colleagues and partners. Best in Class Render Engine Renderworks 2011 is faster, easier, and more powerful than any of our previous versions. Now based on the robust CINEMA 4D render engine, the results are breathtaking and easier to achieve. Our new engine is fully integrated into Vectorworks, so it works seamlessly to allow you to visualize your work throughout the design process, producing clear and accurate renderings. With the click of a button, rendered viewports will update as your design evolves. Exceptional Text Capabilities The Vectorworks 2011 version is packed with new and improved text capabilities. Text styles, perfect preview of text while editing, improved text fills, and easier access to check spelling are just some of the new options that make creating text even better. Top 11 features in Vectorworks Architect 2011 1. Improved 3D Environment The 3D environment is much more intuitive in the Vectorworks 2011 software. Working in 3D is similar to the ease of 2D, for a truly unified and simplified experience. You can: Draft any shape, on any plane, in any view, using the tools you already know how to use Edit planar objects from any view using familiar 2D operations Dimension objects in any plane Display graphic attributes of planar objects in any view Working in 3D has never been easier. Push/Pull Tool The tools name tells you how it worksjust push and pull. The Push/Pull tool can edit solid faces and planar objects just like it would in the real world, so you get dynamically interactive feedback and instant results as you work. Extract Planar Objects Now the Extract tool can create instant planar objects from a 3D surface in the Extract Surface mode, so you can simulate the appearance of a hatched 3D object. Improved Space Object Get the power and flexibility to model spaces that are truly intelligent. Add a large array of BIM/IFC-compatible and GSA-specific details with functions like these: Create the spaces with a single click according to the wall boundaries, or use familiar drawing tools
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Select from flexible and compliant boundary definitions and calculations, to easily meet jurisdictional requirements Transfer properties easily from one space to another Streamline your work with advanced auto-numbering, attributes, labeling, and occupancy definitions Increase productivity with our completely re-designed Space Settings interface 5. New Slab Tool Create BIM-compliant slabs that interact with bounding walls to make architecturally correct wall-floor intersections in both 3D and cross-section views. Individual slab components can penetrate the wall to make the proper connections. With this versatile tool, you can save slab styles to share as resources, create a slab with a single click based on a set of walls or as a polyline, and create projections, cut-outs, and depressions in a slab. New worksheets functions track slab component areas and volumes. New 3D Wall Components Enjoy better wall modeling with more realistic section views and textured wall components. Wall components can be offset from the wall itself, and of varying heights for detailed wall views. Design Layer Section Viewport Create section viewports directly on design layers so you can create elevation views right on the design layer. These section viewports can be referenced into other files for enhanced team workflows. Connect Roof Faces Building complicated irregular roof faces just got a whole lot easier. With version 2011, you can use the Connect/Combine tool to trim or extend a roof face to another roof face. "Perfect Preview" Text Editing Were taking the guesswork out of your work. With perfect text preview, text appears the same when editing as it does on the drawing, saving you time and effort. Rotated text can be edited in place, or un-rotated if needed.

10. New Scalable Symbols Now you can adjust the scale of a symbol right from the Object Info palette, without having to create a new symbol for each size that you need. When you import symbols, you wont get a new symbol for each size, simplifying your files. Thats not allsymbols can now be page-based or world-based when created, so if you have an annotation symbol, it will always display at the size you want. 11. New Renderworks with CINEMA 4D Render Engine Introducing the award-winning CINEMA 4D, the exciting and powerful new 64-bit render engine in the Renderworks 2011 version. Together, they provide dramatic speed and quality gains, with a robust integrated rendering option thats right inside your Vectorworks application. Youll be blown away by simpler, more intelligent controls, and render speeds that are five to seven times faster for indirect lighting rendering! There are many other areas of improvement including simplified file exchange features, and a number of significant usability improvements. Please check out www.vectorworks2011.net for full details of Vectorworks 2011.