The Straight Wall Tool creates one of VectorWorks' hybrid objects, simultaneously adding both a 2D and a 3D version of the wall to your drawing. You must be in 2D Plan projection mode to use the Wall Tool.
There are two ways to create walls in VectorWorks. You can draw them with the mouse, or you can create them using a mouse-data bar combination. While the mouse-data bar combination allows you to exactly place a wall in your drawing, the mouse method is easier to use and still gives you a good deal of control over the walls. The following directions are for drawing walls with the mouse.
2. Click the Wall Tool from the Walls palette.
3. Click the Offset mode button you want to use when drawing your walls.
VectorWorks provides four ways for you to position the wall in relation to the control line you draw. These modes are activated by four buttons on the Mode Bar.
These modes provide better control over the placement of walls. For example, you might find it easier to draw certain walls and place them in exact locations using a center control line versus a top or bottom control line.
4. Click the Wall Preferences mode button.
The Wall Preferences dialog box appears. This dialog box will automatically appear when you begin drawing if you haven't drawn any walls yet in your drawing. This is also used to change settings for walls after you've started drawing.
5. Enter the desired criteria you want to use for the walls.
If this is the first time you've drawn a wall in this drawing, then you must enter a Wall Separation. Other options here include the Control Offset, End Caps, and Type of endcaps. If you want to have the walls automatically join with existing walls, click in the Auto Join check box.
6. Click the Cavity Lines button.
The Cavity Setup dialog box appears.
If you want to insert a cavity inside the wall to define the layers that make up a wall, click the New Cavity button. See "Cavities in Walls" for more information on creating cavities.
Note: Once you use cavity lines in a drawing, VectorWorks will continue to use the cavity line settings until you change them.
7. Click the New Cavity button.
This allows you to define a cavity inside the wall.
8. Enter the desired criteria for the cavities.
Options here include setting the Offset, Line type, and if the cavity is filled. If you want a filled cavity, select Filled Cavity and then set the width and choose between Pattern and Hatch, selecting the desired style by clicking on the text box and selecting a style.
This will return you to the Wall Preferences dialog box.
11. Click the mouse button at the start point for the first wall section.
12. Click to end the first wall section.
13. Click at the end of each additional wall section.
14. Click or double-click to finish the wall(s).
Double-click to end the wall creation if the start point and end point are not at the same location.
To place the end point at the start point, place the cursor at the exact location as the start point (indicated by the point cue from the SmartCursor) and click once to end the wall creation.
To draw a round wall using Arc by Radius mode
2. Click the desired Offset mode button.
VectorWorks provides four ways for you to position the wall in relation to the control line you draw. These modes are activated by four buttons on the Mode Bar.
These modes provide better control over the placement of walls. For example, you might find it easier to draw certain walls and place them in exact locations using a center control line versus a top or bottom control line.
3. Click the Wall Preferences mode button.
The Wall Preferences dialog box appears. This dialog box will automatically appear when you begin drawing if you haven't drawn any walls yet in your drawing. This is also used to change settings for walls after you've started drawing.
4. Enter the desired criteria you want to use for the walls.
If this is the first time you've drawn a wall in this drawing, then you must enter a Wall Separation. Other options here include the Control Offset (if this mode was selected), End Caps, and Type of endcaps. If you want to have the walls automatically join with existing walls, click in the Auto Join check box.
5. Click the Cavity Lines button.
The Cavity Setup dialog box appears.
If you want to insert a cavity inside the wall to define the layers that make up a wall, click the New Cavity button. See "Cavities in Walls" for more information on creating cavities.
Note: Once you use cavity lines in a drawing, VectorWorks will continue to use the cavity line settings until you change them. If you no longer want cavity lines in your walls, click Cavity Lines from the Wall Preferences dialog box and click on the cavity you want to delete. Then click Delete and OK.
6. Click the New Cavity button.
This allows you to define a cavity inside the wall.
7. Enter the desired criteria for the cavities.
Options here include setting the Offset, Line type, and if the cavity is filled. If you want a filled cavity, select Filled Cavity and then set the width and choose between Pattern and Hatch, selecting the desired style by clicking on the text box and selecting a style.
This will return you to the Wall Preferences dialog box.
10. Click at the center point of the arc of the wall.
The first mouse click sets the center point of the arc for the wall.
11. Set the radius of the arc.
You can set an exact distance by using the Data Display Bar. Press the Tab key to select the length field, enter a distance, and press Return. This locks in the radius of the arc, leaving it to you to enter an angle size. You can also enter an exact beginning point for the wall in degrees. In VectorWorks, 0 degrees is located along the positive side of the X axis, at the 3 o'clock position, running counter-clockwise. Therefore, to draw a quarter-circle wall beginning at 0 degrees and drawn to run from there to the 6 o'clock position, you would enter -90 degrees, not 270. If you entered 270, VectorWorks would draw a round wall three-quarters of a circle around.
12. Click the mouse to begin drawing the wall.
You can either drag the mouse to draw the wall or use the Data Display Bar to enter in an angle. A full circle will display on the screen. You can click the mouse button again to make the wall a fully enclosed circle, or you can drag out for the length in degrees that you want. You can drag the mouse around to the desired location for the angle of the wall, or again use the Data Display Bar to enter in exact information, including beginning angles and length of the wall, both in degrees.
You can insert cavities in walls to define the components that make up a wall. For example, if you'd like to indicate that a wall is made up of studs, inner drywall, outer insulation, and then a siding material, you can define a cavity for each of these items to illustrate the position of each component. You can either define the cavity settings for a wall during the wall creation process or edit the wall afterwards to add the cavity.
Note: Once you use cavity lines in a drawing, VectorWorks will continue to use the cavity line settings until you change them. If you no longer want cavity lines in your walls, they must be removed by editing the Wall Preferences criteria.
Note: The eyedropper tool can pick up and put down wall cavity information.
To apply a cavity to an existing wall
The Object Info palette lists the information for this wall.
2. Click the Cavities button on the Object Info palette.
The Cavity Setup dialog box appears.
3. Click the New Cavity button.
This allows you to define a cavity.
4. Enter the Offset for the cavity.
This is the distance from the center of the wall that you want to place the cavity. The placement of the cavity is determined by the value of this distance and if it's a positive or a negative number. To see how this works, imagine you're standing at the beginning point of a wall you've just created and you're looking down along the length of that wall. A cavity with a positive value will be placed to the left as you look down this wall. A cavity with a negative number will be placed to the right.
5. Enter the Line type for the outline of the cavity.
Click in the text box and select a line style from the pulldown menu.
6. Click in the Filled Cavity check box.
This allows you to define the width and fill pattern or hatch for a cavity.
If you want to have a filled cavity, click in the check box. Click in the text box to define a width for the cavity. The same rules apply for the value of the width as for the offset of the cavity. Select to apply either a Pattern or Hatch to the cavity by clicking on the appropriate radio button and then select the desired item from the pulldown menus.
If this box is not selected, then the cavity will be the width of the line selected in Step 5.
Note: Custom wall and cavity setups can be saved using the Custom Tool/Attribute command.
To create a wall with a cavity
2. Click the Wall Preferences mode button on the Mode Bar.
The Wall Preferences dialog box appears.
3. Click the Cavity Lines button.
The Cavity Setup dialog box appears.
Note: While the appearance and function is the same, this dialog box can not be used for editing an existing wall to add a cavity. That can only be done by invoking the Cavity Setup dialog box from the Object Info palette.
4. Click the New Cavity button.
This allows you to define a cavity.
5. Enter the Offset for the cavity.
This is the distance from the center of the wall that you want to place the cavity. The placement of the cavity is determined by the value of this distance and if it's a positive or a negative number. To see how this works, imagine you're standing at the beginning point of a wall you've just created and you're looking down along the length of that wall. A cavity with a positive value will be placed to the left as you look down this wall. A cavity with a negative number will be placed to the right.
6. Enter the Line type for the outline of the cavity.
Click in the list box and select a line style from the pulldown menu.
7. Click in the Filled Cavity check box.
This allows you to define the width and fill pattern or hatch for a cavity.
If you want to have a filled cavity, click in the check box. Click in the text box to define a width for the cavity. The same rules apply for the value of the width as for the offset of the cavity. Select to apply either a Pattern or Hatch to the cavity by clicking on the appropriate radio button and then select the desired item from the pulldown menus.
If this box is not selected, then the cavity will be the width of the line selected in Step 5.
2. From the Object Info palette, click the Cavities button.
The Cavity Setup dialog box appears.
3. Click on the representation of the cavity displayed in the upper left of the dialog box.
This displays selection handles around the representation of the cavity.
Note: Depending on the pattern or hatch used for the cavity, the selection handles may not be visible.
4. Edit the desired criteria for the cavity.
The changes are depicted on the representation of the cavity.
To delete a cavity from a wall
2. From the Object Info palette, click the Cavities button.
The Cavity Setup dialog box appears.
3. Click on the representation of the cavity displayed in the upper left of the dialog box.
This displays selection handles around the representation of the cavity.
Note: Depending on the pattern or hatch used for the cavity, the selection handles may not be visible.
Along with the position button on the Object Info palette you can also use the 2D Reshape Tool to move symbols within walls. By using some of the same principles of reshaping the wall, you can change the symbol's location along the wall as well as its location inside the wall.
To move a symbol within a wall
Symbols can not be moved unless you're in a 2D view.
2. Select the 2D Selection Tool from the 2D Tools palette.
3. Position the cursor near the symbol you want to move and
when the
cursor appears, drag the symbol within the wall.
Placing Duplicate Symbols in Walls
The Duplicate Symbol in Wall Tool allows you to easily place multiple copies of a symbol in a wall, such as doors or windows in an office building or electrical outlets along a wall. There are two modes to this tool. The first places the symbols using their original orientation, while the other flips them (for example, if you want to change the direction a door swings open). In addition, you can either handplace the symbols with the mouse, let VectorWorks place them for you, or combine these methods.
To place duplicate symbols in a wall
The Resources palette appears.
2. Click the desired symbol from the list.
Navigate through the folders until you find the desired symbol and click to select it. This makes a thumbnail of the symbol appear in the lower right box of the Resources palette.
The symbol's thumbnail is now in the lower left box as well, indicating it's the active symbol.
Note: If you've already placed a symbol in your drawing, you can make it the active symbol by using the Symbol Pickup Tool.
4. Click the Duplicate Symbol in Wall Tool from the Walls palette.
5. Click the placement mode from the Mode Bar.
This will set the orientation of the symbol. If you want the symbol to be placed using its orientation in the Resources palette, click the first mode button. If you want the symbol to be flipped when it is placed, click the second mode button.
6. Click the Wall Preferences button on the Mode Bar.
The Duplicate Symbol In Wall dialog box appears.
7. Select how to place the first symbol.
Symbols can be placed with a mouse click or by entering dimensions. To set the first symbol with the mouse, select the Next Click radio button. To set the first symbol by dimensions from a wall edge, select the radio button next to the text box and enter a distance from the wall edge.
8. Select how to place the remaining symbols.
To place successive symbols by mouse click, click the Next Click radio button. To set an exact distance between symbols, click the radio button next to the text box and enter a distance between symbols.
9. Click on the Copies check box.
If you elected to place each of the symbols with the mouse, enter a 1 for the amount.
If you elected to place only the first symbol with the mouse and entered a spacing distance for successive symbols, then enter the total number of symbols to place.
11. Click in the desired wall to begin placing the symbols.
12. Click in the desired locations for the remaining symbols.
If you elected to place the remaining symbols with the mouse, position the cursor in the desired location and click. Continue until all of the symbols are placed.
One of VectorWorks' strengths is the ability to organize objects on Layers, hiding or displaying them as necessary. (See "Using Layers" for more information on layers.) For example, you can design a multi-story building, placing each of the floors upon a different layer. The walls of each of the floors can then be cut from one layer and pasted in place into another to achieve the same size and placement of the walls without repeating the actual work. Those layers can then be linked together and displayed as one model to generate a full 3D model of the building. When you do this, the layers are stacked according to the delta Z height of the layer and join lines are drawn between the walls on the different layers. These lines can be a problem while viewing or printing the drawing and you may want to remove them.
Note: The results of this procedure will be most effective when rendering in Quickdraw 3D.
To hide join lines between walls on different layers
You do this with the Attributes palette.
2. Select the layer with the lowest floor of the building.
3. Select the Top/Plan item from the Standard Views option of the View menu.
You must be in the this view to draw walls.
5. Click the Wall Preferences button.
The Wall Preferences dialog box appears.
6. Set the Separation to 1/16" or 2mm.
8. Click the Snap to Object constraint.
9. Click the Center Control Line offset mode.
10. Draw a series of wall segments outlining the existing walls.
Make sure that the new walls are drawn on the outside of the existing walls.
11. Using the Object Info palette, set the line weight of the new walls to 0 (zero) and the height to 2".
12. Select the Move 3D item from the Move option on the Tool menu.
The Move 3D Selection dialog box appears.
13. Move the new wall segments along the Z axis until they are 1" below the height of the walls.
14. Repeat the process for all layers except the top floor layer.
This essentially creates a veneer that will mask the join lines between layers. Depending on the scale of the drawing, the separation of the layers, and the line weights of the walls, you may have to adjust the height and offset of this cover strip. An additional step would be to place the strips in a separate class. (See "Using Classes" for more information about classes.) This would allow you to easily select the strips, control their visibility state, and perform other actions on them, as needed.
The Wall Heal Tool lets you easily clean up any breaks, or gaps, in your walls that were created when you were editing them. For example, if you created a new wall that joined an existing wall and later deleted the new wall, there would be a break in the remaining wall from the joint. This mode allows you to remove that break. In addition, it will also remove any end caps on those walls.
2. Draw a marquee box around the wall break or end cap you want to remove.
The wall break or end cap is automatically removed once the marquee box is drawn.
You can join any two wall segments that have been created with the Wall Tool using the Join Wall Tool. This can be helpful when you create walls without auto join or when you move walls around and they become unjoined. This tool automatically determines and forms the correct type of joint--"T", "L", or "X"--between two wall segments. This is best used when you don't need to distinguish between types of walls.
To join walls with the Join Wall Tool
The following options are displayed in the Mode bar.
2. Click the Standard Join mode button.
You can also choose the Corner Join mode to make clean corner joins.
3. Click the first wall segment you want to join.
4. Click the other wall segment to join.
A dashed line will run between the selected walls indicating the ones you selected. The length of the walls are changed, i.e., extended or shortened, as necessary, until they meet at a smooth, regular junction.
When you draw and automatically join walls with the Wall Tool or use the Join Walls Tool, any wall corners will be mitered together. This type of join is fine for conceptual designs and for joining walls of the same type. However, to match building structures and to distinguish between two different types of walls, you may want to create butt-joined walls. This will give you more accurate "takeoffs" and ensure that beams and other structural pieces are sized correctly. It also allows you to distinguish between bearing and non-bearing walls or exterior and interior walls, among others.
Note: In order to use this tool, you must ensure that the walls are not automatically joined by the Auto Join feature.
To join walls with the Butt-Join Tool
2. Click the Butt-Join mode button.
You can also choose the Corner Butt-Join mode to make clean corner joins.
3. Click the first wall type you wish to join.
4. Click the second wall type you wish to join.
A dashed line will run between and indicate the two selected walls.
Once you click on the second wall, the length of the walls are changed, i.e., extended or shortened, as necessary, until they meet at a smooth, regular junction.
VectorWorks creates a highly accurate estimate of the placement and number of studs needed to frame walls in your design. In addition to showing stud placement in a framing diagram, the r Wall Framer can also automatically generate frame elevation drawings and two different worksheets (Frame TakeOff and Frame Wall Info).
You can check this using the Object Info palette. Wall height can be changed with the Object Info palette or you can set a height for the entire layer. See "Creating Walls" .
2. Select Wall Framer from the AEC menu in the AEC workspace.
If you haven't created a framing model in your drawing yet, the New Framing Model dialog box appears. Enter a name and click Create. Then, the Framing dialog box appears.
You can either select an existing name for your Framing Model from the pulldown menu or assign a new name. To assign a new name, click New, which brings up the New Framing Model dialog box. Enter a name in the text box and click Create.
4. Select the output options for the framing model.
VectorWorks can automatically create three different outputs: a 3D Model, a 2D Diagram, and Worksheets. The 3D Model provides a 3D representation of the wall, complete with the placement of studs, top plates, sole plates, and other components required for framing.
Note: The Framing Diagram and the 3D Model representations also will include symbols and inserted items, such as doors and windows.
The 2D Diagram provides a framing plan and a framing diagram. The Framing Plan is a top view of the wall showing the sole plate and the placement of the studs and is drawn in a layer that parallels the layers in the framing model. The top plates are removed to show the placement of the studs. The Framing Diagram is an elevation view showing the sole plate, top plates, and the placement of the studs. The Framing Diagram is drawn in a new layer and will generate as many layers as needed.
Worksheets provides two sets of worksheets. The first set provides details on the framing results, including a list of studs sorted by layer, class, frame, and size (Frame TakeOff). The second set provides a summary of frame info sorted similarly, but providing area and linear footages itemized for each framed wall (Frame Wall Info).
5. Select the layer(s) you want to frame.
Click in the check box next to the name of each of the layers to include in the frame model.
The Framing Type dialog box appears.
Select an existing wall class's name from the pulldown menu or click New to select a new class to use as a wall class. If you selected New, the New Wall Class dialog box appears. Click on the name of the class to base the new wall class on and click OK to return to the Framing Type dialog box.
8. Enter information for the lumber sizes.
Options here include the Stud Spacing, Max Plate Length, Sheet Stock Width, and Sheet Stock Height.
9. Select the Lumber type you want to use.
VectorWorks provides information for the stock lumber sizes of 2"x4", 2"x6", and 2"x10". You can select these from the Nominal pulldown menu, or you can click New to create a new nominal lumber class. If you clicked New, the New Nominal dialog box appears. Enter the name and dimensions for your new class and click Create. This returns you to the Framing Type dialog box where you need to enter size information for the new nominal class.
10. Select the Output Options for the frame model.
Options include Fire Blocking, Double End Studs, Double Top Plate, and Double Bottom Plate.
This sets the information for the wall frames and returns you to the Framing dialog box.
VectorWorks will create the estimated framing for your walls and any other output information you asked for.
The 2D results are displayed in the Top/Plan view without a top plate. To see the results with a top plate, switch to another view such as Front, Back, Left, or Right.
To see the 3D results, you must switch to a view such as Left Isometric or Right Isometric.
The worksheet results are displayed in two separate windows in the Drawing Area. These windows can be repositioned and resized as necessary to view the data.
The Straight Stair Tool lets you easily create 2D, 3D, or hybrid (2D/3D) straight stairs. In addition, you can have an open or a closed riser, and you can show the necessary clearance for the ceiling above.
No matter what type of stairs you are drawing, you must be in 2D Projection mode, Top/Plan view. If you try to select the Straight Stair Tool while in any other projection mode, a dialog box will appear asking you if you want to switch to Plan projection. And if you are in any other view, VectorWorks will automatically switch to Top/Plan view.
2. Click the Preferences mode button.
If you haven't created a set of stairs in the drawing prior to this, then the Create Straight Stair dialog box automatically appears when you click in the Drawing Area.
If you have created a prior set of stairs in the drawing, then the Straight Stair Preferences dialog box appears when you click the Preferences button.
3. Click either 2D or 3D, or both for hybrid stairs.
If you want only a 2D or 3D representation of the stairs, then select the appropriate radio button. Selecting both buttons creates a hybrid set of stairs.
4. Enter the remaining desired criteria.
For 2D stairs, if you want landings and/or 2D stair breaks between floors, select Square Landing and Draw 2D Stair Break.
For 3D stairs, you must also select either Ascending or Descending. You can also create Open Risers by selecting the check box and then typing values for Tread Thickness and Stringer Thickness. In addition, you can enter a starting height for the stairs. This is normally 0 (zero), meaning the stairs will start at the bottom of the layer.
If you want to Denote Head Clearance in your drawing, select that check box and then type a Minimum Clearance measurement and the Ceiling height. You can either use a set riser measurement or have VectorWorks calculate risers. If you want VectorWorks to make the calculation, select the Fit to Height check box and VectorWorks will show you how many risers are needed, as well as their minimum and maximum heights.
6. Click the desired mode button to set the alignment for your stairs.
If you are drawing stairs without a landing, you can choose to align the top left, center, or right of the stairs. If you are drawing stairs that have a landing, you can choose to align the top left, right, or center of either the first stair or of the landing.
7. Click the desired control point mode button.
An outline of the stairs appears as you move the mouse for placement. Click to align either at the top left of the stair landing, which assigns control of the stair drawing at the landing, or at the top right of the stairs, which assigns control at the first stair.
8. Click at the start point of your stairs.
As you move the mouse towards the end point, the staircase expands the number of stairs to fit in the desired space.
9. Click at the end point of the stairs.
Note: You can ungroup stairs and save them as a hybrid symbol.
Creating a Roof with Create Roof from Walls
With the Create Roof command, VectorWorks makes creating a roof easy. Once the walls of your structure are completed, simply select the walls that the roof will be based upon, select the roof, change parameters as needed, and VectorWorks does all the work.
To create a roof from your walls
You can do this by shift-clicking on the walls or by drawing a marquee box around the structure. If the building has an attachment, such as a garage, that will have a different roof structure, then you will have to shift-click the desired walls.
2. Select Create Roof from Walls from the AEC menu in the AEC workspace.
The Create Roof dialog box is displayed.
3. Fill in the desired information.
The Create Roof dialog box is where you set most of the parameters that control how the roof will look, with the exception of gable walls. This function only creates hip roofs. To change the part of the roof into a gable, you must edit the roof edge.
VectorWorks supplies certain default parameters for a roof. You can either accept these parameters or make changes as necessary for your design. The following table lists the items contained on the Create Roof dialog box.
4. Select the layer for the roof.
To place the roof in a layer other than the current one, click on the Create Roof in Layer check box. If you want to name the layer differently from the default, enter a new name in the text box.
VectorWorks creates a hip roof over the selected walls using the criteria set in the Create Roof dialog box.
There are times when you need to reshape your roof. For example, the Create Roof Tool creates a hip roof. If you need a gable roof, you must edit the roof to change it into a gable roof. Fortunately, VectorWorks makes this an easy task.
To change a hip roof into a gable roof
Selection handles for the roof appears.
2. Click on the selection handle
for the face you wish to change into a gable wall.
The Edit Roof Settings box displays.
3. Click the Gable Wall radio button.
A triangular wall is placed when you create the Gable roof. This wall has the same wall settings as a dormer window. If you wish to change or delete the wall you must ungroup the wall from the roof.
To change other settings on a roof
Selection handles for the roof appears.
2. Click on the selection handle
for the wall you wish to edit.
The Edit Roof Settings dialog box appears.
3. Click in the text boxes for the fields you wish to change.
Settings include the Pitch, Bearing Height, Eave Height, Eave Overhang. Clicking on the radio buttons next to the fields determines which of these will be calculated by VectorWorks.
4. Select the Entire Roof check box to apply these settings to the entire roof.
Only values which have been changed will be applied to the rest of the roof. Unchanged values will not be applied.
You can easily create a dormer window in roofs created with the Create Roof Tool. VectorWorks gives you control over almost every aspect of the process, including which type of dormer window. There are five styles to choose from, each with its own parameters. As such, the Edit Roof Element dialog box, used to create and edit the dormers, changes as appropriate for the style of dormer chosen.
To create a gable dormer window
The Resources palette appears.
2. Choose a 3D window symbol from the Resources palette.
Note: You must choose a 3D window symbol to use this tool.
3. Select the Symbol Insertion Tool from the 2D Tools palette.
4. Click the mouse to place the symbol in the desired roof face.
The Edit Roof Element dialog box appears.
5. Click the Edit Dormer radio button.
6. Select Gable from Dormer Styles.
The window reconfigures to display the valid parameters. These parameter fields are populated with figures for placing the dormer at the location specified with the mouse click.
7. Enter changes to the desired criteria.
You can enter changes to any of the parameters.
The dormer is created and placed according to the parameters specified.
Once a dormer has been created, you can edit it, changing any of the parameters available for the particular style.
Black selection handles appear around the roof and at the location of each dormer.
2. Position the cursor over the selection handle
for the dormer and click.
The Edit Roof Element dialog box appears in the Edit Window mode.
3. Change the desired criteria.
You can edit the Offset from Corner and Offset from Building line settings at this window.
4. Click the Edit Dormer radio button.
The dialog box repopulates with the correct parameters for the selected dormer style.
5. Change the desired criteria.
This includes all of the settings for creating a dormer, each of which can be changed as desired.
You're returned to the Drawing Area and the changes are made to the selected dormer.
You can easily delete a dormer window from the drawing through the same dialog box used for creating it.
Black selection handles appear around the roof and at the location of each dormer.
2. Position the cursor over the selection handle
for the desired dormer and click.
The Edit Roof Element dialog box appears in the Edit Window mode.
3. Click the Remove Object checkbox.
You're returned to the Drawing Area and the dormer is deleted from the roof.
Creating Skylights and Roof Cut-Outs
A similar process to creating dormer windows is used to place a skylight into a roof. You can place a full skylight, complete with a window symbol, or simply cut-out a section of the roof.
To create a skylight or cut-out
The Resources palette appears.
2. Choose a 3D skylight symbol from the Resources palette.
Note: You may also create your own skylight symbols. When creating these symbols, it is important to set the insertion point of the symbol at the back and center of the symbol.
You must choose a 3D window symbol to use this tool. Hybrid and 2D window symbols will not work.
3. Click the Symbol Insertion Tool from the 2D Tools palette.
4. Click to place the symbol in the desired location in the roof.
The Edit Roof Element dialog box appears.
5. Click the Edit Window radio button.
The dialog box repopulates with the appropriate parameters.
6. Edit the criteria as desired.
This criteria indicates the location of the symbol. If you want to change the location, enter new values for Offset from Corner and Offset from Building line.
The Do not insert Symbol option is for placing the symbol. If you want a window symbol included for a skylight, make sure the Do not insert Symbol check box is not checked.
If you don't want the window symbol included, which will make it a simple cut-out, click the Do not insert Symbol check box.
There are two types of skylights that can be included in your design: flush mounted and surface mounted. This method places a flush mount skylight that has a square miter. You can change this to be a surface mount skylight with either a square miter or a vertical miter by changing either the location of the symbol insertion point or the symbol insertion option in the Symbol Insertion Option dialog box, respectively. (See "Creating New Symbols" and "Inserting Symbols" for more information on creating and inserting symbols.)
Note: Both methods change each instance of this symbol in use in the drawing. You can not change only a single instance. To change a single instance, you must create a different symbol and insert it in the desired location.
To create a surface mount skylight with a square miter
VectorWorks automatically creates a Drawing Area that contains only the symbol you want to edit.
3. Change the view to the top view showing the insertion point.
Use the mode buttons on the Mode Bar while using the 3D Selection Tool.
4. Change the location of the symbol insertion point.
The symbol insertion point is located on the back surface of the symbol. Move the insertion point off the back by the thickness of the symbol. For example, if the window symbol is 6 inches thick, set the symbol insertion point 6 inches behind the window.
This is located in the top-right corner of your Mode Bar. This will take you back to your main Drawing Area.
The change is made to the symbol. All further instances of the symbol will be placed according to the new information.
6. Insert the symbol as desired.
The skylight is now a surface mount skylight with a vertical miter.
To create a surface mount skylight with a vertical miter
The Resources palette appears.
Navigate the file tree to locate the symbol in the folder.
3. Click to highlight the symbol and click Edit.
The Edit Symbol dialog box appears.
Note: The symbol must be a part of the drawing. If the symbol is not a part of the drawing, import the symbol into the drawing.
The Symbol Insertion Options dialog box appears with the On centerline option selected.
5. Click On Edge and click OK.
You are returned to the main Drawing Area.
6. Place the symbol as desired.
The skylight is now mounted on the surface of the roof and has a square miter.
Skylights and cut-outs are edited and deleted in the same manner as dormers with the exception of clicking on the Edit Skylight radio button for the Edit Roof Element dialog box and the parameters available for this option.
You can also use the Edit Group and Clip Surface commands to add a cut-out to a roof. For example, if you wanted to add a hole for a chimney that would overlap two or more faces of the roof.
To create a cut-out across multiple roof faces
2. Select Edit Group from the Organize menu.
This opens another Drawing Area, placing the roof in the window in a 2D view.
3. Create the object with the dimensions of the cut-out placed exactly where you want the cut-out to be.
This will make the cut-out in the roof.
4. Click the Exit Group button in the top right of the Drawing Area.
This exits the group and returns you to the main Drawing Area. The roof now has a cut-out across multiple faces. This method creates a vertical miter for the cut-out.
Note: To remove the cut-out, click the roof and select Edit Group. The roof is displayed in another Drawing Area with the cut-out object in place. Select and delete the object from the roof and click Exit Group.
The Roof Face command lets you easily create complex hybrid (2D/3D) roof structures from simple 2D objects. You could use this command to create a uniquely shaped roof, such as a gable roof over a round structure. In a single layer, you can draw a roof on top of a wall structure. Or, if you prefer, you can create the roof in its own layer and then use the Create Layer Link command to view the walls and roof together. While you can use this tool to create a hip or gable roof, it is easier and less complicated to create these roofs with the Create Roof Tool.
When editing a roof, be aware that a roof is a group of objects and as such, the group must be entered before editing. Be careful not to ungroup the roof with the Ungroup command as this permanently changes the object. Instead, always use the Edit Group command for this task.
Any enclosed 2D object can be used, such as: ellipses, enclosed arcs, objects drawn with the Polyline Tool, rectangles, and circles.
3. Select Roof Face from the Model menu.
The Create Roof dialog box appears.
5. Enter the desired criteria for the selected roof creation process.
For Rise over Run, enter a measurement for the Axis Z, Rise, and Run. Rise is the distance along the Y axis the roof rises above the Z height, while Run is the distance along the X axis for the roof to reach that height. For example, if you select a rise of 2' and a run of 6', the roof will take 6' to reach that height, even if the roof is not that long.
6. Select the desired Thickness for the roof.
7. Select the roof edge and cut-out Miter options.
Choices for the roof face are Vertical, Horizontal, Double, and Square. Choices for the cut-out are Vertical and Square.
If you select Double Miter, then you must also select the Vertical and Horizontal measurements for the miter. Selecting Square will make the lower edge of the roof face perpendicular to the surface of the roof, regardless of the angle of the roof. Selecting Vertical will make the edge perpendicular to the Ground Plane. This applies the same for the cut-out options of Square and Vertical, as well.
9. Draw a line to define the roof axis.
10. Select the high side of the roof.
This determines which end of the roof will be placed higher. Once selected, the roof is finished.
It sometimes becomes necessary to reshape a roof face after you've created it. Since a roof face is basically a 3D polygon, reshaping it is an easy proposition. You can also reshape roofs in the same manner as walls. You can add or delete vertices, raise and lower walls, and relocate vertices.
2. Click the 3D Reshape Tool from the 3D Tools palette.
Note: You can also use the 2D Reshape Tool from the 2D Tools palette if you're in a 2D view.
There are two ways to add a cut-out to a roof face: during the creation process and after the roof face is created. The results are the same but the procedures are different. In both cases, the edges of the cut-out will be mitered according to the selections made in the Create Roof dialog box during the creation of the roof face. This can be changed after the fact by clicking the desired radio button on the Object Info palette.
To create a roof face with a cut-out
2. Create an object with the dimensions for the cut-out placed exactly where you want the cut-out to be.
4. Select Clip Surface from the Tool menu.
This will make the cut-out in the roof face, leaving behind the object used to make the cut-out.
5. Select the object used to make the cut-out and delete it.
6. Proceed with Step 3 of the Roof Face creation process as outlined in "Creating a Roof Face" .
To add a cut-out after the roof face is created
2. Select Edit Group from the Organize menu.
This opens another Drawing Area, placing the roof face in the window in a 2D view.
3. Create the object with the dimensions for the cut-out placed exactly where you want the cut-out to be.
5. Select Clip Surface from the Tool menu.
This will make the cut-out in the roof face, leaving behind the object used to make the cut-out.
6. Select the object used to make the cut-out and delete it.
7. Click the Exit Group button at the top right of the Drawing Area.
This exits the group and returns you to the main Drawing Area.
In spite of its name, the Floor command can be used to create more than just floors. You can use it to create such things as decks or patios, stages, platforms, and lofts. The command takes any 2D object in your drawing and turns it into a hybrid (2D/3D) object. You can use it to create a floor (or hybrid object) of any shape and thickness. However, the object you create must be flat and must also be parallel to your Ground Plane.
While you can use this command on a 2D object in a 3D projection mode, the precise X and Y placement is much harder to determine.
2. Select the 2D object(s) that you want to turn into a floor (or flat hybrid object).
3. From the Model menu, select Floor.
The Create Floor dialog box appears.
4. Set a distance from the ground plane for the beginning of the floor.
Click in the Bottom Z text box to enter the distance above the ground plane that the floor will begin (the Bottom Z height). In most cases, you will want to use the default of 0, which starts the floor on the Ground Plane.
5. Enter a Thickness for the floor.
You will need to change to a 3D projection mode to see the floor.
The Column command lets you convert any closed 2D shape--rectangle, ellipse, polygon--into a column. In addition, you can use it on open 2D shapes, such as lines and polylines, to create a flat screen-like object. These objects include such things as movie screens, room dividers, and moving walls. Once you create a column, you can also join that column to a wall. In order to create a column, you must be in the 2D Top/Plan view.
2. Select Column from the Model menu.
The Column Preferences dialog box is displayed.
3. Set a height for the column.
Click in the Height text box and enter a size for the column.
The Column Wall Join function allows you to join a column to walls. Columns can be created out of any enclosed polygon (rectangles, polylines, polylines), circle, or ellipse. Any number of walls can connect to the column as long as there's space on the column.
If the Auto Join feature is active, then the walls will automatically connect to the column.
If the Auto Join feature is not active, then click on the Walls Tool on the 2D Tools palette, select the Wall Join Tool, and join the walls to the column.
The Property Bounds Tool creates a polygon, made of a series of boundary lines or curves, that is based on bearing and distance data.
To lay out the property's boundaries
2. Click your mouse at the starting point you want to use for your property bounds polygon.
The Create Property Bounds dialog box appears.
3. Enter the information for the first boundary line.
This information is entered in one of the standard surveying output formats. The first entry is the distance of the boundary element. The Bearing text boxes are entered in a specific manner. The first part is always either N or S for North and South, respectively. The second part is a measurement of the angle from that bearing while the third part indicates the direction of the angle. For example, if you wanted a line that ran north to south at an angle of 45 degrees to the east, the Bearing entries would be S, 45, E.
Note: Your first property bounds entry must be a line.
This will apply the settings for the first element and allow you to continue without exiting the tool.
5. Enter the criteria for the next element.
Choose between a Line and a Curve by clicking the appropriate radio button.
If you chose a curve, click either Right Hand or Left Hand. This determines the direction of the curve. Then, enter a radius for the curve and a delta angle for the curve by clicking in the appropriate text box and entering a measurement.
Note: The entry for the Bearing field must be from 0-90 degrees to accurately represent a curved property boundary. Furthermore, this assumes that the curve is tangent to the property lines. This is not always the case. See "Non-Tangent Curves in Boundaries" for directions on curves that are not tangent to the property lines.
If you chose a line, follow the directions above in Step 3.
7. Complete laying out the property boundary elements.
Follow the directions above until all of the boundary elements are completed.
8. Click Done to finish the boundary lines.
The Create Property Bounds dialog box disappears and you're returned to the Drawing Area.
Non-Tangent Curves in Boundaries
The Property Bounds Tool assumes that a boundary curve is tangent to the boundary lines. What if you have a curve in the boundary that is not tangent to either one or both of the joining lines? You could use this tool to create the curve's chord as a line, then come back later, outside of the Property Bounds Tool, to create the arc, combine surfaces, and delete the chord. Alternately, you could calculate the bearing of the curve's tangent line, then input the tangent's bearing with a very tiny negative distance, then input the tangent's bearing with the same very tiny positive distance, and then input the curve. The tool will use this last bearing as the tangent bearing for the curve.
If you have curve after curve, you must pay close attention to the chord bearings or tangent bearings. Some survey descriptions do not have enough information to accurately determine the locations of a series of curves that do not follow tangent to each other. As another example, descriptions of lots on a curved street can also have boundary curves that do not follow tangent to the previous boundary line, such as houses on a cul-de-sac.
The Parking Space Tool lets you easily create a parking lot, dividing it into straight or angled parking spaces and automatically drawing the lines to mark individual spaces.
Note: If you've drawn out the parking spaces and discovered they don't quite fit or you want to change something about them other than location, you must delete the current ones and draw new ones. Trying to reshape them distorts the measurements, particularly for angled spaces.
2. Click on the Preferences button on the Mode Bar.
The Parking Space Tool dialog box appears.
3. Enter the Space Length for the parking spaces.
Click in the textbox after Space Length and enter a length for each space.
4. Set the Angle for the parking spaces.
This is the angle of the parking space divider lines in relation to the header line. If you want them to be perpendicular, enter 90°.
5. Set the Width of your parking spaces.
If you want to specify a width for the spaces, click in the text box and enter a size for the spaces.
If you want VectorWorks to determine how to fit the most parking spaces in the given area, click the Maximize Width check box and enter a Min. Width for the parking spaces in the text box.
6. Set any other preferences you want to use.
Options here include check boxes to draw spaces on both sides of the header line, an angled header line, and stripes along the header, beginning, and ending.
This sets the criteria for the parking spaces and returns you to the Drawing Area.
8. Draw out the parking spaces.
Move the cursor to where you want the header line to start and press the mouse button. When you've drawn the desired number of parking spaces, click the mouse button again. If the end point is between divider lines, the tool shortens the length of the header to the last-drawn divider line.
The Engineering Properties command will automatically calculate the engineering properties of a 2D object. This includes the object's perimeter and area as well as the moment of inertia and radius of gyration about the centroidal X and Y axes of the object. It will also calculate the coordinates of the centroid and place a locus at the centroid, if desired. If a single locus is selected along with the object when the command is executed, the moments of inertia and radii of gyration about the X and Y axes passing through the locus will also be calculated.
To find the engineering properties of an object
2. Select Engineering Properties from the Design menu in the Mechanical Engineering Workspace.
The Engineering Properties dialog box displays. The data displayed is determined by your selection.
If you selected a single closed surface, this information will display: Area of the object; Perimeter of the object; Moments of Intertia about the object's centroidal axes; Absolute coordinates of the centroid of the object; and, Radii of Gyration about the object's centroidal axes.
If you selected a single closed surface and a locus point, the Moments of Inertia about the axes that pass through the locus and the Radii of Gyration about these axes is also displayed.
3. If you wish, select the Place locus at centroid check box.
Plug-in Objects are VectorWorks objects that have specific parameters that detail the features of the object. These parameters can be changed, through the Object Info palette, after the object has been inserted into a VectorWorks document. When the parameters are changed, VectorWorks automatically redraws the object with new parameters. Thus, Plug-in Objects have the advantage that they can be modified by simply changing numeric values in an edit box, rather than manually editing the object itself. VectorWorks' Plug-in Object tools allow you to create custom, industry-specific objects with ease. VectorWorks provides some Plug-in Objects, but also allows you to create your own as described in "Creating Plug-ins" .
Note: If you ungroup Plug-in objects, they will be reduced to individual objects and will not remain Plug-in objects. You will no longer be able to modify their parameters through the Object Info. palette.
To use built-in Plug-in Objects
The Object Info palette appears.
3. Click the desired Plug-in Object tool from the AEC Tools palette in the AEC workspace.
4. Click to place the object in the drawing.
The properties window appears if this is the first time you have placed this type of object. The values entered apply to all of this type object placed from this point on. Values entered into the Object Info palette effect on the instance of the object.
Enter the desired criteria and click OK.
The object is placed in the Drawing Area and remains selected. The Object Info palette's Shape tab is populated with Plug-in Object entry fields.
5. Change the desired fields in the Object Info palette.
The object is drawn interactively as you enter each field value.