Small Project Design

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  • 1.  Vectorworks

    Posted 02-07-2011 02:56 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Residential Knowledge Community .
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    I have a question for the Vectorworks users.  I'm currently using AutoCAD and thinking about changing to Vectorworks, but I have a concern about possible compatibility issues.  Do any of you have experience with sharing Vectorworks files with AutoCAD?  For instance, if I were to start a project in Vectorworks and hire a contract draftsperson who uses AutoCAD, could I easily exchange files?  Would line weights, hatches, layers, fonts, etc., appear correctly in exchanged files without having to go back and manipulate them?  Thanks for your input.
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    William Foster AIA
    William E. Foster Architecture
    Pacific Grove CA
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  • 2.  RE:Vectorworks

    Posted 02-08-2011 12:20 AM
    I have used what is now Vectorworks for more than 20 years.

    Bringing AC files into VW is no problem.  Back and forth not worth the trouble in my opinion.  The beauty of VW is in being able to depart from the AC realm.  Used wisely, in my opinion without using the AIA or AC file structure, it can give you absolutely first rate drawings with much less effort.  You can run it like AC but what would be the point of switching?

    It's a bigger subject and I know some others see things differently than I.  Your core team should be using the same software.  Consultants are a different matter.  There is less exchange back and forth on small and medium sized projects (VW's forte) so I find that sending backgrounds to consultants from VW works fine.  From then on they are pretty much doing their own work.  



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    Donald Wardlaw AIA
    More Than Construction, Inc.
    Oakland CA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE:Vectorworks

    Posted 02-08-2011 12:32 AM
    Working out back and forth is an issue regardless of platform or software. When teams are solid and long lasting, working things out is worth it. I've had more difficulty working out transfers between AC users then between VW and AC.

    The key in any case is understand what are your objectives and developing a system to meet them.

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    Kevin Pierce AIA
    Chicago IL
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  • 4.  RE:Vectorworks

    Posted 02-08-2011 07:33 AM

    Alrhough we do not use Vectorworks we do use DATACAD X3 in my office. We have been using this program for the past 11years starting with DC5. Cost wise it is much more reasonable. It is as powerful as any cad program. It easily imports any DWG files from Autocad and others. There are always some linewieghts to adjust but mostly it has been a seamless import. I have a staff of six and they are all originally AutoCad, VersaCad, Microstation and other users and really like DataCad. The learning curve on this program has been one to two weeks to switch from AUtoCad. 
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    Scott Lurie AIA
    Scott F. Lurie, Architect
    Oradell NJ
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  • 5.  RE:Vectorworks

    Posted 02-08-2011 08:51 AM

    In my (limited) experience of importing files from autocad or other platforms including ChiefArchitect into Vectorworks, I have found that there is a significant amount of manipulation required if I want the final drawing to look just like my own.  All the information seems to come in with accuracy, but making it look right can be tedious and time-consuming.  Perhaps more importantly to the way I work, I have not so far been able to import a 3D file without it becoming just so many lines in 2D.  Maybe someone else knows the trick here...
    But I typically create all my projects in 3D and add notes and dimensions to the 2D projections.  Using a foreign drawing import typically means editing individual lines instead of elements like walls and doors, so it's much more cumbersome.  However, in my humble opinion you'll find your own work flows much more easily using Vectorworks.

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    Bruce Ward AIA
    Proprietor
    Hamilton NY
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  • 6.  RE:Vectorworks

    Posted 02-08-2011 10:22 AM
    William

    As with anything, preference is the most important consideration. I am a VW user since 1995 and I wouldn't change. The .DWG import/export gets better every version and its current version is very good. There seems to be a loss of "smart" data anytime you translate either way. So I don't go back and forth with others except for a transfer of floor plans to my engineers.

    I am still pondering the question about using a contract person in AutoCAD and me using VW. My current opinion is it would be just fine, but let them do all of the work and editing in AutoCAD and just give you the files later. If you need to edit the work and give it back to them for further work, don't spend time fixing fonts, lineweights, etc. until the project is complete. The fonts and hatches can get messed up sometimes, but if you use the various VW sites (Vectorworking, VW Knowledgebase, and other sites) for help, I bet someone has posted a solution to your questions. The need to manipulate the "appearance" of your work will happen whether you go from AutoCAD to VW or vice versa. It's just part of the joy of having CAD/BIM programs that won't completely talk to one another.

    I may be a rebel, but I'm sticking with Vectorworks.

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    Lee Calisti AIA
    Principal
    lee CALISTI architecture+design
    Greensburg PA
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE:Vectorworks

    Posted 02-08-2011 11:38 AM
    I agree with Andrew's reply.  I work often with Autocad files (engineering drawings, primarily).  VW allows you to reference the Autocad drawing on a design layer viewport (this eliminates 'polluting' your own file with all those Autocad layers).  When the engineer updates his work, you just import (separate file), update your own drawing .... et voila! your file is fine.  Once you switch to VW you will never look back.  

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    Judith Repp AIA
    Architect
    Judith Repp Architect
    Villanova PA
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    Original Message