No more hide and seek! Just press the "B" key while you're using the selection tool and you can easily see and select objects that are hidden behind filled objects.

Save your newly customized tiles and hatches as standard tiles and hatches so you can easily reuse them.

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. That's not all-symbols 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.

This creative new fill type will amaze you! Enjoy creating beautiful tiled patterns on planar objects.

Add the new Triangle tool to your tool set to quickly create triangles by a variety of methods.

When moving objects by a specified offset distance from the reference point, you can now choose whether you'd prefer to click on the object you want to move first and then the reference point, or vice versa. It's up to you.

We introduced a new mode that lets you extend multiple objects to a single boundary object in just one click.

Significantly improve your modeling efficiency by using modes in modeling tools to automatically infer working planes as you move your cursor around the model. Simply select a tool and click to create objects on any 3D surface.

In addition, you can instantly push or pull profile geometry without additional steps. It's a great time saver.

With this easy-to-use tool, you no longer need to know coordinates or a time zone to place a Heliodon object with a directional light when it contains attached data like the region and city. You can create QuickTime solar animations and create "view from sun" animations too.

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.

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.

Building upon the Parasolid modeling foundation we laid in 2009, Vectorworks 2010 has a new unified view that makes it an ideal 3D modeling environment. When you're working in unified view, it allows you to select and modify objects on any layer.

Now more than ever, Vectorworks users are investigating the potential of 3D. As a result, you'll notice improvements in the overall usability and reliability of 3D snapping. With the 3D cursor and new working plane graphics, you can reliably acquire your snaps, so it's easier to select, modify, and align your objects in 3D.

As 2D and 3D become even more integrated, we've consolidated tools so the reshape, symbol insertion, NURBS circle and arc tools, extruded rectangle tool, extruded polygon tool, and cylinder tool all do double duty as both 2D and 3D.

You've received a very powerful set of options for making modifications to selected objects or an entire drawing based on record values. With this command you can automatically modify the attributes of objects, resize objects, and even create extrudes for objects sharing a specific record value.

We've made it easy to rename most types of referenced resources, without having to find and open the associated files.

Here's a handy command that will save you a bunch of time. Select one or more objects and all other objects that are connected end-to-end are also automatically selected. I This is especially useful for imported DWG survey drawings.

Make life easier with more reliable parametric constraints. The new and robust Dimensional Constraint Manager provides bi-directional associativity, so you can interactively make edits to either objects or their constraints and have the changes automatically reflected.

Great new feature alert: now you can directly edit object geometry by changing its dimension value! Just edit the dimension value and when you press Enter, both the dimension and the associated object automatically update.

Here's a big time-saver: now you can modify referenced resources in place and in context with the right-click edit option, and even save the changes directly to the referenced file. Use this option for referenced gradients, hatch definitions, record definitions, render backgrounds, symbol definitions, textures, and, for Design Series users, sketch styles and wall styles. This feature will also allow you to modify referenced symbols in context.

Discover the advantages of efficient collaboration. You'll have better support for image fill export and import, transparencies, and gradient types, plus a new ability to save user defined settings for DXF/DWG export. You can pick and choose the objects you want to export to DXF/DWG- even hatches. You can interface seamlessly with AutoCAD 2012 files and even import clipped AutoCAD blocks as cropped Design layer viewports or as symbols without cropping. We've also made it simpler to save your defined mappings of DXF/ DWG colors to Vectorworks line weights.

Imported file sizes have been substantially reduced for DXF/DWG files with significant numbers of 2D polylines with line or arc segments, 3D polygons, 3D circles, and

hatched objects with multiple boundaries and islands.

Imported DXF/DWG hatches of different scales and angles import as a single Vectorworks hatch definition. Imported hatches with different colors import as different Vectorworks hatches.

So that planar objects display properly when exported, design layer objects are exported in Top view and the DXF/DWG view is changed to match the view in the original Vectorworks file. Planar objects now display on the appropriate plane, not as if they are on the screen plane.

Define Design Layer viewports as either separate DWG external referenced files or as entirely bound into the current master DXF/DWG file.

Import or export arc length dimensions with full support.

DXF/DWG batch export of saved views: Easily batch export any number of, or all saved views to separate DXF or DWG files.

DXF/DWG anonymous block export support: A new export option allows groups to be exported as anonymous blocks, and re-imported into Vectorworks as groups.

DXF/DWG export of sheet layers as 2D graphics: When sheet layers are exported, a new option allows viewports, and saved views with 2D and 3D Vectorworks graphics, to be exported as 2D "flat" graphics in AutoCAD model space.

Improved IFC Export: The architectural symbol content in Vectorworks Architect has been pre-categorized with IFC data, making your IFC exports easy.

Now it's even easier to make changes that move with your design. You can express the elevation of design layers relative to a story elevation. As you edit the story elevation, all design layers with that story adjust their elevation by the same amount.

Use new options to create unequal bi-part leaves and several bi-part and double acting door configurations. Define a doors threshold to extend into and even beyond the doorjamb. Even define door muntin depths for glass leaves, transoms, and sidelights.

Further define and display your doors and windows with options for delineating the opening using leaf size, unit size, sash opening, and rough opening measurements. It's easier to class the components in doors and windows by specifying your own classing standards for components like sills, slabs, swings, lintels, and overhead door paths.

Now you can also choose configurations for transom muntins. You can exert greater control over the geometry and insertion of windows. Specifically, you can now offset glass in sashes and offset sashes within jambs of a window object.

Create BIM-compliant slabs that interact with bounding walls to make architecturally correct wall-floor intersections in both 3D and cross-section. And more.

Get the power and flexibility to model spaces that are truly intelligent. Add a large array of BIM/IFC-compatible and GSA-specific details. Create the spaces with a single click according to the wall boundaries, or use familiar drawing tools. And more.

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

Introducing a fantastic new stair object with improved performance and reliability in both 2D and 3D views! The new stair options let you tailor the settings to your specific needs, and then transfer the parameters from one stair to another with a single click.

You can easily place corner windows in 2D or 3D.

With our new GIS capabilities, you can store georeferenced information on each Vectorworks design layer, transform geometry to a different map projection or georeferenced coordinate system, and enjoy improved Shapefile import and export functions.

New visual feedback notifies you when the site model is out of date. We've also added alert dialogs to let you know if you're losing contours when elevation ranges are not updated.

Among other smart enhancements, you'll see the following new parameters and new values for existing parameters in the Stake mark offset and marker rotation fields: "None" and "Filled Triangle marker styles, and XY and XYZ Coordinate Point options.

Customize the shape and elevation of the underlying pad of the site modifier. Additionally, the site modifier sides can be reshaped around retaining walls.

This new parametric object not only allows you the flexibility to sculpt the terrain around the wall, but also to easily produce materials take-offs.

Document existing site trees for evaluation before construction work or landscaping, or use it for management and reporting purposes.

Here's a simpler method for creating a stepped wall that contains wall peaks at even intervals-one with a constant rise at each interval, or one with a variable rise conforming to the underlying terrain.

Try the new parking tools that make it easy to create intelligent and reportable parking spaces. The Parking Along Path tool creates parking spaces along curved paths. The Parking Area tool fills an area with parking spaces and adjusts the spaces for tree islands and handicap spaces.

We went under the hood and gave the Site Model an upgrade that will give you a more reliable experience. Additionally, you'll find it significantly easier to crop the site model with a convenient command.

Two for the price of one. Now you can create a concave cloud edged landscape area, and get an improved 3D visualization of the land area you've created.

Focusing instruments is now even more intuitive. Simply right click on an instrument or selected instruments and choose the new command to focus them with your very next click.

A new LED Video Screen Object, originally from Landru Design, gives you the added ability to model and represent low-resolution LED screens in a series of configurations and formats. Specify the height and width of module shape, format for the array, and the base structure for creating the object.

The new Soft Goods Object enables you to easily create curtain, border, and pipe-and-drape models in both straight and curved configurations.

Now you can focus light exactly where you need it most. Lighting instruments and everything associated with them-their light source, accessories, associated 3D geometry, and beam-now always point toward your desired focus point, both when there are actual focus point objects or virtual representations that are displayed in design layer viewports.

Introducing a new event planning suite! This complete set of automated tools and menu commands makes it a breeze to create rooms for events ranging from banquets and corporate presentations to large-scale shows and exhibits and everything in between. Now you can easily create the room, stage, steps, lectern, video screens, and seating. Plus, you can create standard views to show your client, and generate reports for the total number of tables and chairs in the room. We've made event planning a lot less painful.

Now you can offset alternate rows of seating and calculate row and seat spacing based on the chosen symbol. Plus, when you're creating worksheets of seating layouts with tables, the command will show and count nested symbols like tables and chairs separately.

Make a statement with your own signature rendering style. You can create custom configurations of lighting, backgrounds, and render settings as re-usable and sharable resources. When you're ready to render, just drag and drop your custom resource and all your settings will be applied.

Better accuracy, better quality- need we say more?

Create your perfect brick shader by editing width, height, and gap parameters based on real world coordinate values.

Introducing the award-winning CINEMA 4D, the exciting and powerful new rendering engine in the Renderworks 2011 version. Together, they provide dramatic speed and quality gains, with a robust integrated rendering option that's right inside your Vectorworks application. You'll be blown away by simpler, more intelligent controls, and render speeds that are five to seven times faster for indirect lighting rendering!

Now you can edit texture mapping directly in the drawing window, and if the selected part or object has an unsupported mapping type, you're automatically assisted with switching to a supported type.

Since you can now apply multiple decal textures over another texture, it's simple to create labeling, signage, and layered material effects.

A blur factor will be added to several reflectivity shaders, namely simple glass, accurate glass, mirror, and the metal shaders. The visual effects of these shaders cannot be accomplished through any other means in the existing product and will match much closer to the common finishes visible in the real world.