| This fall has been a very busy time
for us at NNA. Our trade show schedule is booked solid and we
have met many of our users while we have been on the road. We
still have more great shows to attend, so there are plenty of
opportunities to come out and see us before the end of the year.
Check our trade show schedule for dates and locations. And don't
miss our Boston User Group event at the Seaport Hotel on November
18. For more information, visit www.nemetschek.net/news/events.html
I would like to congratulate Reed Hilderbrand on winning three
awards from the ASLA. Also, a special congratulations to this
month's Sony Monitor Giveaway winner, Living-Architects in London,
England. You can read all about them next month, when they will
be featured in December's eDispatch Project Profile. There are
still two more months for our Sony Giveaway so sign up for your
winning chance at www.nemetschek.net/10.5update/giveaway.html |
| Sincerely, |
 |
| Richard Diehl
CEO, Nemetschek North America |
 |
| Tips & Tricks |
| ACADEMIC PROFILE |
Dr. John E.
Keller
Harding University, Arkansas
|
Dr.
John E. Keller from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas,
has the responsibility and the privilege of helping to shape
the future of architecture. In his Introduction to CAD class,
Keller is given the moldable minds of future designers.
Perhaps he has already instructed the next great architect.
Perhaps in a few short decades, the buildings shown as examples
in other architecture classes will have been designed by
one of Keller's students. Understanding his role as teacher,
Keller refuses to pigeonhole the minds of his students with
only one way to design. Instead, he spends the semester
teaching 2 CAD programs: AutoCAD and VectorWorks. |
 |
Keller says, "I teach them VectorWorks because it is what I use and most importantly, I want my students to have a good alternative to AutoCAD when they graduate."
The class has fifteen students, mostly students of Interior
Design with a handful of Pre-architecture students. While
Harding University offers students a degree in Interior
Design, they have not yet established an Architecture program.
Should any student discover that their skills lie in the
direction of Architecture instead of Interior Design, they
can simply transfer. If that happens, Keller can be sure
that he has given all of his students a head start by teaching
them more than one way to design.
Dr. Keller begins by having students create a rough layout
of a room using the Rectangle tool. This allows them to
learn some basic tools and commands as they are creating
a footprint of the house. Dr. Keller has found it is easier
for students to re-arrange rectangles than walls. |
 |
After creating this rough layout in a layer with that name,
they create a new layer called "floor plan." "I teach them
how to draw walls, with or without cavity details. Then
they add doors, windows, plumbing, cabinets, dimensions,
and furniture in successive assignments." |
 |
Dr. Keller continues, "They
also draw a three dimensional piece of furniture, typically
a desk or hutch. This project introduces them to drawing
in 3D, adding textures and lighting and creating rendered
3D views."
"Their last project will
be a rendered 3D view of one of the rooms in their house.
I encourage them to add details, multiple light sources,
etc," says Dr. Keller.
Whether his students become great architects and designers or not, they can thank Dr. Keller for giving them as many options as they can for developing a successful future. |
|
| Custom
Tools Tutorial |
| Creating custom tools
is an easy way to dramatically improve your productivity. Custom
tools can be created by selecting the Custom Tool/Attribute command
and choosing the attributes you want. This command records the
current attribute and file settings in a script format for later
use. Here's a tip on how to create a custom tool that will insert
text with the exact attributes you assign:
STEPS
1. Choose the desired text attribute and style settings. Then,
select a tool other than the Text tool.
2. Select Organize > Custom Tool/Attribute. The Custom Tools dialog
box opens. See
example
3. Select the various attributes you want to assign to the custom
tool, select the Tool checkbox, and then click OK. See
example
4. The Assign Name dialog box opens. Assign the script a name
and click OK. The script is added to the VectorScript palette.
5. Open the Commands folder by double-clicking it in the Resource
Browser.
6. Right-click (Windows) or control-click (Mac) the script just
created and select Edit. See
example
7. In the VectorScript Editor window, change the line that reads
'CallTool(-xxx)' (where 'xxx' is a three-digit number corresponding
to the tool selected when the script was created) so that it instead
reads 'SetTool(-200)' (where -200 is the three-digit number attributed
to the Text tool). Click OK to close the VectorScript Editor window.
(Note: By changing to SetTool, you are permanently changing the
Text tool defaults to the current attributes.) See
example
Now, when you double-click the script in the VectorScript palette
or Resource Browser to execute the Custom Tool command, the Text
tool will be selected, and will apply the various attributes specified
when the script was saved. |
| News |
| Nemetschek
North America Announces Public Beta of VectorWorks for Mac OS
X 10.3, "Panther" |
| Nemetschek North America
announced that it has released a public beta of VectorWorks to
coincide with Apple's release of Mac OS X 10.3, "Panther." Company
officials state that this special Macintosh beta version, VectorWorks
10.5.1b, is intended to provide timely compatibility with Apple's
newest operating system. A final version of VectorWorks 10.5.1
is scheduled for release later this winter. For more information
on the VectorWorks 10.5.1 public beta, visit www.nemetschek.net/downloads.
|
| "Light
Makes Wright" |
| Pick up a copy of the
November issue of Stage Directions Magazine to read Gregg Hillmar's
article on VectorWorks SPOTLIGHT and Lightwright. Find out why
Gregg thinks "Lighting designers have a reason to rejoice this
fall." |
| Nemetschek North America is a Proud Sponsor of the CADDIES |
| The CADALYST Image
Awards, better known as the CADDIES, honor the best in CAD-based
design visualization. The MCAD 2004 deadline is November 17, 2003.
Winners will be announced in the February 2004 issue of Cadalyst
and displayed at NDES (Chicago, February 23-26, 2004). Download
the MCAD 2004 entry form and rules from www.cadalyst.com/caddies/
The AEC 2004 deadline is March 1, 2004. Winners will be announced
in the June 2004 issue of Cadalyst and displayed at the AIA Convention
(Chicago, June 10-12, 2004). Download the AEC 2004 entry form
and rules from www.cadalyst.com/caddies/
|
| Employment
Opportunities |
|
We are looking for two Marketing Managers to help us evangelize
VectorWorks ARCHITECT and VectorWorks LANDMARK. The ideal candidates
will have design experience in architecture and landscape design,
familiarity with other CAD programs and proficiency in VectorWorks.
Responsibilities include managing key accounts, public and media
relations, developing sales collateral, and helping to develop
strategies and marketing programs. For more information please
visit our Job Board at www.nemetschek.net/jobs/job_offered.html
|
| New Schools
Teaching VectorWorks 10
For a complete listing of schools using VectorWorks,
visit www.nemetschek.net/training/Schools.php |
| Baylor University,
American University, Johnson County Community College, Rhode Island
School of Design, Bethel College, Lewis University, Wesleyan University,
Los Angeles Institute of Architecture and Design, Randolf-Macon
College, Ohio University, Adams State College, Iowa State University,
Bellevue Community College, Lander University, Pittsburgh Public
Schools Office of Technology, Towson University, Vanguard University,
Virginia Tech, Florida International University, University of
Rhode Island, Boston University, University of North Texas, University
of Georgia, Northwestern University, Fordham University, Ryerson
University, Brandice University, University of South Carolina-Aiken,
University of Arizona, University of South Carolina, Mississippi
State University, NC State University, Middle Tennessee State
University, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY), Samford
University
To add your school to the list of schools that teach VectorWorks,
please email our Education CAD consultant Mike Bendler at mikeb@nemetschek.net |
| Upcoming Events |
| Trade Shows |
Date |
Location |
| Build Boston |
November 18 - 20 |
Boston, MA (Booth #244) |
| LDI |
November 21 - 23 |
Orlando, FL (Booth #1537) |
| JLC Live Portland |
December 5 - 6 |
Portland, OR (Booth #421) |
| Training Seminars |
Date |
Location |
| VectorWorks
Fundamentals |
November 11 - 12 |
Columbia, MD |
| VectorWorks
Hands-on 3D |
November 13 - 14 |
Columbia, MD |
| VectorWorks
Fundamentals |
December 11 - 12 |
Columbia, MD |
| VectorWorks
Fundamentals |
December 15 - 16 |
Seattle, WA |
| VectorWorks
Hands-on 3D |
December 17 - 18 |
Seattle, WA |
| VectorWorks
Fundamentals |
January 5 - 6 |
San Francisco, CA |
| VectorWorks
Hands-on 3D |
January 7 - 8 |
San Francisco, CA |
| AIA Accreditation
NNA is pleased to offer AIA Continuing Education credit
for our seminars. Architects can earn 16 learning units
by attending the VectorWorks Fundamentals course, and 8
learning units by attending the VectorWorks Hands-on 3D
course. For additional information, contact marketing@nemetschek.net |
|
| Contact Us |
| Call us
at 410-290-5114 to speak to Customer Service or Technical Support. |
| Fax us
at 410-290-7266. Visit us on the web at www.nemetschek.net |
| For ordering
and pricing information, call 1-888-646-4223, or e-mail sales@nemetschek.net |
| E-mail
questions about upcoming shows, User Group events, or any marketing
concerns to marketing@nemetschek.net |
| E-mail
your technical questions, solutions, and wish list items to Technical
Support at tech@nemetschek.net |
|
|
