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edv & cad group 

Tutorial 

ELEMENTS for 

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This Tutorial describes the most important tools and commands of ElementsCAD for Vectorworks. 

We made this tutorial with greatest care. Anyhow edv & cad group take no responsibility or liability for any mistakes in this skript. 

Autor: 

Hannes Ellmeier 

Copyright ©2010 by 

edv & cad group 

Buchbichl 38 – 83737 Irschenberg 

Germany 

www.edv-cad.de 


Inhalt 

Basic principles 

Exercises 2D 

Exercises 3D 

2D-Tools 

2D-Commands 

Databases and Worksheets 

Basic principles 3D 

Working Planes 

3D-Tools 

3D-Commands 



1 «Menu Bar» 

Here the menu commands will be displayed 

Within the chapters "2D-Commands" and 

"3D-Commands" the most important tools will be shown. 

2 «Title Bar» - Shows the name of the active document 

3 «View Bar» - The View bar is located along the top of the application window. 

It provides quick access to various options that affect the drawing view. Some 

View bar items have equivalent menu commands. 

4 «Mode Bar» - The mode Bar enables different options how to use a tool. 

5 «2D-Tools» - This palette contains 2D drawingtools and editingtools. 

Each palette can be called from the menu „window / palettes“. 

6 «3D-Tools» - The 3D-Toolbar contains tools to create 3D objects. 

7 «Snapping Palette» - 

Here you can define the settings how to snap Objects, Intersections and so on. 

8 «Attribut Palette» - This Palette defines the settings for colours, hatches or line 

thickness... 


9 «Darstellungsleiste» - Since Version 2009 it´s within the viewbar. It contains 

mainly zoomsettings. 

10 «Help» - Since Version 2009 the Vectorworks help is based on Adobe Air. 

Alternatively you can press the F1 key to start the help. 

11 «Rulers» - The horizontal and vertical rulers help mainly to compare the sizes 

of objects. Especially if you change the zoom factor, the rulers provide a good 

orientation. 

12 «Scroll Bar» - Here you can move the section of the view. 

13 «Palette Working Plane» - Here you can save and execute different working 

planes. The active working plane predefines the 3D position of the following 

objects. 

14 «Info palette» - It enables to show and modify any object directly. 

15 «Script palette» - It enables to execute VectorScripts. 

16 «Resource palette» - This Palette contains resources like symbols, hatches, 

databases and so on. 


Creating objects 

2D- und 3D-Objects will be created by drawing the contour. As soon as you 

execute a 3D command, for example “create solid”, the 3D object will be 

created. 

Tool tips 

The tool tips show directly additional infos of the current tool. 

context menu 

If you make a right mouseclick over an object, 

Vectorworks will provide specific commands. 

If you make a right mouseclick in the neutral zone 

of the sheet, Vectorworks will show neutral commands. 


Darstellungsleiste 

1 previous view 2 next view 

5 Zoomfactor 100% 6 Fit to page area 

7 fit to objects area 8 saved views 

Info palette 

Register Object – The nine points in figure right show a schematic view of 

the active object. The point top left was fixed by a mouseclick and will not 

be moved by new dimension values. 

The fields +x +y +z define the size of an object. 

The fields x y z define the position of an object on a page. 

Register data 

Here you can define Names (1) or 

databaseinfos (2). With the menu 

command „create reports“ you can 

analyze datas. 

Register material 

This register is available, if you have 

installed Renderworks. 


Resource palette 

Within this palette you can create, manage and 

access resources. The resource palette includes 

for example symbols, folder, hatches, 

VectorScripts, Script palettes, worksheets, 

databases, materials, or images. 

The scope of delivery of Vectorworks contains 

several resources of each part. 

Add Favorites 

If you want to access permanent different resources, you should load thes files as favorites. 

Use “add new favorite files” and choose the path 

(for example C:\program files\Vectorworks\Library...) 


2D-Tools 

Most tools of Vectorworks are contained in a toolbar. 

Figure right shows the toolbar „dimensions“. 

The menu window > Palettes 

contains all the palettes available in Vectorworks. 


Shortcuts 

You can define specific shortcuts througt the Workspaces of Vectorworks. 

Use the command “Tools > Workspaces > create new workspace”. 

The methodes of a tool are divided up to four groups. 

With the shortcuts u i o p you can switch through the methodes. 

In Windows you can minimize the size of palettes. 

See figure right. 


Introduction 3D 

If you create for example a 2D Polygon, this object will be shown equal 

from each standardview. Since Version 2010 you can assign 2D Objects 

a “Layer Plane”. After this procedure 2D Objects will include 3D views! 

The default view in Vectorworks is “Top/Plan” 

TOP/PLAN = ELEVATION LABEL 0,00 mm 

Fig. right shows a 2D Polygon. Change to the view „Front“. 

Choose the command „Extrude“ from the menu „model“. 

Please note that first you have to choose the correct 

view before you create extrudes and other 3D 

Objects from 2D Objetcts! 

Übung Raumplanung 

Extrude - Thickness 1mm 

View Top/Plan 


View Front 


View right isometric 


View right isometric 


Vorderansicht 

View Front 

Draufsicht 

View Top/Plan 

2480 

4300 

5800 


We create a new Layer „FloorPlan M 1-50“ 

Create the rectangles for the base area and the chimney. 

In the next step we create the walls. . 

The tool for the walls is located in the palette “tool sets” (>menu “window”) 

Z 0 >Elevation label 

+Z 2480 >height of the room 


Fig. Right shows the position of the mouse cursor. Because of the 

third methode the position is below. 

These buttons define the creation of inner walls or outer walls. 

The height of the walls can be predefined: 

Now we create a circle with the diameter 160mm. 

The circle is located in center of the chimney (rectangle 500 / 400 mm) 

Afterwards we activate both objects and choose the command “clip surface”. 

(Menu Modify). 

With the del button of the keyboard we delete the overleft circle. 

By the Attributes palette we assign the favored colour. 

Now we choose the command „Pillar“ from the menu Model > AEC. 

In the contrary to Extrudes > Pillars can´t be rotated in the front view, 

therefore pillars keep their attributes in the Top/Plan view. 

Alternatively we could choose the command „Extrude“. 


Now we make an Extrude with 0mm for the ground floor. 

(Alternatively we can choose „Model> AEC> Floor“, but this can be disruptive in the view Top/Plan, 

especially if you have solid attributes...). 

With the flyover tool we can create a individual view. 

Click with the mouse in the center of the room. Now you can move the 

cursor in each direction to define a individual view. 

Fig. right above shows a rendered view. 

Alternatively you can click at the menu „view > rendering“. 

The front wall has the attribute „no filling“ (>Attributes palette). 

. 

Klick-Ziehen ! 


walkthrough tool 

In order to get a perspective view we choose the walkthrough tool. 

The corners we can adjust with the Selection tool. 

Flyover tool 

Now we choose the Flyover tool. 

Firstly it seems that our objects are vanished. 

CLICK AT THE CENTER AND PRESS IN ADDITION THE ALT-KEY. 

NOW YOU CAN MOVE THE CURSOR AT THE LEFT SIDE. 

SHORTLY THE ROOM WILL APPEAR. 

If you move the cursor with pressed alt-key left / right, the room will come 

closer or more far away. 

If you move the cursor with pressed alt-key up / down, the Z-Value of the 

room will become higher / lower. 

Now you can save the created view.. 

With the button 0 (or STRG+5) at your keyboard you can switch to the 

view top/plan. 

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Click/draw-out !

Insert doors and windows 

These tools are contained in the palette “tool sets”. 

You need at least Vectorworks Architect to access these tools. 


Furnishing with ElementsCAD 

ElementsCAD enables to work 2D or 3D. In the case you only need 2D 

views, you can use the tool „2D Shelf”. 

Otherwise use the tool 3D Cabinet. 

Choose the tool „3D Cabinet“ from the palette “tool sets”. 

Deselect the wall insertion mode 

Choose the third methode 

Insert the 3D Cabinet at the upper left corner of the room. 

Now move the cursor 90 degree upwards and finish the insertion 

with a left mouseclick. 


If the 3D Cabinet hanging on the cursor bothers you, change to the 

selection tool… 

Insert into the Info palette the values „-400“ in the field Y and 

„+400“ in the field “Breite / Width” ein. 

Now we make a Corner Unit: 

Insert following further objects into the draft. 

Adjust the insertion mode regarding the situation... 

Fig. Right shows the intermediate result. 

The right cabinet has a width of 1000mm. 

-400 

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+400

Select the „walkthrough tool“. 

If required zoom the draft with the wheel of your mouse.. 

Enlarge the frame with the Selection tool. 

Choose the Flyover tool 

Create a perspective. 

Press the alt-Button to modify the Z-Value and the distance to the scene. 


Select the 3D Cabinets by drawing a frame with the selection tool. 

Insert values for Top and Skirting. 

Click in the menu EDIT > Copy, afterwards > 

menu EDIT > Paste in place 

Insert within the info palette the Z-values 1400mm. 


Make the following modifications within the info palette 

Depth=350mm, Handle Position=Bottom left, M_ = 0mm, Skirting 

height=40mm, Top Thickness=20mm, Backsplash height =0mm 

Click with the selection tool beneath the scene. The objects will be 

deselected now. 

Select the upper corner unit and make a 90 Degree 

cabinet 

Change the 1000mm cabinets and assign the front number=2. 

Besides we create a body with sink (>Cabinet Type) 

With the installation of Elements the file „Elements library“ will be applied. 

This file will be applied as a favorit within the Resource palette as well… 


Now we insert the Symbol „Spueltrog 01“. 

You can insert the symbol directly by a doubleclick. 

To operate accurately please zoom the szene with the mouse wheel. 

It is important that the symbol has the class „3D Spuele“. 

Alternatively you can insert the sink from the view top/plane. 

In this case we have to assign the correct Z-value within the info palette... 

Now we choose the command „merge objects“ in the menu Elements. 

We confirm with „OK“. 

Note: To make the cut-out visible you habe to control if the bodytype 

is „body with sink“. Otherwise the upper board will bother… 

1. Klick 

2. Klick 


Now the 3D cabinets will be selected. Press the Shift key to select 

several objects. 

We select the favorite „Elements library“ and choose the material 

“Esche” 

We make a right mouseclick over the material and choose „import“. 

Now we register the material within the info palette. 

Now the cabinets will gather the material. 

Note: The cabinets will gather new classes for each part of the 

cabinet. The top will get the material „Marmor 01“. Select the object 

and assign the material by a doubleclick in the resource browser. 

Subsequently we assign a material for the walls. 

Note: The walls may have different materials. You can assign it 

through the register “Material”. 


In addition we can insert accessories from the Elements library. 

The floor unit we assign the Front Style „use symbol from folder 

„fronts“. 

The field Height M_ gets the value 0mm.. 

The field Height B (Bottom) gets the value 720mm. 


Sample wall unit 2D 

Select from the palette tool sets the tool 2D shelf. 

Insert a 2D shelf object into your draft. 

After that insert another 2D shelf object over the previous object. 

Insert in the Info palette in the field Front Style > with drawer. 

Insert in the Info palette in the field Door Number the value 1. 

Insert in the Info palette in the field Height the value 150mm. 

Through the field Door Number you can create cabinets with multiple doors. 

The doors/drawers will always be divided in segments with the same dimension. 

If you need different dimensions you have to insert several 2D shelf objects. 

To provide errors use the calculation functions of Vectorworks (for example „300-100“) 

You can use the sings + - * / ( ) in nearly each field of the Info palette. 

Use the tool Tape Measure to control dimensions. 

It is contained within the group „Dims/Notes” 

of the palette Tool Sets. 


Fig. Right shows the result after the shelf was 300mm moved above. 

Insert another 2D Shelf object over the Shelf. The height is 200mm. 

Afterwards we mirror the elements at the left side to the right side. 

The center of the Shelf in the middle is the mirror axis. 

Note: Please control if you have preselected a useful view. 

Choose “Top/Plan” for 2D views and “Front” for a 3D effect of the draft. 

The result should be like this…. 

Add the wanted Top and Skirting objects. Fig. Right shows the values for 

the skirting. Use the tool Tape Measure to control the correct values.

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