Vectorworks software comes with hundreds of libraries, which can be accessed through the Resource Browser (see Accessing Existing Resources). Default content (which is available at the time of use) is automatically installed with the Vectorworks software. All other content, including industry-specific content, is optionally added during the installation process (Internet access required). If the additional content was not added during installation, it can be added later. Select Help > Download Content to download it via the Vectorworks Package Manager.
Excluding standards and templates (which are installed based on the drawing unit selected during installation), all libraries for the Vectorworks Fundamentals and Renderworks products are universal, and are installed regardless of the drawing unit selected during installation.
Libraries are organized by professional discipline and subject. The Vectorworks Design Series products contain additional libraries. Even more content is available exclusively for Vectorworks Service Select subscribers.
For a list of libraries and the product(s) to which they belong, see the Libraries-Index and Product Matrix.pdf file located in the [Vectorworks]\Libraries folder.
All of the Vectorworks interior and building objects (symbols) specifically developed for Architect and Designer have ifc data records attached. This includes the symbols libraries available in Vectorworks Architect and Designer products, as well as libraries available in our subscription service, Vectorworks Service Select.
A subset of content (some of which are resources available in libraries) is also available by default at the point of use. The ability to use default content is a preference on the Session tab of the Vectorworks preferences, which can be disabled if default content use is not desired; see Session Preferences.
Default content is available from a variety of dialog boxes and also from the Attributes and Object Info palettes. Once default content is selected for use, it is automatically imported into the current file and if it is a resource (such as a hatch or gradient) it also displays in the Resource Browser.
To make your own custom content available as default content in the Vectorworks program, use any of the following methods.
● Import custom content into a default content file
● Add a custom content file to a default content folder
● Create a custom content file and place an alias of (Mac) or shortcut to (Windows) that file in a default content folder
Files that contain custom content can be placed in different locations, depending on who needs access to the content. The folder structure must be the same as that of the Vectorworks default content, and if a subfolder exists, the file must be placed in a subfolder. For example, Vectorworks default hatches are in a file in the folder [Vectorworks]\Libraries\Defaults\Attributes - Hatches. To make your library of custom hatches available in Vectorworks, place a file that contains the hatches in either your user folder or a workgroup folder.
● To create default content for yourself only, put the file in the appropriate subfolder within [User]\Libraries\Defaults (where [User] is the user data folder specified in your Vectorworks preferences). For example, place a hatches file in [User]\Libraries\Defaults\Attributes - Hatches. See User Folders Preferences for more information.
● If Vectorworks Design Series products are installed, you can create default content that is project-specific, or that is shared with a workgroup. To do so, put the file on the network in the appropriate subfolder within [Workgroup]\Libraries\Defaults (where [Workgroup] is a workgroup folder specified in your Vectorworks preferences). For example, place a hatches file in [Workgroup]\Libraries\Defaults\Attributes - Hatches). When coworkers set up this workgroup folder in their preferences, they also have access to the default content. See Sharing Custom Files with a Workgroup for more information.
The name of your custom library file also affects resource availability in the Vectorworks program.
● To totally supersede the Vectorworks default hatches, use the same name as the hatch file in the Vectorworks program folder (“Hatches_Default.vwx”).
● To make your custom default hatches available along with the Vectorworks default hatches, use a unique name, such as “Custom_Hatches.vwx.”
If a file name is repeated in any of the folders, only the content from one file is shown, according to the following precedence: user folder, workgroup folder, application folder. For example, if the following files exist, only hatches from the file in the user folder show in the hatch list in the Attributes palette in the Vectorworks program.
● [User]\Libraries\Defaults\Attributes - Hatches\Hatches_Default.vwx
● [Workgroup]\Libraries\Defaults\Attributes - Hatches\Hatches_Default.vwx
● [Vectorworks]\Libraries\Defaults\Attributes - Hatches\Hatches_Default.vwx
If a custom library file contains multiple types of content, the program only displays the content type for the folder that contains the custom file (or an alias or shortcut to the file). For example, if a file contains both wall hatches and textures, and the file is in the Libraries\Defaults\Walls - Textures folder, only the wall textures are displayed as defaults in the Vectorworks program.
To make the custom library resources available from the Resource Browser only (not as defaults in dialog boxes and palettes), place the file in a Favorites folder in either your user folder or a workgroup folder. See Using Favorites Files.
In dialog boxes and palettes, the custom and default content are displayed below the content in the current file; each list is in ascending alphabetical order.
To display the custom or current file’s content first in a selection list, implement a naming standard that places the desired content toward the top of the list alphabetically. To view only the current file’s content in a selection list, disable the Display default content Vectorworks preference.
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