Conventions

Vectorworks is a cross-platform product. Most Vectorworks features are the same in the Windows and Mac versions; however, in some instances, differences exist. These are explained in detail.

See the Commands and Tools PDF, available from the Help system Table of Contents, for a detailed list of the products where each tool and command is available.

The conventions are as follows:

Convention
Definition

DesignSeries.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in each of the Vectorworks Design Series products as well as Designer.

As an example, if you have Spotlight, you have the functionality.

Arch.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Vectorworks Architect and Designer products only

Land.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Vectorworks Landmark and Designer products only

Spot.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Vectorworks Spotlight and Designer products only

ArchLand.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Vectorworks Architect, Landmark, and Designer products only.

As an example, if you have Architect or Landmark, you have the functionality.

ArchSpot.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Vectorworks Architect, Spotlight, and Designer products only

Renderworks.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Renderworks product

SpotRend.png 

Indicates functionality that exists in the Vectorworks Spotlight and Renderworks or Designer and Renderworks products only

(Mac)

Mac-specific instruction

(Windows)

Windows-specific instruction

Enter (Windows)/return (Mac) and Backspace (Windows)/delete (Mac)

To reduce unnecessary wordiness, both operating system terms will not be used; we have standardized upon “Enter” and “Backspace.” The meaning should be evident for users of either operating system.

bold text

Indicates a specific button, command, class, or explicitly named item

indented text

Indicates a note, tip, or warning

click

Click the mouse button and release. The left button is always implied in Windows.

double-click

Click two times quickly on the mouse button and release

right-click

Click with the right mouse button and release; on the Mac, hold down the Ctrl key and click the mouse

Key and mouse combination, as in Shift-click

Hold down the key(s) and click; in this example, hold down the Shift key and click

Key combination, as in Alt+Shift+D

Hold down the key(s) and press the specified letter or number key; in this example, hold down both the Alt and Shift keys, and press the D key

click-click

Click the mouse button once and release. Move the cursor to the desired location and click again. This is the default drawing preference for the program at installation. See Edit Preferences to change the drawing preference to click-drag.

click-drag

Click once with the mouse button and do not release. Drag (move) the cursor to a desired location and then release.

select

Click an object with the mouse, or click-drag over an object with marquee selection, to highlight it. The object is highlighted, and/or “handles” display on the object to indicate that it is currently active. This term also refers to executing menu commands.

Context menu

A menu command accessed by a Ctrl-click (Mac) or right-click (Windows)

 

All instructions are based on click-click drawing.

 

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