New web view options

The web view output now gives viewers the option to control shadows from a directional light and to use a clip cube to crop the model. Web views generated from Vectorworks can now be viewed with head-mounted displays such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Google Daydream.

Viewing Web Views from an Internet Browser

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Custom placement of the title block

A new No Constraint option for placing the title block relative to the sheet border allows custom placement of the block

Title Block Border Settings: Title Block Pane

Fundamentals

New Change trim height button

The trim height of a system can be easily adjusted from the Object Info palette of a hanging position

Inserting Hanging Positions , Changing the Trim Height of a System

Spotlight, Braceworks

Hanging position improvements

Improvements have been made to the association of loads and hanging positions to better support the Braceworks workflow

Inserting Hanging Positions , Associating Load Objects with a Hanging Position

Spotlight, Braceworks

Site model updates

Site model source data can be retained when the site model is created, and it can be edited if necessary after the site model exists

Creating the Site Model, Setting Site Model Properties

Architect, Landmark

New Braceworks command

The Reset Braceworks IDs command reassigns IDs for Braceworks objects, ensuring that they are unique

Resetting Braceworks IDs

Spotlight, Braceworks

Title block border revision/issue alignment

Revisions and issues in the title block can now be top-aligned

Top-Aligning Revision and Issue Text in the Title Block Layout

Fundamentals

Multiple drawing views

You can now divide the drawing area to display multiple, fully interactive drawing views at the same time, for better visualization of changes as you make them and a more efficient workflow

Concept: Multiple Drawing Views

Fundamentals

Live sections and elevations

You can now edit a model directly from a section or elevation view, enabling efficient design in-place for section and interior elevation viewports

Editing Design Layers from a Section or Elevation View

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Vectorworks Unicode conversion

You can now view, type, and display characters from any language in Vectorworks files, regardless of the operating system setting

Not applicable

Fundamentals

Braceworks - Load analysis for the entertainment industry

An add-on module for Vectorworks Spotlight and Designer, Braceworks provides design, production, and rigging designers with an easy way of calculating the performance of temporary structures under load to ensure safety and compliance with engineering codes and standards.

Event Rigging and Structural Analysis

Spotlight, Braceworks

Window and door style catalogs

Window styles and door styles now have access to manufacturer catalog data, which can be used to define parameters of the style; catalog offerings are greatly expanded, with additional products for existing catalogs and with new manufacturers

Concept: Plug-in Object Styles

Fundamentals

Resource Manager improvements

Improvements to usability include:

●    Additional controls and visual cues for viewing and navigating libraries and resources.

●    New context menu commands for library, folder, file, and resource management.

●    Boolean search capabilities.

●    The option to view the Resource Manager in a vertical layout.

●    Extended use of the Resource Selector to additional dialog boxes.

Resources and Vectorworks Preferences: Session Tab

Fundamentals

Library folder structure reorganization

Vectorworks library folders have been reorganized for easier access to content and to require fewer clicks to access a resource

Concept: Resource Libraries

Fundamentals

Vectorworks Cloud Services website improvements

The web portal has been totally updated to improve functionality, add new features, and improve usability on small screen devices

Not applicable

Fundamentals

Worksheet improvements

●    The worksheet window was improved to make it easier to define the contents of database columns; to sort, summarize, and sum columns; and to access worksheet-related commands directly.

●    Several worksheet functions were added, as well as the new search criterion Component (COMP), to allow searching for walls, slabs, and roofs by component.

●    The Choose Schedule command was removed; preformatted reports now can be created with the Create Report command (Vectorworks Design Series required).

●    The Create Report dialog box was improved to make it easier to enter database criteria and worksheet functions, and to format number fields properly.

Worksheets, Using Preformatted Reports, and Creating Reports

Fundamentals

Sheet border and title block integration

A more robust Title Block Border tool replaces the Sheet Border tool and offers clear entry and editing, additional parameters, more flexibility for layouts, and integration with the data in record formats so text fields can update automatically

Adding a Title Block Border

Fundamentals

Title block borders more integrated with the Publish command

The new Title Block Manager command makes it easier to prepare sheets with title block borders for batch publishing, to generate revision and issue reports, and to add an entire issue to the publish set at once

Preparing to Publish with the Title Block Manager, Creating Project Revision and Issue History Reports, and Batch Publishing

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Renderworks improvements

Renderworks improvements include:

●    A new cloth reflectivity shader.

●    An improved metal reflectivity shader including new options to create brushed metals.

●    A new shadow catcher transparency shader for compositing shadows and reflections of rendered objects with an image with the alpha channel enabled.

●    A new parallax mapping option for improved bump mapping.

●    Brighter interior lighting with more light bounces.

Reflectivity Shaders , Transparency Shaders , Bump Shaders , and Setting Lighting Options

Fundamentals

Web view improvements

Export Web View command improvements include:

●    New rendered appearance options

●    Export of 2D planar objects and point cloud objects

●    Greater control over the size and quality of the export

●    Additional options for saving and sharing the web view

For people viewing and navigating the web view, improvements include:

●    Progressive loading to reduce load times and show progress

●    Easier navigation including control of whether to walk through walls

●    Improved in-app help

Exporting Web Views (3D only) and Viewing Web Views from an Internet Browser

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Rendered panoramas

You can now export a rendered panorama that is capable of providing immersive views with a file size small enough for easy sharing

Exporting Rendered Panoramas (3D only)

Fundamentals

Improved roof geometry

●    The Connect/Combine tool has new modes to specify either miter or vertical cuts where roof faces join.

●    For roof objects in which the faces have different slopes, the Object Info palette has a new setting to specify either miter or vertical cuts for the roof face joins.

Connecting Roof Faces, Editing Roof Objects

Fundamentals

Roof hole cutting options

New options were added for setting the cut type (vertical, splayed, or square) for holes in roofs and roof faces.

●    Cutout holes made with 2D objects can be set per roof face

●    Holes cut for skylights can be set per skylight

●    Holes cut for dormer windows are always splayed

Creating Roof Faces, Creating Roof Objects, and Creating Skylights

Fundamentals

Multiple component editing for walls, slabs, and roofs

When editing walls, slabs, and roofs, and wall, slab, and roof styles, you can now select multiple components for simultaneous editing; all changes made during multiple component editing are made to all selected components

Various locations

Fundamentals

Editable component heights in styled walls

You can now customize the top and bottom heights of individual wall components in instances of styled walls to respond more efficiently to varied building conditions

Wall Properties

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Wall join elevation improvements

Wall and wall component height and geometry are now calculated differently to better reflect elevation conditions at wall/component joins in 3D and Top/Plan views, including for cut planes

Not applicable

Fundamentals

Improved wall component join line thicknesses

In wall T-joins, thicker component lines are no longer broken by thinner component lines

Joining Wall Components

Fundamentals

Improved wall component joining

Wall component joining is better maintained as walls and wall styles are edited and applied:

●    New algorithms improve automatic tracking and mapping of wall components when walls and wall styles are edited and applied; similar wall components maintain associations

●    Wall component joining is better maintained for wall features, end caps, and dimensions

●    A new Rejoin Wall Components option on the Wall Replacement dialog box overrides all previous automatic and custom component join associations when replacing walls

●    The Wall Join tool always joins wall components regardless of the Auto Join Walls Vectorworks preference

Replacing Wall Styles from the Object Info Palette

Fundamentals

Function information for wall, slab, and roof components

You can now assign functions such as “Insulation” or “Outer Finish” for each individual component in walls, slabs, and roofs. The data will be included in IFC exports.

Defining Components for New Walls, Creating Slab Components, and Creating Roof Components

Fundamentals

Make all attributes by class option for wall, slab, and roof dialog boxes

With one click, set all fill, pen, and texture attributes by class for wall, slab, and roof objects and for individual wall, slab, and roof components; remove by all class settings for the same attributes with another single click

Various locations

Fundamentals

New option for placing walls in Create Walls from Spaces command

You can now specify whether to align the wall with the space edges relative to the wall or to the wall’s core component

Creating Walls from Spaces

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

New option to dimension exterior walls

The Dimension Exterior Walls command has a new option to draw the dimensions relative to either the walls or the core components

Dimensioning Exterior Walls

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Marionette improvements

●    Wrapper nodes can now be converted to reusable menu commands.

●    Descriptions can be created and edited for wrapper nodes.

●    Object nodes can now be moved without resetting, for easier manipulation of complex objects.

●    A new preference caches the network’s wire values, enabling faster debugging.

●    New nodes have been added to the default content.

●    Node ports are labeled with prefixes, denoting the type of data that can pass through them.

Creating Menu Commands from Wrapper Nodes, Marionette Wrapper Nodes, Using Object Nodes, and Debugging a Marionette Script

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Energos improvements

Some panes in the Project Settings dialog box have been rearranged for clarity, and the Project pane has been removed. Energos calculations of roof and roof faces now account for elements such as gable walls, dormers and windows, and Dutch hip roof types. Custom objects can now be designated as systems. Finally, the script functionality of doors and windows has been updated for improved Energos calculations.

Basic Energy Analysis, Advanced Energy Analysis, Designating Drawing Objects as Custom Energos Systems, and developer.vectorworks.net

Architect

BIMobject improvements

BIMobjects now contain a black symbol rather than primitive 2D/3D geometry, to reduce file size and to allow all instances in a drawing to be changed with a single edit. The folder structure for downloaded BIMobjects is also clarified.

Inserting Architectural Objects from BIMobject and BIMobject Settings

Architect

COBie improvements

Improvements for COBie reporting include:

●    An IFC Data Mapping <COBie Defaults> setting that fulfills COBie requirements for non-empty worksheet values.

●    Additional data fields in the Export IFC Project dialog box, which can be used to generate reports even before the project is exported.

●    Several new default COBie worksheets, for both final reporting and investigating source data during the design process.

Managing IFC Data Mapping, Exporting IFC Projects, Creating IFC Schedules, and Worksheet Functions

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

IFC data on the Object Info palette

The Data tab of the Object Info palette now displays IFC data sets, and easily allows property sets to be attached and edited, even for multiple selected objects

Viewing and Editing IFC Data

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

More IFC data for space object

You can now assign data for several more IFC fields, directly from the Additional Data pane on the Space Settings dialog box

Space Settings: Additional Data Pane

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Site model improvements

●    The Triangular Irregular Network algorithm has been improved, generating site models much faster while avoiding generation errors.

●    The Site Model Settings dialog box has been reorganized and improved.

●    Site analysis default colors now meet industry standards.

●    Existing and proposed contours can be modified in a new editing mode, with a new Site Model Contour tool.

●    Other minor improvements have been made to existing commands.

Creating the Site Model, Setting Site Model Properties, Editing Site Model Contours, Site Model Source Data

Architect, Landmark

Foliage tool

The new Foliage tool allows you to create hedges, topiaries, vertical plantings, and ground cover, using custom geometry

Adding Foliage

Landmark

Tree survey import and export

Using tree survey data is now facilitated. Tree survey data can be imported from text files or shapefiles, and then used to create existing trees with mapped parameters, or loci with attached records. Existing trees can then be exported as either text files or shapefiles.

Importing Existing Trees from a Survey File and Creating Existing Trees from Loci

Landmark

GeoTIFF File Import

Imported GeoTIFF files can now be transformed to match the map projection of georeferenced layers in Vectorworks

Importing Georeferenced Images and Entering Georeferencing Information for the Document

Landmark

Drip area improvements

New options for the drip area type of the Drip Outlet tool allow branching as well as snaking configurations, and a custom configuration for situations where the specifications are already known. Drip area fills can now be assigned from the Attributes palette, for greater display flexibility.

Placing Drip Outlets

Landmark

Hardscape attribute mapping improvements

You can now use the Attribute Mapping tool to independently modify the object fill, main joint pattern, and border joint pattern of a hardscape object

Mapping Fills with the Attribute Mapping Tool and Editing Hardscape Fills and Joint Patterns

Landmark

Plant tag images

Plant images specified on the Data pane of the plant definition can be included in plant tags and worksheets

Setting Plant Data Images

Landmark

Seating section improvements

Improvements to the seating section include more flexible seat layouts, the ability to use more than one symbol in a section, linked focus points and seating angles, independent classes for seating section elements, and improved Object Info palette controls

Creating Seating Sections and Editing Seating Sections

Spotlight

Hanging position

The lighting position object has been renamed to the hanging position object. Now Spotlight objects can be associated with a hanging position (not just instruments). When a load is moved off the position, a witness line is created to show the association.

Inserting Hanging Positions , Associating Load Objects with a Hanging Position

Spotlight

Export conventional fixture settings to Vision

Lighting device objects now export to Vision with focus orientation, shutter, and gobo information, improving the workflow between Vectorworks Spotlight and Vision

Exporting in Vision Format

Spotlight

Resource Selector integration into Spotlight

In several Spotlight dialog boxes, selectors for symbol and texture resources have been replaced with the Resource Selector

Various locations

Spotlight

Add DMX input identifier to lighting device symbols

Symbols for all lighting devices controlled by DMX now have a graphic indicator of the DMX input location (a simple rectangle in 2D and a red cube in 3D)

Not applicable

Spotlight

Hoist improvements

Hoists can now display with a custom symbol, increasing flexibility when meeting corporate or international standards. Additional parameters support Braceworks functionality.

Placing Hoists

Spotlight

Stage ramp improvement

Stage ramps now have both a top height and an incline starting height

Inserting a Stage Ramp

Spotlight

Video screen improvements

Video screen objects now display the projection cone range and the screen zoom range, indicating the optimal size and placement of equipment

Inserting a Video Screen Object

Spotlight

DXF/DWG transparent PNG image support

Transparent PNG images are now supported when importing and exporting DXF/DWG files

Preparing to Import and Preparing to Export

Fundamentals

Revit import improvements

●    You can control which views to import, and which types of objects to create.

●    The Revit drawing structure and file organization now maps better to the Vectorworks file.

●    More Revit objects can be converted to native Vectorworks objects.

Importing a Revit File

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

New options for image import

New import options enable users to quickly import an image file as a bitmap, an image resource, or both

Importing an Image File and Creating Image Resources

Fundamentals

New export options

In Vectorworks Fundamentals, you can now export a file to PDF. In Vectorworks Architect, you can now export a Shapefile.

Exporting PDF Files and Exporting in Shapefile Format

Fundamentals Architect

Third-party plug-in improvements

New alerts help you keep third-party plug-ins updated and usable. Script developers can create installation scripts for easy incorporation into the current workspace as a command or a tool.

Not applicable

Fundamentals

Plug-in object styles for additional objects

Plug-in object styles, previously available only for doors and windows, can now be created for additional plug-in objects

Creating Plug-in Object Styles

Fundamentals

Option to merge with structural objects in sections

Various 3D objects can now be designated as structural, allowing their appearance to merge with other structural objects in section viewports

Advanced Section Viewport Properties

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Improved linework in section viewports

Section viewport graphics have been improved, eliminating cases where line weights are obscured by filled objects that come later in the drawing order

Not applicable

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

New network protocol and save options for project sharing

Administrative users have new options to control the network protocol used to access a project file, and to optionally use a different process to save the project

Settings Tab

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Improved options for creating detail-callout markers

The Detail-Callout Marker tool has three new modes: Oval, Rectangle, and Rounded Rectangle. The resulting markers have improved reshape behavior for more efficient editing. Additionally, detail-callout markers can now be created from custom shapes using the Create Objects from Shapes command.

Detail Callouts and Detail-Callout Markers and Creating Objects from Shapes 

Architect, Landmark, Spotlight

Mass and force units and saved units settings

●    Unit settings can now be saved and managed.

●    The Units dialog box has been reorganized, and panes have been added.

●    Specialized units have been added to support specific functionality.

Units

Fundamentals

Frame Size options for creating animations

You can now specify the frame size of an animation, providing more control when creating and exporting movies

Animating Drawings, Exporting Solar Animations, and Animating Scenes

Fundamentals

Resource name conflict message improvements

Improvements have been made to the various alerts and dialog boxes that display when there is a resource name conflict during import/export, copy/paste, and referencing operations

Resource Name Conflict and Referencing Resources

Fundamentals

Custom dimension improvement

Custom dimension standards can now be easily duplicated, making it easier to create new ones

Using Custom Dimension Standards

Fundamentals

Subdivision improvements

Improvements to the Edit Subdivision tool include new Join, Close, Add Edge, and Remove Edge modes and the Select Edge Loop context menu command for greater flexibility and control; streamlined modes on the Tool bar; and more visible face highlighting to make selection easier

Modeling Subdivision Objects

Fundamentals

Overwrite an existing publish set

Change sheets and publish options in an existing publish set by replacing the set

Saving a Publish Set

Fundamentals

Vectorworks Message Center

The new Message Center, accessed from the application window’s Message bar, provides timely notifications about new software releases, technical tips, training opportunities, and so on

The Message Center

Fundamentals

Callout enhancements

The Object Info palette has new buttons for editing callouts:

●    Add Leader and Delete Leader add and delete leader lines.

●    Edit Sub-object buttons select specific parts of the callout for editing. For multileader callouts, each leader line can be selected and edited individually.

●    Attributes buttons set pen attributes for the selected callout sub-object.

Editing a Callout Object

Fundamentals

Edit Class(es) dialog box improvements

The Edit Class(es) dialog box is reorganized to improve its display on a variety of screen resolutions and to ease access to class settings for graphic attributes, textures, description, and viewport/saved views visibilities

Setting Class Properties

Fundamentals

Object scaling improvement

When using the Symmetric By Distance method to scale objects, set the new distance value interactively based on existing objects in the drawing

Scaling Objects

Fundamentals

MacBook Touch Bar support

Customizable controls are now available for the Touch Bar, to provide quick access to tools and standard view options

Customizing the MacBook Touch Bar

Fundamentals

Document tab support on Windows

New document tabs make it easier to manage multiple open documents

Managing Multiple Documents

Fundamentals

Vectorworks Cloud Services integration with Google Drive

You can now access Google Drive files from Vectorworks Cloud Services apps

Not applicable

Fundamentals

Site Protection activation server

Users of the Site Protection server can now use an activation key instead of a dongle as an alternative method of authentication

Installing Vectorworks Site Protection Software

Fundamentals

Site Protection System Menu

A new System Menu, located in the Notification area, is a convenient way of accessing license administrator tasks

Site Protection System Menu

Fundamentals

Record format conflict improvements

Added the option to merge record formats, if you encounter two formats with the same name during import/export, copy/paste, and referencing operations

Resource Name Conflict

Fundamentals

Mesh simplification

The new Simplify Mesh command simplifies mesh objects to a specified quality, enabling smaller file size and faster processing

Simplifying Mesh Objects

Fundamentals

3D grid axes improvement

The 3D axes can now be displayed or hidden independently of the grid setting

Grid Snapping

Fundamentals

Vectorworks Remote integration

The Vectorworks Remote command has been added to the standard workspaces, making it easier to connect to the Vectorworks Remote mobile app

Setting up Vectorworks Remote

Fundamentals

Updated online help system

The online help has a new, modern appearance and improved functionality. Search, glossary, favorites, and command and tool lists are now flyout panes that can remain open. Search offers auto-complete technology and accounts for misspellings and typos, for improved searching.

Online help system

Improved access to Vectorworks help

A new ? icon on palettes and dialog boxes makes it easier to find context-sensitive help from within Vectorworks

Context-sensitive Help

More precise context-sensitive help

A new process improves the match between Vectorworks elements and corresponding help topics

Online help system

Commands and tools PDF file even more accurate

The product comparison list of commands and tools included as a .pdf file with the help system is now automatically generated from Vectorworks software, to be more accurate than ever

Online help system