Palettes and Tool Sets

The workspace contains various palettes for creating and editing objects. Depending on the initial settings, some palettes may be hidden when the program is launched. You can customize which palettes display and where they are placed for each workspace.

    Select Window > Palettes > [palette name] to display or hide palettes. Alternatively, right-click on the drawing area, and select Palettes > [palette name] from the document context menu.

    Click the title bar of any displayed palette and drag it to the desired location.

    Most palettes can be resized by the standard Windows or Mac resize method.

    Palettes can be docked to the application window (see Docking Palettes).

Each time you exit the Vectorworks program, the current palette settings and positions are automatically saved for each workspace in a file in your user folder ([User]\Settings\SavedSettings.xml). The settings in this user file override the initial palette settings in the workspace file. To reset to the original workspace settings, click Reset Saved Settings from the Vectorworks Preferences: Session Tab.

Palette / Tool Set
Purpose

Snapping

Contains SmartCursor snapping controls that can be toggled on or off; see Setting Snapping Parameters

Attributes

Contains a selection of colors, fills, pens, and other object attributes; see The Attributes Palette

Object Info

Lists context-sensitive object information for viewing and editing; see The Object Info Palette

Working Planes

Contains controls for adding and modifying working planes; see The Working Planes Palette

Resource Manager

Accesses and manages the resources available for use in drawings, such as hatches, record formats, worksheets, scripts, symbols, textures, and more. See Resource Manager.

Navigation

(Design Series required)

Provides access to classes, design layers, sheet layers, viewports, and saved views, while the drawing area remains accessible; see The Navigation Palette

Visualization

Accesses all lights and cameras in the file; see Managing Lights and Cameras with the Visualization Palette

Script Palettes

Contains palettes with script resources; see Creating and Editing Script Palettes and Scripts

Tool Palettes

The Basic palette and Tool Sets palette have special functionality, as described in Tool Palette Features

Basic

Contains a single set of basic object creation and editing tools; the palette can be customized through the Workspace Editor. The Basic palette contains different tools in different workspaces.

Tool Sets

Depending on the workspace, this palette includes the following tool sets, whose tools are grouped by similar functionality; the palette and its tool sets can be customized through the Workspace Editor. Each tool set may contain different tools in different workspaces.

Site Planning

(Architect or Landmark required)

Contains tools for site planning and landscape architecture

Space Planning

(Architect required)

Contains tools for space planning and programming buildings

Irrigation

(Landmark required)

Contains tools for irrigation system design

Spotlight

(Spotlight required)

Contains tools for lighting and event design

Building Shell

(Design Series required)

Contains tools for creating building shell elements

3D Modeling

Contains tools for creating and editing 3D objects, including solids and NURBS

Visualization

Contains tools for changing the drawing view in different ways

Furn/Fixtures

(Design Series required)

Contains tools for creating common furniture and fixtures

Dims/Notes

Contains tools for adding dimension and label objects

Walls

(Fundamentals workspace only)

Contains basic wall creation tools

Detailing

(Design Series required)

Contains tools for adding architectural detail objects, such as tubing

MEP

(Architect required)

Contains tools for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design

Fasteners

(Design Series required)

Contains tools for inserting a variety of fasteners such as nuts, bolts, pins, and screws

Machine Components

(Design Series required)

Contains tools for inserting machine components such as gears, bearings, and springs

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Palette Display Options

Saving Palette Positions and Settings

Application Window

Modifying Menus and Commands

 

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