Preferences

Setting Vectorworks preferences

Command

Path

Vectorworks Preferences

        Tools > Options

        Quick Preferences

Vectorworks preferences are options that apply to every file you open, every time you run the program.

To change the Vectorworks preference settings:

1.      Select the command.

The Vectorworks Preferences dialog box opens.

2.      Click each tab to set the Vectorworks preferences for that tab.

Vectorworks preferences: Edit tab

Click the Edit tab to set preferences that control various edit functions in the program.

Vectorworks preferences: Display tab

Click the Display tab to set the display preferences.

Vectorworks preferences: Session tab

Click the Session tab to set general Vectorworks preferences.

Vectorworks preferences: 3D tab

Click the 3D tab to set preferences for 3D edits.

Vectorworks preferences: Autosave tab

Click the Autosave tab to set preferences for automatic file saves and backups.

Vectorworks preferences: Interactive tab

Click the Interactive tab to set preferences for the display of the interactive drawing features, such as the cursor, selection boxes, and selection highlighting. See Drawing with snapping for more information about snapping. See Selection and pre-selection indicators for more information about highlighting.

Configuring interactive display

Command

Path

Vectorworks Preferences

        Tools > Options

        Quick Preferences

You may find it helpful to customize the appearance of interactive elements in the program, including general elements, object highlighting, SmartCursor elements, and snap points.

To configure the appearance of interactive elements:

1.      Select the command. On the Interactive tab of the Vectorworks Preferences dialog box, click Interactive Appearance Settings.

Alternatively, select Tools > SmartCursor Settings. On the General tab of the SmartCursor Settings dialog box, click Interactive Appearance Settings.

The Interactive Appearance Settings dialog box opens.

2.      Select either the Standard Background or Black Background tab, depending on whether the black background display preference is enabled (see Vectorworks preferences: Display tab). The same elements can be customized for both background types, except that there are no options for setting background colors for black backgrounds.

3.      Click the column heading to sort by interface element, if desired. Select the element to change, and then set the parameters that display to the right of the element list as needed. Different parameters display, depending on the element selected.

Vectorworks preferences: User Folders tab

Click the User Folders tab to change the location of your user data folder, and to designate workgroup folders for sharing content with other users.

User data and preferences folder

The user data and preferences folder contains the Vectorworks files that are created and used by you. The user folder is automatically created outside of the Vectorworks installation folder so that your data and preferences remain undisturbed when the Vectorworks program is updated.

Within this folder, the program creates subfolders for Libraries, Plant Database (Vectorworks Landmark required), Plug-Ins, Renderworks, Settings, VWHelp, and Workspaces. The following customizations are automatically saved to the user folder.

        Vectorworks Preferences settings

        Workspace Editor changes

        Log files

        Resource Manager Favorite files

        SmartCursor settings

        Saved export and import options for DXF/DWG files

        Saved settings for the Eyedropper and Select Similar tools

        Settings for certain plug-ins, such as the Stair and Space tools

        Dialog box and palette positions

Additionally, you can manually add custom files to the Libraries folder in your user folder, to have resources such as symbols and hatches display in the Resource Manager and Resource Selector, or as default content in dialog boxes and palettes. See Creating custom resource libraries for more information.

Creating a new User Data and Preferences folder

The Vectorworks program automatically creates the following user data folder in the application data folder:

        Mac: /Users/<Username>/Library/Application Support/Vectorworks/2020

        Windows: C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Nemetschek\Vectorworks\2020

By default, both Mac and Windows hide the application data folder. If you use the default user folder, you might want to adjust your system settings to make hidden folders visible. Alternatively, create a new user folder in a more accessible location.

To migrate an existing custom user data folder to a new version of the Vectorworks program, do not change the Vectorworks Preferences directly, as described here. Instead, use the Vectorworks Migration Manager to point the Vectorworks program to your custom user folder.

To create a new user data folder:

1.      From the User Folders tab, click Choose.

2.      A confirmation dialog box opens. Click Yes to continue with the folder change.

3.      From the dialog box that opens, navigate to the location where you want to create the new folder (for example, your Documents folder). Create a new folder there, name it whatever you like, and select it.

4.      Another confirmation dialog box opens. Click Yes to copy the existing user data to the new location, or click No to use the Vectorworks defaults.

5.      If you copy the data to the new location, and the destination folder already contains a file with the same name as a file in the source folder, the program displays a notice that files in the destination folder will be overridden. Click Yes to continue.

6.      If any unsaved files are currently open, you are prompted to save them. Click Yes to continue.

7.      The program copies the files to the new location and then closes automatically.

8.      Restart the program.

Workgroup folders

If Vectorworks Design Series products are installed, you can also access custom content from shared workgroup folders. To share custom content with a workgroup, create a main workgroup folder in a shared location on either a local network or a cloud-based storage service such as Dropbox.

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Resetting Vectorworks preferences

Setting document preferences

Setting quick preferences

 

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