At Paxar we see quite a wide range of techniques used in Vectorworks files. We pay close attention to the best practices and we want to give you the best advice possible to help you make the most of the software. Vectorworks is a wonderfully versatile and capable application that can be used for 2D drawing, 3D modelling or a hybrid of the two. When used well, the software can be part of a very efficient, productive and accurate workflow. 


We are compiling an ever-evolving list of our recommendations for Best Practice Do's and Don'ts. Please take a few minutes to review this list. If you see a technique that you currently use but isn't a Best Practice, you may want to consider making an adjustment in order to improve your creative workflow. These improvements will save you time, raise your productivity and increase your efficiency.


Technique
 Do
 Don't
 Why
Drawing primarily with lines
X
 Lines take a relatively long time to draw for little pay-off – Vectorworks is not just a replacement for a drafting board. Lines also cannot become 3D objects (of much use anyway) later if desired. Drawing individual lines is fine in some limited situations, but typically it's a much better practice to use rectangles, polygons and the smart objects in Vectorworks.
Drawing with Rectangles, Polygons and the many "smart" tools in Vectorworks
 X
Drawing with these objects is faster to begin with and faster to edit later. many have built-in 3D properties or can evolve to 3D objects very easily.
Drawing walls using two lines and a rectangle with a fill in between them.
X
 This takes a long time to do initially and a long time to edit when design changes occur.
Drawing walls using the Wall Tool
 X
Walls drawn this way are fast to crete, fast to edit and can receive windows and roos properly.
Setting the line weight and fill of most objects manually via the Attribute palette
X
 Doing this takes time for each object and permits considerable inconsistency in drawing quality.
Using Classes (for similar types of objects in your design)
 X
Classes help you achieve graphic consistency and can help adjust the visibility of objects very quickly.
Using Layers to "group" similar types of objects in your design
X
 Layers can't set graphic attributes, and consistent graphic attributes are how you achieve great looking drawings. (Classes can set graphic attributes.) Also, having many Layers makes your file size much bigger, which takes longer to do most task and eventually results in storage space to need to be upgraded sooner than it really needs to be.
Using Layer for places or design options
 X
This the way Layers are meant to be used. Fewer Layers makes drawing files smaller and easier to work with.
Starting each new project by taking a recent project and deleting the design and all other elements in the file.
X
 If done improperly or in haste, this will still leave lots of elements of the previous project in the file and could lead to issue later. If done thoroughly, this technique takes (and effectively wastes) some time. Also, It's best to start Vectorworks files anew within their native version rather than opening a file that was originally created in a previous version.
Starting each new project from a Vectorworks Template file
 X
Each new projects start quickly from a "clean slate" document that has been created to give you a great head start on your work.
Using Groups for identical, repeated objects
X This makes your file size larger, and if you want all the Groups to change in the same way you have to do so manually which takes a long time.
Using Symbols for identical, repeated objects

 X
This is what Symbols are for. They help keep your file size down and are perfect for repeated objects. If you need to edit or change one later it is very quick and easy to do so.
Have Groups inside Groups inside Groups inside Groups...
X
 This is unnecessary and makes it very difficult to edit the objects.
Group objects just once
 X
Grouping objects once is enough to keep them all together.
Putting Walls inside Symbols, for example when making repeated unit plans
X Walls inside symbols can behave oddly, especially in relation to their wall heights.
Use Design Layer Viewports to create unit plans, then put them into position on overall site or floor plans. X
Walls on Design layers will behave much more predictably and properly and Design Layer Viewports will serve a similar function to a symbol in this case.




More to come...