Marionette is a great new feature in recent versions of Vectorworks that allows graphical scripting to be done directly within the application. Graphical scripting is a kind of visual programming language (as opposed to a text-based programming language) and you can use it to build objects in Vectorworks that can help you explore design iterations. Marionette can also be used to build custom commands for your workflows.
For a fantastic example of how Marionette can be used, please see this article in World Architecture magazine.
Other applications that you may have heard of that do graphical scripting are Grasshopper and Dynamo, though Vectorworks' Marionette is an industry-first for incorporating this functionality right within the application you are already familiar with.
It is important to keep in mind that Marionette wouldn't necessarily replace manually creating simple or one-off 2D or 3D objects in your Vectorworks files. Instead Marionette is meant to be be used to "automate" the exploration of design options, based on rules you establish. Marionette takes a little bit of effort to learn, but the rewards of doing so can be significant.
- In order to embark on learning Marionette, we suggest reviewing this website. It has links to tutorials, webinars, tips & tricks, etc.
- When you start creating your own Marionette files, begin with very basic projects and build up your skills and understanding of what can be down and how to do it.
- If you would like to see examples of Marionette files, please visit this section of the Vectorworks Community Forum.
- If you have any question about using Marionette, this section of the Vectorworks Community Forum is the place to go. It is a great please to connect with other Marionette users and experts at Vectorworks Inc.