VectorWorks Fundamentals: Features

Easy to Learn and Use
With VectorWorks Fundamentals, drawing on a computer screen is as easy as drawing with pencil and paper, and just as flexible—yet much more efficient. VectorWorks Smart Cursor™ technology replaces manual drafting tools and makes it easy find snap points, offsets and tangents, as well as draw precisely and quickly. You’ll immediately feel comfortable and be able to leverage your existing drafting knowledge to be up and running quickly. Plus, you’ll be amazed at the quality of your drawings.

A Complete Solution
Unlike most other CAD programs, VectorWorks Fundamentals offers a comprehensive range of 2D, 3D and production management capabilities that benefits all phases of the design process, saving you extra time and effort. With this one program, you can create all the detailed working drawings you need. You can also easily visualize your design in 3D and create animated walk-throughs.

Precision 2D Drafting
At the heart of VectorWorks Fundamentals is an uncomplicated drafting environment that makes creating complex drawings fast and easy. And VectorWorks Fundamentals provides graphic capabilities that you don’t typically find in CAD programs. You’ll have access to gradients, associative hatching, patterns and an editable colour palette, as well as the ability to import digital images, to name a few.

In addition, you’ll find 2D parametric constraints that allow you to maintain the relationship between 2D shapes. You’ll also find a full array of dimension tools that support common dimensioning standards, including ISO, ASME and DIN. You can even display imperial and metric values in the same dimension string.

And, because drawings are made up of more than just graphics, you’ll find powerful text and notation capabilities. VectorWorks Fundamentals allows you to choose any font, font size or font style, check your spelling and even extrude text into 3D.

Freeform 3D Modelling
With flexible NURBS surface and solid modelling tools, you’ll get advanced 3D functionality that previously could only be found in modelling programs costing much more. And, with 16-bit floating point precision, your models will be accurate and ready for analysis and manufacturing. Click here to learn more about VectorWorks 3D capabilities.

Intelligent Object Technology
You can interact with your design on an entirely new level with VectorWorks Fundamentals. Cutting-edge object technology—a feature typically reserved for programs that cost thousands more—makes it easy to create and change design elements without having to redraw them. It’s so easy that you can make complex design changes on the fly, in front of clients. And, because most objects in VectorWorks display in 3D as well as 2D, you’ll be automatically creating 3D models of the design as you draw.

Free Symbol Libraries
VectorWorks Fundamentals gives you access to thousands of symbols, hatch patterns, gradients and other resources at no extra charge. So there’s no need to purchase separate symbol libraries. Plus, you’ll find samples of the object libraries we ship with VectorWorks Architect, VectorWorks Landmark and VectorWorks Machine Design. You can also access third-party libraries or create your own objects.

Share Files Easily
With superior DXF/DWG translation, VectorWorks Fundamentals allows you to work with whatever and whomever you need to get the job done. We’re founding members of the Open Design Alliance,™ and we have a full team of engineers dedicated to ensuring DXF/DWG compatibility. We also support a number of graphic file formats, such as GIF, JPG, BMP, TIF and EPS, allowing you to easily import digital images into your designs and export your drawings to other graphics programs. Support for IGES, .SAT and .STL allows you to send VectorWorks models to 3D printers and rapid prototyping machines.

Automatic Track Costs and Materials
You don’t need a separate program to track your project’s costs and materials— VectorWorks Fundamentals will do it for you with built-in database and spreadsheet capabilities. You can easily attach data, such as manufacturer, size and part number, as well as order and pricing information, to objects in your drawing. You can access this information at any time during the design process and use it to generate editable schedules, parts lists and other reports. Because the information and drawings are linked, any changes to the design will automatically be updated in your paperwork.

Create High End Presentations
Not only does VectorWorks have all the tools you need to complete your project, but it can also help you sell the job. You can create high-quality renderings with dramatic lighting effects and make animated movies. Artistic rendering options allow you to choose from several soft, hand-sketched effects. You can also import digital photos and scanned images.

By adding the advanced rendering plug-in RenderWorks, you can map textures and add shadows, backgrounds and atmospheric effects to give your presentations a photorealistic look.

Unique page layout capabilities make it easy to create presentation boards and arrange multiple views of your design on a single drawing sheet. Each view, or “viewport,” can display its own scale, orientation, projection and rendering option.

Workgroup Referencing
It is easy to design in a team environment with VectorWorks Fundamentals. Team members can view the entire project but make edits only within their individual areas of responsibility. Then, final drawings are assembled by pulling together all the component drawings from your team.

Completely Customisable
A complete, self-contained development environment named VectorScript® is built right in. It’s straightforward enough to be used by a beginner, yet powerful enough for the most experienced CAD programmer. You can create everything from simple scripts that automate routine drafting tasks to full-blown commercial applications.

Dedicated Support
VectorWorks Fundamentals has a dedicated support system, so you have access to help in a variety of forms whenever you need it:
• A comprehensive printed manual and interactive on-line help
• 24-hour message boards
• Free technical support
• Email ListServs
• Training CDs

Affordability
It is easy to see why VectorWorks is used by more than 400,000 designers and sold in more than 80 countries – no other software offers so much for so little. But VectorWorks Fundamentals affordability goes beyond the initial purchase price. You also get free technical support, affordable training, free updates and reasonably priced upgrades.

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