Dear Visualarq experts, is there a way to set up the usage mode for the plan view?
In the current project, I’m encountering some difficulties.
To produce standardized collaborative drawings, I need to maintain complete boundaries for each type of object.
However, in the plan view output of Visualarq, I have to export each category of objects separately by toggling layers, and then re-trim and combine them into closed aggregation lines like block.
Is there a feasible method to output a line drawing with overlapping lines, without having to repeatedly toggle the layers on and off?
screenshot in visualarq plan view mode
Hi @HxH I’m not sure to understand your request. Which overlapping lines do you refer? Can you show the result you get, and the result you wished in different screenshots? If you can provide a 3dm file to test, it will help!
The demo file is a non-English language adjusted to English, and it may contain garbled text annotations or layer errors .
The workflow is as follows :
First of all, create the base drawing using VisualARQ, then create the VisualARQ floor plan style, and finally export the drawings using VisualARQ commands and without explode floor plan .
As a side note, after six months of working with the VisualARQ collaborative environment, I have noticed that the floor plan style in VisualARQ consists of fragmented short line segments, which poses a challenge when cleaning up relatively large drawings. It becomes a lengthy test of endurance .
I wonder how the VisualARQ team handles large and complex drawings in your work ?
I don’t see any VisualARQ object in your file. Not even a VisualARQ Plan view.
Could you attach the file you create the plan views from?
Can you provide an example of this?
We recommend using the real-time views of the model in plan, section, elevation,etc… view using the Hidden display mode for producing 2D drawings, rather than the workflow to add 2D plan and section views in the model space. If you use the Hidden display mode in these views, you will be able to print that to Vector output (check this out: 5.8 Page Layout - VisualARQ), and also export it to DWG with the vaExportToDWG command (only in VisualARQ 3), as you have seen.
Besides this, the fact a large file with lots of 2D drawings is manageable or not relies on Rhino capabilities (and the system features).
Hello @fsalla , I think the comments in the document may not have clearly conveyed my thoughts regarding the current process, as well as the issues in manufacturing and collaboration.
I have tried to add the original VisualARQ objects back and included explanations of other process steps I went through, hoping it will help with understanding." d140125 with vaq ele overlapping area annotation.7z (15.1 MB)
Hi @HxH thanks again for the new file.
I can see now what you mean with the 2D drawings that VisualARQ generates. Indeed, some wall lines break down into different segments when they are generated in 2D, and ideally a polyline curve could be generated instead for their boundaries in 2D. We will study if we can improve this behavior in future versions.
Thank you for @fsalla response.
I think it might be more concrete to describe this implementation as something similar to a print, with layers stacked upon layers, or as an overlay of layers.
Additionally, I am providing a simple conceptual diagram here, hoping it helps the VisualARQ experts understand the idea during development. d160125_std_convert_to_rh_apart_A_ready_exp.7z (1.9 MB)
Each object has its own outline. Meanwhile, the projection’s cross-sectional lines connect as the same areas.
Also, is there a possibility of seeing such an implementation in the upcoming VisualARQ 3.xx, or perhaps in the early preview of VisualARQ 4.xx in the future?
Hi @HxH I understand better your request now. What you are asking for could be implemented for the sectioned contours of objects in future VisualARQ versions (not in VisualARQ 3.X though), but it would be more difficult to achieve for objects displayed in projection, since they might be partially covered by other objects and therefore it would not be possible to get a closed outline from them.
I’m glad to hear that @fsalla and the VisualARQ team is focusing on this issue.
Actually, there’s a relatively simple question in the previous documentation, but I seem to have overlooked it.
When the “Plan View style” in VisualARQ is exported to a DWG file using the vaExportToDwg command.
All the furniture, doors, and window blocks are separated into a mass of line segments.
Is it possible to keep each element separated as a group, or alternatively, after projection, insert the elements back into the drawing as blocks?
In a collaborative environment and when managing drawings, having these blocks would make it easier to operate and communicate interactively.
Hi @HxH , yes, we can try to keep objects as blocks when we export them to DWG whenever it is possible. Because if some of these objects are partially covered by others in the plan view, then it will be more difficult to achieve this.
@fsalla , once again, thank you for your proactive response.
I think this can be a step-by-step improvement in terms of sequence.
It can start by grouping elements, and then allow them to stack like layers in a mask. Regardless, drag-and-drop positioning is a frequent task in collaboration, and I believe the goal is clear.
Additionally, I have some words of gratitude. I understand the challenges and difficulties of iterating on an independent and highly imaginative product.
Sometimes, many problems cannot be solved by VisualARQ alone; all we can do is wait for Rhino to gradually improve and pave the way for developers, just like the various struggles in Engineering drawings .
Because of this, a simple yet unassuming small advancement is often the result of countless hours of brainstorming and hard work. I sincerely appreciate every developer’s effort.
VisualARQ’s contribution to native Rhino BIM is truly remarkable.
