Observation on Design – VectorWorks / RenderWorks How!
What: Efficiency- #3 Contextual Menus
Prelude: If you are looking for a way to be a little more efficient when you draw in VectorWorks / RenderWorks a simple technique is to edit your Contextual Menus.
This is the third in a series, yet another similar way to be more efficient when you draw in VectorWorks / RenderWorks. Use the simple technique: Edit Contextual Menu in your Workspace. As far as I have seen, this works with any version of VectorWorks / RenderWorks. Use the Workspaces Editor to alter what appears in the Contextual Menu.
Option click / right click. Edit the menu, so the items you use often are in positions that are easiest to get to. Traditionally PC users have accessed contextual menus with a Right Click of the mouse. Mac users have always had the same ability. (Single button mouse you say?) Let your non-dominant hand control the contextual interface via the keyboard. Option-Click. This right click or keyboard / mouse combination allows the cad user to easily access different features of the program.
The good thing / bad thing about contextual menus… They only work when accessed correctly. In a way this keeps you from selecting a tool or menu item that is irrelevant to the selected geometry, on the other hand it may keep you from understanding what is quickly available for use in that situation.
Two styles of Contextual Menus. Object Context … (Orange Arrow) is activated when the cursor is over an object, selected or not. Document Context (Blue Arrow) is activated when you right click in the empty space on the drawing. (Or the empty space inside a 3D object…)
Object Context brings up a custom menu of items that pertain to the object the cursor is on. Like Cut or Copy. The Document Context brings up a custom menu of items that pertain to the drawing. Like Layer Options or Class Options.
Oddly, I have altered my Contextual Menu, to make several items go away! Those I never use or those I only use on an occasional basis. Because of the specific design discipline I am working in. (Also got rid of items I got tied of accidentally selecting …)
Again, you should note that it is always a good recommendation to use a copy of the desired Workspace for editing purposes. Then, if it is not functioning as expected, it can be deleted / replaced.
You can always switch to a different Workspace … mid design. Then switch back to your favorite. This will allow you to easily access Tools you may have eliminated with an edited Workspace, or Tools in a Tool Pallet that is not visible in your normal VW / RW configuration.
Notice how Menu Items, you put in the Contextual Menu may also be available in the drop down Menus at the top of the screen. This allows a much loved Menu Item to be available in multiple places. Flexibility is a plus for VW/RW users as it lets individuals tailor the application to your style or drawing discipline.
Note: In the learning process, it does not sound logical to have tools or menu items ONLY appear when the contextual menu is activated. If there is no other indication, no other location, then it may add to the frustration of finding and utilizing that Menu Item rather than the efficiency needed.
One nice feature of the Contextual Menu in VW/RW is the ability to access certain Pallets. If you draw on small screen or laptop you may not leave these pallets open while you draw as they consume real estate. Do you use the Info Palette to modify things mathematically? With the Contextual menus, the Properties… (pallet) is easy to accessed. This is the Object Information Pallet with the addition of an OK button.
I draw on a laptop that does not have a full extended keyboard , ie: There is no number pad on the right side. As such, I am not able to access, numerically, the different Standard Views of a 3D drawing pre assigned by VW/RW. 
Some of these views like Top Plan have keyboard equivalents, easily to access. Other Standard Views are easily selected by making them part of the Document Context menu.
Hint: To visually separate selections, add a divider line between items in the contextual menus. Grab the line in the upper left (Pink Arrow) of the Workspaces Editor. Under New Menu.
Pull it down to where you want it to be. Note that the divider lines will NOT go between paired or grouped items.
What: Add efficiency when drawing with VectorWorks / RenderWorks
How: Edit Contextual Menus in the desired Workspace
Level: Simple
Thanks – Observation on Design – Thats how I did it!
Observation on DESIGN 