Observation on Design – VectorWorks / RenderWorks How!
What: Efficiency- #3 Keyboard Equivalents
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 the Keyboard Equivalents in your Workspace.
As far as I understand, this should be available with any version of VectorWorks / RenderWorks. Use the Workspace Editor to alter the keyboard keys needed to select a specific Menu Item or Tool. Make it so that items you use more often, are easy to select. In VectorWorks / RenderWorks, look towards the bottom of the Tools menu for the Workspace Editor under Workspaces.
Your non-dominant hand controls the keyboard interface. This is easy for anyone who is played a musical instrument as both hands are more often required. Piano, guitar, saxophone, etcetera.
To use a Keyboard Equivalent is to quickly jump into a Tool Pallet and select a specific tool, or … “pull down” a desired Menu and select that particular Menu Item without moving the cursor.
In the Workspaces Editor, Keyboard Equivalent settings are in several places. Start by looking at the right most selection box (tab) on the top, Keys.
Some designers also use photo and illustrating software on a regular basis, in addition to VectorWorks / RenderWorks. One good reason to alter the existing Keyboard Equivalents in your Workspace is to match commands / selections more common in other applications. Keeps the confusion down to a minimum, making the switch back and forth between applications much easier. (I always have an application called Graphic Converter running along side VectorWorks / RenderWorks as it allows for fast efficient editing of textures and images.) It is good that VectorWorks / RenderWorks utilizes many of the Keyboard Equivalents you are already attuned to. Copy and Paste for example.
Under the Keys heading, (Blue Arrow) in the Workspaces Editor, you find the basic settings. Mode Group are used with the Tool options along the Tool Bar (Pink Box). Other Keys as listed. (You should know what “T” and “B” are for.) On the right are the keys that turn Constraints on and off. (Red Arrow) These are easy to select, and can be used in the middle of creating an object. Even when the Constraints Pallet is not visible.
The other Keyboard Equivalent settings are in the Menu and Tool settings of the Workspaces Editor. Click on Tools in the top three options. Expand the Basic arrow, then the View / Draw option below it. (Orange Arrows) To the right are the Keyboard Equivalent settings. (Orange Box) Some are interesting combinations… others are easy to remember. E for Eye Dropper . H for Pan (Hand!)
Sometimes, after all these years of VectorWorks / RenderWorks I still hit a number thinking I know what Tool it is associated with, only to then type a different number. Better to try to use the Keyboard Equivalent settings, as you will get to know them long term. There is visual feedback when selecting a Tool from the keyboard. Touch a key to make a selection, for example in the Basic Tools Pallet, and simply watch in the tool bar for the matchingTool. It becomes the highlighted selection.
Because I often work on a laptop, I have learned to open pallets with the keyboard. Versus keeping them open and consuming precious screen space. Control / Command – I opens the Object Info pallet and it also closes it. Control / Command – R opens the Resource pallet. These Keyboard Equivalent settings are in the Menu tab (Purple Arrow) of the Workspaces Editor. (Purple Box)
Also notice that sometimes, there are several options to accomplishing the same thing. Example: Object Info Pallet . It’s a vital place for entering and verifying data about a selected object. Simplest method to open the Object Info Pallet? Control / Command – I. There is another option that speeds the process. If you have an object selected, use Option + Command – C. Not only does this open the Object Info Pallet, it enters and selects the first data location, for easy revision of any numerical changes. Tab to go through the fields in the Object Info Pallet. Type the same Option + Command – C keyboard combination again and it changes Object Info Pallet location to the Data Tab . To exit, If you want to close the Object Info Pallet, Use Control / Command -I and you are back to the drawing board, so to speak.
What: Add efficiency when drawing with VectorWorks / RenderWorks
How: Edit and use the Keyboard Equivalent in the desired Workspace
Level: Simple
Thats how I did it!
Observation on DESIGN 