VW / RW How! – Efficiency- #2 Workspace Editor – Tools.

Observation on Design – VectorWorks / RenderWorks How!

What: Efficiency- #2 Workspace Editor. – Tools

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 Workspace Tools.

Efficiency- #2… Workspace Editor again Tools.

Here is another similar way to be more efficient when you draw in VectorWorks / RenderWorks. Use the same simple technique: Edit Tool Pallets in your Workspace. As far as I have seen, this works with any version of VectorWorks / RenderWorks. Use the Workspaces Editor to alter location and number of Tools in your preferred tool pallets. Make it so the Tools you use often are in positions that are easiest to get to.

People who Mouse click their Tool and Menu selections will benefit from optimized Tool pallets.

Oddly, I have altered my favorite Workspace, to make several Tools go away! Those I never use or only use on an occasional basis because of the specific design discipline. Parking Spaces … gone. 3D Rotate … gone. The entire hardware palette … almost gone. (Just not opened very often) I tend to pick Tools by typing Keyboard Shortcuts, not select them with the cursor. This equates to limited interaction with some Tool Pallets.

More on that in another post.

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.

There is an option to see ALL, (single red arrow) where you are able to scan a list of Tools in the Workspace Editor, even if they are not part of the selected pallet. You may also find this an easy place to browse and learn.

Stacked Tools, one tool that is hidden under another, (Blue arrow) can also be unstacked. This brings a desired tool to a top level. Adding a tool to the upper level may expand the size of a Tool pallet. A concern if, for example, you draw on a laptop or a single screen. My take has been to unstack a few Tools so they are at a top level, and eliminate a few Tools to keep the specific Tool Pallet efficient in size. As you alter the tool pallet in the Workspace Editor watch the specific tool placement. (Orange Arrow) Indented location, as compared to the Tool above. This equates to a Tool that will be located under another.

Notice how tools are repeated in different Tool Pallets (Red arrows below) in some stock Workspaces. The Fly Over Tool is one example. This allows a much used tool to be available when different Tool Pallets are being selected.