Vectorworks Course

Lesson 1 • Document Setup and Units

Configures page size, scale, and measurement units before any drawing begins. Correct setup prevents scaling errors throughout the project.

Lesson 2 • Customising the Workspace

Adjusts toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, and palette layouts to match personal workflow. A tailored workspace reduces repetitive actions and speeds production.

Lesson 3 • File Management Essentials

Teaches creating, saving, and organising Vectorworks files and templates. Proper file habits protect work and streamline project handoffs.

Lesson 1 • Dimensions and Annotations

Applies linear, angular, and radial dimensions plus text notes to communicate design intent. Properly formatted annotations meet professional drawing standards.

Lesson 2 • Basic Drawing Tools

Introduces lines, rectangles, circles, arcs, and polygons as the core 2D vocabulary. Mastery of these tools underpins every plan and elevation drawing.

Lesson 3 • Hatches and Fill Patterns

Assigns hatch patterns and solid fills to closed shapes to indicate materials and regions. Consistent fill usage improves drawing legibility and presentation quality.

Lesson 4 • Object Editing and Modification

Covers move, rotate, scale, mirror, and trim operations on drawn objects. Editing efficiency directly reduces drafting time on complex drawings.

Lesson 1 • Object Attributes and Data

Assigns line weight, colour, and data records to objects through the Attributes palette. Consistent attributes ensure drawings read correctly at any output scale.

Lesson 2 • Layer and Class Interaction

Demonstrates how layers and classes work together to filter and display drawing content. Combined control enables discipline-specific views from a single model.

Lesson 3 • Working with Classes

Uses classes to group objects by type, trade, or phase for selective display and editing. Class-based organisation scales efficiently to large, multi-discipline projects.

Lesson 1 • Using Vectorworks Libraries

Accesses built-in content libraries for furniture, fixtures, plants, and standard details. Library content speeds drawing production and ensures dimensional accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Creating and Editing Symbols

Converts geometry into symbols for repeated placement without duplicating file data. Symbol editing propagates changes to all instances simultaneously.

Lesson 3 • Building Custom Resource Libraries

Creates firm-specific libraries of symbols, hatches, and line types for reuse across projects. Custom libraries enforce office standards and reduce per-project setup time.

Lesson 1 • NURBS and Freeform Surfaces

Introduces NURBS curves and surfaces for organic shapes beyond prismatic solid modelling. Freeform tools expand design vocabulary for curved architectural and product forms.

Lesson 2 • 3D Object Editing and Alignment

Applies 3D move, rotate, mirror, and align commands to position geometry accurately in space. Precise placement ensures the model matches design intent and dimensions.

Lesson 3 • Solid Primitives and Boolean Operations

Creates boxes, spheres, cylinders, and cones, then combines them with Boolean add, subtract, and intersect. Boolean modelling is the fastest path to complex solid forms.

Lesson 4 • Extrude and Push-Pull Modeling

Converts 2D profiles into 3D solids using extrude, extrude along path, and shell commands. These tools bridge 2D drafting skills directly into 3D form creation.

Lesson 1 • Stairs and Railings

Generates code-aware stair and railing objects using parametric input dialogs. Automated geometry reduces manual drafting and supports accessibility compliance checks.

Lesson 2 • Walls, Doors, and Windows

Places parametric wall objects and inserts door and window plug-in objects with full data. Parametric elements update automatically when design parameters change.

Lesson 3 • Floors, Roofs, and Slabs

Creates floor slabs, roof objects, and ceiling planes with configurable layer assemblies. Accurate floor and roof geometry is required for energy and area calculations.

Lesson 4 • Spaces and Area Calculations

Defines space objects to calculate net and gross areas automatically from the model. Space data feeds room schedules and supports programming and code compliance reviews.

Lesson 1 • Creating and Configuring Viewports

Places design layer viewports on sheet layers at specified scales with controlled visibility. Viewports are the primary mechanism for translating model data into drawings.

Lesson 2 • Section and Detail Viewports

Generates section cuts and enlarged detail viewports directly from the 3D model. Model-derived sections stay synchronised with design changes automatically.

Lesson 3 • Print and Publish Settings

Configures print dialog options and uses the Publish command to batch-output PDF drawing sets. Batch publishing saves time and ensures consistent output across all sheets.

Lesson 1 • Project Delivery and Handoff

Prepares final project files for client delivery, archiving, and consultant coordination. Structured handoff procedures protect project data and ensure recipient usability.

Lesson 2 • Schedules and Worksheets

Builds database-driven worksheets that extract object data into formatted schedules. Live schedules eliminate manual counting and reduce coordination errors.

Lesson 3 • Scripting and Automation Basics

Introduces Vectorscript and Python scripting to automate repetitive drawing tasks. Basic automation multiplies productivity on large or repetitive project types.

Lesson 4 • Clash Detection and Model Coordination

Uses Vectorworks coordination tools and IFC-based workflows to identify geometric conflicts. Early clash detection reduces costly field changes during construction.