The Setup commands automatically create the necessary structure for a complete drawing based on either Architect/Landmark standards or custom file setup requirements.
Versions of VectorWorks Architect and Landmark prior to 11 relied on layers, classes, and views (called sheets) to create the necessary file structure. Since version 11, the standards are centered around the concept of design layers (for drawing and design), classes, and viewports on sheet layers (for final drawing presentation and printing). The Setup commands automatically provide the necessary visibility settings, as well as design layer, sheet layer, class, and viewport structure, for creating a complete file based on standards. See Organizing the Drawing and Presenting Drawings with Sheet Layer Viewports.
The Setup commands create the file structure necessary to fit the project; a small project (such as a residential garden) requires a smaller set of layers and classes than a larger, more complex project.
For VectorWorks Architect, United Kingdom drawing standards are available through the Organization dialog box for classes, layers, sheet layers, viewports, and saved views. However, only classes, layers, and sheet layers can be imported from another document.
Drawing objects are assigned to classes; a class is an attribute of an object. Classes apply to the entire file and control the visibility of objects. Classes can be set to be visible, invisible, or grayed when they are inactive. Complex objects, such as symbols or plug-in objects, may contain more than one class; different parts of the object can be hidden or shown. Classes can also be used to assign graphical attributes and textures to objects.
Many plug-in objects that are included with VectorWorks Architect and Landmark are set with pre-assigned classes. The appropriate classes are created by the Setup commands and by certain other commands (see VectorWorks Architect and Landmark Classes). The use of auto-classing is determined with the Standard Naming setup command. For more information, see Creating Classes and Layers from Standards and Managing Classes.
A VectorWorks layer is a named container that holds items. VectorWorks uses two types of layers: design layers and sheet layers. Design layers are used for drawing and modeling the elements of a project. Sheet layers are created for the presentation of a finalized drawing, and can contain viewports, title blocks, notes, and other annotations. A viewport, located on a sheet layer, is a particular combination of visible, grayed, and/or hidden design layers and classes.
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Design layers can automatically set default Z-values for objects they contain. They create natural structural divisions within a drawing for objects on different floors or different vertical locations within a floor.
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Design layers, as well as viewports, can be displayed at different drawing scales, for the display of all aspects of a drawing plan from the site model to details.
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Design layers, as well as viewports, can have different 3D views. A building can be viewed in Plan view in one viewport and in an elevation or perspective view in another.
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Drawings set up with the Setup commands contain both design layers and sheet layers with viewports. A project file contains, at a minimum, design layers for every level, as well as a number of viewports on sheet layers.