Creating Objects from Polylines

The Objects from Polyline command uses an existing polyline or shape as the path for creating a variety of objects, as listed in the following table.

 

Object	Product
ceiling grids	Architect
guardrails	Architect, Landmark
handrails	Architect, Landmark
hardscape objects	Landmark
landscape walls	Landmark
linear material details	Architect, Landmark
massing models	Architect, Landmark
piping runs	Architect
plants	Landmark
property lines	Architect, Landmark
repetitive unit details	Architect, Landmark
revision clouds	Architect, Landmark, Spotlight
roadways	Architect, Landmark
roadways (NURBS)	Architect, Landmark
seating layouts	Architect, Spotlight
site modifiers	Architect, Landmark
spaces	Architect
stipple objects	Architect, Landmark, Spotlight
walls	Architect, Landmark, Spotlight
window walls	Architect

In addition to these standard objects, the Objects from Polyline command supports custom path objects (custom path plug-in objects with a  .vso extension). For details, see Creating Custom Path Objects.

Walls created with the Objects from Polyline command use the current settings made active by the Wall tool (Architect only).

The Create Walls from Polygon command is no longer available from a Design Series workspace because the Objects from Polyline command can be used for creating walls, which contains more functionality than the Create Walls from Polygon command. The Create Walls from Polygon command is still available in the VectorWorks Standard workspace and can be added to a Design Series workspace if desired.

To create an object from a polyline:

1.	Draw a polyline or select an existing polyline, rectangle, rounded rectangle, oval, polygon, or arc representing the path for creating the object.

2.	With the item selected, select Modify > Convert > Objects from Polyline.

The Create Objects from Polyline dialog box opens.

3.	Select the type of object and the creation parameters.

 

Parameter	Description
Object Type	Select the type of object to create based on the polyline path; the parameters available vary based on the object type selected
Offset	For guardrails, handrails, landscape walls, roadways, walls, and window walls, select whether to offset the object to the left, right, or centered on the polyline; select Custom to enter a custom offset distance
Custom Offset	For guardrails, handrails, landscape walls, roadways, walls, and window walls, specify the custom offset distance from the polyline, if any
Show Properties Dialog	Select to display the Object Properties dialog box for the specified object type prior to creating the object; this field is not applicable for plant objects because the default place plant settings are used
Delete Source Poly	Select to delete the polyline path after drawing the object
Continuous Spacing (Architect or Landmark required)	Select to automatically maintain continuous spacing between uprights from one object to the next based on the Upright Spacing value for guardrails or handrails; or mullions from one object to the next based on the Mullion Spacing value for window walls

4.	Click OK. If Show Properties Dialog was selected, the object properties dialog box for the specified object type opens. Enter the appropriate parameters, and then click OK.

If creating guardrails or handrails and Continuous Spacing was selected in the Create Objects from Polyline dialog box, enter the distance between the first upright and the start of the polyline in the 1st Upright Spacing field of the object properties dialog box. If Continuous Spacing was not selected, this value is applied to the first upright at the beginning of each segment of the polyline. Also enter the spacing to maintain between uprights in the Upright Spacing field of the object properties dialog box.

If creating window walls and Continuous Spacing was selected in the Create Objects from Polylines dialog box, enter the distance between the first mullion and the start of the polyline in the 1st Mullion Spacing field of the object properties dialog box. If Continuous Spacing was not selected, this value is applied to the first mullion at the beginning of each segment of the polyline. Also enter the spacing to maintain between mullions in the Mullion Spacing field of the object properties dialog box.

The object is created from the polyline and its parameters can be edited in the Object Info palette.