[SML] Vectorworks and AutoCAD

[C. Andrew Dunning]

Michael -

 

…with all the mouse clicking and unintuitive arbitrary keyboard shortcuts (where they exist at all), I just don't see how I'll ever reach the same speed as with AutoCAD and the command-line.

 

Am I missing something? Is it worth plugging away at VectorWorks to get more skilled?

 

I totally get your question…and, potential pain.  Several years ago I transitioned from a “command-line” package (albeit, not AutoCAD) to VW’s GUI world.  I didn’t think I’d ever be as fast as I was in my old system and making the change came with a lot of grumbling.  Now, several years later, zero regrets.

 

A little food-for-thought:

 

1)  Over time, I’ve learned the short-cut keys (some default and several custom) for tools and commands I use most often.  Now, they’re second-nature.  I don’t miss, at-all, the command-line (at least, in this context).

 

2)  As “drawing” in the CADD world is inherently mouse-driven, accessing tools, commands, and macros that way hasn’t proven to be as much of a stretch as I thought it would be.

 

3)  Several of the VW-specific features far out-weigh any “loss” I feel now and the command line.  For example, parametric objects, solid shapes, the Class/Layer system, and the built-in database.

 

…my 2¢US…

 

C. Andrew Dunning

Landru Design

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Nashville, TN, USA

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 <mailto:cad at landrudesign.com> cad at landrudesign.com

 <mailto:landrudesign at gmail.com> landrudesign at gmail.com

landrudesign at comcast.net

www.landrudesign.com

 

 

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