Importing scaffolding from WinDec3D

Tool	Tool set
WinDec3D	Event

The WinDec3D application, developed by Layher France, allows you to create scaffolding with various Layher products. You can then use the WinDec3D tool in Vectorworks to import your file and convert the various elements of your structure as Vectorworks symbols, that you can select and modify in your project. Once you're done, you can choose to export the file back to WinDec3D to establish your order to Layher.

Please note that WinDec3D is an external product and that you'll need an apart serial number to use this application.

To import your scaffolding from WinDec3D to Vectorworks:

Create your scaffolding structure in the WinDec3D app. Then select Export > Vectorworks.

A window opens. Select the folder where you want to save it.

Select the tool in Vectorworks. It opens the WinDec3D web palette.

Click the Select button  and select the file to import. A message lets you know if the file selection was successful and mentions the file path.

Click the Import button  to import the file content as Vectorworks symbols in your file.

 This process can take a few minutes, depending on the file size and the number of symbols to import. The corresponding symbols are retrieved from these locations: [Vectorworks / User folder / Workgroup folder]/Entertainement/Stage/Scaffolding.

You see now your scaffolding in your Vectorworks project. You can edit it, if necessary, or replace the symbols that you want by clicking Replace on the symbol's Object Info palette in case of mismatch.

Click the Warning button  to see the errors that occurred during the import and the symbols that could not be imported. These are reported in a log file (in .txt format), located in the same folder as the imported file.

Once you're done editing your structure, you can click the Export button  to create a file that you'll be able to export back to the WinDec3D application, in order to make your order to Layher.

Workflow: Inserting missing symbols

Once you've imported your structure in Vectorworks, you may notice that some symbols are missing in the drawing and are replaced by red cones. You can insert these symbols very easily using the Select similar tool (see Soortgelijke objecten selecteren).

To replace the missing symbols :

Once you've imported your structure, you can see red cones appear where symbols are missing.

Select the Select Similar tool and click on one of the red cones. All the cones replacing the same symbol are selected.

In the Object Info palette, you can see the original product code. Click on Replace. The Choose Symbol dialog opens.

Click on the Resource Selector to open the library and type the product code in the search bar to find the corresponding missing Layher symbol.

Double-click on the symbol to select it and click on OK.

The missing symbol is imported in your document to replace the red cones. Proceed the same way for each missing symbol.