Donald Wardlaw

Here is another selection related option I'd like to see. Highlight color for objects that are positioned to select, that is the cursor is over and the object will select with a click, those objects I'd like to see in a different color from selected objects. Maybe like this: Cursor over object, but not yet formally selected, object highlights green. Object selected, object highlights red.

Often as project models evolve in new directions, I duplicate the formz file, give it a new version number, and set the old file aside. The last time I did this, (also duplicating the .fza and .fzb files), the .fzb and .fza files do not update, they remain as they were when duplicated. How can I get a new .fzb file linked to the current file I am working on? Thanks, Donald

Hi Justin, Thanks for you insights. I'll put them to good use. I'd still prefer to have paste replace selected object as the option, not the default. Donald

Paste replaces selected object. I realize this is a tradition in formz, but it causes me to lose more time than just about anything. The reason is that it is very easy to inadvertently select an object, move the scene so that it is out of view, and then paste an object I want to paste. Then later I notice that some object I've modeled is not longer there. Happens to me a lot. In my opinion, this behavior should be a simple preference that can be on or off. Thanks, Donald

I just downloaded this app today. It is on a new iPad pro. I haven't used it enough to write a review, but first impression is that it is really cool. I hope ADS continues to keep this product alive and enhance it. The price at the apple store is perfect. Making formz models available to clients will I think put a smile on their face. I can see them sharing it with their friends. That would be valuable marketing for me.

Doh. Object snap were turned off. I'm just trying to show I guess, how you can use this program for 25 years and still make your dog look smart....

I've lost normal behavior of the measure distance tool. It is not properly catching the starting and ending points of a measurement. I get a value, but when I turn the view a bit I see it was running a measurement that looks like point to point, but were actually arbitrary points that were not in he plane of the points I was trying to measure. Used to work fine.

It looks to me that when I cut a section, it permanently alters the model. And, it doesn't remember what the model was. So, sections must be done on duplicates of the model in order to retain the ability to continue working with the model. I'm surprised to see this approach. Maybe, I'm missing something? Would not be the first time. I see that I can keep the model objects if I ghost or keep operands. Is the the route to retaining the model? Keeping them results in overlay confusion. Ghosting allows me to keep them visually separate, but then the model I want might intermingle with other ghosts I do not want to unghost with the model. Thanks, Donald

When I go to the help menu, and select "Manual" it opens a web page with the index. If I hit the search tab, I get gibberish, as attached. FZ 8.57 OSX 10.11.6 Safari 10.1.2 3.tiff

Thanks to both. I don't think, though, that industry standard for word processing, carries much weight with CAD. Vectorworks has never replaced the selected object if some other object is accidentally selected. To me it is more a question of what might we want to do. I do appreciate also the insight into managing the boolean operations. That is smart and I will up my game a bit there. Donald

I'm not sure if this is my deficiency or formz's. If it is me there is probably some setting I need to know about. In my files, if I have an object selected, and I paste a new object, the previously selected object is deleted. I would like to be able to paste an object without a previously selected object being replaced. There are frequently situations where an object is used to trim other objects. That object is deleted by difference, but it is re-pasted for the next similar operation. Problem it that when I'm zoomed in, it is very easy to select another object accidentally, which then gets accidentally deleted. This seems to be more of a problem with recent versions of formz due to the enhanced selection capabilities, which I otherwise like. Donald

"If lines that should be straight in the photo are curved, then it is too distorted to match view perfectly." Mastery is often a game of knowing the tolerances for imperfection. Not knowing them, I went with the speculation that since I was trying to fit the model into a narrow angle of the total angle of the scene, the curvature *might* be relatively flat and workable. Zoomed in it all looked rather straight. In fact, prior to solving, I saw red lines on the image which corresponded to the straight lines on the model----and they occurred on the lines in the image I expected them to. What I couldn't figure out, was how formz seemed to understand where it was supposed to put the model edges, and they looked straight, but when I solved the match, it didn't put the edges where it indicated it would. If those lines were actually curved, then in connecting them formz must have drawn them curved, since they matched the image in which the lines are thought to be curved. And yet, it didn't seem plausible that formz was drawing the lines curved. Finally, the mismatch in the solution was major, not subtle. As always I appreciate the help from the formz crew, you are such a great resource. I have since done matches on more normal photos and it works pretty much as advertised.

I am uploading the file to a drop box and will email the link to support. Sorry for file size---it's the image, not my model. Again, the formz file contains the model, but i've also made a simple solid, aligned on a separate layer, so that the control points on the matching model are few and separate. I put in 8 distinct points and can't get it to solve properly. When you see the horizon that may give a clue. Donald

Howdy, The background is a true image, but what I sent was a cropped version to keep file size low. The image was made with a drone and it has a fairly wide angle of view. Angle unknown. Yes I am clicking on the solve button. What I posted was the solution. The model definitely moved and adjusted. Problem is, that even giving it 5-6 points, major building corners do not move to where they are supposed to move. I'll compress the model and post it. Ok if I send a note to Paul H. with link? Thanks, Donald

Could you look at the attached? The bullets go to the right locations but you can see that the model does not map to where the targets are. You can look at the rubber band lines, the solid red lines showing collinearity, but the model points don't go there. I don't know how to get this to work.