Manuals:Installation manual

This manual guides you through installing the VectorMEP module and workspace on Vectorworks® software.

2020 and earlier

Update instructions

Migration

Migration of the toolsets from older versions will not work. It is advised to remove any existing VectorMEP menu's and tools and to re-add them using the installer script.

Manual installation

The described workflow can be used for a new installation or an upgrade of a previous installed VectorMEP module.

The VectorMEP module and library need to be installed in the user’s library folder.

The user’s library folder exists in a platform-specific location:

• Windows: C:\Users\//Username//\AppData\Roaming\Nemetschek\Vectorworks\2019\
• Mac: /Users///Username///Library/Application Support/Vectorworks/2019/

The last number describes the Vectorworks version, for 2018, 2019...

We will continue to call this folder USER_LIB

More info about the location of this folder can be found in the Vectorworks help under the

section "Scripted Plug-ins".

The described folders/files to copy can be found in the

"InstallMeUsingThePluginManager.zip" file found in the download folder.

Uninstalling the VectorMEP module

Windows:

Remove "VectorMEP.vwr", "VectorMEP.vlb"

In: USER_LIB/Plug-ins/

Mac:

Remove "VectorMEP.vwlibrary"

In: USER_LIB/Plug-ins/

Installing the VectorMEP module

Windows:

Copy "VectorMEP.vwr", "VectorMEP.vlb"

Into: USER_LIB/Plug-ins/

Mac:

Copy "VectorMEP.vwlibrary"

Into: USER_LIB/Plug-ins/

Installing the VectorMEP library

Copy the folder "VectorMEP"

Into: USER_LIB/Library/Defaults/

Note that the folders "Plug-ins", "Library" and "Defaults" are localised based on your local

Vectorworks language.

Automatic installation

If you are upgrading from a previous VectorMEP installation on Windows it is important to

manually uninstall the plug-in prior to installing the update.

Uninstalling the plug-in is described under the Manual (un)installation chapter.

Installing VectorMEP

1. Open Vectorworks.

2. Select Tools > Plug-ins > Plug-in Manager. The Plug-in Manager dialog box opens.

3. Select the Third-party Plug-ins pane.

4. Click the Install button and select the "InstallMeUsingThePluginManager.zip" file in

the VectorMEP download folder.

5. Restart Vectorworks.

6. Modify the workspace to include all VectorMEP tools and menu commands.

If the installer failed you will need to install VectorMEP manually.

In case of an upgrade where changes were made to the VectorMEP library, the installer will

back-up the old VectorMEP library with the current date as file name suffix.

You will need to manually copy over the custom content you created for them to become

available again.

Installing the VectorMEP workspace

We have provided an automated script to modify the active workspace to include all VectorMEP tools and menu commands. This script requires VectorMEP to be installed.

If Vectorworks presents an error --that the new workspace can't be loaded-- it's an issue with access permissions. Make sure the original workspace file/folder has full access and is not read-only.

From VectorMEP 2018.01 and beyond:

1. Open Vectorworks.

2. Select Tools > Third-Party > VectorMEP > Generate VectorMEP Basic/Premium workspace.

This command is available in any workspace, active on Vectorworks launch. If you manually switch workspace before running this command it will not be visible. In this case you need to restart for it to appear.

Older VectorMEP versions:

This installer might not work on some Windows installations.

1. Open Vectorworks.
2. Activate the workspace to modify.
3. Select Tools > Plug-ins > Run Script (or File > Import > Import Script). The Choose Script File (or Import Script Drawing Document) dialog box opens. Select the "Install VectorMEP workspace.vss" script file and click Open to run the script.
4. Follow the instructions presented by the dialog. A new pallet VectorMEP is added containing all our tools. The menu bar will also contain a VectorMEP sub menu.

Repeat step 1-4 for each workspace to edit.

If you decide to modify your workspace manually, all our tools are available under the category "VectorMEP" and similar subcategories.

The installer will not alter the active workspace. Instead, a duplicate is created under a new name.