What you will learn

Expanding on a previous webinar on message schedules, this podcast discusses not only the technology used in creating message schedules but also the philosophy behind message schedules, their purpose and how to use them effectively.

Message schedules are the shorthand that connect designers to fabricators and allow for large amounts of information to be interpreted clearly. Jack Biesekand Dan Monaghan discuss the best approaches for utilizing message schedules on different projects and how different pieces of software work together and how you can integrate them into your practice of creating message schedules.

Jack Biesek talks about both “big picture” and technology issues in creating message schedules. Message schedules help keep projects on track and allow for an organized and well-documented execution. He stresses the importance of considering the environment in which you are working and with whom you are working when creating message schedules. Jack also emphasizes the power of planning to help you create more efficient and effective projects.

Dan Monaghan tackles the technical side of message schedules and compares different software options. He talks through how to deal with people using multiple software programs in a project and how to reconcile the differences between those different software programs and file formats to create a unified system for message schedules. 

Topics

• Different software programs for creating message schedules
• Communicating with clients and fabricators through message schedules
• CAD programs
• Message schedules as a planning tool
• Planning approvals
• Resolving conflicting messages
• Moving from message schedules to contact documents
• Benefits of using simpler vs more sophisticated software
• Using drawing programs, drawing data tag programs, raw data programs, and formatting software together in making message schedules
• Taking data and turning it into documentation
• Tying together the graphical front-end with the data back-end
• Standardizing symbols and file formats
• Things to keep in mind when comparing different software options 
• Scripting to communicate information seamlessly back and forth between programs
• Integrating different programs
• Judging complexity of a project: number of elements, number of people involved and timespan of project
• Time differences between software programs 

 

Questions Answered

• Are the leader lines and tags also editable in Vectorworks?
• How does the cost of the Vectorworks software compare to similar programs?
• Regarding categories for sign schedules, have you found that five has been sufficient in your experience?
• Is the sign schedule generated from the signs that you are plotting on the floor plans or is it from imported information?
• Can Vectorworks read in information from Filemaker?
• How flexible is the Vectorworks program for, say, a marketing person to add content?
• What is the difference in the time it takes to start up a project between using an interactive message schedule and using a more basic Word or Excel message schedule?
• Can Vectorworks read a DGN file?
• How easy is it to update information in Vectorworks?
• Do I need to own AutoCAD to use Vectorworks or can I just get a file from an architect to import?
• Is anyone using GPS in their data currently? How effective is it? When do you predict that window of opportunity will present itself?
• How does information flow from Filemaker Pro back to Vectorworks?

 

Course Materials

• This course contains 1 podcast, with 1 accompanying PDF presentation.


 

Duration

• Approximately 76 minutes

 

Speakers/presenters

• Jack Biesek 
• Dan Monaghan, Nemetschek

 

Presented August 2, 2005


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