Main features in VectorWorks

Many friends asked me about all the fuzz around VectorWorks, and why I talk about it a lot, so I thought to list some of the main functions I like about VectorWorks:

• A complete 2D and 3D package, unlike many applications that work around BIM and smart handling of the design process, it handles the basic 2D drawing and 3D modeling with ease and with little rough edges in this part; mostly because it is one of the earlier applications in the market, so it perfected this part in the earlier releases before focusing on the smart-part of model designing.
  
• Smart environment, it does not just understand the distinction between 2D and 3D (a Hybrid Environment in VectorWorks words), it also understands the higher level objects that can create the advanced designs, for not only the architectural designs, but for site planning and urban designing too.
  
• The SmartCursor and the floating Data bar, it is like the AutoCAD OSnaps (which I consider the best feature in AutoCAD), but works in a way that is somehow more intuitive.
  
• The Solid Modeling, its ability to keep the source solids in the Boolean operations and handle them as a group is much more intuitive than the AutoCAD way of handling the solids, also its (mostly) parametric editing of the basic 3D objects gives the application a very flexible environment that doesn't rely only on the editing tools available (now more powerful in VectorWorks 2009 with the Parasolid kernel).
  
• The site modeling, it is one of the premier applications in modeling the land, while staying easy enough for using such features; I'm used to the GIS way of modeling parts of the earth and its usage of advanced tools to take care of data entry and data modification; but the way VectorWorks construct, model, modify, and visualize the site is way too powerful that it fills all of my needs in this area, and I think it is very intuitive compared to AutoCAD Civil 3D.
  
• Plants management, this is an area where no major CAD application can beat VectorWorks, its plants tools and its built-in extensible Plants database can be the ultimate tool for the Landscape architect.
  
• Its ability to import and export SHP files and its recognition of georeferenced tools, this is the way I expect CAD applications to integrate with any GIS system (well, maybe support for direct databases connection and data query and visualization inside the CAD is better, but that makes it a GIS package too, not just a CAD application).
  
• The RenderWorks engine, it is not V-Ray or 3dsmax, but it is the best thing that I know of that is part of a CAD (it is not really built-in, you have to pay for it, but it is still very integrated inside the VectorWorks application that I consider it to be an optional built-in feature).
  
• The integration with Cinema 4D, it opens the gate for VectorWorks to real 3D rendering and advanced 3D modeling, I just hope NNA creates a tool to integrate with Maxwell Render and maybe the best of all, integrate V-Ray inside VectorWorks with optional plug-in. 
• The architectural objects and symbols, while they are not as advanced as ArchiCAD tools, its integration with the complete 2D/3D functionality in VectorWorks makes it a better choice when designing in the non-western countries, where the design patterns are slightly different and may not be supported in the built-in customization capabilities in the application.
  
• The drawing structure scheme, the usage of both design layers and classes is conceptually more correct than using layers to arrange and classify the drawing objects (and more generic than using the layers and stories concept that is used in ArchiCAD); I also like the design layers concept, while I think it would be better named just Layers and the sheet layers would be named Sheets, but whatever, after a week or so inside VectorWorks, you will get used to the different terms.
  
• Many other features that gives me the feeling that the VectorWorks developers are more focused on usability than having to release a product every year (like what Autodesk likes to do, just for the sake of upgrading and keeping a stream of cash in their pockets, whether their software deserves or not).