Placing windows

Before I buy (or build) a transparent window I can't use, can someone edumacate me on placing windows in a wall? There are two ways I can see:

1) Place a window prim (that is thicker than the wall) in the middle of the wall. The transparency will either (i) erase the part of the wall that's there, or (ii) be transparent only until the wall prim begins.

2) Use multiple prims to build a wall, leaving an opening in which you can place a transparent window.

Obviously, 1 would require fewer prims, and is what I would like the answer to be. But I suspect the answer is 2. Or is there a third option that I haven't thought of? Thanks!

Sorry, (1) doesn't work; you'll just see through the glass to the wall behind it.

A third option, not as flexible as (2) but using less prims, is to make your wall using a hollowed-out cube, rotated 90 degrees and stretched so the opening goes the way you want it. The down side of this is, the hollow part will always be centered on the wall, and always sized proportionally to the wall too. You can make a wall *section* like this though that gives you the shape and position of window you want, and fill in around it; with some planning this will still use less prims than (2) did.

Aha, I see! Thanks for that; I just realized a way I can make arched windows by using 2 prims per section rather than 4. Perfect!

You can do it with a texture. Either make yourself a texture for the wall and include a window that is transparent and place it on your prim...........one prim for the wall.

Check the design and texture forum below this one...........that's where the real experts reside

Painted windows+walls are good for super-low prim building, but I like Anti's suggestion for a good compromise on prim use versus alpha sorting nightmares with furniture (and some avatar hair etc).