James Russell

Oh, So I've just answered my own question though playing. Just if you're wondering you can add a custom field to the existing light info record and it will automatically detect this new entry when you next insert the lamp. J

Hey everyone, Just having a big explore with the light info record. In my current lighting device plugin I've changed some of the custom user fields to have things such as mounting and additional lamp data. Now when I'm creating new fixture I'd like them to automatically have this data assigned much like the wattage and frame sizes are automatically filled when you insert a lamp from the library. Anyone know how/if I can add to the lamp info record to link into my new custom fields? Cheers, James

Jeff, I thought this would have been an easy task but like you I am having trouble. The only thought that I am having is that Vectorworks have not allowed for a blended screen to contain side by side projectors that do not cover the screen entirely, ie 50/50. there for the only valid workaround that I have found is to insert two regular screens 6' x 21' with separate projectors and if required map the coverage area with a screen of the overall size, see attached. If anyone had found options to change the side by side blended screen which is a 50/50 line up I'd be interested to know. J

Has anyone made a workspace that has all tools and all commands available? I'm a little sick of finding out that although I am working in one mode there are tools that would help in another, for example I work most commonly in the Spotlight workspace which means the site planning tools I love are hidden. I have moved a majority across into my custom workspace but in doing so I am sure I've missed several bits an pieces along with Icons and Tooltips. Anyone have a mega layout? Cheers, J

Thanks Peter, a quicker work around than what I had. Still not ideal but that's okay. Cheers, J

When you duplicate a layer is it possible for the viewports already relating to the layer not to include the new layer? Often when duplicating a layer I wish to use all the components within the layer although I already have several viewports in which I do not want this new layer to show. By default the new layer is shown meaning I must alter these viewports to make them hide the new layer. Obviously this is desired in some situation although in most cases it is not. Cheers, J

I just used =xcenter and =ycenter as the column header and these give you the data relating to the x and y coordinates but these are uneditable values, anyone know why this is? J

Tami, Great that you have chosen to teach this course. I teach 2D and 3D Vectorworks drawing at the University of Melbourne here in Australia. The Vectorworks sessions that I attended with training staff back when I started my own studies had their own course structure which basically followed the VW Manual. These days I write my own structure depending on the students and the results they want to achieve and I suggest you do the same. Basic design at the moment fits into 6 x 2.5 hr classes and we normally cover 2D skills, introduction to 3D, viewports and presentation with enough time for an in class assignment and some play time in relation to rendering and other features. If you were wanting to teach anything more than this such as Lighting plans, Architectural plans, advanced rendering or concept development you would almost defiantly think about more time. Hope this all helps and good luck. J

Ken, These days right from the start I'm using the wall tool to do all the things I used to do with polygons. Even if it's just a 2D drawing it's always better to throw it into a isometric view and check it's right. The fill elements you are referring to happen in two different areas. The first is in the attributes panel where there is the general fill. If you don't have Renderworks this is the fill colour for the wall and for the 3D rendering. Now if you have Renderworks you can click the render tab in your Object Info Palette you have a variety of options in relation to top fill, inner wall, outer wall, ends and such. This lets you have a brick exterior, plaster interior and your black fill on top, for example. Hope that helps. J

Hey all, Just a quick question, I work in Spotlight AUS workspace most commonly but I'm finding that some of the other palettes from other workspaces (site planning, space planning and MEP) would be great in my Spotlight AUS palettes. Is there an easy way of copying a whole segment of a palette and putting it in mine without the hassle of writing the tool set down and recreating it by hand? Cheers, James

Mmm, I was suspecting as much. I have just finished such a script although it's just a little frustrating to know that changing one line behind that script button would save all that work. Thanks anyway Josh.

Thanks Mike, EXACTLY what I was looking for. Cheers!

Hey all, Anyone want to have a crack at how you would make a rollerdoor in a wall? Cheers, James

Thats what I need, thanks Kevin.

Certainly Josh, I want to access the referencing function that occurs when a lamp is inserted onto a position. When the lamp is placed it automatically 'knows' the name of the position, I would like it to 'know' some other information as well upon insertion, for example I have added some circuitry data to my Lighting Position and would like the lamp placed upon them to know what generic circuit it belongs to. I can only presume that this piece of code is contained within the Lighting Device. Any ideas would be great. Cheers, J

That'll do it, thankyou Raymond. J

Hey all, Just had a query related to the Case function. It has worked well for me when I've needed to do something number related, eg: Begin Case NUM of 1: FIELD:='A'; 2: FIELD:='B'; 3: FIELD:='C'; End; Where NUM is an integer and FIELD a string, I'm wondering if there is an equivalent where I can use a string as the case value. Begin Case FIELDA of 'AA': FIELDB:='A'; 'BB': FIELDB:='B'; 'SOMETHING: FIELDB:='OUTPUT'; End; Where FIELDA and FIELDB are both strings. Does that make sense? There might be a function that I'm not finding in my help guide. Cheers, J

Anyone know how I can alter the Lighting Device plugin, more directly the script of it. I have pushed the limits as far as altering names and fields and now require access to referencing data which I believe is inside the script for the lighting device itself. Anyone have a work around / ideas? Cheers, J

I was having this issue as well the other day. I can rotate the entire fixture (clamp, yoke and lamp) using the Set 3D Orientation check box but rotating the fixture within the yoke seemed impossible. I presume this is what you're playing with too Dave? I've tried using focus points thinking that the lamp needed something to focus to but alas it didn't seem to move, even though the beam did. Any ideas? J

Just wondering with this command it refers to the fontIndex. Where is this list? Cheers, J

That'll do me for now. Thanks Michael.

Hey everyone, Just thought I'd drop an issue I've been having for a while out there. As you can see in the attacked picture I'm working with the Vectorworks Lighting Device and I've altered a few bits. The way that our company labels our lights in with a Letter for the Lamp type (Inst Type) and a Number for a variation on that lamp (Legend). For example: A1 would be an Aureol Beamshaper - Track Mounted A2 would be an Aureol Beamshaper - Hook Clamp Mounting B1 would be a Beamspot - Track Mounted I want to know if there is any way that in the drop down boxes shown when I choose A and 1 it will look to a worksheet/database/list/something and input the data for Instrument Type and Legend automatically. The lighting device automatically knows the position when it's inserted onto a bar, why not automatically know something else? Cheers, J

Thanks Michael that's done the trick alright. So that's only programs specific yeah? If I sent this document to someone else the orientation will change? J

Hey all, Just having a play with a label legend I have created for some of my lamps. There are three fields shown, a lamp ID letter, ID number, and unit number. As you can see in the attached image, when the lamp is rotated with the label to the right of the lamp the text reads as is should, eg B2 although when rotated to the left it causes it to be read opposite, eg 1C. Any ideas if the direction of text can be locked to always be relative to the object even if this means flipping upside down? Cheers, James

Hey all, Just wondering if someone could give me a breakdown of the usage of the IF command in vectorscript. I am trying to do something like this: If x=y Then a:=1; b:=2; Else c:=1; a:=4; Just as an example could someone show me correct layout and syntax? I've been playing and searching but IF isn't the best keyword for searching. Cheers, James