scottmoore

I generally try to find out, first from my venue contact, what the local codes stipulate.

Fantastic!

I am not entirely sure that functionality exists. If it does, I’ll be excited to hear about that. I would probably use a subtract solid function to accomplish this. Others may have better ideas. Perhaps you could “deconstruct” it and then modify it.

And to further that, I might assume that any company forwarding that information, regardless of it’s accuracy, is opening itself to liability concerns from a legal standpoint.

That is exactly right. I would hazard to say that we have Viewports that not only aid in that process but more or less automate it. There are so many benifits to working this way that ignoring this process means one is really missing out on some spectacular functionality. Yep, I am a true believer. Now, if we could export those view ports directly into visualization packages......

Jason, I understand your frustration, however, I HIGHLY recommend using the Design Layer Virewport method for this. As far as I am aware, Plot and Model is VW’s way of automating the process so I highly applaud them for coming up with that but I, like you, do not want a disrupted workflow. The DLVP process fits very nicely inside my workflow and solves the exact problem you mention seamlessly. There are a few tricks to it to make it seamless but once you work through the entire process (which really isn’t much of a process at all once you understand and implement it properly) it works far better than you might ever imagine. I am almost positive you would agree because I felt the same way as you when I first saw Landru demonstrate it. It frankly hacked me off. Once I (finally) wrapped my head around the implementation I have found the process vital to almost any drawing I now do. I use it all the time. I hope to put together a video detailing the process.

Perhaps this thread may prove helpful: https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/49978-light-beams-of-led-fixtures/&tab=comments#comment-252591

Rex, It sounds like you should consider using either Design Layer Viewports or the Model View as mentioned earlier. At some point I would like to throw together a video detailing how to do that. It’s somewhat difficult to explain but it is really not that difficult and is very much a game changer. There is a well done video detailing the create model view on this site. I prefer the DLVP method myself as it fits right into my workflow without having some additional “help” from VW. Working this way has a lot of benefits that may not seem clear initially. Note: I have no idea how Braceworks deals with this but that may be an issue. Also, there is no way that I am aware of to export directly to a pre-viz scenario using DLVPs, though it’s not that difficult to sort out when the time comes for that.

When I create symbols, I generally class various items to create simple or complicated models quickly. I know most users here complain about the “auto-classing” and I get that, but since my symbols all match my specific class definitions, it’s not an issue. My assumption is you would want to add in some detail as to how the units attach to a support structure, but probably not a lot of detail beyond that. I think you will find most users can get what they need from something like Landru’s PIO if that gives you an idea.

I really have no idea how the ladder tool works, but I highly recommend investigating using Design Layer Viewports for this sort of thing. Class and Layer organization is really important but you can pretty much do anything you might want with that process.

Landru’s tools are pretty spectacular and quite useful. I use them for all my presentations and most of my drawings. There are times where it is important to show details of hanging hardware and that sort of thing so having some brand specific hybrid symbols can prove quite useful. If you are working for a company with specific inventory I would absolutely do this. If you are a designer then it becomes more about what level of detail you need to be able to show clients and/or shop personnel.

I know this is an old thread but has there been any movement on this issue. I too use a sheet layer as a de facto “contact sheet” to produce various renderings from viewports and there is certainly reason to adjust the DPI per viewport.

While I am thinking about it, often I will model an image l want to use as a texture and light it directly in VW. I then take a screen shot of it and turn that into a useable texture. It’s quick and generally works like a champ. I’ve done that for my default staging skirts as an example. I’ll post an image or two once I am back at my computer.

My usual method is to start with a an image that is more or less white and then allow for color change by attribute. Then it can be any color you want pretty quickly. Color by class is another option.

Or perhaps allow the user to enter a degree around which to array the items? Instead of a default 360 degree radio button, one could type in a value. Great idea!

I do pretty much the same thing. If it is a complicated layout (circular, lots of angles) I generally work out aisle placement based on the aforementioned 14-16 wide maximum rows. That then creates some polygons into which I place my chairs. At this point, rotating your working plane becomes a fantastic feature. One ither note regarding really complicated floor layouts; they can be time consuming to draw, but our end results can look fantastic. Keep in mind, however, that someone has to actually install those chairs and a lot of change-over crews are going to be in well over their heads with a bunch of radial angles. Because of this, I class my polygons and then use the rigging tool to install points in the corners of each. I then arrange a rigger or two and a few stagehands to layout the points and have found that the additional expense for these personnel is well worth it in time savings and avoided issues.

+1 on using textures.

I tend to use this technique a lot, even when I do not have rotated truss elements. It is quite handy when you have a lot of truss stacked in close quarters vertically, so instead of creating a bunch of extra classes to allow you turn certain trusses on and off to create your printable output, you simply turn on/off the requisite viewports. All other classes stay the same. To that point, our drawing templates already have default layers onto which we can create specific truss elements and we have default classes for those layers. Another really handy reason to do to do this is moving a truss (X, Y or Z) in a drawing is as simple as clicking and dragging. Of course, that worked regardless if you have turned your truss into a lighting position. Your lights will follow along, but what about truss borders, other scenic items, video panels, audio cabinets or other production items that may be attached to that truss? Using a DLVP for a truss solves that problem completely. Just a thought.

I do exactly the same thing for the same reason with pretty much anything I do on a computer; not just in VW.

Interesting. Perhaps I am being a bit cavalier when I say “just don’t rotate it”. :-)

Sebastian, As mentioned, I have no idea why a lighting object is required to rotate a viewport. That seems quite random to me and I would love it if someone would chime in on that. As to random focuses, I am not entirely sure what I am seeing in that image, however, I can tell you that Spotlight lighting devices do respond correctly to focus points in your primary design layer from the design layer viewport. Because of this, the 3D portion can often look a little odd as the fixtures “on the ground” on the specific truss layer are still pointing at the correct focus point. Spend a little time experimenting with this to see how it works. I don’t think that is what you experiencing though. Working out your class structure for your DLVPs is important for managing your output. One item that doesn’t belong on the design layer would be rigging points as you do not want to rotate those. Regardless, spend some time working with DLVPs and I think you will find you like them. Certainly a very interesting workaround to a common design concept.

That sound like marvelous news!

Not really, however, this is it in a nutshell. First of all, note that I typically keep my drawings on one primary LAYER and instead use CLASSES to organize the drawing, but I don’t believe it matters. 1- Create a new LAYER in your drawing. This layer will ONLY be used for a truss or ladder structure that needs to be rotated in 3D. 2- add the structure/truss you need to this layer. There is no need to rotate it or assign a Z height. 3- add lighting fixtures to the structure exactly as you would when installing or prepping the rig. This is one of the serious benefits of working this way as you already have the necessary shop geometry in 2D. No technician wants to prep some three dimensionally rotated structure. They need to know that is what is going to happen to it, but is generally not how it is assembled. 4- add any other scenic or lighting elements to the structure as required. 5- go ahead and class all your elements like you would on your standard design layer. 6- if there are no lights on this structure, you will need to add a renderworks light of some sort. It can be turned off, but you need one. I actually do not know why this is but you cannot rotate a viewport if it does not have a light object of some sort. Spotlight lighting fixtures work for this. Hopefully someone can chime in as to the reasoning for this. 7- select “create viewport” from the VIEW menu. When the create viewport dialog opens, select your primary drawing layer in the “Create on Layer” drop down. 8- now you have a viewport if the items you have created on your main drawing layer. Very important: select the viewport and select “Classes” from the Object Info Palette. At the bottom, check the “Use current document’s class visibilities” as this will allow the VP to act just like the rest of your drawing. Not doing this can lead to all sorts of confusion later on. 9- I suggest creating specific classes for your viewport structures. Then you can make duplicates that allow for showing the structure flat for shop work, angled for presentations and 3D drawings and this also allows for showing the structures at various locations if automated. 10- select your viewport and rotate and move into the desired location. Hope this helps.

....and, full disclosure, it was Mr Dunning who showed me how to do that in the first place. Genius.

Landru is correct about this. DLVPs do not necessarily allow you to animate structures but they do give you an extremely simple way to detail the automation without any additional drawing or geometry. This works well for presentations assuming you are only using stills, and for detail elevation, section and isometric drawings.