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Gabriel Chan

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Everything posted by Gabriel Chan

  1. Say if I would like the label legends to be above the fixtures, but not too far away, do they all appear over the truss? Or are they obscured? That is a flexibility that will be appreciated, but I do prefer the xyz offset option if it's still available? Definitely not an efficient way dragging the 3D labels when you have 400 over fixtures. Still, will be another few years before my upgrade cycle - guess I can hold onto 2017 for now. Thanks for updating! Gabriel
  2. There's the DLVP method of showing a front on view that will keep all your fixture counts coordinated. It's different from drawing a top plan view of a fixture front on but that should be able to achieve what you are asking. Alternatively, place the two LX positions on different layers, create 2 viewports, one with each layer and you can place them so that they don't stack (one will obviously be out of position) I personally prefer the DLVP method though. Gabriel
  3. Still on VWX2017, but this was one of the gripes I had with the DLVP solution. It still is a good way to do achieve most of what I want, and I still use it to a great extent, but 3D labels indeed need to progress further. When you have lights hung in tight positions and you want 3D labels to appear clearly, sometimes the truss chords or other fixtures themselves get in the way when using hidden line rendering, which unfortunately is the way forwards in terms of getting clean lines and not wireframe 3D messy lines. It would be helpful if the adjust 3D labels position command had a z option to push them in front of all the hardware. Right now adjusting in the x and y plane is quite restrictive. Unless other people have better solutions? Gabriel
  4. Seconding @scottmoore method. I keep a master file of all symbols I've ever used so I never forget where that new symbol was created. Also, I tend to create folders in this file's resource library and categorise the fixtures by manufacturers, which then eliminates the need for multiple vectorworks files for Martin fixtures, for Varilite fixtures, for ROBE fixtures and the likes. There's also a resource folder for truss symbols, scaffold parts, rigging gear and so on. Endless possibilities. Gabriel
  5. Well... no matter... Figured out 3D power pack> Revolve with Rail was the solution!
  6. I've been trying to do a sweep of an organic curve (as seen in the Elliptical Sweep.png file) and then trying to scale the sweep object on its y axis so that from plan view, it looks like an oval (as seen in the Elliptical Sweep 2.png file). However, nothing seems to happen after I run the scale operation. Does anyone have any other idea how to achieve a 3D model of this? Gabriel
  7. Thanks Marissa. I am indeed on 2017. Planning to upgrade on a five year cycle - gotta make the price of the software count! Will be certain to look out for improvements in Marionette next time I upgrade. Meanwhile, will be taking baby steps to learn Marionette. Cheers, Gabriel
  8. Seems I have found the answer to my question after a bit more digging at this weblink: http://developer.vectorworks.net/index.php/VS:Search_Criteria Subtypes are under ST, so the criteria I had to make was ST=CIRCLE. Marionette is getting more interesting!
  9. This is way over my head... Goodness.. But I'm trying. My very first Marionette! I think based on all the descriptions of the nodes I understand what is going on, and also the Debugging mode helps to see what data is flowing through. I have managed in the very first node "Objs by Crit" to get inputs to recognise rectangles (i.e. the default criteria T=Rect) or ovals (T=Oval). However, when I input T=Circle, I get this Execution Error pop up: Error: Invalid call-back function parameter type. Parameter index= 0 name=objectHandle So I went to search for the list of Object criteria and I found this http://developer.vectorworks.net/index.php/VS:Function_Reference_Appendix#attrCrit So yes, under types there aren't any circles?? They do appear under Sub types though... How would I get the node to recognise the circles? Gabriel
  10. Here's a tricky one to start the year... I have a set design that roughly has 1500 circles, all of the same diameter of 60mm. I'm looking to extrude them at a range of different heights, somewhere between 200mm and 800mm. The dispersion of these different heights should be as random as possible to create an organic feel. Is there any way of efficiently doing the above, possibly with scripts? Gabriel
  11. It is possible to achieve what you want. Select the hanging position that you want. Under Spotlight > Object conversion > Replace with Stock symbols. The pop up window will ask you what symbol you want to replace with. Gabriel
  12. How true! I tend to receive set drawings from set designers so more often than not that's a done deal and I just replicate in VWX (they mostly come in DWG). This definitely helps with edits. Great workflow 🙂
  13. I second Kevin's method. Although I tend to place the different configurations on different layers rather than classes. So the class assignment is for different components of the set. I duplicate the first configuration onto a new layer, rotate it to a new configuration - rinse and repeat. This is applicable to non-turntable sets as well. Gabriel
  14. Thanks Rob! Helpful to know how you arrived at those candlepower numbers in the stock symbols. However approximated they are, at least they give me a degree of confidence with using those numbers.
  15. Trying to get some semblance of lux readouts from VL3500 wash in Vectorworks based on their data on their website. http://www.vari-lite.com/clientuploads/directory/downloads/VL3500W_Photometrics032508.pdf What figure should I be looking out for to input into the candlepower data field, speaking of which, what is the unit associated with this field? Footcandle? Lumens?
  16. That's pretty weird. I'm assuming you are on LW5 at the moment? Because I'm not sure if LW6 works w VWX 2012. Briefly off the tip of my mind I do recall a three way compatibility issue between VWX, LW and macOS somewhere in 2015-2016 so depending on the permutation of all three softwares you may have a problem there. Also, in LW5 DMX addresses were still input under the dimmer field, not DMX address. There's also a whole link under John Mckernon's website devoted to explaining data exchange which you can find here: https://www.mckernon.com/supportmenu/vwdataexchangeaddr.html See if that helps?
  17. Is there a rectangle of sorts in place of where your I-Cue symbol is on your VWX file? I can't remember for sure but LW references the VWX symbol from one of the data fields - i.e. "3D Symbol Name", "Model Name" or "Inst Type". They need to tally so if you changed the name slightly in LW it syncs back to VWX and VWX would try to find the symbol to display on the drawing based on that new name. SO because it ca't find it, it displays a rectangle. If I'm not wrong, I think it references "Model Name". Alternatively, you could just refresh your drawing and see if it works. I do remember markdd's way of editing symbols to get it to become an accessory back when I was on VWX2011, and it did work as intended with the then LW5. Keep us posted!
  18. @markdd is spot on. And I guess you're right @pytld it's never too late. There's always something to learn from this community!
  19. Sorry for the really late reply. Been busy getting my show to open. I've had a look at your file, and basically copied your I Cue symbol and one ETC S4 symbol to a new file. If you refer to the snapshots I have attached: You'll find that your existing I-Cue symbol Device Type = "Light" at the moment. This should be Accessory or Static Accessory for you to be able to associate the I Cue symbol with the lighting fixture. Just change that to Static Accessory or Accessory and you shouldn't have any problem, as seen in the second snapshot.To do that, go to Spotlight > Reports > Lighting Symbol Maintenance. Hope it wasn't too late! Gabriel
  20. You could send a VWX file with your symbol in the replies. I'll have a look at it tomorrow. Just wrapped up 12 hours of tech rehearsals and I need to unwind just a bit!
  21. It shouldn't be a problem - maybe it's an issue of where the symbols are in relation to its insertion point? Maybe send a test symbol? Gabriel
  22. I find sometimes when inserting the accessory, that secondary click for its orientation messes up the insertion if you click anywhere inside the symbol. When making the secondary click, I like to click outside the symbol to set the accessory's orientation, before clicking for a third time on the symbol itself to get it associated with the instrument. Gabriel
  23. Hi Wesley, I think you may have solved my predicament. It was the DVLP settings that I had to change to get the export right. Thanks a bunch!
  24. At the same time however, it seems that once they are sent to DVLP, even turning the DVLP layer off and then exporting the non-angled version (i.e. the non DVLP layer) still does the same thing, and that is a problem. I did think the DVLP might be an issue during export, it being a snapshot, so it might have been a simple work around to just export the original 3D objects (non DVLP) and then rotate these exported 3D objects in AutoCAD. Unfortunately, the problem still persists. I then tried deleting the DLVP layer, and then re-exported the 3D objects - problem remains - so it seems once it is sent to DLVP the change is permanent. And this for me is a big issue. Gabriel
  25. Hi all, I've been trying to troubleshoot a file that a friend sent over. The task is to export a lighting plot which has been drawn in Vectorworks into DWG with all the 3D Spotlight objects in its proper 3D space when being opened in AutoCAD. The lighting plot includes lighting trusses that are at an angle, so Design Layer Viewports have been used to properly display the angled trusses in 3D. I have discovered that once hybrid symbols are being sent into DLVP I am unable to export the 3D objects to DWG properly. The DLVP objects that are exported are in its angled orientation but only with the 2D elements exported and not the 3D elements. The lighting truss and lighting fixtures that are not sent into DLVP - i.e. those that are in its "normal" horizontal orientation remains exported as expected. To demonstrate, I have created a VWX test file with Spotlight 3D objects and exported it to DWG. Attached is the 3D test VWX file, another VWX file with the DWG reimported back in, as well as a couple of snapshots with the export settings. In the snapshots, the truss with its angled orientation is on the left, while the right is the truss with its normal orientation. Possible (serious) bug, or am I doing something wrong? Gabriel 3D test VWX file.vwx 3D test DWG import file.vwx
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