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Benjamin Weill

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Everything posted by Benjamin Weill

  1. Whenever I find "ghosts" popping up in my drawing, I find the best way to identify them is to give them a channel in Lightwright - usually "1000" or something that is definitely not in my show. Then in VectorWorks, I'll "find and modify" for that channel. From there, with them selected, you can do whatever you need to. Hope that helps
  2. When I try do do this - having all three parts AND the composite symbols have matching type and wattage - the instrument summary now counts each part as a full unit. So 1 instance of a three-cell unit reads as 3 units. What am I doing wrong? Thanks
  3. Yes, if I switch to one of VW's workspaces, it works. It's only in my custom one that it won't open - even from double clicking. What I don't understand is that the workspace DOES work in my machine. But it DOES NOT work on my GF's machine. Both of us are on Macs. Thanks
  4. No. That key sequence just makes tie title bar appear and vanish. Not open.
  5. Hmmmm. That's weird. Space at is still "pan" for me. No, the weirdness I'm talking about is that the navigation palette won't open. when I double click on the title bar of the navigation pallete (to open it), the title bar just jumps halfway down the screen, and stays closed. Basically, there's no way to open the navigation pallete.
  6. I'll happily "Third" this. Between the "find and modify" commands, and the "copy altered label legends" commands, it is worth WAY more than the actual price of the AutoPlot tools.
  7. These are the zoom symbols that I've made and use. I Hope they're helpful
  8. I do the same thing - jumping between my MacBook Pro, and my larger external monitor. Like it's been said above, I have two workspaces, one for each screen size, and I just switch between them depending on where I'm working. However, I ALSO have a program called "Stay." It's a mac plug-in that lets you record window arraigments (for pretty much any application) on multiple screens, and then allows you to quickly restore to those layouts when you switch screens. So, between the two workspaces and "stay," it really isn't that big of a headache. This is the program I'm talking about: http://cordlessdog.com/stay/
  9. I'm using the Instrument Summary tool in my title block as my instrument key, but I keep having the same problem: No matter what I do, the last entry in the list will never be able to be "Non-Rotating." If I reorder the item list and put the non-rotated item somewhere other than the last entry, then it rotates. There is something about it being the last entry in the list that prevents it from rotating. Has anyone else encountered this issue? Thanks
  10. I usually turn off the ones that auto-generate and just create my own on their proper class. Thanks
  11. It'd be cool! Especially for students
  12. Hmmmm. I've never had that happen before with my 36 degrees..... Thanks
  13. I actually like using referencing for venue files because it's easy to update them. I end up having to make many of the venue files that I use and there ar times when, as I'm working on the light plot, I find something that needs to be changed - or I get updates from the venue telling me of relevant things. I find it easier and simpler for me to pop into the venue file and make a quick change then update my refrence. The alternative would be to make the change in my current lighting file and then either open the master venue file and make the change there as well, or to remember that I have to take the venue from the light file for the next time. I admit, it becomes less relevant and useful when working in a theatre that I may not return to, but if it's a venue that I'll be working in frequently, then referencing is Definately the way to go for me. As for the concern of changes down the line affecting an old and forgotten show, I just don't have my files set to automatically update refrences. So, if I don't want it to update, it won't.
  14. RickR, I don't actually use worksheets that often, I'd any help you could offer. Thanks
  15. RickR, I don't actually use worksheets that often, I'd any help you could offer. Thanks
  16. So, I was working on a light plot today, and I came across an issue that I've never encountered before. I was trying to place a 36 degree 750w source 4 into my drawing, but whenever I did, it dropped as a multi-circuit unit. My 750w symbols are the same as the standard 575w ones, but I've nested a "Black Cap" symbol inside of them to distinguish them from the lower wattage units. But today, the 36 degree was dropping as one instance of the "Source 4 Body" symbol, and one instance of the "black cap" symbol - each with their own channel circle. I tried other source 4s and none of them behaved this way - only the 36 degree gave me a problem. I played around for a bit and discovered what I think the problem is: my 36 degree symbol has nothing unique it. It is purely made up of two other symbols. For example, a 26 degree has the same two symbols as a 36, but it also has a single slash in the barrel - and the slash is just drawn in. I discovered that if I converted the black cap to a group, or even simply dropped a locus into the symbol, then it would work again just fine. Apparently the symbol needs something unique in it in order to consider itself one thing. And a symbol made purely from other symbols automatically becomes a multi-circuit. Now, I've been using these symbols for quite a while and I've never had this issue until today. Is this a new thing in SP3? What has changed? and is it going to change back? Yes, I now have a work around - but it either means making the cap no longer a symbol - which is a pain if I ever want to edit the symbol across all of the lights - or add a locus. Either way just seems rather inelegant. I'm attaching a PDF of what it looked like as a multi circuit. And thoughts people have would be great. Thanks!
  17. I've never tried using the lighting positions as referenced objects. Whenever I create a venue file that I'll be using as a reference file, I create all of the lighting positions (named and with the right heights) as a single "convert to group" symbol with the insertion point @ 0,0. That way, when I begin a new file, I drop that symbol into my lighting file, un-group it, and assign them to my lighting positions class. From, that point on, it's business as usual. I hope that helps
  18. I've never tried using the lighting positions as referenced objects. Whenever I create a venue file that I'll be using as a reference file, I create all of the lighting positions (named and with the right heights) as a single "convert to group" symbol with the insertion point @ 0,0. That way, when I begin a new file, I drop that symbol into my lighting file, un-group it, and assign them to my lighting positions class. From, that point on, it's business as usual. I hope that helps
  19. I don't see how to remove the palettes from the workspace. How does that work? I'm also just confused - why would the workspace work on my computer, but not hers? Thanks
  20. Hi, Does anyone know if it's possible to have a record format populate from a symbol's location? for example, I have a symbol in my template file for a line set schedule, that is itself made up multiple instances of another symbol for each individual line set. The individual lineset symbol has a record that lets me fill in it's distance from plaster line, it's line set number and what's on it. is it possible to have the record for the distance from PL auto populate with the symbol's "Y" coordinate? That way I don't have to type it in twice whenever I set up a lineset schedule for a new venue - once in the symbol's "Y" coordinate field, and again in the record's "dist from PL" field. Thanks
  21. Hi, I should start this off by saying that I'm a mac user. I have a custom workspace that I've been using and editing for a few years now, I simply convert it to the new version of VW each year. I'd never had a problem with it until 2015. As soon as I started using it 2015, I immediately noticed a problem with the Navigation Palette - it wouldn't open. I would have the collapsed title bar for the navigation palette on the screen, but whenever I would try to open it, the title bar would just jump halfway down the screen...and remain closed. I was finally able to fix the problem (I don't remember exactly what I had to do, but it had something to do with copying the workspace and renaming it). Since then, I've been able to use it with no problem, and have updated it even further, and renamed it as my workflow has evolved - and it's still working just fine. Here's where the issue is: I'm trying to install my workspace on my girlfriend's mac (running the latest VW 2015 - though hers is "educational" and mine is paid) and the same issue has popped back up. The navigation palette is useless. I've tried editing/renaming/copying it on her Mac and have had no luck. Just to be clear: the very same workspace that works perfectly on my Mac, will not work on hers. Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
  22. I know that AutoPlot has a plug-in that lets you trade places two lights, but does anyone know of a tool or command that has the same functionality for non-light symbols, or even groups? Thanks
  23. The Position Summary on lighting positions will give you weight info. It doesn't give you a weight total - That seems silly, but I may have just missed it - but as long as your symbols have weights in them, the summary will say you have "x" amount of 26 degree Source 4s at 14lbs, etc. It's not exactly what you're looking for, I think, but it's a start.
  24. I don't know if there is a visual standard for dead-hangs - I tend to just add a note it indicate how it's hung when I encounter these.
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