[Rack Frame - Save as symbol + Customization?]

Hey @Nikolay Zhelyazkov

I took a quick recording trying to explain what I'm trying to accomplish with the rack frame/symbol/adapter slots, using an OpenGear frame as an example. This is the item that has tripped me up the most so far.

 

I failed to include in my video though, that I'm hoping to be able to do this so that the schematic view items that are referencing the 3D layout for position information will have correct info attributed to them (Room/Rack/RackUnit/Slot#/etc) within the schematic layout. With the OpenGear frame, I basically have to have 3x devices that are all "linked" with the open gear frame slot connecting to a card type, and that card then connecting to a backplane. Unfortunately, due to the infinitely variable layout possibilities of an OpenGear frame and all of the different cards and backplane combinations, it just wouldn't make any sense to have a different schematic symbol for every possible iteration of the unit.

 

Let me know if this makes sense, or if you need any more information on what I'm trying to accomplish. Thanks for your time!

[Rack Frame - Save as symbol + Customization?]

@Nikolay Zhelyazkov

 

I was able to successfully convert the rack frame into a symbol using "convert to plugin object" and could reference it into other drawings as intended, thank you!

It does however become a "red" symbol, meaning I can not find it in the equipment item tool's "symbol insertion mode", which is how all of the other rack equipment items I've built function best (they are "white" symbols, though maybe "black" is the correct color, I use dark background for everything).

 

Now, I am having an issue with other things I like to do with the rack equipment symbols using this rack frame converted object. Whenever I add adapter slots to the rear of the frame, or even an image to it, the symbol gets automatically converted to a blue "group" symbol, and loses the ability to be used like a plugin object to be dropped directly into a rack.  

1. Image addition
   1. The symbol created with the rack frame immediately becomes a group "blue" symbol when I add an image to it.
   2. I add images to the front and rear of all of the rack equipment symbols so that documentation shows a more realistic look of what the final rack will be, rather than just grey/colored rectangles with text.
   3. I have not had this happen on any other equipment item symbols in the past few months since I've started this journey of creating a base file of symbols to use.
2. Adapter slots
   1. I attempted to add adapter slots to the Rack Frame symbol in two ways:
      1. Placing on the Rack Frame BEFORE creating a symbol - Doing this replaced the "convert to plugin object" with "convert to group" option in create symbol
      2. Creating the symbol with just the Rack Frame, then editing 3D component and adding in there. As soon as I saved/exited symbol, the symbol changed to a "blue" group symbol and no longer functioned as expected.

I went and did a quick test with a newly created "nonsense" item, that I did my typical creation routine to make. I created a "temporary device" in schematic view, saved as a symbol, went to 3D and using the "equipment item" tool, placed the newly auto-created 3D symbol into a rack. I then edited it's 3D components, added an image, and confirmed it did not change to a "blue" symbol. I then went back in to edit 3D components, added a few adapter slots, and when I exited it did not change to a "blue" group symbol. 

I think there's something semi-broken with the Rack Frame tool, as it does not let you save as a normal connectCAD symbol to reference later, and the workaround of "convert to plugin object" immediately breaks when you try to customize/modify/add to it in any way.

 

Please let me know if it sounds like I'm doing something very wrong, I would love to be able to get a working symbol of this item (Ross oGx frame), that I can place cards in to and have it populate information appropriately on the schematic layouts.

 

Thanks!

 

[Rack Frame - Save as symbol + Customization?]

Hey @Nikolay Zhelyazkov,

 

Thanks for the tip on converting to plugin object! I'll give that a shot today.

 

For the adapter slots, I didn't realize that tool could be used to insert slots into equipment items like that! I will give that a shot today as well.

@Conrad Preen, I would like to add my request to allow adapter slots to show an image of the modular device that gets placed into the slots!

 

Thank you again for the info, this is great! 

[Rack Frame - Save as symbol + Customization?]

Hi!

I'm wondering if it would be possible to save a Rack Frame as a symbol? I am working on a base file that will be referenced for all future files, and would really enjoy being able to create rack shelves and frame devices that can be stored as a symbol to be referenced/used in the future, without having to create an all new item and manually reference scale, slots, etc etc. 

 

I would also love to be able to customize Rack Frame items, such as adding an image of the front of a Ross oGx OpenGear frame, possibly even with the ability to attach that image to the "Front Door" object that can be toggled within the "Rack Frame" in the OIP.

 

Additionally to the desire of a customizable / savable Rack Frame item, OpenGear frames allow for 20x card slots (inserted from the front) and 10x IO "cards" that screw to the rear. The 20x slots allow the actual "working" cards to simply use an edge connector to adapt to a panel that actually contains HDMI, BNC, HDBNC, etc etc. Being able to place both of these items would be ideal for both the visual representation of a 3D layout, as well as the information that is filled in by schematic devices (Room, rack, frame ID, slot#).

 

I saw a post from Natem, and I am not sure how they managed to get an image on an item with slots, or if there is a tool I'm overlooking to be able to create custom slots in "Equipment Items" rather than just using the "Rack Frame" tool.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Adapter Frame Slot Image]

@Conrad Preen

Hi! I am also wondering something similar/hoping for a similar feature! For things like OpenGear frames/cards, for example the Ross oGx frame. 

The "rack frame" tool works fine for creating the slots and PSU placement, however, I also need the ability to place IO cards on the rear of this frame, and would love to be able to save this frame as a reusable symbol as well as import some images to the frame (for example, if possible, apply the image of the front door of the oGx frame to the front door item within the connectCAD frame, to appear/disappear with the selection).

Looking at @natem 's original post, I am not sure how they managed to get an image on an item with slots, or if there is a tool I'm overlooking to be able to create custom slots in "Equipment Items" rather than just using the "Rack Frame" tool.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

Just saw the post about not tagging into other threads, my bad! I will make my own right now and just copy a link to this one.

 

[How to reference ConnectCAD "dev_rec" on a custom symbol]

8 hours ago, Nikolay Zhelyazkov said:

Hello @NetGuy512,

 

The "dev_rec" automatic filling is hardcoded in the device code and cannot be customized in any way. You can try using the Data Manager if you want data from one record to be automatically transferred to another one of the same object.

 

Best Regards,

Nikolay Zhelyazkov

I'll dive into Data Manager and see if I can get it to do what I'm trying to accomplish. Thanks for the tip Nikolay!

 

-Ian

[How to reference ConnectCAD "dev_rec" on a custom symbol]

Hey hivemind!

 

I'm wondering if anyone has figured out a way to use the ConnectCAD "dev_rec" record format to automatically fill already generated information into a custom symbol?

 

I've made a few symbols for a "device detail" sheet, that lays out the Universe IDs, Port directions, and also Device Name, IP Address, Pit/Location, and Rack/Position for our inventory of DMX Nodes/Gateways.

I made my own record format that I can use to fill in this information manually, but I'm curious if it's possible to link the Device Name, Pit/Location, and Rack/Position to the default "dev_rec" format?

 

I Know that ConnectCAD uses this record format to automatically fill in "loc_room", "racklocation", and "description" when filling in "tag" to a matching device between schematic layouts and 3D layouts.

Any time I attach the "dev_rec" to this custom symbol and "Link Text to Record..." It does link everything, but it just shows up as a usual record format in the "Data" tab of the OIP, with only manual entry fields that do not auto-populate based on the generated information between the schematic and 3D devices.

 

I'm also curious if it's possible to link "Device Network Info Record" to this custom symbol as well, but if not I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

 

Thanks for any insight all!

 

[Changing Symbol Colors using Modify By Record]

Hey Guys, I hate to dig up a nearly year-old thread, but this thread is the CLOSEST I've come to accomplishing what I'm trying to do, however I think I need something that's a bit more granular. 

Basically, I'm making a custom symbol to identify port information on our DMX nodes. I have record formats that change text boxes including "INPUT/OUTPUT", "Universe #", IP, Name, Location, etc etc.

What I want to be able to do is add a drop down in the record format for EACH output port, and select from a list of our Gaff tape colors. The end goal is to have this selection not change text on the symbol, but rather change the background color of a square BEHND the text that was already modified by a different section of the record format.

 

I followed what Adios amigos said above, and I managed to get a Data Visualization set working for one dropdown, however it wound up coloring the ENTIRE symbol. I couldn't figure out a way to make it target a specific shape within the symbol.

 

Is this even remotely possible? I'd love any input you guys can give! Thanks a bunch.

[Vectorworks 2016 is here, ask us anything!]

I've just started working in 2016 this week, and I have run into a few bugs that are really slowing down my productivity.

The attributes pallet is hit or miss as to whether I can even see it or not (always checked to be open in the Window menu). And even when it does show up, I can't change any colors, because the color selection tool doesn't pop up, even though my computer acts like it is up.

There are were a few other things, but this is by far the worst one, and I can't figure out how to fix it or if it's something I'm going to be forced to go back to 2015 until a SP is released...

Thanks in advance for any replies and advice!