jcogdell
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Posts posted by jcogdell
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another option if you are planning to use the controller with the cable tools is to set it up as a distributor object by adding electrical components. All dirtibutors have weights and can be attched to trusses and pipes as well
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Hi Simon
As far as I know this is currently working as designed,
I've already got an open enhancement request about improving data flow between hoists, bridles and what they are connected to (trusses, hangng points, etc..)
I'll add your request to the VE -
You can use the cable tools for video cables, but you will need to create some custom cable parts and set up your symbols with correctly configured electrical components.
The cable tools learning path on the Vectorworks university provides detailed instructions on how to add components to symbols, create cable libraries and add new connectors. -
13 hours ago, Brent.A said:
"I don't care about influence lines or any of the advanced BW calculations for the venue steel. I do want total load for any given beam/structural member, particularly the downforce"
Currently structural memebers are not Braceworks enabled objects which means there is no way to do this automatically. It can be done but requires a specific workflow to correctly set up.
Hoists and bridles that connect to structural members will auto create hanging point objects for each connection point.
To find the total force or load acting on a particular structural member you will need to name them.
After the Braceworks calcualtion group select all of the hanging points associated with each beam and give them ID's that are related, so they are easy to identify (for example A1 thru A15 are on the first structural member).
Aftrer this you can create reports for each structural member by setting up the Advanced criteria to look for the ID range and use this to then calculate the load on each.
You can repeat this for each structural member by duplicating the original report and udating the ID range, and then append the second report onto the first.
Once you have the final report created and are happy with it it can be reused in future projects as long as you make sure to maintain a standardised naming system for the hanging point ID's. -
On 7/28/2023 at 11:37 PM, Leonarddel said:
I tried Power Patch Selected Objects pop up window said Successfully Patched 0 Devices
The power patch selected only works when you have a breakout and lights selected.
34 minutes ago, Leonarddel said:
I did locate the training videos and was happy to see there were some, However I get an error saying Can't self enrol that was my first dead end.Have you created a user account at the university?
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The error message is telling you that the hoist is not correctly connected with the truss that should be hung from it.
To check this select the truss, then right click on the truss and activate the 'select system objects' command from the context menu
Everything attached to the truss line will be highlighted.
This will show whether the hoist is correctly connected to the truss
To reattach the hoist drag it off the truss and then back on at the desired location, making sure that the red autoconnect highlight displays -
This is a long standing known issue with the 3D representation of bridles.
its a purely visual issue that doesn't affect the bridle parts calculation or configuration, only how the part symbols are used to draw the bridle when the simplified view of the bridle is turned off in the properties
Its caused by a combination of 2 issues- Bridle parts are basic symbols not parametric objects, this mean the bridle tool can't adjust the parts geometry to display things like wrapping around a beam or adjust a chain to show only the correct number of links being used.
- the second issues leads on the from the first, the bridle tool doesn't compensate visually for the bridle basket dimensions and draws the parts from the rigging point down to the apex, which results in a visual errors when the bridle parts are are correctly configured in the bridle configuration dialogue. Either the part overlap at the apex or there is a gap
The limitations of this 3D view mode is why the bridle assmebly diagrams where created, these provide a far clearer and more accurate representaion of how the bridle should be assembled, including the length that each chain must be adjusted to to correctly configure the bridle.
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Hi John
I think this is a case of works as designed,
The lights are from a referenced file, which enables you to display them and read data from them, but by its nature prevents you from directly editing them since you do not have full access to them. You will need to update the source file to change the lights data.
I'll check with someone more familiar with lightwrite and ask if there is a way round this but I suspect the only solution is to edit the source file.
GrußeJesse
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Normally if anything is in the premium library it shuld be the most up to date version of the content. That being said both should be consistant.
I'll pass the feedback onto the content team,
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This looks like a bug, I'll get the report in
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How have you connected the external monitor to your laptop? direct in the HDMI or throuh a USB C hub or...?
not all laptops connect the 3D GPU to all the outputs, some only connect it to the HDMI and not to the USB C's for example (I had this issue with my last MSI laptop) -
The Spotlight and Vision fixture request form is in the support section of the customer portal
https://sso.vectorworks.net/accounts/login/
If you are on service select or subscription you can make up to 3 requests permonthQuarter
The ETC Halcyon Platinum and Chauvet Outcast 1L are both already available in the premium service select libraries -
Currently there are no 2m chains or 7cm rings in the stock bridle parts library that the bridle tool uses to configure the steel for a bridle.
You can add new parts to your own custom bridle parts library with slings and other objects by opening the Stock Bridle.vwx library file.
Its located in your application folder>Libraries>Defaults>Stock Bridle Material
and can be edited like any other library file.
Bridle parts should be stored in the file resources and have to have the BridleItemRecord attached to them to be classed as bridle partsThe record defines the parts behavior with the bridle tool and object.
the easiest option is to duplicate an existing part and edit it to create the new part.Once you have added the new parts save the file back into the same location, make sure to create a back up of it as well as it will likely get overwritten if there is a update to the default libraries.
open a new empty file,
open the bridle parts manager and hit the update button to import the new parts into Spotlight.
You should then have access the newly created bridle parts
Let me know if you have any more questions
here's the link to the help page
https://app-help.vectorworks.net/2022/eng/VW2022_Guide/Hoists/Managing bridle_parts.htm?rhhlterm=bridle bridles parts part&rhsearch=bridle parts
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The ST truss is set up so that the bottom tube geometry is aligned with 0 on the symbols internal Z axis, with the connectors sitting at -5mm.
This ensures that the tubes are at the correct trim height.
To fix your symbols move the truss geometry down inside the symbol to align the bottom tubes with 0 on the Z axis,
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20 hours ago, Wood said:
While I have your attention, is there a work around or best practice for the 'Hanging Position' functionality not displaying real trim height in the Z field of the OIP? I like the idea of hanging positions, and their ability to streamline the drawing and improve paperwork, but not being able to see accurate trim height at a glance is a major issue.
A lot of the paperwork functionality of a hanging position can now be done with normal trusses,
As long as you give the truss a position name then anything hung from the truss will display that it is attched in its position field.
If you are using Braceworks it will provide the weight calculations
The trim height issue is that the objects inside a hanging position are no longer visible to the OIP as they are no longer the top level object.Additionally the trusses and pipes can be moved inside the hanging postion without changing the hanging positions own trim height.
20 hours ago, Wood said:Is it still verboten to drag-adjust the Z in a front view instead of using the adjust trim height button?
it really depends on your objective and where you are in your workflow.
selecting and dragging a hanging position up and down on the z-axis is fine as long but when you move it this way you will likely disconnect any attached rigging like bridles or hoists.
Also it is possible to accidentally move the geometry inside the hanging position which then means the hanging positions Z coordinate is no longer accurate. Another issue is that you can create a hanging position from several objects (2 truss lines for example) with differeing trim heights, but only the hanging positions own trim height will be displayed, which will be based on the lower of the lowest geometry in the position.
The change trim height command is designed to enable you to adjust trim heights while keeping any connected rigging correctly attached and configured.
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19 hours ago, Wood said:
The STAC link display is pretty key, as ground riggers don't use tape measures and are baffled if you give them a dimension. Which means any floor stickers I would generate would be useless to them and require the extra step of somebody doing the math and transcribing it manually. At least in the US, chalk art for drawing bridle calls on an arena floor is fairly standard, and it would be fantastic if VW could output that style in the bridle diagram
I'll add an enhancement request for this, might take a while though since we are just about to release 2024
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16 hours ago, Wood said:
-When my truss line is perpendicular to the members, how can I force VW to generate an even bridle and center the hoist between the beams?
16 hours ago, Wood said:When my truss line is perpendicular, how can I force VW to make the bridle legs perpendicular (square against the beam) as well instead of at random angles?
The easiest way is to use the manual insertion mode
to force the exact middle point use some form of geometry as an insertion guide for the middle line between the beams.
A second option for the perpendicular bridle legs is to add hanging points where you wish the bridle legs to attach, seperately classed. Turn off the class with the structual beams in it and then insert the bridle16 hours ago, Wood said:an I make VW display links of STAC vs a dimension in the configuration diagram?
No, the bridle part symbols have fixed geometry and currently there is no way to change this. That being said you are not the only person who has requested this and I will open an enhancement request for it.
16 hours ago, Wood said:Why aren't baskets being generated with the 'Assign parts automatically' button?
This is a bug and the fix is currently being tested.
16 hours ago, Wood said:What is the best way to generate bridle parts in an overall drawing? Magic wand and select all bridles? It's a 500 hoist show, and doing these things one by one is the opposite of being a time saver.
I'm not sure what you are asking here,
Are you needing to add bridles to a plan where the hoists have already been drawn?
If so how would you automatically decide where and to what each bridle leg should attach to in the roof?
This is something that would be incredibly hard to automate, especially if the roof space is busy, with lots of geometry and beams.
If you are meaning to generate parts lists for large numbers of already created bridles then you can do this for both the assmbly diagrams and for parts lists in one go.
for the assembly diagrams group select them and run the command it will create the daigrams based on your chosen settings in the dialogue.
For bridle part lists use the create brilde report command, in the command you can set it to work from all visible objects, all selected objects or the complete file using the filter settings.16 hours ago, Wood said:-How can I configure hoist presets such as naming convention, origin, and all of the other things available when using the hoist placement tool? Do I really have to take an extra step to name the bridle as WELL as the hoist?
The hoist tool has a set of automatic numbering preferences in the tool mode bar and a set of preferences, that you can use to set the name and id, if you set this on and then insert the hoist as part of a bridle the hoist will be configured using the last settings you set in the hoist tool.
Currently there isn't an automatic data connection between a hoist and bridle (except for structural data).
There are a number of improvements to how hoists and bridles interact with each other and trusses that I'm hoping to see in the future. Such as hoists documenting the truss position name that they are connected to, the connected bridle ID, rigging points, bridles documenting the connected hoist ID, etc....
I'll bring them to the attention of the dev team and see what happens.
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Have you tried useing Data tags?
Tags can be assigned to a seperate class to control their visibility or used in a viewport annotation so that they only display when you want them to. -
@Floriaan
The MVR standard is still evolving and will continue to do so based on feedabck from users like your self and the variuos developers and manufacturers invoved directly in the group.
Currently the 1.0 MVR DIN spec has not been finalised, some the issues you are mentioning will be addressed as this process moves forwards, such as clarifying how the MVR data should be handled when the receiving program doesn't use the data (currently many of the participating apps delete or remove data they do not use internally).
Once the 1.0 DIN spec is finalised, it will continue to evolve to meet user and manufacturer requirements.
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add something into the hanging position to mark your point.
This could be an extra piece of geometry, a 3D loci or a symbol.
The key is to have something you can use as a snap point for the dimeniosn tool to measure from.-
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On 6/23/2023 at 6:54 PM, Chris J Clarke said:
I just tried the SImplified Truss Class to help with my Hoist placement but my truss just dissapears when I turn off the Rigging-Truss-Truss Class. I get the Blue Outline when I enable the Simplified Class, but as soon as I turn off Rigging-Truss-Truss, everything goes. Did I read the above information wrong? I tried starting a new file, but it still does it.
Check whether your truss objects are assigned to the Rigging-Truss-Truss class, if the truss object itself is assigned to this class truing it off will turn off every part of the trusses geometry, not just the normal geometry part assigned to the class in our default libraries.
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The issue here is that you do not have the pipe directly under the centre line of the truss, Braceworks only calculates drops like this if the pipe or under hung truss can connect to the centre line of the supporting truss or pipe (either parallel or crossing the centre line)
If you can line it up you would use the insert connection tool, in place object below mode with the correct offset.
Otherwise you will need to use the insert load tool to model the behavior of the underhung pipe.
insert a deadhang brilde or hoist at each pick up point of the pipe and run a braceworks calculation with just the pipe structure selected.
Place a point load for each pick up point at the correct loaction on the supporting truss and use the data from the Braceworks calculation to configure the point load.
When you do the final system calculation exclude the pipe and use the point loads.
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48 minutes ago, Chris J Clarke said:
Turning off the class with the dummy hoists means Braceworks fails. Is the idea that I do a "calculate visible" and then turn off the class afterwards?
Yes, the idea is to do the braceworks related workflow, then turn off the dummy hoist class when doing you are doing your sheet layer plans and documentation
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20 hours ago, JochemVink said:
When i daisy chain power with the cable only the first fixture shows up in the power planning pallet. Is there any way to fix this or am i out of luck?
It was due to be fixed but I'm not sure if the fix worked correctly.
At this point the palette is still a work in progress and it may be a while before this is adressed.20 hours ago, JochemVink said:And i cant figure out how i can create a dmx cable between 2 fixtures.
The easiest way to fix this is to add input and outptu electrical components into the symbol definition, set up to be 3 or 5 pin xlr connectors. Once this is done the daisy chain mode will work correctly. Make sure tosave any lighting fixtures you set up this way into your user or workgroup flder so you only have to do it once.
Power Planning
in Entertainment
Posted
@Stefan B.
Cable sets are used for this, In you cable parts library use the cable parts manager to assign the parts to a set, by entering the new set name in the cable set column.
Once you have assigned the cable parts to a set the new set will automatically populate in the cable preferences and can be assigned either as the document default or using the cable area tool to a specific part or layer of the document.
The cable tools suite learning path on the Vectorworks University covers cable set in the cable preferences and area tool, and the cable parts videos.