[Link label defaults when device is moved]

Hi Andrew,

 

Use an External to indicate a connection outside your system. Externals are all part of one device named <EXT> that represents the outside world.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Conrad

[Link label defaults when device is moved]

Hi Andrew,

 

As of Vectorworks 2021 the Link object is deprecated. ConnectCAD is now fully compatible with Vectorworks Project Sharing and this is now the recommended way for multiple users to work together on the same file. You find lots of info on Project Sharing in the Vectorworks Help.

 

In 2022 the Link mode of the Connect tool will also be removed. Links though ingenious proved to be almost impossible to maintain properly and in essence duplicated the functionality of Project Sharing. So for that reason it was decided to relegate them to Legacy status.

 

Using Project Sharing the best way is to divide your project by layers and allow each designer to check out and work on separate layers. The Connect tool in arrow mode lets you connect between layers.

 

Hope that clarifies things.

 

Best regards

 

Conrad

[2021: Issue with "Current Layer Cable Report"]

Thanks Ryan! Yes the 2020 version will be a huge help.

 

That issue with the termination panels is known and already fixed. That will be in a service pack very soon.

 

Conrad

[2021: Issue with "Current Layer Cable Report"]

Hi Ryan,

 

8 hours ago, ryanww said:

I didn't do anything crazy to get there.

I'm sure of that! Just trying to get a handle on how the condition arose (if we can). Generally the philosophy with ConnectCAD is to keep restrictions to a minimum so that you have a lot of 'get out of jail' cards. That comes along with the power to mess things up a bit :-). If this comes up again let me know.

 

Conrad

[2021: Issue with "Current Layer Cable Report"]

Hi Ryan

 

You've got us a bit puzzled. As far as we can see this is working fine. But the worksheet in the file you sent me is in a strange state and I can't figure out how it got that way. Any information about the sequence of actions you made leading up to this would help. The workaround as I sent you PM but here for the benefit of others is to go to the Resource Manager, delete the worksheet there. Then re-run the Cable Report command and the default worksheet will be pulled in from application default content automatically.

 

Best regards

 

Conrad

[2021: Device Builder takes long to show]

Thanks Kevin and Matthias,

 

Just to let you know that we understand the problem and we are close to a fix. Thanks as ever for drawing our attention to this.

 

Conrad

[2020/2021: Device Report sums up height/width/depth/power/weight instead of qty]

Thanks Matt,

 

We'll check on that. In my opinion we (Vectorworks) shouldn't be trying to second-guess the kind of analysis you the designers want. Summarize and Sum Values are things you'll probably want to set for your own purposes.

 

Conrad

[2021: Issue with "Current Layer Cable Report"]

Hi Ryan,

 

Is it possible for you to post or PM me the file in question. I'd like to see the criteria for the database header row.

 

Thanks

 

Conrad

[2021 - Linking Text to Record for userx records does not render on symbol]

Hi Kevin

 

Thank you for reporting this and thank you also for the detail in the report. That always helps us get much faster to a resolution. We've confirmed this and we'll take immediate action to fix it. Meanwhile as a work around you can add a text object in your device, select it and in the Object Info Palette in the ConnectCAD Linked Text group set it as linked text and choose the device field to link to.

I realise this isn't perfect because it doesn't automatically apply to all new devices but it does let you visualize your data.

 

Conrad

[Feature Request - Setting to set default Symbol Template Type]

This one is on my bucket list too! It's the little things that make the difference.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin

[Bug - 2021 - Term Panels Missing I]

But... you can add them if you like.

 

Just go to ConnectCAD Settings > Panel Settings tab > select the panel type e.g.Video. Edit the Panel Series to meet your needs.

 

Kind regards

 

Conrad

[Change multiple sockets at once?]

Hi Matthias,

 

I understand. Bulk editing term panels after placement isn't available in the current version. In 2021 you can set the connector type in the Term Panel tool preferences before placement. So why not just delete and replace the term panels?

 

Conrad

[ConnectCad: Saving Symbols in Device Builder]

Hi Luther

That sounds like something we need to investigate further. So could you post or PM me the following 1) a zip of your ConnectCAD_Data folder, a .vwx drawing file that shows the problem and what steps I should take to reproduce it. Also let me know which version was showing this behaviour.

 

Thanks

Conrad

[How can I not know the Conn(on cable) name for 1/8" 3.5mm TRS?]

Hi Mark,

 

Not quite sure what the question is here. If you are missing a connector type you can find details of how to do this in this thread https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/68432-did-you-know/ along with a lot of other useful stuff.

 

If I didn't get it, please send me a screenshot or sample .vwx file and a bit more detail about the issue.

 

Conrad

[Can line type be changed on connections?]

Hello @Rob Sherman

 

In 2021 you can change circuit attributes in the Attributes Palette from Class Style to whatever you like. So it will be easier to support your workflow. Since you have some particular standards in your company I suggest you look into creating some one-line scripts in a palette so you can easily assign circuits as you wish.

 

Conrad

[ConnectCAD 2021 SignalTypes and ConnectorTypes]

Hey Wade!

 

Good to  hear from you man !!!

 

Conrad

[2020 > 2021: Already Connected Term Panels Broken]

Hi Matthais

 

Using Snap to Object is a workaround. Connect should not depend heavily on Snap settings. What was happening is that once a circuit is connected the Connect tool is detecting the Circuit not the Socket. If you send the circuit to the back in the drawing list you will also be able to connect again.

 

In the past few hours our team have already done a fix for this and tested it. Now we have to go thru some procedures to get it released.

 

Thanks again for your super reports!

 

Conrad

[2020 > 2021: Already Connected Term Panels Broken]

Hi Matthias,

 

If you turn on Snap to Object you'll be able to connect. We'll look into this and see what's happening.

 

Conrad

[Cable Numbers not readable (too small) on A0 print out]

42 minutes ago, CHA said:

the font size e.g. of cable numbering is not editable

Well actually it is ... what you do is create a new Text Style in the Resource Manager and then go into the Class Editor and edit the class Sys-CircuitNumbers. In the class edit dialog set your new text style as the class text style and all your numbers will follow the new style.

 

There's always a way in ConnectCAD 🙂

 

Conrad

[Feature request - Update Rack Elevation device offset]

Hi @t-bud

 

Update Rack Elevation stacks rack-mount devices vertically and non-rack-mount devices horizontally.

 

We haven't made any change to linkage of Equipment Items to Devices in 2021. It is still by name. The relation between Devices and Equipment is many-to-one. You can have more than one device on the schematic that represents parts of a piece of physical equipment. A prime example of this are jackfields, but it's also useful in other cases. So that begs a few questions when it comes to updating.

 

Automating updating between schematic and equipment can be done but it will come at a price. Right now ConnectCAD lets you take workflow shortcuts through "illegal" states. You can copy-paste or duplicate objects fairly freely and then sort it out afterwards. If everything is tied together inside the software we would have to enforce consistency at all times. Not everyone would be happy with that. Many people have come to ConnectCAD after becoming frustrated by the constrained workflows imposed by other software.

 

Best

 

Conrad

 

 

[Request: Term & Connector Panel - Multiple Connections, Naming & Additional Wall Plates]

Thanks 🙂 Yes, that's where the grid spacing is set. And looks like you're at 1/8 inch. I would give it a try on a new drawing at 1/4 inch. Text goes in point sizes so not every combination of grid spacing and text size looks good.

 

Best

 

Conrad

[Request: Term & Connector Panel - Multiple Connections, Naming & Additional Wall Plates]

Ryan,

 

What grid spacing are you using? Looks like 1/8 inch perhaps?  I've checked out here using our imperial template (1/4 inch grid) and it looks fine. So I would suggest allowing a bit more space. You can print or pdf the drawing at any size by using viewports on sheet layers, so you don't have to scrunch things up on design layers.

 

We all have times when we get frustrated and for sure everyone working in the entertainment sector is feeling a lot of pressure right now. Venting your frustration here may relieve your feelings. But please remember that we are human too. I and my team here at Vectorworks put in a lot of hard work to constantly improve ConnectCAD. Right now it's 22:40 on a Sunday night and I am spending my time replying to you. It is to say the least de-motivating to have our efforts characterized as a  "freaking disaster" and a "mess".

 

As you know very well we are always open to constructive discussion and we do go the extra mile to help every time. I must ask you kindly to avoid these sort of epithets, and please let's stick to the business of getting problems resolved.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Conrad

[Request: Term & Connector Panel - Multiple Connections, Naming & Additional Wall Plates]

Hi guys,

 

In 2021 we got this. It's called Connect Selected and it's in the ConnectCAD > Drawing sub-menu. Connects up outputs to input left-to-right in the selection set.

 

Another thing you might not be aware of is the double-click "connect next" function of the Connect Tool. If you create the first circuit and leave it selected and then just double-click with the Connect tool on the next source socket, Connect will go looking for the next destination under the previous one and create the next circuit. Give it a try on a simple situation to see how it works. This exists in 2020. Saves you a lot of time.

 

Conrad

[Cable Type - Between Data Panels]

Thanks Ryan,

 

Good to know it's already fixed. Could you do me a favor and let me know the build number in which you saw this?

 

Conrad

[Change multiple sockets at once?]

Ok understand.

 

With a bit of fiddling about I can work around that. If you Ungroup a device like a term panel you get a symbol and a socket. Delete the symbol and you've got a naked socket. Do that for bunch of term panels. Use Select Similar to help get rid of the symbols. Select all the sockets - change their connectors to RJ11. Cut and paste into a new device.

 

See where I'm going with this?

 

Be nice to number those sockets... so inside our device let's select the sockets, duplicate them (alt-drag) and then change the duplicates to Orientation B, ungroup the duplicates. Now you've got two symbols for each socket. Convert to group and ungroup. Now select the text objects with the numbers and position them above the sockets.

Exit the device and save it as a symbol for future use.

 

What I'm getting at here is that ConnectCAD has a lot of "get out of jail" cards. Even if we didn't think of everything there's usually a way.

 

Thanks for looking at the help too 🙂

 

Hope this helps you get your job done and we'll certainly work on ways to make this faster.

 

Conrad