[Applying a Label Legend to the Typical Symbol - Instrument Summary Tool]

Yes, it should work as before. If you're having trouble, please post a sample file so that the collective can take a look. 

[Custom Truss calculation and work around]

On 5/4/2025 at 7:39 AM, jjost said:

custom angle should be made to work with Braceworks

Hello @jjost
I've played with your file, and with help from @JustinVanHassel, we figured out the issues.

Your corner block was close (nice work), but needed a couple of things. 
 

As for calculating, check both Second order analysis and Compensate drops.

 

Here's your file.

Vectorworks Forum.vwx

[Equipment Summary Key - Inventory Management Filters - Definition: Class]

Classes for this are particularly challenging, as equipment symbols can contain multiple classes within each. Can you expand on the workflow you envision that would use classes?
btw, I don't disagree. Classes would be very helpful. 

['Circuit Name' and 'Circuit Number' fields not updating.]

Please post a sample file so that the collective can take a look. 

 

[Custom Truss - Structural object interference problem]

On 5/3/2025 at 11:07 PM, cglow said:

maybe there's a setting or parameter I never had to deal with before

When I open your file, the truss objects do not seem to have the truss record attached. As such, when I right-click on the truss, I am not able to open the Customize Truss Symbol Data dialog. The symbols report as Invalid Truss Symbols when trying to convert the system into a Hanging Position.
In the RM, right-click on the truss symbols and Attach Record to attach the truss record. Your file doesn't contain the record. Bring it in by using the truss tool and insert a truss from the stock library. This will bring in the record. Once attached, you'll need to add the appropriate info matching the truss objects you're working with. After that, you can then add the needed Truss Symbol Data.

 

I was able to get to the Truss Properties dialog via:

I opened your truss symbol and copied the truss geometry.
I pasted the geometry into the design layer.
I then created a new symbol of the truss object

Then I used the Convert to Truss command and this is what opened the Truss Properties dialog. It is in this dialog that you need to add the needed info to have Braceworks see them as truss.

 

More on building custom truss.
https://app-help.vectorworks.net/2025/eng/VW2025_Guide/Braceworks/Creating_a_custom truss_symbol.htm?rhhlterm=convert converting truss trusses&rhsearch=convert to truss

 

[Applying a Label Legend to the Typical Symbol - Instrument Summary Tool]

I posted this a while back with a workaround for using the label legend version of the typical symbol, and my personal preferred workflow for typical symbols. The first half of the video, which covers the workaround and my workflow, is shown approximately halfway through the video. 

 

[Temporarily Suspend Snapping for Loads when moving/or creating?]

To stop the lights from snapping to the actual truss, I suggest moving the rigged truss to another layer. Then, use the Spotlight preferences to turn off auto-snapping.

 

 

 

 

Yes, Move by points worked for me. I played a bit and here's what I found. 

 

 

 

 

[SL Cable Schedule Worksheet Syntax]

Play with changing the numbers, ...parts ordered', '1', '1')
The first 1 is the cable section. The second 1 is the part. So, ...parts ordered', '1', '2') will show the second part of the first section. ...parts ordered', '2', '1') show the first part of the 2nd section.

As for your custom cables, Please post a sample file so that the collective can take a look. 

[Placing Rigging Object on Top create a Rigging System?]

What happened when you ran Braceworks?
The answer is, if you used the Insert Connection Tool to build your piles of truss, it should work. If it doesn't, please post a sample file so that the collective can take a look.

[Generators]

RIght click on the power symbol in the RM and choose Edit 3D. Select the power source component (turn on the power parts classes) and use the Connector drop down to choose the connector you wish to use.

 

[SL Cable Schedule Worksheet Syntax]

@Dylan Hovey
Play with these.

The one you want is =OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '1', '1')
Better yet, =SUBSTRING(OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '1', '1'), '-', 2)

 

 

='CableObject'.'LengthPartsTotal'

='CableObject'.'CableRun_ID'

=OBJECTDATA('CableObject'.'CableRun_ID')

=LENGTH('cable break', 'Vertical Drop', 0)

=LENGTH('cable section'.'Length')

='CableObject'.'Swag' =OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'Name', '0')

=LENGTH('cable section', 'Start Slack', '0')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '0')

=LENGTH('cable section', 'End Slack')

=OBJECTDATA('cable break', 'name', 0)

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'Name', '1')

=LENGTH('cable section', 'Start Slack')

=LENGTH('cable section', 'End Slack')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '1')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '2')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '3')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '4')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '1', '1')

=OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'parts ordered', '1', '2')

=CONCAT('CableObject'.'CableRun_ID', '  ', OBJECTDATA('cable section', 'Name', '0'))

'=LENGTH('cable section', 'Swag', '1')'

=Length('cable section', 'total vertical drop', [<optional section index>])

[Martin Encore Wash WRM symbol height]

4 hours ago, PeterQ said:

Just checked the dimensions in the manual and the height seems 3cm taller then the vectorworks symbol in VW21.

It could be the feet on the unit.
You can always edit the 3D symbol and nudge things to match the manual.
I'd double-check the actual unit with a tape measure to confirm the manual is correct.

[Cable tools are worse than ever]

@Matthieu Meriaux In the Starway Slimkolor 710 UHD, send the power consumer component to the front so it lands third in the list of connectors in the OIP. Then do the DMX connections first using the daisy chain workflow. Then do power.test with consumer SCP.vwx

[Cable tools are worse than ever]

4 hours ago, Matthieu Meriaux said:

When i'm using this trick, i'm not anymore able to daisy chaining power. 

I tryed to add power in and power out, and in that case there's no power consumation.

Please post a sample file so that the collective can take a look. 

[Data Tag bug]

On 6/17/2025 at 10:42 AM, Iainy1961 said:

This issue surely must be a bug in system.

@Iainy1961
Please try using 

#ZBBBG##fi_1_1#

In your data tag, instead of "trim." Let us know how this works out. The beauty of using the bounding box and it reacts to the Trim Height field of the hanging position. "Trim" doesn't actually. It also reports properly when slanting hanging positions. 

[Power Schematics]

Usually, making connections on the input automatically connects to the output. But sometimes, one input is not actually the same as the connected output, most often when circuit breakers or fuses are involved. 

 

Add this to your workspace to check internal connections.

[Graphic Legends and lighting accessories, and more]

25 minutes ago, William McLachlan said:

4) when using equipment summary keys, is there a difference in their operation if they're placed on a design layer vs. directly on a sheet layer?

5) Same question for Graphic legends - are they any more or less capable or used differently if they're placed on a design layer or sheet layer?

4. They're supposed to work the same for both design and sheet layers.  Personally, I always recommend placing them on design layers and using viewports to place them on sheet layers. It gives more control over the resulting display, specifically the scale. I've often reduced the scale by 10-20% without confusing the crew.

 

5. Graphic legends do not work in design layers.

[Power Schematics]

There's something about the pass-through circuit in the Coffret Tri 20Kw. I don't know what, but to get you the calculation you need for the system, if you bypass the Armoire 2 and go from the Source 2 to the Armoire 3, you'll get the calculations to work. 

 

Drawing the cable connections in the schematic view correctly, @JCodgell is correct; there's a known issue. However, if you want to draw lines, instead of connecting the two distributors using the cable tool, you can use the Connect Selected command in the schematic view, shown here. 

 

BTW, the Coffret Tri 8 lacks connections to circuits 7 & 8 N & PE

 

[Problem when copying objects from a project to another project!]

2 hours ago, Cristiano Alves said:

With a blank new file, it happens the same .

I don't know if you have tried these troubleshooting steps, but... Close VW and try number one first. If that doesn't work, try #2. 

1. Please reset your Resource Manager Cache to force a fresh download of the VW libraries.
   1. Refreshing your Resource Manager will update your library to the latest published symbols. You may need to clear your local RM cache file. Refreshing the RM doesn't always do this. Delete the RM Cache folder and then refresh the RM and it'll pull down a complete set of updated RM files.
      Win: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Nemetschek\Vectorworks RMCache\rm202x
      Mac: /Users/username/Library/Application Support/Vectorworks RMCache/rm202x
      Remember to replace the “username” with your computer username if you copy and paste the file paths
      Your file location might differ. 
2. Reset your user folder. 
   1. Find your user folder for 2025 and rename it to something like 2025Cristiano so you can restore it later
   2. Start VW, and a new user folder will be placed. You might need your serial number for this.

If resetting your user folder works, you can then start adding custom settings and plug-ins back in. When I'm searching for an item that creates conflicts in my user folder, I add each custom plugin, one at a time.

 

[Cable tools are worse than ever]

19 minutes ago, LiteDoctor said:

Well, that's a lot to go through but it does work. A couple of questions:

I agree! 
I've not explored my workaround enough to answer your questions with clarity right now, and I'm neck deep in some other things. 
I still prefer the line offsets Autoplot offers, and I hope to offer the same in VW's version as soon as practical. aka, not soon, but it's on the list.

As for naming symbols, you can save the symbols with a new name for each, but use the short name field for paperwork. I never use the symbol name on paperwork, as it's always too long for the column width in my reports.

[3-Phase Consumers not showing wattage when creating Power Schematics]

@JamesB1 I played more. I renamed a few connection components to help me trace where things were getting connected. You'll see what I did in this file. I spent my time working on getting one connection working as expected, and it calcs the three phases. Giving each component a logical name helps trace how things should be connected. I think all the work I did was inside the T4 symbol.

hth, Scott

PowerTest SCP.vwx

 

[3-Phase Consumers not showing wattage when creating Power Schematics]

Hi James, your distro is missing a lot of internal connections.

Add this to your workspace to check internal connections. Once you have edited the connections, you should have better luck.

[Problem when copying objects from a project to another project!]

This problem could be in the template file you are using.

 

What happens when you paste into a new blank file instead of your template file?

[Cable tools are worse than ever]

On 6/16/2025 at 5:11 AM, jcogdell said:

The workflow is that you need to draw you power cables first, then draw the data cables. 

 

On 6/16/2025 at 5:11 AM, jcogdell said:

The adapter notification dialogue will probably be triggered, select the option to not insert adapters and close.

 

On 6/14/2025 at 9:31 AM, Marco Erbert said:

What is Vectorworks’ approach when you have 200–300 fixtures in a large rig? Somehow, you also have to calculate the amount of data cabling, not just the power cables.

 

 

All this got me thinking, and I have a workaround while data is being further developed. One issue is lighting content. VW automatically adds the power consumer parts to each light, and this doesn't help us with data connections. To fully use the cable tools for both power and data, we need to add new power components to our gear. After doing so, we can build a full set of paperwork and schematic layouts for both power and data cable runs. I've made a video and attached my test tile.
 DMX cabling demo w data input w components v2025.vwx

 

[3-Phase Consumers not showing wattage when creating Power Schematics]

Please post a sample file so that the collective can take a look.