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Scott C. Parker

Vectorworks, Inc Employee
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Posts posted by Scott C. Parker

  1. 7 hours ago, Cristiano Alves said:

    Any reason to use the @Sam Jones plugin and not the native vectorworks tool?

    Well, you would need to compare the two workflows and see which one works best for you. Sam's tools allows a free preview for a set period of time.

     

    7 hours ago, Cristiano Alves said:

    LED Screen vs Softgoods weight calculation:

    Yes, they do differ. Tools in VW are developed over different timelines depending on user needs and software capabilities. The square footage of drapes came about after user suggestions that the tool take the published weight of soft goods, as listed on various drape company websites, and calculate the total weight based on the curtain finished sizes. @C. Andrew Dunning is the foremost expert on how this works.
    Putting per panel weights into the LED screen tool has been suggested and is on our list of wishes for improvement.

    When I need to calculate LED screen weights, I often add a distributed weight using the rigging load tool after I've figured out how much my LED wall weighs from an excel worksheet.

     

    These are all great suggestions and we keep track. Keep them coming..

    Best, Scott

     

    • Like 2
  2. You can create a report for each truss system. A bit time consuming, but it's the way to go. When I was doing more show drafting, I used a third party plugin made by @Sam Jones which has a command to do this same thing. It gathers and reports weight of everything selected. Still, one truss system at a time, but wicked fast. I made a 30 second video a while back showing how it works. https://youtu.be/GD300L0gqVo

     

     

     

    • Like 2
  3. hello Wood,

    We don't, yet. It's on a list, so to speak. When I was laying out rigging systems I would convert my hoists into lighting devices which gave me a lot more control for power and data. I could then insert cable lengths into a cable data field for each and put them on the paperwork.
    'm working on plans (no dates to share I'm afraid) to bring cabling, power planning and control to hoists and controllers.

     

    I'd like to hear more about what you tried to include in the controllers you attempted to build.

     

    As for your putting cable info into the notes field, how do you do that now? Manually? I have a suggestion. Reach out to @Sam Jones, one of our third party developers, and ask him about how his cable tools plugin can help. Here's a screenshot I just whipped up to show you what I do using his plugin. The combination of data tags to show the notes field, in which the cable name/number is inserted, and the cable worksheet give me both the cable/hoist info and cable lengths.

     

    Best, Scott

     

    Snag_110f59f.png

     

  4. 14 hours ago, Brent.A said:

    Is this forum the only spot people chat about Braceworks, online?

    This is the only place people will get responses from VW folks on a regular bases. The various FB groups are hit and miss. I tend to answer questions in FB groups when I can, but this VW forum was created specifically for Braceworks.

  5. FYI, we have a new forum board devoted to Data Tags here: https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/forum/186-data-tags/

     

    You have the settings correct, but need to click on Add to Definition to insert the string. When you do, you'll notice that the settings you have are slightly different than the current setting in the Current Tag Field Definition window.
    You could also manually edit the top line string and change the 0 to a 2.

    Snag_2d3ba577.png

    • Like 1
  6. On 11/11/2022 at 8:10 AM, Stig Runar said:

    Vertical pipe hanging down from a truss with two swivelclamps, attach lights and you want all this information in the braceworks calculation.

    Unfortunatly, becuase clamps do not offer ratings against the pipe itself slipping out of the clamp, Braceworks cannot offer reliable calculations.

  7. Personally, I always set to the thing that can't be changed by anyone for any reason, the floor. Added to that, when riggers are setting trim before the stage is in place, they'd have to do the math if I set to the stage deck.
    I've also shot myself in the foot playing with layer hieghts with regards to trim heights of all sorts of things. 
    With that said, it's not hard to snap a few extra measurements in my section view paperwork to help with onsite math.

    • Like 2
  8. On 9/26/2022 at 2:41 PM, tgooch said:

    separate power to the cable tools, and data to connect cad?

    @tgooch Two different workflows with different results. Given that power planning and data management are not linked at the moment, the two workflows are likely needed to produce the different sets of paperwork.

     

    On 9/26/2022 at 2:41 PM, tgooch said:

    which of the toolsets, including autoplot,

    I am a fan of AutoPlot and used it extensively before joining Vectorworks HQ. Though it produces paperwork and reports differently than ConnectCAD, if it fits your workflow methedology, it would be the way to go. Otherwise, CC is a solid choice.

     

    On 9/26/2022 at 2:41 PM, tgooch said:

    your tutorials have been most helpful, thank you

    You're most welcome. Thanks for mentioning.

     

    On 9/26/2022 at 2:41 PM, tgooch said:

    Mark Krasnov was entertained

    Say hello. Great guy. I'm one who can truly say, "I knew him when..." 

  9. 2 minutes ago, Lec said:

    export other data

    @Lec You can use the "report" command to create worksheets as you need. The cable tool itself is not freindly to DMX or data yet. However, your reports will pull any/all info from the lighting units. It'll also pull info from the cables, distros, etc.

     

    image.png

    • Like 2
  10. 4 hours ago, tspilman said:

    Hi all, I've tried again at this and it still appears to not be working. 

     

     

    I am using the resource "Distro Socapex-19>16A (1phCEE) Breakout 1m" as the socapex breakout. When I run a feeder (or jumper) cable from the distributor item to a fixture, it calculates the total length (including any spare as specified in cable preferences. I do not see any way to reduce the cable length with respect to this (or a staggered breakout).

     

    Any suggestions how to make this work would be appreciated.

    TIA 

    Unfortunately, these two functionalities were accidentally omitted from the latest release. They are on the list to be added back.

    for the time being, you have the option to configure the cables themselves (after the breakout) via the configure cable button in the  OIP

  11. On 8/24/2022 at 6:44 PM, Projx_CA said:

    Yes, this is the way....just need a quicker workaround to tally that point load.

    If you want a non-braceworks worksheet with all the items on the system in question, @Sam Jones has a tool to gather all items and add them to a worksheet with weights.

    • Like 1
  12. So, let me understand. You're looking for accuracy of 1/8"=1' down to the difference of an unsharpened pencil?

    Kidding aside, I just printed these on my HP Laser Jet Pro M477 and they are both spot on.
    Directly from VW.
    Top in a viewport and the bottom printed directly from the design layer.

    Snag_986827b.png

     

    I also checked via exporting to a PDF and printing. Same result. All are spot on.

    • Like 1
  13. Hello @AnthWhite, Welcome to Vectorworks. Have you explored the VW video courses in the VW University? https://university.vectorworks.net/course/index.php?tagfilter[category]=27

    Some are intro level made by users as presentations as to what VW can do and includes a bit of how to do it. Longer courses/videos dive deeper into specifics. Several speak to rendering and setting up the room itself.

    https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=2085

    https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=2063

    https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=1933

    https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=1639

    https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=195

     

    Best, Scott

    • Like 1
  14. Some questions:

    When you're snapping your lights to the truss/hanging position, are you in:

    1. Top/Plan view 2D
    2. Top 3D view
    3. An ISO view
    4. Front/Side views?

    Which ones worked? Which ones did not?

     

    When you built your hanging position, was the truss/pipe:

    1. Already at height?
    2. On the floor and then you moved it to height after it became a hanging position?
    3. Did you make it a symbol? or use just the geometry?

     

    Thanks, Scott

  15. @capital_Designs @mlkimmel @Blackfaer

    Troubleshooting question and test.

    Would you please copy and paste the offending hanging positions into a new blank drawing and try again? If you get the same issue happening, Would it be possible for us to obtain files to look at? If you're updating 2021 files, those are fine. If you can duplicate the issue in fresh 2022 files, even better.

    You can DM them directly instead of posting here if you wish.

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