Scott C. Parker

Spotlight cables allow you to add slack at the start or end of cables. You can also subtract slack from the cable. You can use a negative number in the cable configuration and/or the cable worksheet slack column, which will change the cable. In a worksheet, you can select all the cables attached to two-fers or breakouts and place a negative number in the slack data field. You might need to update and then/reload the cables via the manage cable parts dialog to force a cable refresh. In other words, if you use a 10' breakout, you can deduct the 10' from the cables connected to the breakout. We're working on making it automatic. But for now, this is the workflow.

You can connect a pipe with a clamp symbol in place of a truss cross, but... At the moment, you can only attach pipes running across truss vs. parallel along the length of the truss, like a tail down. We're working on fixing this.

I was playing with the Equipment Summary Key and Cables. Users can edit the colors to match their color code system by editing the Defaults/Cable Tools folder files. Once edited, keep the file as a favorite file for in-house use. The VW-supplied file will get overwritten during updates.

Playing with the slack fields might help here. But, you might need to move the break point. I haven't played with this in the way you describe.

Quickest way is to add five or ten feet to the Slack fields.

It's not you, it's us. Daisy chaining is actively being worked on, and I hope to share when it will be properly implemented. The power tool doesn't recognize an output when placed inside a "consumer." For now, the workaround is to use two-fers to force the lights to link together which bypasses the output of each light.

Hello, the picture you show is of the prior version of the cable tools. If you want to continue using the workflow offered via this version, @Sam Jones offers an updated version. The current version of VW cable and power tools has a different method of making cables. The cables are stored in the Cable.vwx files found in the RM.

Here's a "Coffee Break" presentation from a few weeks ago showing how cable tools and power planning works. I think it will help get you started. https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=7559 If you're having trouble with a particular file, please post a test file so we can take a look and give you some help.

Would you please install update 2.1 and then try again. If you're still having trouble, please post a file for us to test. Thanks, Scott

My first thought is to add individual loads and use the duplicate array tool's circular mode to copy them around the circle. Depending on the size of the circle, I'd place several loads based on numbers devisable by 360 and add the weight of the total divided by the number of points.

Actually, what I did in that file was all via the seating tool.

Please post an example file for testing. Thanks, Scott

Centering seems to only work with odd numbers of chairs in rows. I'm submitting a bug about this, but it'll be a while before it's looked at.

I think what's happening is that when you update the cables via the cable manager, it reads all files in the cable folder. It doesn't care what the names are; it looks inside all the VW files present. This is why you had success when you moved the unwanted file instead of simply renaming the file. What happens when you choose the file name you have created using the Use Cable Set dropdown in the cable preferences dialog? The dropdown will show all the possible files. Once you set the set to be used, all cables should pull from only that file.

I played for a bit, and these examples all use the seating tool to place seats on the risers. They're not perfect, but they're really close. The most versatile section is the one I split into three separate sections. For me, once I have my curvature, seat row spacing, rise value, etc., all figured out, placing seats around the stadium could be efficient and require tweaks when needed. I am working on a list of enhancements for the seating tool's future development. While playing with this, I found a new one. Restarting seat numbering when an aisle is inserted would be a time saver. Please share other improvement ideas, and I'll add them to my list. SECTION.vwx

Black Friday sale on streamdecks today and tomorrow. 12/1 12/2

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.

Two options. For just counting, you could add the changer as a virtual part to the cables and use the equipment list feature to count them. To see the changers in place, instead of building a short cable, you can build it as a distributor with one input and one output. I showed something like this in part 2 of that coffee break where I placed plug boxes around a theater using one multi input and one multi output. @jcogdell did a video on building distros. It's posted in the university. I'm heading out for turkey weekend and can offer more instruction next week if you need.

@Peter Telleman I'm still exploring. I've found something interesting that I need to research. For some reason, the tool likes dealing with odd numbers of seats when using from center. It just might be the way it is. Are you able to share some sections of your curved support structure? I want to try a few things.

Until the fix is published for the High Hook bug, here's a workaround. 2024-11-26_08-37-51.mp4

Hi Ben, are you trying to make a cable? or, an adapter?

Do you have a sample file showing this? All the truss in the samples you shared show the same trim and z values. When I move them to the new height, they report accurately. Is it possible you are changing the height of a truss that has a 90° roll applied? If yes, that makes sense as the trim is from the lowest part of the truss and the insertion point of a rolled truss would be different due to the rolled angle. 2024-11-25_16-22-56.mp4

Hello N. I've tried each truss system in both sample files using the same VW 2025 you're using and I'm able to select system objects without issue. Would you please make a video so we can see your steps. Here's my video. Or, am I misunderstanding the workflow you're using? 2024-11-25_16-11-21.mp4

Did you intend to add an example file? It didn't attach.

@Peter Telleman I may have either been confused or offered confusing answers to the issues along the way in this thread by trying to answer different questions related to similar workflows. First, a correction. I totally misunderstood the use of the "Height Relative to" selection field. It has nothing to do with which chord the curtain is snapping to. When I saw "Bottom Trim," I confused it with the truss's bottom trim vs. the drape's bottom trim. It's only dealing with the curtain. The curtains and Truss Borders should snap to whichever chord is highlighted during the snapping process. First, we all need to remember the Z value of a curtain is the distance measured to the bottom of the curtain. I remind myself, often, that I'm dealing with the distance off the floor and not the height of the curtain webbing. The Z value of a freestanding Unstyled curtain can be changed without issue. The Z value of any curtain attached to a truss/pipe/hanging position is controlled by the trim of the support object minus the curtain's height. To adjust the Z value, you need to change the Z value, or height, of the supporting structure, and the curtain will move up/down and change the Z height shown by the curtain. Here's my file to play with. Softgoods style playing.vwx 2024-11-21_09-18-22.mp4