[Odd Motor Behavior-Please Help]

1 hour ago, KevinF1973 said:

Just did the 4.1 Update.  Seems to have cleared up the problem. 

There was an issue that was fixed in 4.1. Not sure what exactly, but it was important enough to issue a .1 release. I'm glad it seems to have fixed your issue. And, yes, Sequoia presented some issues as well.

[Truss Chord Snapping//Naming?]

6 hours ago, mtgdesigns said:

is there a way to name them separately

Yes, but we can't see the info yet. It's being worked on. Inside the truss, each chord has a snap line and an associated record. The name of the chord is currently a number and is in the record. You could rename as you wish, but... You would always need to insert the truss in the correct direction to have the "DS" chord land downstage. If the truss were rotated, the DS chord doesn't know it's facing the other way.
We can't see it yet... The info isn't seen by the light yet. It's on our list to expose the info, but it requires more processing power to dig it out.

[(spotlight) Cable length Data Tag. Display Short Name]

Would you please post a sample file with the cable and the data tag you're playing with? Thanks, Scott

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

I have to play more. I can't get the light to see the BBD4 connector. I have to speak to a coder during the week.

I did get your tubes to play with the powercon connector without adapters.

For testing, I played with only dealing with the true connectors and cables. Changing to the 4pin connector is a different research project.

 

In my attached file of  yours...

1. I removed the consumer component from the tube.
2. I updated the tube's LIR with "NAC3FX-W and NAC3MX-W" in the power connector field. This calls for the PowerCON True1 connectors, and I placed cables without adapters.

Now cables are placed as expected for power. Data is down the road, at the moment.

 

More to come.

Please send me a copy of your CableConnectors.xml file

 

24V fixture example file modified distro scp2.vwx

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

5 hours ago, tspilman said:

So the cable style matches the connector on the lighting device. 

Sorry, are we talking about the same file you shared earlier in the thread? The LED tube is not showing a connector. Do you have a new sample file to play with? 

[loads and soft goods not in system with ladder truss]

I've filed a bug, and the engineers are looking at it. 

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

3 hours ago, tspilman said:

When I link the PSU distributor to the fixture, I get cable errors:
"2 Connectors inserted incorrectly between the distributor and the cable.
At Start: Distributor Cable: BBD4 Connector Cable: XLR4
At End: Connector Cable: BBD4 Distributor Cable: XLR4"

What is the style being used of the cable being placed between the two adapters? 

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

@tspilman Here's a video on the new two-ferring and daisy chain workflow. https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=7966

[loads and soft goods not in system with ladder truss]

3 hours ago, Peter Telleman said:

What am I doing wrong, or is there an issue with ladder truss?

I'm having the same issues. Researching. 

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

On 4/5/2025 at 9:24 AM, tspilman said:

I've uploaded a quick file trying to show the setup. 

It'll take me a few days to play with this. 

[How to see what’s assigned to each hanging position (without braceworks)?]

In the truss/hanging position, you can press the Select System Objects button,  which will select everything that thinks it belongs to the object. Once they're selected, the OIP will show how many objects are selected. 
All the items will be highlighted and any objects that seem off will be shown as well. Keep in mind that items in layers that are set to invisible may be selected, but not visible. 

In addition to @JBenghiat's Savvy tools, @Sam Jones has a wonderful "Collect and Total Weight" script which will show all items currently selected. 
I made a video, years ago, showing how valuable this was to my workflow. https://youtu.be/MBrIZJHmab8?si=m7k5xY3mtMJ64T-I

 

[Gobo Report]

On 4/4/2025 at 11:03 AM, Kevin White said:

Any update on having a collapsible gobo list with counts shown? 

Not yet. I've bumped the report. I don't know when it will be updated though.

[DMX/Data Cable Chain Possible?]

On 4/4/2025 at 8:56 PM, Sam Jones said:

However, it is a tiny bit misleading to say that you can use them alongside VW's power planning cable tools.

Yes, sorry. I was a bit unclear. What I meant was what Sam says. You can use both tools at the same time. I agree and would eather use AP cable tools for everything, or use AP for data and then VW for power. 

[Editing braceworks connection points/loci on symbols]

On 4/3/2025 at 2:54 AM, Stig Runar said:

Did you find out anything here?

Sorry, I've found out that the geometry is currently hard-coded, meaning it's created on the fly during placement.  Adding rigging snap points to Symbols is on our wish list. I'll keep digging for a workaround.

[Coffee Breaks for data tags]

COFFEE BREAK - CUSTOM DATA TAGS

https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=3018

 

COFFEE BREAK - SPOTLIGHT: DATA TAGS FOR ENTERTAINMENT

https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=2494

[Data Tags Basic Intro]

Here's a coffee break for custom data tags. https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=3018

[Truss Trim Height Management]

2 hours ago, Regie said:

Is this a modified Data tag? I want this kind of data tag layout.

Likely, yes. Users can create just about any layout they wish. We have an entire forum page for users to share custom data tags. The first few posts have videos on making data tags.
https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/forum/186-data-tags/
The easiest way to make a custom one is to duplicate an existing tag and make adjustments.
Here's a coffee break showing custom data tags.
https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=3018

[DMX/Data Cable Chain Possible?]

The new tool does not do data yet.
Yes, you can use both the VW cable tools alongside Autoplot's cable tools. The main differences are VW can do 3D, power calcs, and is Braceworks aware. Autoplot can do both power and data, but in 2D only.
Adding data is on the list, but we want to get all the bugs out of VW's cable tools. We're almost there.

[Cable Inventory by Location/Position-Worksheet]

"Location" is not automatically inserted. However, "Position" should report the position name from your positions. 

 

To grab the position from the load info and place in a worksheet, try adding this: =OBJECTDATA('load info', 'position')

[Automatic Numbering to Working with Cable Tools Break Outs]

Yes, it's a bug. Pressing Shift pauses autonumbering. If you place without the shift, you'll be good to go. We're working on a solution.

[House Rigging Point: Trim Height, what do you call it?]

Hello All,

I admit that the term "Trim Height" for the house rigging point object always gives me pause. For me, the term "Trim Height" refers to the objects I'm flying, not the height of the pick point, eye bolt, beam, loft block, ceiling, crane, or any other object my baskets or top hooks are attached to.

 

This field sets the height of a house rigging point to which a hoist or bridle's top hook or basket is attached. 

If you have a preference, what term would you use instead of "Trim Height" shown here? 

[Truss Trim Height Management]

3 hours ago, Regie said:

, where do I find that kind of data tag?

Start here.

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

Hi Tim,

Can you build a simple test file to play with? Working in a vwx file can make figuring this stuff out easier.

Important question: What kind of documentation are you looking to create? Are you doing a hard-wired installation (ConnectCAD) or a performance-type temporary event using distros, breakouts, cables, and lights (Spotlight Cable Tools)?
 

As for power calcs, I would say it's fully implemented, but may have a few omissions and a few bugs persist. 
Have you watched my coffee breaks on these?
https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=3622

https://university.vectorworks.net/course/view.php?id=3692

 

I made another video showing the improvements to daisy-chaining lights with pass-throughs and using two-fers that is going to be posted soon. I'll add a link when it posts.

 

[24V systems & consumers within Cable tools / ConnectCAD]

Hi Tim,

Very interesting questions. My comments relate to Spotlight Cable Tools and not ConnectCAD directly.

3 hours ago, tspilman said:

I am working with mains voltage lighting fixtures as well as 24VDC LED fixtures.

Where is the power supply/transformer that supplies the 24VDC power? Does each fixture have a transformer? Or, are you plugging them all into a 24VDC power supply? Yes, you offer more info...
 

3 hours ago, tspilman said:

for example, a 240V 500W PSU

Is this set to AC or DC? If DC, are you supplying power to ten 24V lights wired in series?

 

3 hours ago, tspilman said:

4-pin outputs

This reminds me of color scroller power supplies.

In this type of case, you are correct in your #1 example. We would use the wattage draw of the PSU, rather than that of the downstream devices, for power calculations. Therefore, we would report the 500W PSU as a single 500W consumer, without needing to know how many devices it supplies power to. 

 

3 hours ago, tspilman said:

2)Add consumer components for the LEDs and set their voltage to 24V. Add output electrical components for the PSUs and configure the connector properties accordingly.

This could work, but... I've not tested it.
We're not currently calculating Amps at all. So, the voltage is also not currently a factor, except for some voltage drop calculations. That's another topic.
We're reporting on overall wattage/power.
As such, I'm thinking out loud now. Without testing this yet, I would determine how many watts the 24V lights will draw from the system and set them accordingly. Then, build a custom PSU distro or breakout to serve them. This PSU distro will report on the overall wattage being used and allow the upstream devices to see how many Watts are being supplied. The PSU distributer will have the proper four-pin connectors between the outputs and the 24V lights, ensuring accurate cable reports. The input connector of the PSU can be specified as whatever connector you need to patch to the upstream power supply distribution.

 

4 hours ago, tspilman said:

I asked ChatGPT

The bot is correct.

[How to Create a Symbol Key with Rounded Borders and Colored Outlines?]

13 hours ago, Joe Golden ENT said:

several PIO's are not showing up when I use this. 

If the PIOs you're using are from third-party developers, the current summary tool can see the symbols when the PIO places actual symbols. However, when the PIO places a visual representation of the symbol, i.e., a parametric object version of the symbol, the summary key is not able to see it yet. 
In this example, I have five speakers placed as symbols and three drawn as visual versions of the speaker symbols used. Why? When the speakers in the second speaker array are tilted, the PIO draws a parametric object representation of the selected symbol. 
In this particular case, the speakers are placed with the Landru speaker tools, and I selected actual symbols for placement. If I had used the Library version of speakers, no symbols would be used, and they would not be available to the summary key.

 

Here's this file to play with.

custom symbols test.vwx