uvegot2mr

My system resources are fine when it comes to manipulation of large files. The "large" file size issues I am referring to are both the printing and emailing of a 15MB file. Most of the time I print to pdf or email as a zipped attachment. Doing that with a 5MB file as opposed to a 15MB file makes the drawing more manageable once I get it out of VW. The file size in this case mostly effects two areas of my design work. 1)15MB file sizes even majorally compressed are too large to "floppy" a drawing for print at my local Kinkos, 2)Large files are effected by size limits via email. I have not found an easy solution hence the reason I use 2 different drafting programs. The file conversion process sometimes takes longer and is more problematic than the actual drafting time needed on some of my simpler projects. So after years of looking for one program that can do it all I am still using multiple programs. I guess knowing ACAD and VWorks is not such a bad thing. Still, I am open to any insight if anyone knows differently.

Why is it that when VW imports dwg files it nearly triple the file size? Is there a way to get around that without painstakingly removing both un-needed layers and objects? I use both ACAD 2002 and VWorks Spotlight 11. Most of the clients I work with are ACAD. An example, I am currently working with a 5MB ACAD DWG, imported into VW it turns into a 15MB file. A file that large makes it problematic to both manipulate and print. Is there a work around?

Thanks Tom! I will give it a go. I appreciate your time.

Thank you so much. I appreciate your time and effort.

Thanks Tom. Do you know where I might find some more specifics of building the kind of script you describe?

I am a production designer. My lighting console of choice these days is the GrandMA. I often do events with short turnaround/prep times which usually leave me no time to program. So I lay out and pre-program a majority of my show (scenic and lighting elements) with MA's visualizer which requires X,Y,Z coordinates for fixture/element placement. I then create an Excel database manually doing the data entry with X,Y,Z, and X,Y,Z orientation information based on the symbol placement in my designs. The database (X,Y,Z) information can then be copied and pasted into the MA's 3D visualizer. In the interest of keeping my pre-production time to a minimum I am simply looking for ways to streamline the process. The time I spend manually creating this database would be greatly reduced if Spotlight could create this spreadsheet automatically. It would also eliminate having to use a 3rd party program. I am told by some of my associates that this is something AutoCAD is capable of doing. Thoughts are always appreciated.

I understand the database features of worksheets. The question is how do I assign the realtime X,Y,Z coordinates found in the Object Info window of my symbol to a record attachment automatically? I understand and know how to assign data entry record attachments like "dimmer" or "channel". But realtime X,Y,Z coordinates are different unless I enter them manually based on placement of the fixture. Is there a way to link the realtime X,Y,Z information of the Object Info palette so that the X,Y,Z coordinates are automatically assigned to a record format? Specifically I want to be able to create a database worksheet with this coordinate information for export into 3D visualization software. Maybe the process is much simpler than I can figure. Is there an existent link from the symbol that is not a record attachment recognizable in the paste function of the worksheet? Does anyone know of a script or a process? Greatly appreciated.

I understand the database features of worksheets. The question is how do I assign the realtime X,Y,Z coordinates found in the Object Info window of my symbol to a record attachment automatically? I understand and know how to assign data entry record attachments like "dimmer" or "channel". But realtime X,Y,Z coordinates are different unless I enter them manually based on placement of the fixture. Is there a way to link the realtime X,Y,Z information of the Object Info palette so that the X,Y,Z coordinates are automatically assigned to a record format? Specifically I want to be able to create a database worksheet with this coordinate information for export into 3D visualization software. Maybe the process is much simpler than I can figure. Is there an existent link from the symbol that is not a record attachment recognizable in the paste function of the worksheet? Does anyone know of a script or a process? Greatly appreciated.

I understand the database features of worksheets. The question is how do I assign the realtime X,Y,Z coordinates found in the Object Info window of my symbol to a record attachment automatically? I understand and know how to assign data entry record attachments like "dimmer" or "channel". But realtime X,Y,Z coordinates are different unless I enter them manually based on placement of the fixture. Is there a way to link the realtime X,Y,Z information of the Object Info palette so that the X,Y,Z coordinates are automatically assigned to a record format? Specifically I want to be able to create a database worksheet with this coordinate information for export into 3D visualization information. Maybe the process is much simpler than I can figure. Is there an existent link from the symbol that is not a record attachment recognizable in the paste function of the worksheet? Does anyone know of a script or a process? Greatly appreciated.

I am somewhat familiar with the database features of the worksheet. I poked around V11 SL and but couldn't find out where or how the XYZ coordinates of the symbol are attached to the fixture as a record like that of "channel" or "dimmer". I will spend some time in the script area and see what I can drum up. Nevertheless, if anyone has insight (how to) into the process I would greatly appreciate it. Forum insight is always appreciated.

Is there a way in Vectorworks to create a database of the X,Y,Z coordinates of a symbol (specifically lighting fixtures)? If so how? I would like to export this database information into Excel for use with other 3D visualization software. I am a VWorks Spotlight 11 user but thought this topic might apply to other areas of the Vectorworks platform.