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SamIWas

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Posts posted by SamIWas

    Workspace layout is goofed AGAIN!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Do you, by chance, sync your VW folder with another computer or as part of an office setup?

    I ask because I use a program to keep my laptop and iMac synced, and one of the folders it syncs is the Vectorworks user folder. Palette positions are saved each time the application is open on either the laptop or the iMac. And because I use palettes very differently on each, they appear where I last left off on whatever machine I was on before the last sync.

    But, I agree that a workspace should put them back.

    Truss Data Info Record

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    By the way, here is a file with a small selection of my truss symbols, just to show how I use the records to do counts, etc.

    There are also a lot of classes to show/hide detailed and simple versions of the trusses. But this is all global, but per section like you can do with lighting devices.

    Truss Data Info Record

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Hi Guys,

    We would like the ability to have a record attached to each piece of truss, so that when we do top plans of truss lines we have the ability to turn on and off labels similar to lighting labels that can show the truss piece length, type or weight in viewports. Has anyone got any experience with creating a label and then applying that info to the symbol in a data info record or something?

    I haven't been able to look at Andrew's solution yet, but are you looking to add a record to each section of truss, or to entire runs of truss?

    Adding a data record to symbols with basic data is quite easy, but controlling labels on a run of truss is much more difficult.

    All of my symbols have data records attached with exactly what you are stating (length, type, and weight), but it's on a per-piece basis. So, I can count the number of pieces and total weight, but not per run without more work.

    add recalculate button to worksheet windows

    in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests

    Posted

    I can't think of any reason why I wouldn't want my worksheet to be updated at all times.

    What you describe is possibly a VW performance issue.

    I can think of no reason that auto-updating shouldn't be a preference for each worksheet. Although I often want my worksheets to update constantly, there are many times I don't want them doing so.

    If I have a lighting plot with 900 fixtures, and a worksheet referencing and calculating info for those 900 fixtures, I don't always want it updating every time I change a channel number.

    Now, if performance were brought up to speed (pun intended) so that those changes were instant and didn't affect working speed, then I would be okay with it. But, that is not currently the case.

    But really, there is no reason to not make it optional.

    Record Formats which resemble OIP

    in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests

    Posted · Edited by SamIWas

    +1

    The whole data tab thing feels antiquated.

    Well, it kind of is. I don't think it has changed at all since inception. It could be SO much more powerful.

    Like, having a dataset that can only be true or false, but having to click into the text entry box to type "True" (or 1, or T, or whatever), feels like it could be so much faster with a checkbox.

    Or, if only A, B, or C are real options, there's no way to make a drop-down menu so that only those options are available.

    I believe this can be done with custom objects and custom OIPs, but with something like a Lighting Device with additional data...not so much.

    Record Formats which resemble OIP

    in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests

    Posted

    Maybe there's some way to do something like this, but I would love to see record formats have the same options as adding parameters to the Lighting Device Shape Pallet.

    Instead of just a series of text-like fields, allow checkboxes for Booleans, pop-up menus for numbers or text, etc.

    I think there's a way to do this with some programming and making your own OIPs, but that's complicated, and record formats are simple. Plus, I'm not sure something like a lighting device can have a second shape palette.

    Abort script upon action/variable

    in Vectorscript

    Posted

    I feel like I'm missing something very simple. I've been writing scripts for years, but have never put an abort in them.

    All I want to do it be able to tell the script to abort if something is true. I know that I can tell a loop not to run again if the variable is true and then tell future parts of the script to not run, but it seems like there must be an immediate "abort" command.

    I've googled every combination of cancel, end, exit, abort, script, plugin, etc that I can think of but have not found an answer. I'm sure I've seen it before, and an just spacing out.

    Any answers?

    Looooong hangs during 3D modeling

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm sure this has been discussed before, and I'm just being lazy...

    I haven't done much 3D modeling in Vectorworks, but am trying to do more. But on one of my first real projects trying it out, I am getting constant hangs when changing views or editing 3D models. These are nothing more than extrudes and sweeps, but sometimes, Vectorworks hangs, using 100% CPU for literally 5-8 minutes.

    There are several imported 3D symbols in the file as part of the architect's drawing, which are actually just flat 3D polygons, so I don't know if that's what's causing it. Going to try modeling some bits in a separate file and see if that helps.

    But just wondering if anyone has dealt with this, and if there's a known cause. I've spent probably an hour today just watching the beach ball.

    All Lighting Symbols have lost Data -Was Missing Inventory

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    And now wondering, how can a light have 2 classes - all my units are in both class "Lights-Instruments" and the new "Lighting-Incandescent" turning one class or the other off, and they disappear. In the Object info, they still say

    they are assigned only the original class - Lights-instruments.

    The symbol itself can be assigned to a class, and objects within the symbol can be assigned to a class. If everything within the symbol is assigned to the "Lighting-Incandescent" class, and the symbol itself in your drawing is assigned to the "Lights-Instruments" class, you will see the behavior you are describing.

    I make all my own lighting device symbols, and almost never use the default ones. All of my symbols use the same classes within the symbol, and all of my symbols in the drawings are in the "None" class unless I need to change their visibility for some reason.

    3D modelling

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    hi jim my post wasn't intended as a criticism to the software

    just looking at all the posts in this thread just seemed like a lot of people use other software as they have to look elsewhere to complete there workflow

    seems a pity really but i understand your point of view as i guess the 2 pieces of software have differing avenues to explore

    Cinema 4d is built as a full 3d modeling/animation program, whereas Vectorworks is a CAD program with robust 3D features.

    The texturing abilities of C4D are barely comparable to VW, but it would require one hell of an overhaul to get those abilities in VW, and would probably be a much larger learning curve than most people have the time/need for. Same goes for many lighting features. When you get to the point of needing that much control over lighting and texturing, sometimes it's better to have a program that specializes in those sorts of things.

    3D modelling

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm probably different from many here. I've been using C4D since around 2000, and other 3D modeling an animation apps since very basic stuff in the 80s when I was barely 10 years old. I just cannot get my mind wrapped around using VW as a modeler. Yes, I do find operations using splines and extrudes a bit faster, but when it comes to positioning stuff in three dimensions, or building anything that isn't a mostly-primitive object, C4D is my main tool of choice. Just can't beat the coordinates, grouping, nesting, and naming options. And as far as texturing, no comparison.

    I did ask the same question some time ago apparently if you set everything in Vectorworks and render in c4d it renders exactly the same as would Vectorworks

    Is this correct and if so how do you enhance the render in cd4

    I was thinking of buying cd4 as a friend of mine says the renders in cd4 are far superior

    I don't want to model in cd4 just render or will I just be wasting money

    The renderer in C4D has many more options to streamline your renders or get every nuanced detail you desire. I don't think using C4D is wasting money. The two pieces of software compliment each other quite well. There are some things that are far easier and more powerful in Vectorworks. There are more things that are much easier in C4D. If there were a hybrid of the two pieces of software, I'd be in heaven. Hell, if VW would just assume C4D's keyboard shortcut system, I'd be a much happier!

    I model everything in VW, after that I send it to C4D. In C4D I do all the textures and lighting.

    I prefer C4D for that, in my opinion its is easier to handle lighting and texures there (C4D doesnt import the texture, but is has a 'connection' to the image file, so much better!).

    Besides that: allot of time I tweak the geometry of the scene a bit in C4D, or reuse an exicting scene.

    The tweaking is really easy because you can drag 'points' in C4D.

    So making a room twice as big, or a table 10cm shorter: done in 2 mins

    Agreed, except I usually just use VW to get the splines needed, then do the rest in C4D. I guess I'm just more of a 2D VW person!

    Studio Bundle if you really want to work with C4D.

    (MoGraph Cloner Tool !)

    MoGraph cloner tool is freakin' amazing. Between that and Xpresso, I've been able to create some pretty cool things.

    I almost broke down and upgraded by C4D for the first time in over six years with their sale last week. But I didn't quite make it. I don't need everything in Studio, but only Studio has everything I do need, so I'm stuck paying for the full software.

    Nice work. How do you find cinema 4d was it a steep learning curb

    For me, having grown up doing stuff in similar software, it was pretty easy. I personally think just about anyone could figure out how to get a decent model made in it. But to get more advanced, it's going to take some time to learn.

    How to organize classes / Ten Commands

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi all,

    in order to help the organisation of classes, I have developed a plugin that keeps your drawing structure organised when you paste objects from other drawings.

    If you merge incoming classes with the existing ones, the plugin remembers your associations so that you won't have to clean up your file ever again when you import objects from external consultants or other projects.

    This works well if you have started using AutoClassing at some point later on, and your drawings have a mix of custom and auto classes.

    You'll find a detailed explanation of how you can manage your classes with this tool here: [video:youtube]

    To download, visit https://www.smartpaste.co.uk/

    I hope this helps!

    all the best

    Giovanni

    I will definitely check this out later, but I'd suggest creating a new thread about your plugin. This thread is 11 years old, and people may not read through after noticing it's so old. I almost closed it, but was just curious what the new post was.

    Exploding PDFs

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Is this broken?

    For years I imported PDFs and exploded them to get plain lines and text, from vector based files. Now I just get a rectangle, even with PDFs I create myself.

    Are there alternatives beyond more pricey software?

    I don't remember getting text from exploded pdfs unless the text was changed to polyline in the original document.

    Limits to Workspace Organization?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I posted a little bit about this almost a year ago, and am still having issues.

    I write a lot of scripts that speed up my workflow immensely. Basic things such as "select every fixture that matches this channel" or "move based on angle", etc., and some really complicated ones

    But it appears that there is some sort of limitation in how you can sort scripts into sub-menus. I have scripts that are verified working as long as they are in the Object Context menu, or certain sub-menus within Object Context, but don't run at all when in other sub-menus, even though some other scripts do run in that same sub menu. I've tried deleting some some menus and creating new ones. I've tried splitting things up. But there just seems to be some limitation in the number of things or how they are sorted. I would really like to nail this down. It's killing me.

    For example, in the attached image, I show my Object Context Menu, with several sub menus. "Select Instrument Type" works just fine when in the Object Context menu, or when placed in the "Duplicate/Move/Place" menu. But it does not work in "New Menu". It didn't work in its previous location, which was broken up into Select 1 and Select 2. However, "Select Class" and "Hide Class" work just fine where they are.

    I rebuilt this workspace from scratch only about six weeks ago, after having so many problems previously.

    Does anyone know what the limits are on Workspace organization?

    Vectorworks Service Select cost

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I am shocked by how much it has gone up. I joined VSS in 2009. The rate from then is quite affordable. But when i hear how much my friends, who just got it in the last few years, are having to pay, I know that I couldn't justify that cost.

    Same thing happened with Cinema 4D. I bought it in 2010 expecting to upgrade each year. Then they changed how it worked, and the cost became so prohibitive that I never upgraded once. I still use my version from 2010.

    Navigating while dropping lights

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    I also have no problems like this. Double click a light in the Resource Browser, and I can navigate and zoom using the keys or mouse controls. I just had to try it because I never use keys to navigate or zoom (always the mouse), but I just tried it on my working document and no problems at all.

    VW 2016 - sluggish + PDF's are Huuuuge!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm running most current version of VW16 on a 27in iMac/El Capitan with 24gigs of ram and am wondering how it could be running so sluggishly? I've never had any version of VW run like this. Most noticeable on refresh rate when moving doc around or zooming.

    I also run 2016 on a 27in iMac and a 15" macBook Pro. I'm on Yosemite and have much lower RAM numbers. I've been working with a 3D model of a 30,000 square foot TV studio with multiple 3D sets, and several hundred lighting fixtures in Spotlight with labels.

    While it sometimes seems a little sluggish, it's certainly not bad enough to really pay attention to. Maybe there's an issue with your system.

    Also, I am used to printing to PDF via the print dialogue - a fairly quick and simple deal - but now... not so much. Takes a while to happen and the files are gigantic! I've tried exporting to pdf, and same thing. I have also tried reducing file size via Preview, the file are still very large. They take a long time to open/render within Preview. Final result means mailing them to clients result in complaints cos they are too large.

    I just tested printing to PDF a 36" x 48" of the entire studio with all of the sets and lights. It is 887KB.

    I will note one thing, Preview SUCKS at viewing Vectorworks documents. It's absolutely terrible. Unusable. Use Acrobat.

    Fix dashed hidden line rendering - what a mess!

    in Known Issues

    Posted

    Please fix dashed hidden line rendering mode.

    I almost always use a combination of Custom Renderworks for background rendering and Hidden Line for foreground rendering on Sheet Layer viewports. Once and a while I want to show some of the structure behind and switch to Dashed Hidden Line for foreground rendering instead. If an object is complex I'm instantly reminded of how unusable this mode can be. The reasons why -

    - the dashed lines should not override the solid outlines of the object. I have no idea why this happens but it just makes the drawing look like the printer ran out of ink. The dashed lines should always be behind the solid lines and never obscure them.

    - the line weight of the dashed lines should be adjustable. Currently they are the same weight as the solid lines. Yes, you can adjust their greyness but conventions call for more than this. I'm not sure why the greyness/dash style isn't by class much like section style. Making it by class would also allow for overriding the line weight.

    - some degree of control over what is included. Often there are so many dashed hidden lines the drawing becomes a mass of unreadable lines.

    Thanks,

    Kevin

    I just did a search to see if this was a thing. Yeah...not sure why dashed lines would be on top of the solid lines. When they are greyed, it makes things look really bizarre.

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