Cris with no H

Just don't forget to Ungroup those units down to basic rectangle and text objects, or else they'll show up in your paperwork. Personally, I would set my snap grid to whatever spacing needed and go to town with the Number Stamp tool. Cris Dopher

A similar problem with Window sills extending out was fixed by turning off Quartz. Cris Dopher

The hatch file needs its version upgraded. Open the hatch file from within v12 and save it as the new version in a sensible location. Cris Dopher

The symbol must have been used as an actual Instrument object at least once. This is a good thing, since you may be working from a template that has your whole library saved in it - and you wouldn't want to be listing unused symbols. Cris Dopher

Interesting tool. It is available in the MEP tool palette, which is available in the Architect or Designer licenses, but maybe not Spotlight (CMIIW). Sam, the one advantage I see immediately is that you can create a report of these runs. With moderately intelligent plotting, you could then spit out a report of how much cable is needed. Frankly, we need a version of this for theatre guys with the ability to add notes to the object, add breakouts at either end, etc. Cris Dopher

To make a worksheet that will keep track of your truss WITH DESCRIPTIVE NAMES: 1) Create Report... list all items with the Straight Truss record. Title this report something descriptive, perhaps Truss Schedule. 2) Create a new Record Format titled Truss Name. Add a single field, "Truss Position Name". (You can title the record and the field anything you want, just substitute your titles in what I describe below.) 3) For each truss object, attach the Truss Name record by checking its box in the Data pane of the OIP and entering a descriptive name in the third portion of the Data pane. 4) Edit your Truss Schedule worksheet. Under the little black downward arrow, click on Insert Column and put in the top row of the new column "Position Name" or "Truss Position Name" or whatever you want. This is just a label a not controlling data. 5) In the second row of that same column (where you'll see totals happening in the other columns) type: "=('Truss Name'.'Truss Position Name')" (without the quotes of course; put in YOUR names you gave the RECORD and the FIELD.) The computer will go searching in the other record for data and add it to this worksheet. 6) You can add truss at your heart's desire and continue to attach the Truss Name record, label the position, and ask your worksheet to Recalculate and the new ones will show up. 7) I suggest saving both the worksheet and the Truss Name record into your template file for future use. I also suggest attaching this record to any truss red objects you might have saved, thus saving you the attaching work on all future uses of that object. Cris Dopher

One strategy would be to place only the first unit on the pipe, then use the Duplicate Array command in circular array mode. This'll give you generic units, but that is easily remedied by swapping units and inserting data. Cris Dopher

Check serial numbers. Objects created in Design will show up, but not be editable, in basic Vectorworks.

Have some patience boys & girls. 12.5 is coming. I suspect the delay is due to beta testing to make sure it works as a Universal Binary. Down boy!

the set looks like Sam Shepard's "Action".... Anyway, I think you're forgetting to use Modify/Refresh Instruments. Everything will update to what is shown in the OIP. The OIP is always what the computer sees, if not what it's currently drawing. Refresh instruments fixes the drawing. By the way, I don't know if you should use RX... for colors. Maybe Spotlight will recognize that, maybe not. A simple R will do.

As far as I know, instruments are moved independently of the light position they're on; they're not associated as families like instruments and accessories are. The main advantage to even having light position objects is the auto-numbering features. Spotlight will pop up that incalculable angle error with most shallow angles, unfortunately. But try turning the light on and rendering, you should get a better visual, if not a quick one.

Renderworks' color abilities are net yet too accurate. Pretty good with tints, not so hot on saturated gels. One workaround is to use a separte light object and use the color picker to assign its color. They are not as controllable as units and gobos, but the color can be tweaked a lot easier.

You almost had your solution, Rando. Create the sections of the plot on different layers, then go into Document Preferences and turn on Layer Colors. Assign colors and bingo - color-coded plot.

It will help if you create your focus points on their own separate layer. It would be nice if Custom Selection... listed Focus Points as one of the objects it will look for. Any engineers reading?

An editable worksheet will be a quick way if you don't have AutoPlot tools. Personally, quickest for me is to export to Lightwright, setup my channel numbers and any other miscellaneous info, then import back into Spotlight.