klinzey

Michael, If you have not done so already, I would contact technical support. They will be able to get you going again. The only simple thing to do first is to delete the Vectorworks user data folder in case the problem is with a bad workspace or a saved setting.

In 2011 the fixtures are pointed straight down in 3D. The Clamp, Yoke, and body of the instrument are identified with a part record. Here is a file with just one instrument symbol as a sample.

Fixtures have changed somewhat in 2011. Your 2009 symbols will work exactly the same in 2011 as they do in 2009. You have the ability to rotate the 3D portion about the insertion point using the "Set 3D Orientation" parameter. What's new in 2011 is that the 3D portion of the fixture will point at the focus point. Fixtures for 2011 have been modified from previous version in order to support the new feature. The best suggestion I can give is to get a demo copy of 2011 and take a look at the user guide and the fixtures in the default library to see how they are constructed. Kevin

If the symbol you are placing only contains other symbols that Spotlight will see it as a multi-circuit symbol. If there is anything else in the symbol then it will be placed as a single lighting device. So if you make the wattage just text and not a symbol it will insert as a single lighting device.

Tool require a click in the document in order to be executed. You should create this as a menu command then create a shortcut to the menu command.

I usually create a sheet layer for each printed page. This way I can layout the printed page on the screen.

It's an option in the OIP of the seating layout. If you create multiple seating sections you will need to enter a different starting number for each section.

The title blocks are not view sensitive. The best way to do create a Sheet layer and a viewport for each view.

Vectorworks 2011 allows you to automatically number tables.

You probably have something else blocking the light. Try moving the lighting device away from the lighting position. Usually it's the lighting position or some other close by geometry that will cast the shadow.

MJ, If you have thousands of resources you will have to work in list mode if you continue using 2009. The only thing you can do is make sure to eliminate any unnecessary resources from the file before it's imported. If he is using a template file there may be resources in the document that are never used. If 2009 supports it, you can try using Design Layer Viewport referencing rather than importing the data into your working drawing. This should help with your work flow and speed things up in general. Kevin

Try switching to a list view or make the resource browser wider. There is a problem on the Mac when the resource browser tries to display too many resource icons.(thousands)

It could be any symbol name. It's just a Lighting Device inside of a symbol that's causing the problem. Contact tech support and they can help you get it fixed.

There are several ways to do this. First it to use getpt() and pass the point to GetPickObjectInfo() If you want the user to select a certain type of object then use TrackObject(). It gives interactive highlighting as you move around the document based on your criteria.

You need to turn off the data exchange in VW. File/Preferences/Spotlight Preferences... In the Resource Browser Edit "Symbol-1" You will notice that the symbol contains "Lighting Devices" Select the lighting devices and ungroup them. This will convert them back to symbols. Exit the symbol and turn the data exchange back on. Lighting devices inside of a symbol do not contain unique data so they causing problems with the data exchange.

It's a problem with the Lightwright data exchange. You have Lighting Devices inside of "Symbol-1". Turn off the data exchange then edit the symbol and ungroup them to convert them back to symbols then turn the data exchange back on and everything should work correctly. This will be fixed in the next service pack.

I know a few of the machine design objects work based off a front view. And menu commands often work based on the active view so the object is created in the same orientation as the original.

Yes, this works as designed. It works the same way as if you were to run the Convert To NURBS menu command. There are times when you want to work with the object in the current view or a view other than top. There are a few things you can do to speed things up. Check the view first. If xAngleR,yAngleR,zAngleR are all 0 then don't change the view. You should also check the the projection GetProjection() in case you are working in rotated plan. IF (Projection <> 6) & ((xAngleR<> 0) | (yAngleR<> 0) | (zAngleR<> 0)) THEN SetView() You can also use SetPref(9873,TRUE) to prevent a screen redraw when the view is changed but then you MUST call SetPref(9873,FALSE) after you set the view back. You will see the largest speed increase in a 3D view from this. In 2011 there are some other methods using the planer ref that may work depending on what you are trying to accomplish.

ConvertToNURBS is a view dependent operation. The simplest way around this is to check the view. If you are not in a top or top plan view then save the view, switch to a top view, do the work then switch the view back.

I think you are missing the final step. You need to run the document script Output ID Prefs in ID_Symbols.vmx to export the new record information. Also make sure you are attaching the record to the symbol, be deselecting all before attaching the record, and not to a single piece of geometry in the symbol. Also make sure the record names match exactly. A extra space at the beginning or end will cause a problem.

MJ, Those are the options for the 2D Selection Tool. You need to activate the Symbol Insertion tool. See screen shot, it's from 2011 but 2009 should look similar. The U,I,O,P are shortcut keys to change the modes in the mode bar.

Activate the regular symbol insertion tool. In the mode bar check the symbol insertion options. The first icon should be active, Standard Insertion Mode and the last icon should be selected, Align Actual Insertion Point Mode. You may have changed them at some point or used the "U" key to change modes accidentally. Instrument and accessory insertion tools in 2009 and earlier use the same setting as the symbol insertion tool, 2010 and later have their own settings so it's not a problem in the newer versions. Kevin

It's a problem with the font. Cityblueprint and several other fonts are known to have problems. For some reason they are created a little differently than standard fonts and do not conform the the true type font standards.

In 2011 the default position for the rendered light and the lighting device is straight down. Access to the Focus instruments command is available in the right click context menu for the lighting device. (You can edit your workspace and add it manually in 2010.) Turning a rendered light on/off is also available in the context menu for a lighting device for 2011.

This is correct. All these parameters are controlled by the lighting device. The focus point controls the Pan, Tilt, and Look to Height. Spread and Beam are the beam and field angle of the lighting device. X,Y,Z are controlled by the location of the lighting device. You should not have a light within the symbol. The lighting device will create it's own light source. As long as draw beam is enabled and it draws the the correct place the light should go there too. You can post a sample file and we can take a look at it. Also are you using 2010 or 2011?