benpilat

As a new development, my screen automatically scrolls when my mouse is within about 1/4" of the edge of the screen. I'm used to the screen scrolling when I'm drawing a line, etc, but not when the 2D selection tool is selected. Is this a setting I'm able to turn off? Thanks, Ben

Hello, So the subject pretty much sums this one up. When I delete a fixture, then undo that delete, the fixture re-inserts itself as a "light" (light source with beam, intensity options, etc) instead of a "lighting device" with color, purpose, channel info. The instrument data appears to be lost. Is this normal? Is there anyway to change this behavior? It's very annoying...

Hi, I use a titleblock with a record format attached and I turn classes on and off to display different info from plate to plate. I insert the titleblock symbols as viewport annotations. However, I want to use the same titleblock symbol with 1/4" and 1/2" viewports. I use viewport lineweight scaling to make the lineweights of my drawing match in these two scales. However, lineweight scaling doesn't seem to affect viewport annotations, so the titleblock on the 1/4" plate has linewights that are too thick. Is there any way around this, other than inserting the titleblock symbols into the design layer? Thanks! -Ben

Thanks, I figured it out. The lineweights were set to "by class" as part of the symbol, so it was unaffected by scaling lineweights. -Ben

My instrument symbols are designed to appear to be the correct line wight when printed in 1/2" scale. I am working on a 1/4" plot in a large venue, and my instruments all appear too thick. I thought the correct way to do this was to set my design layer to 1/2" and set my viewport scale to 1/4". However, this doesn't scale the lineweights of my instruments. I also tried the "Scale Factor" under the advanced tab of viewport properties, but that doesn't affect the lighting instruments either. What is the best way to print correctly scaled lineweights in a reduced scale? Thanks! -Ben

No problem. I taught a semester of Intro to Vectorworks while I was in grad school. And I'm always looking to be more efficient and minimize problems in my own work. I can give classes- do you need something specific? Feel free to email: benpilat@mac.com -Ben

Hugh, Here is a bit of background as explained to me by John Mckernon: UID's are comprised of five numbers, separated by periods: Example: 1028.1.1.0.0 = The first is typically four digits and is unique to each light. Any accessory attached to that light will share the same (four-digit) number. For example, the light will have 1028 as the first part of its UID, and the UID's for any accessories attached to it will also have 1028. No two lights should have the same first (four-digit) number. = The second and third numbers are used with multi-circuit lights. = The fifth number is the total# of accessories for the light. = The fourth number is which accessory this is out of that total#. The light itself will have a zero here. If the UID has a number greater than zero here, then it's an accessory. Here are some examples: 1028.1.1.0.0 This UID is for a light with no accessories. 1031.1.1.0.2 This UID is for a light with two accessories. 1031.1.1.1.2 This is the UID of the first accessory attached to light #1031. 1031.1.1.2.2 This is the UID of the second accessory attached to light #1031. You have several UID's that are for the same light, but show varying numbers of accessories. The next-to-last digit is zero in both of these, which tells us that this is the UID for the light itself, not an accessory. But there are two rows here, both of which say they're the same light (1078). One of them says there are 8 accessories, the other says there are four accessories. And both of them say they're the light, not an accessory. How are these lights related to each other in terms of purpose, instrument type, etc.? What accessories are you attaching to the lights? -Ben Pilat

Sam, No, the circuit number/dimmer field in the label legend should not change color. The circuit (as drawn in a representation of its physical location in a raceway) should be a separate object, with a circuit number assigned to it. This object will be in the class "unused circuits". When that circuit number appears in the dimmer field of a lighting instrument, I want the circuit number object to automatically change classes to the class "used circuits". I'll use class colors to handle the color change, so the automatic class change is really what I'm after. It seems that it may be easiest to make the circuit numbers "instruments" as well. You're right to bring up the question of how the circuit number is associated with a light/dimmer. Maybe a "find and modify" script is run that looks for each dimmer field value. When two lights are found (meaning that one dimmer is the circuit and one dimmer is the actual light), as opposed to one light being found, it changes the class. However, that solution would change the class of the light as well as the circuit object. But hopefully the goal is clearer now. I'd like there to be circuit numbers drawn on a circuit plot in their physical placement in the theatre. When I plot a light that uses that circuit number, I'd like to be able to run a script that changes the class/color of the circuit object, giving me a way of automatically tracking the location of unused circuits. Here is a reply to my question posted in the scripting forum, if it's of any use... I'm not sure it addresses the real question. "This is the idea behind plugin objects where the graphics will change based on the user preferences or choices. You can add a popup parameter/field with the two choices and the script will change the look of the circuit based on the selection. At the same time you can also update the id numbers assigned to the circuits."

I'm trying to make a "smart" circuit plot, where circuit numbers appear/disappear/change colors based on there being a null/non-null dimmer field in a light. The goal is to make it as automatic as possible, so when a dimmer number is used, it's corresponding circuit changes color. It seems to me that changing classes is the way to go. Is there a way to script that? Do the circuit numbers themselves need to be lighting instruments? I don't have much advanced scripting experience, but I'd love to hear thoughts if anyone can point me in the right direction. In thinking about my post, I may need to break the question down even more. I want to assign a number to an object (a circuit). When that number is used in the dimmer field of a Spotlight "lighting instrument", I would like to change the class of the circuit from "unused" to "used". I'm trying to manage my inventory of circuits, so they change color when they are in use, and I know which ones are still free. Is this possible? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I'm trying to make a "smart" circuit plot, where circuit numbers appear/disappear/change colors based on there being a null/non-null dimmer field in a light. The goal is to make it as automatic as possible, so when a dimmer number is used, it's corresponding circuit changes color. It seems to me that changing classes is the way to go. Is there a way to script that? Do the circuit numbers themselves need to be lighting instruments? I don't have much advanced scripting experience, but I'd love to hear thoughts if anyone can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

Sam, Thanks so much. I must have accidentally selected the left box. I didn't realize that would cause the problem. Thanks again! -Ben

I have a file I've been working on for a while. Suddenly, I've lost the ability to grab a label legend container and move it on a unit by unit basis. The locus in the center of the field is missing and I no longer get the diagonal cursor that lets me pick up a field and drop is somewhere else near the light. I did a test by creating a new document, and the problem still occurs. I haven't changed any preference settings, and I'm not aware of any that would cause this. Thanks, Ben Pilat vw 2008/Macbook

Nope. That was the problem. I wasn't aware that the tool only works on lights in the active layer. Thanks!

I recently upgraded to Vectorworks 2008 and I'm now unable to use the "Align and Distribute Items" tool in the Spotlight tool set. When I make a selection of lights, Vectorworks doesn't let me draw the line along which to align my objects. I receive the error message: "Make a selection of objects before using this tool." However, I am able to use the tool on 2D objects. I'm aware of the "Align and Distribute" menu command, but it doesn't offer the same functionality as the spotlight tool. I have created my own workspace and have moved the tool into the "basic" tool set, but I don't think this is the cause of the problem; the same tool in the Spotlight tool set has the same problem. I am curious if it is a 2008 bug. -Ben Pilat