RickR

Something obviously went sideways! I also don't recall ever changing the Line node you mentioned. How do you improve on a line??

+1

TIA Fresh version in the post on moving https://techboard.vectorworks.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=229876#Post229876

Thanks for the thought Alan. My first thought was to make it an object. Unfortunately there were some obstacles I couldn't get around. 1. "Linear Array" node did not act the same way. At least I think that was why things went strange. 2. I couldn't set all the SoftGoods features via the OIP. SG objects are extremely complex PIOs. It seems simply setting a record value is not enough. The foremost is the overall length, it was "greyed out" and rejected all changes.

Ah, lost in the archives... Thanks

A minor discovery. When the network is run in a new file it calls up the Softgoods parameters dialog as no SG objects have been created yet. This gives a chance to set some of the values that will stick with each run of the network. I never noticed it as I started by importing some SG objects. It still leaves many issues with the many SG settings, but it's a lot closer.

So I posted my "Traveler Set" network a while ago and have started making changes. See post over here Everything is created around 0,0 and that is usually close to it's final position but I got tired of shifting it a bit. So I grouped everything and put in a simple Y move. Really easy, right? 2 arrays of symbols don't get moved. The original symbols move, but not their duplicates! Other 2D & PIO objects are fine, just not the arrays. ??? As this is my first project I'm open to any comments.

Is there? There should be: a way to control the size of node objects. I like to take my wrapper into the drawing so the resulting objects are seen in plan view. However a node at 1/4"=1' scale is almost invisible, never mind 1/8" Nodes don't scale as objects nor do they have scale features like symbols.

Depending on what you really mean: I have formats for 'control devices' and 'power devices' I have several symbols that have text that links to one or more record formats. One worksheet pulls up all the symbols, or rather all the records of a format. Lighting schedules, door/window schedules and more all do that. It is not possible to have one symbol change another symbol. Each 'instance' of a symbol is one record in the giant database that is a CAD program. On a smaller scale, each object with a format attached is one record in the schedule. Seeing you're in theater, each light on a plot has a dimmer, color, location, etc. Changing the color on one can not change the color of another. That's where worksheets and copy/paste become useful! You can change one fixture, copy it's value, select a whole range of others and paste. Bulk editing! You can do the same thing by selecting the symbols, but it can be much harder to find and sort them in the drawing.

Top/Plan is incredibly useful and highly tuned to a large amount of work. It will be around as long as we use paper plans. If you don't like it, work in 3D, cut views or something else. Clip cube and Auto Hybrid need years of development to be anywhere near as polished as Plan. Perhaps an Auto Hybrid view will make things work for you. I'm very open to ideas for new ways to work, but don't take my main one away from me.

Thanks! I've started playing with it, but it will take some time...

Attributes of a symbol will not change elements within a symbol. So the command can't work on symbols. It's possible Scripting or Marionette could get around this. I can easily see a polygon that would change it's color based on it's area.

Apparently not for Spotlight doors. I've never seen a door in the RB.

Has anyone done a node to "Duplicate along path", like the menu command? There are several arrays and fills. I saw Alan did an extrude along a path. If no response here I'll probably start with that.

I'm calling this done for v1. Many thanks for those I have learned from. Not sure what's next but something will come up. This network creates 2 SoftGoods objects and some 2D elements to show how much space a bi-parting traveler curtain set will take when open. When run from the wrapper it will make a group that holds all the parts. From there you can change anything, but if you re-run the wrapper all those changes will have to be re-done. Some SoftGoods PIO values are pulled from the current object defaults in the file. I haven't found a way to override those other that editing the objects directly. This network depends on the 'Curtain Fold' symbol included in this file. Since that name is in the OIP you can easily change that symbol. Don't be confused by the input bubble on the wrapper. This is V1. I have discovered some limitations if you convert this to an object. - The stacking symbol is not place properly at one end. - Further you can not change any of the SoftGoods PIO values other than those exposed in the Marionette. - Some of the classing and other aspects will occasionally act funny. Sorry for the technical talk. Please feel free to comment on the value, function or whatever.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with classing issues. I don't think I would gain anything with those nodes except slightly better efficiency. Maybe for v2... I'm actually calling this project done, well for v1. Abandoning making it a PIO object lets me get to the SG objects after the basic sizing is done. It means I'll likely have to redo some editing on some projects but that will be far less work than fixing all the issues. I'll post the wrapper over in the share forum.

@MarissaF - I'm bumping this as it is still my best working version. Can you give me any help in either pre-defining or changing new objects? The SetRecordField node just doesn't seem to do the job for all fields. Please note the SoftGoods PIO has an Update button. Can I get to that somehow? Is there another reset function available? Would you recommend abandoning SG objects and doing the whole thing from scratch? Maybe using the SG record to help worksheets see it with 'normal' SG objects?

=Zcenter() or =Zcoordinate() Help file> "Worksheet Functions" and scroll all the way down.

Oops! I forgot why I abandoned this approach earlier. SG objects will not take their length by the SetRecord node. It works great for single straight runs in the OIP, but not via Marionette. Sigh! Back to wrestling with classes and other features. There has to be a way to get to the current settings for new objects.

@JimW This seems an area ripe for developmental clean up! I'm seeing multiple wish list items and discussions indicating confusion and general unhappiness. It's not sexy but it's important.

I don't do those drawings, but am amazed that the tool doesn't exist.

+1 @zoomer it is actually: Open in some 3D like (some) renderings and isometrics, closed in other 3D like elevations and sections. I'd go a step further and make sure it's door by door. Sliding glass doors rarely need to show open. Neither do closets! Room to room doors work well open.

There is a tool and a menu command. It all depends on whether you want to make a new viewport or whether you just want to indicate where a viewport is relevant. "Detail-Callout Marker Tool" is much like "Detail Bubble" except that it links to an existing viewport. It uses a shape to mark the area of concern. (I prefer an arrow, but I guess I'll make it work.) "Create Detail Viewport" creates a new viewport based on an existing object. (like viewport crop objects) This is like the "Create Section Viewport" command in that it is linked but shows some part of the drawing where the the marker is located. (@Jonathan: moving or renumbering the viewport works for me with the linking but I just don't have a navigation button.)

The PDF is an example of why I want this. It is typical of the stupid things architects routinely do. Also see my earlier post, with a file that mostly works. https://techboard.vectorworks.net/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=228003#Post228003 In that file I create the SG objects in the network. But it seems SG objects are just a bit too complex for automated work. In the recent file I tried a different tactic, by starting with SG objects. I thought I could get to them easily later to change any of the fine details as needed. I knew this was not what was intended for control geometry, but thought I'd give it a try.

Is control geometry limited to 2D or simple objects? I'm still poking at my little curtain project. I'm going back to having some existing objects that get manipulated by Marionette. All the variables with SoftGoods just seems to complex for the current nodes. So, the attached file has a very simple little network that does what I want with 2 SoftGoods parts, but only when wrapped and converted to a PIO. Otherwise I get multiple moves every time the network runs. That's fine because that's what I want eventually. But now I can't get to the source SG objects without un-converting and unwrapping. If they aren't control geometry then what is? And how do I get to the SG objects??