C. Andrew Dunning

Answering some of your "content" questions...: 1) You can create/use custom projectors. The tools will "see" projectors in your current file and in any VW files found in "\Libraries\Defaults\Video Screen\Projector Models." 2) You can find more detailed info on creating models in the manual found @ http://www.landrudesign.com/VWPlugIns.htm. You might also find this video to be helpful: https://youtu.be/ceP2MOpkGMI. It is several years old but the information is still quite relevant. 3) While I don't know of any extensive commercially-available projector libraries, I do know of several users who have developed some pretty impressive models. You might try inquiring here or in the Facebook Spotlight group. With the current state of our industry, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those users started baking their libraries available. 4) Creating unconventionally-configured projectors is definitely possible - no hacking necessary. It is simply a matter of how Symbols are created. I've attached a quick sample of what might be possible. I hope that this helps to answer at least some of your questions. UST Demo.vwx

Agreed 100%. That is, by-far, one of the biggest things I've learned from the VW engineers who have worked with me along the way. With the initial licensing of the video tools came A LOT of work aligning them. In looking back, WELL worth the effort...

You pose some good questions. As the developer of two of the tools you cite (and, a vocal critic of things that bug me, too...), I'd like to offer up a little food-for-thought: For the most part, Video Screen (or, VS4-Projection) lends itself well to being an "OIP-driven"/"one-wrapper" tool. For each object instance, individual parts are relatively few and dealing with the "whole" is fairly simple. Speaker Array (or, Audio Array 2) is another animal, entirely. An array can contain a bumper and 3 different speaker types - which, together, can comprise 40+ array elements, each inserted at different angles and tracking different data. This would be INCREDIBLY difficult to configure through the OIP alone - and, would be a huge time-hog as you'd need to wait for each and every adjustment as the OIP makes changes real-time - not to mention not being able to see the whole assembly until you had done that waiting over-and-over. Also, because a populated array is a "parent/child" or "master/slave" assembly, you can do such things as display dispersion for individual cabinets or easily create reports like hang sheets or circuiting charts - with each speaker being entries in the reports. Granted, not necessarily ideal, but I hope that sheds at least a little light on some of the "whys" behind those 2 tools. As to the stock audio tools not inserting actual Symbol geometry, you are quite right. In their current form, the tools don't do that. If inserting Symbols is important to you, you might want to take a look at the Landru Design version of the tools (links in my sig).

The "Convert to Group" Command (Ctrl-K) is different from Grouping objects. That command "disconnects" the object geometry from the code that created it. If you evoke that command while in a 3D view, you'll end up with rotatable 3D geometry. That caveat is that you'll also be eliminating all of the Plug-In Object functionality. Make sense??

At-present, the only way to do this without converting the LED object to a Group is to use a rotated Design Layer Viewport.

Thanks, Pat!!!

What is the call to get the ID of a defined Text Style...assuming the name of the Text Style is known?

Audio ToolSet 2: 3.01 SoftGoods 2: 2.300111 StageLift: 1.3201 Staging ToolSet 2: 2.41011 Stanchion Layout: 1.0302 VideoScreen 4: 5.10022 Producer's Pack 3: F

You might look into the Saavy Linesets tool: https://www.benghiatlighting.com/software/products/ls-1.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also...see the "Refresh Hoists" command. Essentially, what your toggling is triggering...

I'm sorry, the script/Command is only available by special-request to license holders of the Landru Design versions of the tools.

My workflow: Treat VS4-LED/LED Screen instances as individual panels. Build the wall. Use a script I developed to map an image across the array. Delete the panels I don't want. While not as automated as you're probably seeking, doing that actually does work quite well.

Go to [Spotlight][Hloists][Set Hoist Number and Dimension Display...]. In the "Show" Pop-Up, select "Hoist Label and Hoist Number." The "Label" is the prefix you're seeking. Turn OFF (un-toggle) "Relative X,Y On Plot." Click the "Set Hoist Data Display..." button in the OIP. Click in the "Display" column next to "X" & "Y" (#s 55 & 56). Click OK. Do you get what you want???

I just found this old thread. MANY thanks to you, Pat!!!!!!