ericjames

okay... how do I go about changing to the new format? Thanks!

I have been using Vectorworks since around 2000. Over the past few years, I have started my own library with symbols (some drawn by me, some by others). Since upgrading to 2010, every time I use one of the symbols from my library, I get a messsage from vectorworks saying: A format named "Light Info Record" already exists in this document. What do you want to do? Replace current file, Rename file, do no import. It may have done this before I upgraded as well, but I don't remember and it has only recently become really annoying. So, my question, is there a way to prevent this from happening every time I use one of my own symbols? I'm not even entirely sure what it means, because if I use one of the standard libraries, there is a record attached to those symbols as well, and they don't give the message. Thanks Eric

Make sure that there is an active symbol selected in the Resource Browser. The Label Legend Manager uses the current Active Symbol when it chooses what symbol to use.

Download the file with the MAC 700 symbols to your computer. In your drawing, go the resource browser (where you would normally find your symbols). At the top of the resource browser, there is a drop down menu that will display all your favorite files (and therefore the symbols.) To the right of that, there is a triangle that points to the right. Click on the triangle, choose "add new favorite file". It will ask you to find the file on your computer. Once the file is added, then it will appear in the drop down menu. I hope that helps Eric

I know.. it is now part of the watermark plague... I really prefer not touch educational files for just that purpose. However, this is a pretty detailed plot and I would rather not take the time to redraw it on my own for a one-day gig.

Pat thank you very much! That will save me a lot of time redrawing the entire plot! Thanks again Eric

I am using Vectorworks Designer 2008 professional. I have received a light plot that I need make some changes to, but it will not open. Its a vectorworks file (version 12), but whenever I open the file I get an error that says: "This file was saved in the student version of Vectorworks. Files saved in student edition cannot be opened in the Professional version". I know that student version puts a watermark on the page, but I thought it would still open the file. Is there away to work around this problem? Eric

Thanks!

Does anyone have symbols for Robe fixtures? I am specifically looking for the Colorspot 250AT. I tried downloading from Robe's website, but they did not come out anywhere close to scale. Thanks!

Thanks Kevin, After I posted, I realized what was going on. I also ran into an issue because I had "blank" spots in the import file that were confusing Vectorworks. Its working now! Thanks

I have another usual request.. I just received a hand drafted light plot, along with a lightwright file for that plot. I now need to do some reworking on the plot. Is there a way for me to import the lightwright data into Vectorworks without have to re-enter all of the data. I tried using the data import command, but vectorworks did not like it because the incoming data does not have an UID. Vectorworks places a bunch of "orphans" at the bottom of the drawing but they are simply rectangles, and the information in the OIP does not coincide with anything. Does anyone have a suggestion about how to work around this? Thanks Eric

Thanks Kevin, that was the problem

I'm a little confused right now. I am on tour and trying to fit my normal light plot into a repertory plot. The theatre sent me a dwg file of the rep. I imported the dwg into Vectorworks, and then went through and converted all of the lights to instruments using "modify/ convert to instrument" command. I have then gone back and entered some of the light data. Everything seems to be working until I assign a label legend. I made a new label legend, did the layout, and used "assign legend to fixture" command. When I did, the fixture symbol disappears. The color, instrument number and channel are visible, but no fixture. If I click on any of the data, the OIP appears like normal. The same thing occurs if I just enter the legend name in the OIP. I have tried multiple times, and always the same result except for one time I forgot to do the layout, and then the fixture did not disappear. Any suggestions? I'm running 2008, SP3 Thanks!

I'm glad that I could be of help

I got the file from a friend of mine. He is the one that actually redrew all of the symbols. Here is the file in version 12 format, so you should have no problem opening the file. I have also attached a version 11 in case anyone else would like it. Eric

I did not actually draw the symbols, and I have never checked them against actual specs from ETC.. but they seem to be pretty accurate for size comparison. Help yourself Eric

Thanks!

I was recently looking at a light plot in Vectorworks and I realized that the LD used a custom container in the label legend. (It comes up in the label legend manager under container type). How do you add your own containers?

Thank you for the information. I haven't tried it yet, but next time I make a new symbol, I will let you know if I have any problems

I'm sure that I am missing something very obvious here, but can someone please explain how to assign default instrument data to a new light symbol. For example, I created a new symbol for High End ColorCommand. I then insert it into the plot using the insert instrument tool. At that point, the object info has no data in it. I have to enter the instrument type, wattage, etc. Is there a way to attach some of the default information so that I don't have to retype it every time. (If I insert a Source 4, they type & wattage are already entered). Thank you in advance

That is very interesting, thank you for looking at those files for me. If I figure out exactly what is going on, I will post to let you know

I just ordered more RAM... I figured it was time to upgrade anyway. So after that arrives, I will try upgrading to SP3 again. Thank you all for your advice Eric

I've restarted a couple of times. I also updated from VectorWorks SP2 to SP3, and I am still having the same problem. Did the PDFs that I attached look normal? Or did you see the gray problem in the PDFs? I am open to any other suggestions anyone can provide. Thanks Eric

I have attached 3 files. The actual vectorworks file that I am working with and the 2 pdf files that I created. The first was made with the export command and the second with "print to pdf".

How much RAM do you have? Now I am wondering if its a hardware problem on my laptop