Custom Cable Connectors?

[karstenwolfGL]

Alright I'll admit there's a good chance I'm just missing something obvious here. Waiting on Service Select but in the mean time...

 

How do you add a new cable connector type in Spotlight 2024? 

 

The current video available only shows VWX 2022, and involves editing an XML that's not present in 2024. I did try editing the CableConnectorCache.xml and it just resets itself on launch. https://university.vectorworks.net/mod/overview/view.php?id=3065

 

My understanding is that I should be able to make a symbol (duplicated then edited), put it in $UserFolder>Libraries>Defaults>Cable Tool>Feeder Cable.vwx and the Cable Tool will automatically populate that information. 

I did that and am able to see the symbol in the cable parts but not the connectors in 'StartConnector' or 'End Connector' in the OIP. 

 

 

[JustinVanHassel]

@jcogdell I believe that you know the workflow for this.

[Stefan B.]

Indeed you have to edit the XML file in 2024. Not very intuitive but not very hard either.

 

Library\Libraries\Defaults\Cable Tools\CableConnectors.xml

 

And add your custom connector via copying from another connector.

See one of mine:

 

<Entries>

    <Entry SocketPatchCount="8" UniversalName="MotorCable LV" LocalizedName="MotorCable LV">

        <Socket UniversalName="L1" LocalizedName="L1" />

        <Socket UniversalName="L2" LocalizedName="L2" />

        <Socket UniversalName="L3" LocalizedName="L3" />

        <Socket UniversalName="PE" LocalizedName="PE" />

		<Socket UniversalName="LV-U" LocalizedName="LV-U" />

        <Socket UniversalName="LV-C" LocalizedName="LV-C" />

        <Socket UniversalName="LV-D" LocalizedName="LV-D" />

        <Socket UniversalName="PE" LocalizedName="PE" />

      </Entry>

 

Ahh, and you need to reboot VW for every change you make to get them to work.

Edited August 22, 2024 by Stefan B.

[ADC]

Did anyone find out how to make this work? I dont see user added cable connectors in the cable connector drop downs but i do see it in the SPOTLIGHT>CABLE/POWER PLANNING>MANAGE CABLE PARTS

CablePartsCache.xml

[jcogdell]

As @Stefan B. said previously you have to edit the CableConnector.xml file found in the application library folder. There is a video in the Cable tools learning path on the Vectorworks University that goes through the entire process.
https://university.vectorworks.net/course/index.php?mycourses=0&tagfilter[category]=content+category-5-entertainment&tagfilter[type]=content+type-8-learning+paths&tagfilter[difficulty]=0&search=cable+tools&langfilter[]=0

 

[ADC]

6 hours ago, jcogdell said:

As @Stefan B. said previously you have to edit the CableConnector.xml file found in the application library folder. There is a video in the Cable tools learning path on the Vectorworks University that goes through the entire process.
https://university.vectorworks.net/course/index.php?mycourses=0&tagfilter[category]=content+category-5-entertainment&tagfilter[type]=content+type-8-learning+paths&tagfilter[difficulty]=0&search=cable+tools&langfilter[]=0

 

 

Hey J
There is no CableConnector file. There is a CablePartsCache (which I included my edited in above post) when adding a new "cable part" to this XML file its doesn't show up in all intended places. I understand the workflow and how to use the cable tools, either completely missing something or its not working how it should. Thanks for the quick response 🙂 

[LiteDoctor]

One other note. When you create the symbols for your new cable, if you put them in the Defaults folder then you'll lose them when you update VW.

 

For my Christie Lites cables, I saved them as a separate file which I then added to Favorites. When I need to use them in a new file I just Import the symbols. (Yes, that adds a tiny bit of bloat to the file, but on the upside I shouldn't ever have to build those cables again.)

 

[jcogdell]

@LiteDoctor
If you save them in your user or workgroup folder you shouldn't need to import them whenever you start a new file, as long as they are in the correct library location the cable tool will be able to find them.