Modular devices with card slots

[basicmonkey]

Hello all. I'm completely new to Vectorworks and ConnectCAD. I'm trying to build a device for a Barco E2 which has 8x input slots and 4x output slots. I'd like to have a library of their cards for input and output which I attach to the relevant slots. I'm trying to replicate the look from the help guide but can't work out how to link the cards with the slots without a cable.

 

Screen grab and VWX files attached.

 

Ideally I'd just drag the cards to the master device and they'd link with the slot input, or just be able to drag them onto the device. Completely flexible about how this works, just need to achieve being able to use the various card options but generate correct documentation which shows the inputs and outputs connected to the E2, not just the card.

 

Many thanks!
 

James

ConnectCad Devices Test v2025.vwx

[Conrad Preen]

@basicmonkey Hello! This is exactly the situation that the Adapter object is designed to handle! The Adapter connects directly to a device socket without a circuit, converting it into one or more different sockets.

 

The main body of the Barco E2 is a device, and the i/o cards are adapters. You create sockets on the E2 for the card slots and create adapters for the various option cards. Place the adapters on the slot sockets to configure the Barco. Connect up to the rest of the system with circuits (Connect tool).

 

Here's your file reworked to show how to use adapters and adapter slots in physical equipment. Should give you a starting point.

 

Conrad

GL West End Schematics - adapter.vwx

[basicmonkey]

Thanks @Conrad Preen, that's really helpful. I've been playing with adaptor slots and just couldn't get them working. Will play with your example and see if I can get my head around it.

 

Many thanks!

 

James

[basicmonkey]

I've been misunderstanding the slots! I've been putting them on the schematic. They're for the chassis and are mapped to the sockets. Makes sense now. Thank you!

[Greg Abel]

@Conrad Preen Having trouble getting the slot names to be visible on 2D layout for frame detail. Used the GL West End file example posted on this thread because I have the same issue with other drawings.  Using VWs2026.  Thanks!

[Greg Abel]

@Conrad Preen Strangely I changed the projection to perspective then back to Orthogonal and they magically appeared after updating.

[Conrad Preen]

@Greg Abel Not seeing that at all. If you want us to chase this down we'll need to know exact versions, are you on Windows or Mac and OS version etc. etc. mode information will help us to reproduce the problem and find the cause.

 

Meanwhile you can force a redraw by double-clicking the Pan tool. That might help. 

 

Best regards

 

Conrad

[Greg Abel]

@Conrad Preen I attached another equipment frame with an adapter object attached to the modular equipment.  I just cannot seem to get this to display slot names. 

Provided system information below with pictures.

Thank you.

 

 

 

OS is:

Edition    Windows 11 Enterprise
Version    24H2
Installed on    ‎7/‎15/‎2025
OS build    26100.6899
Experience    Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

 

VWs is:

Application Version: 2026 Update 2 (Build 841021)

 

Some settings.

 

 

test.vwx

[Conrad Preen]

@Greg Abel Hi Greg, the Adapter Slot object is on the front of the Equipment Item facing backwards. You are rendering in Hidden Line so the text is hidden because there are objects in front of it. If you render in Wireframe you will see the slot's text. I guess you'll want to change the placement of the slot so that the text is on the outside.

 

Conrad