im at my wits end

[James13569]

Hi all I've been trying for about 2 hours to place a lighting pipe but the same error keeps showing I've tried a lot I've made a python file to delete the class (that failed) I've looked though every setting but can't find anything so anyone got any ideas how to solve this issue:

image attached.

it keeps coming up with that every time I place a lighting pipe or I click the settings to change the class of the lighting pipe.

the file is updated from 2024 to 2025 so could that be the cause????

error is:

An attempt to define a Parametric Object named "Lighting Pipe" failed because Format with that name already exists in the current document. The entire operation is canceled.

[bcd]

Have you checked for Lighting Pipe Symbols that may be lurking in the RM?

[michaelk]

I've never seen that exact message.  "failed because Format with that name"

 

If it's a class with that name it will say class.  But you see the problem whenever you try to change the class settings.  Not sure why that would happen.

 

I don't think 2024 or 2025 will even allow you to create a record format named "Lighting Pipe".

 

Do you have your own custom plug-in that's trying to use that name? 

 

Or like @bcd says, maybe a symbol - especially a nested symbol - using that name?

 

If you take one of your existing Lighting Pipes, copy it and paste it to a blank document, can you then change the class settings?  Can you create new Lighting Pipes?

[James13569]

Ive had a look and nothing in RM and I have no custom plugins this was a fresh install yesterday I have also tried in a blank document this worked fine but when copying and pasting into the old document same issue! 

 

I also can't see any class called "Lighting Pipe" and can't make one 

 

I have uploaded the VWX file to see if that helps 🙂

thank you for you help 

Shows.vwx

[michaelk]

Wow.  I'm really glad you posted that.

 

I've never seen this:

 

That's the OIP for your lighting pipe.  That's not even close.  It should look like this:

 

 

Something got super corrupted.  

 

The OIP should always say at the very top in bold what kind of object is selected.  (If 2 or more dissimilar objects are selected is should say in bold 2 Objects).  Your OIP header is blank.

 

And the 3 position fields are blank.  I've never seen that before either.

 

I tried to import your design layers into a blank file.  They don't even show up.

 

If nobody here has a solution I'd call tech support and send them this file.

 

[Scott C. Parker]

Do you know when the base file was first made? This file looks like it originated six years ago. It's possible some sort of object type code has been corrupted or changed during one of the translations from one year to the next. 
I've seen this before. I had an object think it was a wall cabinet when it was an entertainment device. Doing a symbol/item replacement fixed the file for me.

[michaelk]

Hey, Scott.  Do you think that the Lighting Pipe Object thinks it's still a Lighting Position Object?

[Scott C. Parker]

25 minutes ago, michaelk said:

 Do you think that the Lighting Pipe Object thinks it's still a Lighting Position Object?

No idea really. But if the position object was deprecated and the internal ID was reused for something else, that would make sense.

[michaelk]

@James13569

 

I was able to get a working file by doing this:

 

1.  Open a blank file.  Create your 3 design layers.

2.  For each layer copy everything in your existing drawing EXCEPT Lighting Pipes and Paste In Place in the new drawing in the appropriate design layer.

3.  In your existing drawing use the polygon tool in the first mode to trace all the lighting pipes.  Select all the new polygons and copy.  In the new drawing paste in place.

4.  One at a time on each polygon use the command Create Objects From Shapes… and choose Lighting Pipe.

5.  You will need to manually name each position and give it a Z value.

 

That's the quickest way I can come up with to get back to where you were.

 

MK