Pipe and drape issue count drapes

[alex92]

Hello,

I have discovered an issue with the Soft Goods plug-in. It seems that the number of drapes in the Pipe and Drape mode is not being calculated correctly. For example, in a Pipe and Drape setup with a slider length of 3 meters and three sliders, each measuring 2.2 meters, the total length comes to 6.6 meters. When I input that our drapes are standard 4 meters wide, the tool still indicates that 3 drapes are needed. This is incorrect because I only need 2 in total. It appears that the tool calculates the number of drapes based on the number of sliders, which should not be the case for our Pipe and Drape setup.

Thank you in advance for your response!

[markdd]

Hi

 

The problem with Plug-ins is that they, by and large, need to be designed with the most usual use-case in mind. I don't know this as a fact, but I suspect that the designer of the tool has had to make an assumption that a new drape must be used per slider and not as seems to be your use-case drapes continuing across the vertical pipe onto another slider. I hope I understand you correctly.

 

Although the Plug-in reports three drapes, you know otherwise! Perhaps if you use a lot of this kind of object in your venue you could make a worksheet that calculates the Total Drape values based on The Stock Drape Width and Adjustable length data points. It's relatively easy to do this.

 

Here is an example.

 

[alex92]

Hey Mark,

I can imagine that this might have been the reason for doing it this way. However, I remember that it used to be different. Your solution is definitely a good workaround. If I want to include the overlap, I’ll just add it to the stock drape width, I assume.

[alex92]

Hey @markdd,

I can't get the formula to work. Even though I copied the formula correctly, it won’t take the values and just displays the formula. I'm probably doing something silly wrong?

[alex92]

Hey @markdd,

 

I managed to get the formula working. The issue was caused by the use of ; and , in the roundup formula. However, I encountered a new problem. When you draw a pipe and drape in different directions, it no longer has an adjustable length; instead, it converts into a continuous running length. Would you have a solution for this?

 

[markdd]

Just substitute adjustableLength for TTLSGLngthNum in the formula.Works here.

 

If you want to take a look, then I have a section on my website about Worksheets:

 

 

Edited November 8 by markdd

[C. Andrew Dunning]

On 11/8/2024 at 4:03 AM, alex92 said:

I have discovered an issue with the Soft Goods plug-in. It seems that the number of drapes in the Pipe and Drape mode is not being calculated correctly...

 

As @markdd implied...

 

The tool makes the assumption that "sleeve" style pipe-and-drape configurations are used - meaning, drape panels don't "bridge over" uprights.  So, knowing that, the calculations are correct.  I fully acknowledge that the tool (as-is) doesn't match your actual application (and, you're is not the first) but I had to use the "most usual" convention with the tool.  That's one of the challenges/limitations of using/developing PIOs: the developer can do the best he/she can to fill the "most usual" need but it is almost impossible to fill 100% of the needs/applications.

 

That being said, this is now on the "future feature" list...