Adding a pipe down position howto?

[rando]

I want to add a pipe down from an existing lighting position (pipe), with 4 instruments. Of course the instruments are stacked in top view at different Z heights if I put it on the same plot as the overall plot. In non-VW plots I would show an instrument in profile (shaded) to indicate position on the main plot and draw the pipe down position and instruments in a different "window." Can't figure out how to do this in VW, but it is so common there must be a way. Or do I just do it the old-fashioned way: draw a filled instrument symbol, make a new drawing, etc. Thoughts? Any help is much appreciated!

[Jim_Allen]

I have been doing it the old fashion way, like one used to do when hand drafting - shaded instrument and then offset the pipe and instruments on the plot laid out hoizontally, old habits die hard.

I am sure there is a better, more modern way. :-)

Jim

[rando]

Yeah the old fashioned way works for drawing a plot but breaks all of the VW 3-D, visualisation, beam angle, rendering. I agree there must be a way to make it work.

The irony--another way I tried to do it in VW was actually add a pipe lighting position aligned with the Z axis with instruments stacked by different Z value, so the fancy VW stuff works.

But then the plot makes no sense for hanging and wouldn't be any use to an electrician!

[rando]

hmmmm... was hoping for someone to say there is a clean way to do this in VW (as Jim says "better, more modern..."), but seems maybe it is beyond VW capability? I can add a pipe down position in drafting or in rendering/beam angles, etc, but no way to make it work for both?

Maybe there is a way to do this with viewports but I am still very new in that area.