Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I have used this function successfully for the last couple of years moving data back and forth between LW & SL until this morning. I seem to be able to Export from SL using a Saved Export Mapping. The problem seems to be with the Import, when I try to Load the saved Import Mapping I get the Error Message "File does not appear to be a valid settings file". I have tried to Resave new Mapping Files but with the same result. Possibly something in 12.5.2 ? Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Hi Simon, Have you upgraded Spotlight recently or did the problem simply appear? I needed to redo my mapping files in both directions when I upgraded from 12.5.0 to 12.5.2 Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 I have upgraded recently which is where I believe the problem stems from, I have redone my mapping files but I still get the same Error message. I have tried this with Plots and LW files from a month or so ago which worked fine and now do not. Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I believe that you might also need to redo your LW automated actions. Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 So I Started from scratch, made a simple drawing with 6 lamps with various bits of data in all the categories that I wished to Export. I then Export from SL and Save the Mapping File. I Import into LW and Save the New Automated Action Make a few changes and Export and Save the New Automated Action I now go back to SL, Browse to the file I want to Import, AutoLink and then do a little rearranging, Save the Mapping file , I then Import. Everything works fine. If I try to Import the same file and Load the same Import Mapping File that I just created I get the error message. For some reason SL does not recognize the Mapping file that I have just Saved as a "Valid settings file". I have just reinstalled 12.5.2 with the same result. Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 (edited) Oh, I believe this is a frustrating VW thing. Make sure that your mapping files are named WITH a ".txt" extension. I seem to remember in the past that this was a problem, and I always put the extension in those files. Edited August 2, 2007 by RPMDesign Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 They are ".txt" files and under Kind in the Finder they are listed as a "Vectorworks Text Document" Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 But, are they actually labeled WITH the extension? i.e. "import_mapping.txt" and not "import_mapping"? I just removed the ".txt" from my import mapping file (the one that I always use) and got that same error that you are getting. On my computer it only works if you can actually see the extension listed, regardless of whether it shows up as a text file when you do a 'get info' on the file. Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 Yes they are labeled with the Extension .txt Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 Now you've stumped me. I thought that since I could recreate the problem by removing the .txt that it would solve it for you by adding it in. If it's useful, when I do a "get info" on my mapping file the default application is TextEdit, and it has a TextEdit icon. Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 Yes TextEdit will open the file, however, "Vectorworks Text Document" I believe refers to the File Type (Kind in the Finder). Out of interest Rick are you running LW 4.1.7 Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I am indeed. Exact same setup as in your signature. I can't imagine that it would make a difference, but you might try using all the settings that I posted at http://tinyurl.com/3by8mp That's complete documentation of how I export/map/import and merge between LW and Spotlight. But, I'm not convinced that that's the problem you're having, since it seems that you're able to keep moving information back and forth, it's just that you have to manually set up all of the parameters each time that you're going from LW into Spotlight. Ugh! Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 I did go through your documentation and compared it with my own Routines, everything matches up, and, as we know I can maneuver the Data I just cannot Store the Mapping File so that I can Load it again. I wish I had seen your Documentation about 2 x years ago when I was trying to figure that all out, very nicely done !. As a side note (and I realise this is getting a little boring); I can Load a Saved Export Mapping file to Export out of SL, however, as soon as I try to Load an Import Mapping file and I get the Error Message I then am unable to Load an Export Mapping file without getting the Same Error Message, it seems that once that Error message appears everything goes Pear Shaped. Anyway, Kevin or Katie if you have any ideas I would appreciate it. Quote Link to comment
Jim_Allen Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 You might want to contact John McKernon about the problem and see if he is getting other calls about the .7 update. I am still using .6 & VW 12.5.2 and have no problems going back and forth with the LW automated functions and the VW export/import mappings. Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 I just recieved an email from John regarding this issue and this is what he had to say. "As I recall, I filed it as a bug report with NNA some months ago. Version 12.5 won't open saved mapping files for me, either. I don't know whether the problem is in the saving or in the opening. Perhaps if someone else has a mapping file they're successful with, they could share it with you" Quote Link to comment
Jim_Allen Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 ????? I just went and exported data from VW12.5.2 using the - export - export insturment data - clicked the LW button and exported. I went to LW 4.1.6, used my automated import that I have been using since I got 12, changed some data and used the auto export, again that I have been using since 12. I went to VW import instrument data - browsed to the file clicked Ok then loaded the import mapping file I have been using all along and it all imported correctly and the updates were correct. I don't know why John was having a problem. I did get one Orphan. Quote Link to comment
Steve B. Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) I'm using VW Spotlight 12.5.2 with LW 4.1.7 I just tried an import of changed data in LW to VW, using the existing saved import map. No problems Steve B. Edited August 4, 2007 by Steve B. Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Hey Simon, o.k. this might be a stretch, and is based on my extension theory, but try this: Go to the Finder Preferences, Advanced. Select the "Show all file extensions" button. Then recheck to make sure that the .txt is showing up. Solved?.... I don't think that this is a LW problem - it seems like VW to me. Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 5, 2007 Author Share Posted August 5, 2007 Sorry Rick but I always have that selected anyway. Strange how John has had this problem since 12.5 (some months ago) My issue has only been since 12.5.2 If you want to send me your Import/Export Mapping files please do and I will give those a go. Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 (edited) Good Luck! Edited August 6, 2007 by RPMDesign Quote Link to comment
Simon Carus-Wilson Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 Thanks Rick but I am afraid the same result. Quote Link to comment
Rick Martin Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 You exported using the included LW automated action, right? (I'm sure that you did...) I can't think that this is anything but a VW bug Simon. The mapping function will simply not recognize a valid mapping file. At least you have a work around - even if it is super irritating. Quote Link to comment
Jim_Allen Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 About time for someone from VW to speak up. Kevin???????? Katie????? Quote Link to comment
Guest Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 We're currently looking into this issue. Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee klinzey Posted August 7, 2007 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted August 7, 2007 We need to do some more investigating to see what version the problem started but it looks like a Mac only problem. Unfortunatly at this point it looks like it's not a problem with the mapping file, but a problem with the import command on the Mac. Kevin Quote Link to comment
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