Irrigation Tools...So Slow!

[ericjhberg]

When doing a large irrigation system (I'm working on several with over 70 stations), the connection time is incredibly cumbersome and slow. The file I am currently working on takes up to 15 seconds to make one connection. Additionally, we have already turned off the Auto Calculation Update feature, so that is just processing time.

 

Some simple math to show you how cumbersome this actually is...

• 830 outlets of just one type (over 2000 total in the project) = 830 connections
• 830 connections at 15 seconds each = 12,450 seconds = 207.5 minutes = approximately 3.5 hours of drafting to make the connections.

 

When compared to our traditional methods, we could do this drafting in approximately 1 hour or less.

 

So for 2.5 extra hours, what do I get? Some data attached to the pipe network? That would be great, except half the time there is at least 1 error for every 20 outlets, which has to be found, diagnosed, and corrected, adding at least another hour to the mix.

 

I get that we are supposed to be moving into the "smarter, not harder" category, but this is only coming at it from the "smarter" perspective while making it a whole lot harder to meet your targets. 

 

Expand your horizons Landmark and start thinking bigger than a single, lot residential project. We need BIG applications here that scale easily!

[Eric Gilbey, PLA]

Eric, Not sure if you have shared this file with Vlado and/or tech support, but it would be good to have the file to either solve the issue in the file, or file a performance bug to solve this for future large projects.

[Thom]

I am having the same issues.  Dreading the start of another ballfield project.

[Vlado]

@ericjhberg can you send me a test file? I want to profile and see what's going on, so we can fix the problem: vstanev@vectorworks.net

[ericjhberg]

3 minutes ago, Vladislav Stanev said:

@ericjhberg can you send me a test file? I want to profile and see what's going on, so we can fix the problem: vstanev@vectorworks.net

 

Hi @Vladislav Stanev. I'll try to get you something today or tomorrow. It's gonna be BIG!

[samgbickel]

Hey Eric,

 

Did you find a resolution to this problem? I am experiencing it in 2020 and have no idea what do.
Is there a way to disable the automatic irrigation network update?

Thanks

[Vlado]

Hi @samgbickel, there is an option to disable the automated calculations, but unfortunately there is no UI for it.

 

To disable it, find the file 'IrrigationSettings.xml' located in "<app>\Libraries\Defaults\Irrigation". You can edit it there, or better copy it in your user folder, in the same location:

'<user_folder>\Libraries\Defaults\Irrigation' and edit it there. The difference is that if the change is in the user folder, any SP that you install will have this option, otherwise it would be just for the version you modify.

 

In that XML file, find the tag <AutoCalculation> and change it to 'false'. 

 

This will disable the automated calculations.

 

Regards,

Vlado

[ericjhberg]

@Vlado beat me to it. He helped us with this a while ago. I should have posted the update @samgbickel

 

@Vlado...any chance this will become a more forward facing option? Perhaps in the Irrigation Settings dialog?

 

Thanks.

[samgbickel]

@Vlado and @ericjhberg, that worked. I wish I had asked 6 months ago.

Thank you both!