Lightwright 5

[SteveB]

A mini review, touching on the highlights.

- Purchased a copy last week from Production Advantage as an institutional upgrade from version 4. Got an e-mail the next day from ProAdv with a serial number, logged on with Mckernon, got a approval code, download the software (21 meg ?) and installed. All serial numbers and codes went in without a hitch.

- Install was painless. A note to all users that LW5 generally requires a connection to the internet, mostly as an attempt by the creators to keep a track of who and how many users on a license. Or so I presume as pretty much every time I launch LW5, it tells me it's making a connection. Hmmm.... something to be aware of. As I just launched V5, a window popped up telling me of a critical bug to be fixed, so McKernon is keeping track and is keeping is up-to-date on updates, etc...

- First thing I tried out was the so-called automatic link to Vectorworks Spotlight 2009 (to which I upgraded from v12.5 educational version, to a Pro version in June. Our GM is great about upgrading software) . VW 2009 has a toggle under File - Document Settings, Spotlight Settings, that starts the automatic connection. Ditto LW5, it has a VW symbol to the right of the tool bar that toggles on the connection. Essentially, what the connection tells you and does, is VW creates a file (I have it put mine on the desktop) called a ".xml" file, that VW and LW continually write to and that LW continually checks for changed data from VW or LW (in VW you have to hit re-fresh instruments). After making the connection and seeing the data on VW and in LW, as you add/change data in VW it pops up in LW. Really, it writes your hookup for you as you work in VW, without running the export/import. Finally !.

As example, one of the nice added changes/features in VW2009 is the Number function. VW 12 used to only number lighting units with unit numbers. Now it can number any numerical value. Thus you can select Channel, with an additional incremental increase of 1 (or 2 or whatever) and do a manual click on assorted lighting units, 1-2-3-4, etc...with the channel numbers filling in on the Channel column of LW5. Ditto dimmers. Or circuits. Or defined user fields in VW. Thus it's a snap to assign these functions in VW and not have to now do an Export.

Note though that if you close either program, you need to re-establish the link when you re-open the program and I believe having the 'puter go to hibernate or standby also requires a new link be established, if what I am experiencing is correct.

- Show color swatches, Show Gobo Images. With color swatches, as you work adding colors, in either VW or LW, adding a color such as L161 shows a tiny color frame alongside the color number in the color column of LW, that's pretty close to the gel swatch. One of the big advantages to having this option checked is it allows a very good error checking for typo's in the color, especially if you are supposed to have 4 L161's on Ch 4 and instead have 3 L161's and 1 L116. The tiny color frame has green in it and your eye sees that. Gobo images I have not played with but seems to allow an import of the actual image of the gobo from the manufacturers website and works the same way as color, creating a small image. Clicking on either color or gobo brings up a Choose Color/Gobo Liist window. In the upper left of the window is a swatch book with the assorted GAM/Apollo/Lee/Rosco and others color swatches. Pick and choose.

- Open add'l hookups, Highlights and Worksheet colors. As with LW4 you can pick and choose the worksheet color scheme. LW5 now allows multiple files to be open simultaneously. When you open a 2nd file, the worksheet color scheme changes, as an indicator that you are in different file. You can also pick different highlight changes schemes, so that changes from the electrician can be in a particular color. Changes made direct to the file in LW in another color. Incoming changes from VW in a 3rd color, etc...

- As part of the connect to the internet system, LW now allows a Network to be established of users e-mail addresses that you need to send/exchange flies with. No longer having to go to your e-mail program to attach files, the People and Network system keeps track of the addresses, what file was sent, when, etc...

That's all for now as I'm not Ship and cannot type all night. One thought I had was that 5 has many more additional functions as compared to 4, then 4 and to v3 and as a result, is worth it. The automatic VW connection alone was worth the wait and money.

Steve Bailey
Brooklyn College

[Footer]

Its a much needed upgrade and from what I have heard people have some great things to say about it. I am not a vectorworks user, so those features are not all the useful to me but when I did use vectorworks I was wishing for this functionality.

I am also glad to see the file sharing integration. Thats pretty great stuff. Now, all that needs to happen is it needs to be integrated into the cloud. I am also waiting for an iPhone app. With that, I will have a touch the next day.

[Dionysus]

Unfortunately I don't have the money to upgrade from 4 to 5 ... and I don't have the money for VW either. Oh well. Indeed I use AutoCAD.
Sounds like a really nice feature (the link between VW and LW), it's about time something more 'seamless' was developed.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

it's about time something more 'seamless' was developed.

Thats one of the reasons I continue to use WYSIWYG. You type on the hookup, it shows up on the plot and vice versa without linking. Now, I still export to lightwright after I am done with the plot because I hate WYG's paperwork.

[Grog12]

I know I'm using an outdated VW, (12.5) but I wish there was some backwards combatibility as I just can't afford both.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Grog12

I know I'm using an outdated VW, (12.5) but I wish there was some backwards combatibility as I just can't afford both.
Posted via Mobile Device

.....I'm still on 11.5.... and am still using AutoCAD2004. Both probably won't change for a good amount of time.

[bdkdesigns]

Steve,

What happens when you don't have an internet connection? Does the program refuse to start? I was about to order it this week but might put it off for a little bit (it sure would help out financially speaking) if you can't run the program without an internet connection. I don't have internet access where I would be producing most of my paperwork so I would probably be better off waiting if you need it.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by bdkdesigns

Steve,

What happens when you don't have an internet connection? Does the program refuse to start? I was about to order it this week but might put it off for a little bit (it sure would help out financially speaking) if you can't run the program without an internet connection. I don't have internet access where I would be producing most of my paperwork so I would probably be better off waiting if you need it.

Not answering for Steve here and I have not touched the product....

But the way I read that was it "phones home" when you first install the software to validate the install. After validation, it should run without a connection. It should only have to validate itself once then its good to go for the rest of its installed life. This is going to be more and more common as we go forward with all software. John has always been big about protecting his software.

[nelakluwos]

Originally Posted by Footer

Thats one of the reasons I continue to use WYSIWYG. You type on the hookup, it shows up on the plot and vice versa without linking. Now, I still export to lightwright after I am done with the plot because I hate WYG's paperwork.

We do the same here as well, although I wish WYG would update their data mode to be more functional and user friendly.

John has done a great job with LW5. The ability to open mutiple LW files at once and the file/worknotes exchange alone was worth the update for us.

[Dionysus]

I just checked out John's website video, and the features shown on the website. When I have the $220 to spare, I'll totally upgrade lol. Too bad Vectorworks is over $1000, it would be cool to have it automatically communicate with lightwright.

I like the fact that not only can you have swatches of gels and gobos, but you can make them print with the counts! That'd be handy if you had a beginner pulling gobos. And you can design the wheels in your movers and gel strings too. How cool is that?