A few Vectorworks annoyances

dcollins

Member
So, I got Vectorworks educational version from free (Thanks NNA!) and have been playing with it for the last few months. I have a few things that I'm either doing wrong or I just can't find the right documentation anywhere.

I just learned how to do lighting positions literally 15 minutes ago. I have my nine lighting positions created, and instruments set to them. Automatic numbering works and the little position summaries are very beautiful...but my stage electrics are too close together and they overlap. I can't move the summary without moving the position. I would even be happy if I could move one of them to the opposite side of the electric (left instead of right) but I can't find any settings to do this. Any hints?

When inserting instruments, I always get a large number of 'resource name conflict' dialog boxes. I wish there was a way to have it either overwrite or keep the existing by default...but I can't find it. I'm either doing adding instruments wrong or there's a way to hide those dialog boxes that I can't find.

Thanks for any hints you can provide! I'm rather enjoying playing with this program.
 
How are you inserting instruments? Are you sure that you are actually inserting instruments and not just symbols? A resource name conflict seems to indicate that you have multiple symbols trying to have the same name. When you put your instruments in, did you import the plug-in objects then insert instruments, or just drag them from the Resource Browser under the file you found them in?
 
As far as your summary problems, I'm almost positive there is a setting in the OIP or the position's properties to address the positioning of the summary. I don't recall the menu structure, but I'm pretty sure there is an option somewhere. Are you drafting in 2D or 3D? In 3D, you can shift the overlapping batten in Z to distinguish it.
 
I just tried the properties again...the position's properties, both from the 'object info - shape' pane and from right click -> properties are the same and allow the batten to be moved in 3D, but not the summary box. My plot is in 2D (overhead view) so I don't know what you mean by moving in Z.

I am inserting instruments from the instrument insertion tool from the spotlight tool set. Locate the instrument in the resource browser, make active, insert instrument.
 
I tend to use the summary boxes for checking my work, then I turn them off. ...on to check, then off for final and printing. They take up space I can't really afford. I can't help as far as repositioning them. :cool:

I'll print details from Lightwright by electric if having a printed inventory is of value. In our context, only one of our positions is worth doing that. I'll print a detail from the show going out and from the show going in. The comparison nets a list of what has to move up and down at the FOH position. :cool:
 
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I can't move the summary without moving the position. .

The summary boxes are something EVERYONE wishes VW would fix. There have been request going back to v10 to allow customizing. Hasn't happened yet.

I rarely use it, only FOH hang sheets only, where there's room on the drawing.

You can move the box, and/or position label by clicking on the position and you'll see a Handle next to the position name. Grab it and it allows you to position the label (and summary box if enabled), without moving the actual position, to a location that works. Note that you can also edit the position label text for size, font, bold, etc...
 
I just tried the properties again...the position's properties, both from the 'object info - shape' pane and from right click -> properties are the same and allow the batten to be moved in 3D, but not the summary box. My plot is in 2D (overhead view) so I don't know what you mean by moving in Z.

Z is the third dimension in most (if not all) graphing systems. Is one electric below the other or are they literally on top of each other? If the former, the lower electric can be moved down in the Z plane (there is a third parameter in the OIP) and when you view the model in 3D (use Shift-C to flyover or the number pad for preset views, numpad-3 is my personal favorite) the batten will appear below it. As suggested, I would turn off the summaries when they are not being referenced, as they greatly crowd valuable screen real estate. All of the information you can get from the summaries can be found in your Paperwork which can be easily minimized / moved around.

I am inserting instruments from the instrument insertion tool from the spotlight tool set. Locate the instrument in the resource browser, make active, insert instrument.

This may be your problem. You aren't importing the symbol in to your particular project, so Vectorworks may be duplicating the symbol every time you add an instrument because it only imports the symbol temporarily. Instead of just clicking make active, click import then hit enter (folder hierarchies aren't important unless you are dealing with a massive, diverse inventory). Then press the home button on the Resource Browser and insert your instruments from there. This will prevent Vectorworks from creating copies of the symbols every time you add an instrument and should resolve the resource name issue.

If you have questions about the nature of symbols/plug in objects or 3D CADing, I can go in to more detail.
 
Z is the third dimension in most (if not all) graphing systems. Is one electric below the other or are they literally on top of each other? If the former, the lower electric can be moved down in the Z plane (there is a third parameter in the OIP) and when you view the model in 3D (use Shift-C to flyover or the number pad for preset views, numpad-3 is my personal favorite) the batten will appear below it. As suggested, I would turn off the summaries when they are not being referenced, as they greatly crowd valuable screen real estate. All of the information you can get from the summaries can be found in your Paperwork which can be easily minimized / moved around.
Ahh. No. They're not in the same place, they're about 3-4 feet apart. They're just too close together for the summaries to fit. I'll try the other suggestions later on - I have plenty of screen space, though - just not where I need it! My legend and title block are in the most crowded parts of the diagram, and then there are 20' between two of my house electrics. I might wind up moving them to incorrect positions (or viewports) so that I have enough screen space to put the title block where it should be.
 
The summary boxes are something EVERYONE wishes VW would fix. There have been request going back to v10 to allow customizing. Hasn't happened yet.

I rarely use it, only FOH hang sheets only, where there's room on the drawing.

You can move the box, and/or position label by clicking on the position and you'll see a Handle next to the position name. Grab it and it allows you to position the label (and summary box if enabled), without moving the actual position, to a location that works. Note that you can also edit the position label text for size, font, bold, etc...


Ive been having trouble with this and it's good to know its an actuall issue and not just a problem I have. What you said is true except one part: dont "grab"- meaning, don't click and drag. It doesn't work that way. It was driving me crazy trying it that way. You have to click, let go, and click in the new location
 

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