July 22nd, 2016
File > New... | Find and Modify... | Organization...
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File > New...
We did it!
Our first Vectorworks User group meeting was a success, and I would like to thank everyone who was in attendance.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain.
At the end of April, I and a colleague attended the 2016 Vectorworks Design Summit in Chicago, IL.
We networked with many Vectorworks users and staff members from the architect world, entertainment, landscaping and others.
While at the summit, I learned about a program to bring users together outside of the yearly meet-ups, and continue the discussion and expand our knowledge of the software and its many applications in the varying industries.
On July 9th we held our first meeting where we had a great discussion about creating custom templates and referencing symbols and other objects to speed up design.
We all learned a bit more about each other's method of design prep, and organization techniques.
Please pass on to every designer and draftsman you know so we can expand our group and keep the discussion going!
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Find and Modify...
Question:
So I've been playing with the grandMA2 Export Plugin for Vectorworks, and I have it all setup based on the instructions on the MA Lighting site (link), I dragged it onto a blank flash drive, but my console doesn't see the show when I follow the next steps. Is there anything I'm missing?
Answer:
The key phrase I noticed in your question that may solve your problem is "blank flash drive."
A grandMA2 console and onPC software looks for your show in a very specific location on external drives.
My suggestion would be to take the exported file off your drive, and then put the drive into the console or machine running onPC.
Next, save your blank show on your desk to the flash drive.
This will create the appropriate file hierarchy on the drive, but now you have to make the folder for your exported file.
In the "gma2" folder, create a new folder named "importexport" and drag your exported file into it.
The instructions I linked above, which I'm sure is the one you used, breezes past this small fact in a sentence, but I always felt that a step-by-step is always nice to see when you're doing this for the first time.
Question:
I can't seem to have two projects open at any given time in Vectorworks 2016. I used to be able to on my multiple-screen setup. Did they remove this feature, or is it something I can make work again?
Answer:
I had this exact problem when I first jumped into 2016.
I also noticed a correlation between the ability to open two projects at once, and the new palette docking features that was brought to the Mac version of the software.
I automatically fell in love with the feature, so it was upsetting to learn that it was the cause.
My personal fix was to create two Workspaces with different Palette options & positions.
One for when I'm working on one project, where the palettes are docked to the window, another for working on two, where the Palettes are docked to each other.
After switching to the multiple screen Workspace, I had to just go to Window > Palette Options and toggle Palettes can dock to document window pending on which workspace was needed. (Then reverse for single screen)
A quick lesson of creating custom workspaces can be found here, and if you're curious of my what my setup looks like in both situations, enjoy...
Single Screen, Palettes docked to document:
Question:
When using Vision over artNET, is there a way to also connect a node to the network and run some of the fixtures live at the same time? I'd like to clarify colors and patterns of my moving lights, and having it happen in real time would be a big help. Thanks!
Answer:
The answer is a resounding yes.
As long as your node is configured to the proper port settings and assigned a proper IP and net-mask, you should be able to run both Vision and a live fixture.
The one suggestion I would have is that you use at least a Gigabit switch and compatible ethernet/ethercon cable.
This will allow for the fastest and most accurate transfer of information and seamless parameter changes in pre-viz and live.
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Organization...
This month's walkthrough is going to be brief, to first allow for self-exploration by you, the reader, but secondly, to not bombard you with tons of information.
Vectorworks recently acquired the amazing visualization software, Vision and it couldn't have found a better home.
Vision seeks to take your drawing in Vectorworks, with all it's 3D models, symbols and objects, and allow you to control your fixtures in a customizable 3D environment.
You can program, cue and focus an entire show with nothing more than a Vision machine, console (or PC software) and an exported Vectorworks file.
A Vision machine is a dedicated PC or Mac with these system requirements.
Vision is compatible with all the major console manufactures and their network protocols.
ETC (etcNET), High End Systems (HOGnet), MA Lighting (MAnet) and almost all others through artNET.
Exporting the file from Vectorworks consists of installing plugins from Vision (download), follow the custom workspace setup that I detailed above to place the plugins into Vectorworks, and customizing the software to work with your personal setup of fixture types, address format, and other options.
Once the file is exported, open it up in Vision, go to DMX Provider in the menu bar and select the protocol you will be using.
Setup your console to send over that protocol (each console should have a detailed description on how to do so in their manuals and forums) and set the address to a compatible IP and net-mask to match the Vision machine.
Here is where you're exploration comes in.
This software has so many features that trying to condense them into a column this size would be a disservice, so instead I urge you to sit with the software (demo or otherwise) and play with each and every setting.
My company, TLS Production, recently just purchase the unlimited edition of Vision and I have just gotten to a point where I feel comfortable with it. (We've had it almost a month.)
Vision will eventually be a seamless part of Vectorworks, and I cannot wait for that day when I can possibly click a button and be one step closer to a finished design.
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Save and Commit...
Please feel free to jump onto the Contact page and send over your questions for next month's column, comments on this month's column and any and all follows ups on my tutorials and answers.
Design & Conquer My Friends,
-- DDM
Three Screen, Palettes docked to each other: