[SML] Repost: SoftSymbols™ and Vectorworks 2023
Steve Shelley
shelley at fieldtemplate.com
Wed Sep 6 19:09:23 UTC 2023
Hi Jeff [and Stagecraft folk]:
Thankfully Kevin Lee Allen forwarded your note to me from the theatrical.net web site. i had belonged to the Stagecraft Mailing List for years [WWFW do?] but somehow dropped off the list. No matter; here’s my quick response to your SoftSymbols inquiry below:
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Jeff Forbes writes:
“I see I have v3 of Field Templates SoftSymbols and there is a version 4 out, but has that version been updated to deal with all of the new parameters in VW? Paging Steve Shelley:)”
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Dear Jeff: Here’s a brief review of SoftSymbol v3 versus v4, from the “SoftSymbol Version 3.0” page:
SoftSymbols™ Version 3.0
These SoftSymbols™ Version 3 Packages are available for Vectorworks® version 2008, 2011, 2016, and 2017.
As a reminder, all of these libraries were current and up-to-date as of Fall 2010, but contain no new fixtures after that time. In addition to that, none of the 3D components contain Focus Functionality® ? in any 3D view, the lighting device will focus ONLY as if it was pointed ”upstage.” It will not rotate and aim towards an assigned Spotlight focus point.
What does this mean? If you’re not rendering in 3D, OR you don’t need to see 3D lighting devices pointed towards focus points, OR you don't need to draft using the latest gear, OR you only draft in 2D, this is the package for you!
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And here’s a brief review of SoftSymbol v4 object libraries, from the “SoftSymbol Version 4.0” page:
SoftSymbols™ 4.0 Object Libraries
In the spring of 2022, Field Template™ updated a select collection of SoftSymbol Object Libraries to the next level, updating them to Version 4.0. That said, the number of Vectorworks versions constructed for each SoftSymbol product has become unwieldy. Changes in the Light Info Record and the Parts Record still require different versions, but Version 4 will no longer support Vectorworks application versions earlier than Vw2017.
Slimming Down 3D
Over the years, the number of resources in each SoftSymbol object library has increasd. Our basic philosophy is that, while older lighting devices may be labeled as "discontinued," no resources are ever deleted from any object library. Somewhere in the world, the lighting devices continue to be included in inventories, and in light plots. So over time, the SoftSymbol object libraries inevitably become larger and seem "bloated." At the same time, it seems that the number of lighting devices in any light plot seems to increase. In an effort to keep light plots from becoming unmanagable, and their document size slowing down computing speed, SoftSymbols has converted all 3D components to Generic Solids.
Many complex SoftSymbol 3D components are created using commands such as "Add Solid" or "Subtract Solid," for example. Each one contains a history composed of the original elements used to make the new object. The "Convert to Generic Solids" command removes this history from the solid objects, reducing the file size (though the object is no longer editable.) The working FT-ETC LED 4.0 Vectorworkds object libary, containing 750 symbols [and matching resources,] weighed in at over 87MG. Once the 3D components were converted to Generic Solids, the same file was slimmed down to 69MG.
Updating Resources into Vw2022
The 2022 version of Vectorworks introduced many changes, and as an outside developer, not all of them simple to implement. The 2022 Light Info Record [LIR] added five new data cells, reorganized the arrangement of the data cells within the record, absorbed weight data from the Light Info Record-Metric [LIR-M], and then eliminated the LIR-M record altogether.
We have been to the Wilderness, we have sipped from the Pool of Knowledge. Bottom line: We are delighted to announce that, with the assistance of the nice folks at Nemetschek [hats off the Robert Books and Kevin Linzey.] we have untied the Gordian Knot; solved the Rubik's Cube; and rewoven the DNA strands! In other words: We are now offering all of our 4.0 libraries in Vw2022 and Vw2023 format!
Also, from the “SoftSymbols.html” page:
Enhanced Packs for Vectorworks 2023: These packs are designed in the Vectorworks 2023 environment. All applicable 3D components retain Vw2017 Focus Functionality®, along with the special data that streamlines workflow from Spotlight to Vision. The 2023 Light Info Record also includes new data fields to separate DeviceBody from DeviceLens, as well as new data fields for Voltage, Source Wattage, LED Color Temperature, Signal Connector, and GDTF Type ID.
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So Jeff, hope that answers your primary questions. should you have any followups, please don’t hesitate to ask at shelley at fieldtemplate.com. Bottom line: the v3 libraries will include focus beam and field cones, but the v3 3D components will not articulate to target 3D focus points. In addition to that, all the SoftSymbol v4 libraries are up-to-date with all versions of Vectorworks, from Vw2017 on.
All the best,
Steve
================
Steve Shelley, President
FIELD TEMPLATE LLC
[212] 865-2969 Office
Shelley at fieldtemplate.com
Www.fieldtemplate.com
===============
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jeff Forbes via Stagecraft stagecraft at theatrical.net
Subject: [SML] Soft Symbols vs VectorWorks 2023
Date: September 5, 2023 at 4:48:07 PM EDT
To: Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Cc: Jeff Forbes jforbes1956 at gmail.com
Reply-To: Stagecraft Mailing List stagecraft at theatrical.net
So I’ve only had VectorWorks 2023 for a handful of months now, so I haven’t had the occasion to really use all of the features yet. But this past weekend I was drafting a plot for a small room that I’ve never seen or worked in before, and I dropped in some focus points in order to get an idea of what certain beam spreads would look like there, but none of the instruments I was trying would focus correctly. Assigning a focus point resulted in a beam that was pointing straight down at the floor, and in 3D side view the light was coming out of the bottom shutter opening apparently.
I tried the stock ETC symbols that are built in and they work fine, as did another set of symbols that I borrowed from another light plot that had been sent to me. When you focus an instrument using those symbols there are now pan and tilt info boxes that get automatically filled in, and the lights now reorient themselves in 3D view to match.
So my question here is, I see I have v3 of Field Templates Soft Symbols and there is a version 4 out, but has that version been updated to deal with all of the new parameters in VW? Paging Steve Shelley:)
Jeff Forbes
jforbes1956 at gmail.com
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