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Source Four Savvy Section

version 1.0.1

Users Guide

 

Created by Joshua Benghiat

Joshua Benghiat Lighting Design

 

Introduction

Requirements | Installation | Support

Getting Started

Adding to your Workspace | Adding to your Symbol Library | Registration | Overview

In Detail

Object Info Parameters | Changing Default Parameters | Using Classes to Control Detail | Editing Section Parts

 

Introduction

Requirements

Vectorworks 12 or higher

 

Installation

If you haven't already, download the Savvy Section Installer from the JBLD downloads page.

 

Make sure Vectorworks is not running.  Run the Savvy Section Installer.  Select your version of Vectorworks. The installer will install a folder called "-JBLD Source-4 Section" in your user Plug-Ins folder, containing the Savvy Section plug-in object and a file of component parts.

 

The Macintosh installer allows you to select a custom location for your Plug-Ins folder.  Windows users with a custom user data location or Mac users having trouble with the installer can download the "Raw installer" and manually drag the "-JBLD Source-4 Section" folder to Plug-Ins.  For more information, see this FAQ.

 

Support

Please visit http://BenghiatLighting.com/software/support for support options and to report bugs.  

 

You may also email software(at)BenghiatLighting.com.

 


Getting Started

To use the Savvy Section object, you must either add it to your Workspace or locate the "Red Symbol"

 

Adding to your Workspace

To add Savvy Section to an existing workspace:

  1. Select Tools>Workspaces>Workspace Editor.
  2. Select the Tools tab.
  3. Click the disclosure triangle next to JBLD in the list of Tools categories on the left hand side.
  4. Drag all the Source-4 Savvy Section Plug-Ins Objects to an existing palette on the right or create a new palette.
  5. Click OK.

SO_Add-to-Workspace

 

Adding to your Symbol Library

  1. Open either your template file or one of your symbol libraries.
  2. Go to the Resource Browser and select Browse a document. 
  3. Navigate to your Users Plug-In folder, and find the folder called "-JBLD Source-4 Section."
  4. Open the file called Section Parts.
  5. Locate the red colored symbol called "~ Section>S/4."
  6. Import or place the symbol in your file.  As soon as you place a "red symbol" in your drawing, it immediately converts to a plug-in object.

SO_Red_Symbol  Screen-Cast-Icon-Sm 

Registration

The first time you use the Savvy Section, you will be asked for a registration number.  You can also access the registration dialog through the "About" button in the Object Info palette.  The Savvy Section will not draw without a valid code. 

 

Overview

The Source Four Savvy Section allows you to draw detailed 2D sections at any hanging angle, with any clamp, or barrel type, and add scrollers, top hats, and half hats.

 

The Savvy Section is a Plug-In Object, meaning you can draw any configuration with a single object using user-definable parameters.  You can edit an object’s parameters in the Object Info Palette.

 

In Detail

Object Info Parameters

As with all Plug-In Objects, the first time you place a Savvy Section in a document, Vectorworks will ask you for default parameters.  You can set the default object parameters for the document by selecting the object’s tool, then clicking on the parameters button Plug_In_Pref_Button in the mode bar.

Mode_Bar

 

Parameter Description
x, y The insertion point is the center of the pipe or sidearm.
Type

Source Four or Source Four PAR, in a side view or front view.

 SO Screen Shots-02 

NOTE: Front views round to the nearest 45° and the angled versions only show the standard barrel and scroller size.
Rotation You can rotate the entire object about its insertion point, but you may find this method more confusing than the Yoke and Body Angle parameters.
Yoke Angle

The angle, in degrees, of the yoke. 0 is straight down.

 SO Screen Shots-01
Body Angle

The angle, in degrees, that the body is focused. 0 is straight down. The angle is always measured with respect to the floor and is independent of the Yoke Angle.


In front view, the angle is rounded to the nearest 45 degrees. Use a negative angle to flip the light upside down (ie. flip the gel clip, etc.).
Clamp Type

C-Clamp, Tee, Coupler, or None; in front or side views.  

SO_Clamps
Short-Yoke

Shows the body in the upper set of yoke holes. Note: PARS cannot be short yoked.

 SO Screen Shots-05
Show Pipe Will show a standard 1.5" pipe in the center of the C-Clamp.
Barrel Type

Switch between Standard, 90-deg, 70-deg, 14-deg, 10-deg, and 5-deg barrel types.

 SO Screen Shots-06
Scroller Check to draw a scroller.
Scroller Size

Choose from 4", 7.5", 10", and 15" scrollers.

 

Note: You must decide which size scroller is appropriate.

Also Note: The front angled views currently only show one scroller size.
Top Hat Check to add a top hat.
Top Hat Type Choose from Full, Half, Full Short, and Half Short types.
Hat Size

Choose from 6 1/4", 7 1/2", 10", 12", and 14" sizes.  

 

Note: You must decide which size top hat is appropriate.
Color Extender Check to add a color extender.
Flip Flips the fixture horizontally (across the Y plane).
Settings... Enters a dialog for setting Source Four Savvy Section preferences.  Please note, these are system wide preferences, not drawing preferences.
  Section Class Prefix - Select a class for the section object and its elements.  Default: Symbols-Section.  Please note, in order to change classes of the section symbol parts, you must edit the Section Parts document and manually rename the classes. 
  Symbol Folder - Select a symbol folder into which the section part symbols will be imported.  Changing this preference will only affect future imported symbols and will not reorganize parts symbols in the current drawing.  Default: ~Section Parts
  Parts File Folder in Plug-Ins - You can select where the Source Four Savvy Section looks for the parts symbols.  It must be a folder in your user Plug-Ins directory.  Changing this setting allows you to use an alternate set of parts symbols or to share parts with another Savvy Section object.
About Opens the about dialog, where you can enter your registration number, check the current version, and follow help links.

 

Changing Default Parameters

To change the default parameters for all new documents, choose Tools>Scripts>VectorScript Plug-in Editor…, select Source-4 Savvy Section, click the Parameters button, and edit the default values.  Please note, if you install an update the object, you will have to redo these custom settings.

SO_Change-Defaults

Using Classes to Control Detail

The Savvy Section's components are divided into three classes:

  • Symbols-Section
  • Symbols-Section-Large Detail
  • Symbols-Section-Detail
 SO Screen Shots-03

You can take advantage of the classing in two ways.  Firstly, you can hide or gray either of the detail levels to show varying levels of detail.  Secondly, all objects have their attributes set by class.  This means you can edit the default attributes for these classes, and the look of the Savvy Sections will adjust accordingly.

 

Editing Section Parts

Further customization of the Savvy Section is possible by editing the Section Parts Vectorworks file.  You can edit any of the component parts in this file to your liking, including shape, attributes, and class.  The only things you should NOT CHANGE are the size and insertion points of the component symbols, or the section parts will not assemble properly.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 17:06
 
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