Creating Cable Chains

Instead of manually placing data cables or jumper cables on a complex light plot with hundreds or even thousands of lights, the Vectorworks Spotlight software can automatically place the cables in a chain between lighting devices, speakers, projectors, or any symbol.

The Setting Cable Preferences dialog box controls which side to place the cables, and the offset distance between the cables and the lighting devices.

Creating a Jumper Cable Chain

To create a jumper cable chain:

1. Select Spotlight > Cables > Make Jumper Cable Chain.

The Make Jumper Cable Chain dialog box opens.

►    Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Copy Lighting Device Circuit Name and Circuit Number	Copies the circuit name and number from the first lighting device to the other devices in the chain
Copy Lighting Device Channel and Dimmer	Copies the channel and dimmer information from the first lighting device to the other devices in the chain
Place Ganging Symbols	Places symbols on the drawing, indicating that the paired lighting devices connected by the jumper cables are ganged
Display cable length	Displays cable length information in the jumper cable label
Display Connector Type	Displays the connector type in the jumper cable label

2. Click OK.

3. Click on each object to be linked.

4. Click in a blank area of the drawing to finish creating the jumper cable chain.

Creating a Data Cable Chain

To create a data cable chain:

1. Select Spotlight > Cables > Make Data Cable Chain.

2. As you move the cursor over a valid object, such as a lighting device, the object is highlighted; click on the first object in the chain.

3. Click on each object to be linked.

4. Click in a blank area of the drawing to finish creating the data cable chain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inserting Jumper Cables

Inserting Data Cables

Setting Preferences

Was this page helpful?