Modeling question

[aknflyer]

Running arches and tree for 2 yrs. Setting up home outline. The issue I have is with my models. Where my verticals on the outline are split, the model shows compressed bars on the short elements, longer ones on the longer elements. I dont think I can embed a submodel within a submodel to group them.
What is the best way to set this up?
Maybe model it as one string, even though they are on different outputs? Attached is a pic of the layout to visualize.

[Ebuechner]

Why not use a polyline.
Then you could select individual segments and set up individual start channels within one model.

[MikeKrebs]

Do you just need a group? Make a group and add the models to the group. Sub-models not required for that.

[aknflyer]

Why not use a polyline.
Then you could select individual segments and set up individual start channels within one model.

That worked great on the house outline. I just made one polyline and added a 0 value for the segments I did'nt need inbetween, and they disappeared. . This uncluttered my model layout considerably. No need for folders full of individual lines. So I ended up with one polyline for vert, one for horiz. All segment effects are now matched in length. Problem solved!
I did experience the same problem others have posted about not being able to escape to quit after drawing many segments, after accidently clicking in the model area, it started another polyline and would not escape out. Closing was the only way out.
I am assuming absolute addressing would work best with this kind of modeling.
This should help sequencing tremendously, without the need to edit many individual lines.

Thank you so much for this tip Ebuechner! Glad I asked. I bet many other users could benifit from this tip.

[K-State Fan]

I use a a poly lines for the house outline but have not tried zero segment length.

[Ebuechner]

The zero segment length is a nice tool.
But before you get to comfortable with that layout versus using groups run a test sequence and play with the render styles to make sure it's doing what you want it to do.
If it was me I would probably use a polyline for each one of your verticals so you can combine the upper and lower then put those models into a group.
When I'm sequencing I only have the groups in my layout so that I can open to the model level when I want to sequence at the model level.

[babybear]

Zero segments? Hmmm Oh yes I use them on my house outlines and for my Hand made Icicles. 

[aknflyer]

The zero segment length is a nice tool.
But before you get to comfortable with that layout versus using groups run a test sequence and play with the render styles to make sure it's doing what you want it to do.
If it was me I would probably use a polyline for each one of your verticals so you can combine the upper and lower then put those models into a group.
When I'm sequencing I only have the groups in my layout so that I can open to the model level when I want to sequence at the model level.

I have not noticed anything yet, but alas your probably right. I will reconfigure now, rather than being stuck later. I am curious about the best way to do the windows. That will probably be next year. Is it best to model each leg as seperate polylines, and then add them to groups? i.e. vert, horiz, all windows? Or would sticking with the single line be best?
I very much appreciate your help.

[Ebuechner]

Because you sound like your new into this I'm trying to give you some options to think about.
I don't want to push you One Direction or the other, test things out by copying your show folder and do some tests from the copied folder so you don't lose the work you've already done.
I use the polyline for my windows and doors because the window model in xlights used to be limiting and had some odd behavior at the time.
I haven't had the need to redraw my window or door models so I haven't tried the current version of the window model with its improvements.
I personally haven't had the need to break my windows down into vertical and horizontal sections while sequencing.
Everyone has different styles and needs to try a few things out to see what works for you.
If you want to take a peek at what other people do download some sequences from the xlights drive, those will have people's layouts both good and bad.

[jnealand]

I have always had my windows created using the window frame model.  Only last year did I create submodels for the verticals and the horizontals.  I have not seen any problems doing it this way.  My windows are all just standard rectangles.

[Ebuechner]

The window model used to only let you run the data One Direction.
And I'm just going by memory but I think the odd behavior that I had was applying a effect on the window model had things going backwards versus the polyline model.
So when I did a copy and paste of a effect I would get a clockwise rotation on the polyline and a counterclockwise rotation on the window model.
So I switched to all polyline to have consistency across all of my models.
Plus the fact that the polyline allows for a lot more versatility then the window model.

[aknflyer]

Just new to submodels and polyline vrs singleline nuances. Will admit arches and trees did not get that deep initially. I like the polyline features. Just want to get it correct so when I spend the time sequencing the outline for the 6 songs I have for the tree and arches, I dont end up having to backtrack and re-import for different kinds of layout programming, if I find I messed up.
The shortend effects on short singlelines threw me for a loop. Still not clear why the singleline does that. Manual is not 100% clear on the differences. 
Thanks for your patience. It is looking good on the reconfig.

[Gilrock]

I did experience the same problem others have posted about not being able to escape to quit after drawing many segments, after accidently clicking in the model area, it started another polyline and would not escape out. Closing was the only way out.

I haven't seen anyone post about this.  So you started a new PolyLine and the escape key wouldn't break you out of it.  Had you at least created one segment?  Could you click and add more segments?  Did you try clicking to add a point and then hit escape?

[aknflyer]

I did experience the same problem others have posted about not being able to escape to quit after drawing many segments, after accidently clicking in the model area, it started another polyline and would not escape out. Closing was the only way out.

I haven't seen anyone post about this.  So you started a new PolyLine and the escape key wouldn't break you out of it.  Had you at least created one segment?  Could you click and add more segments?  Did you try clicking to add a point and then hit escape?

I did create one segment. It was trying to do segment #2, which I did'nt let finish. I did not try to click and add a point. I am currently out of town till 5-1. Cannot re-try the test until after that.