Placing Database Callouts

Callouts with database notes are placed with the extended capabilities of the Callout tool.

To place a database callout:

1. Click the Callout tool from the Basic palette.

2. Click the Preferences button from the Tool bar.

The Callout Preferences dialog box opens. For more information on the Callout tool, see Inserting Callouts or Keynotes.

3. Select Get Text from Database; the current database file is displayed as a button.

4. To select a different database, click the database button.

The standard Open dialog box allows a different database file to be selected. Select the database file, and click Open.

A sample database is located in the Vectorworks application folder: [Vectorworks]\Libraries\Defaults\Notes\Callouts.txt

5. Click OK.

6. Click in the drawing to place the callout object.

Once the callout leader is drawn, the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box opens automatically, displaying the information from the selected database.

The notes in a selected section are listed by a description.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Active Database	Displays the currently selected database file
New	Creates a new, blank database
Choose	Selects a different, existing database. A database from a previous version of the Vectorworks program can be specified, but it must be converted to the current version format as prompted.
Save As	Saves the current database with a new name
Sections in Database	Lists the note sections; the associated notes in a selected section are displayed in Notes in Database
Add	Adds a new note section; enter the section name in the Enter String dialog box
Remove	Deletes the currently selected section and its associated notes
Edit	Renames the currently selected section; enter the new name in the Enter String dialog box
Notes in Database	Lists the notes associated with the current database section
Add	Opens the Add Note dialog box, for adding a note to the database section
Remove	Deletes the currently selected note
Edit	Opens the Edit Note dialog box, for editing the selected note or its description
Note Text	Displays the note text of the currently selected note; the note text can be edited
Database Filter	Filters the database sections, descriptions, or notes with a search term, to more easily locate a note
Edit	Opens the Edit Filter List dialog box, to add or edit database filters
Prefs	Sets the automatic save options for the database
Update >	Moves the selected note to the Callout Text list for placement on the drawing
< Update	Replaces the database with the text in the Callout Text list
< Add	Adds the text in the Callout Text list to the database, placing it in the current database section
< Locate	If the selected text in the Callout Text list originated from a database, locates the note’s database, section, and description
Connect to Database with:	Sets how to connect to the selected database; if an absolute path is selected, the database must be present at the specific location. If a relative path is selected, the database must be present at the indicated location relative to the current file.
Hide Database Controls >>	Hides the database portion of the callout dialog box; edits made with the database hidden are not reflected in the database

7. To add a note to a selected section, click Add under Notes in Database.

The Add Note dialog box opens. Specify the section, description, and note text.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Section	Select the associated section for the note
Description	By default, contains the first 42 characters of the note text; to change the default, deselect Use the first 42 characters, and enter a different description
Note Text	Type the new note text
Use the first 42 characters	If the default description is not desired, deselect this option and enter a new Description

8. Click OK to add the note to the specified section and return to the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box.

9. Change the note description by selecting the description and clicking Edit.

The Edit Note dialog box opens. Deselect Use the first 42 characters, and then change the Description. You can also edit the note text and associate the note with a different section. Click OK to save the edits and return to the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box.

10. The text of a selected note can be edited in Note Text.

11. To search easily for a note, section, or description, use a filter. Only notes, sections, or descriptions with the specified text are displayed. Select the desired filter from the Database Filter list in the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box. To display all notes, sections, and descriptions, select All Notes. In addition, if no items match a selected filter, all notes are displayed.

12. To edit the database search filters, click Edit under Database Filter.

The Edit Filter List dialog box opens. The filters are listed in order.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Filter list	Lists the search filters in the order they display in the database filter list
Add	Adds a search filter to the list; enter the new term in the Enter String dialog box
Remove	Deletes the currently selected search filter(s)
Edit	Renames the current search filter; enter the new name in the Enter String dialog box
Move Up/Move Down	Changes the filter list order; select the search filter and move it up or down in the list

13. Click OK to change the search filters and return to the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box.

14. Changes and additions to the notes database are saved automatically according to the preferences specified. Click Prefs to set these preferences.

The Database Preferences dialog box opens. Set the desired actions that automatically save database changes by selecting the associated check box. If no automatic saving is specified, you will be prompted frequently about saving the database.

The Locate and Hide Database options are available when editing a General Notes or Keynote Legend with database.

15. Click OK to return to the Notes Manager: Callout dialog box.

16. Once the desired note has been entered or located, select it and click Update to move it to the Callout Text list.

17. Click OK. The selected note is used for the callout text.

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Editing a Database Callout

Notes Management with Databases

Notes Management

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