Accessing Existing Resources

While new resources are automatically added to the Resource Browser upon creation, resources that exist in other files must be imported or referenced into the current file through the Resource Browser.

Quick Resource Browsing

Resources in another file can be quickly browsed to locate resources and to determine whether that file should be added as a favorite.

To view the resources available in another file that is not yet a favorite:

  1. In the Resource Browser, select Files > Browse a Document.

  2. The standard file open dialog box opens.

  3. Select the file to browse, and then click Open.

The resources in the selected file temporarily display in the Resource Browser. A resource from that file can be imported into the current file, but the browsed file is not saved as a favorite.

Using Resources from Open Files, Favorites, and Libraries

The Files list displays all currently open files and favorites. In addition, the Files list provides easy access to resource libraries—both the hundreds of libraries delivered with the Vectorworks family of software, and any other custom libraries that you create.

    Vectorworks Libraries accesses the libraries installed or available for download with the Vectorworks program.

    User Libraries accesses the libraries you place in your User Data and Preferences folder. See User Folders Preferences for more information about user folders.

    Workgroup Libraries accesses the libraries placed in your Workgroup and Project folders (Vectorworks Design Series required). See Sharing Custom Files with a Workgroup for details about using workgroup folders.

“Active Document” displays when Always Display Active Document has been selected from the Files list; the resources from the currently active file are always displayed.

To use a resource from a different file:

  1. In the Resource Browser, do one of the following:

  2.     Select the desired open file or favorite from the Files list.

        Select the desired library type (Vectorworks, User, or Workgroup) from the Files list. From the standard file open dialog box, locate the desired library file and click Open.

    The file name is displayed in the Files list, and its resources display in the resource display window.

  3. Select the desired resource from the resource display window. Multiple resources can be selected and imported at the same time.

    To use the resource immediately, double-click it to activate it, or select Apply or Make Active (if applicable) from the Resources menu. (Alternatively, drag the resource onto an object or to a location in the current file.) If symbol folders are present in the drawing, specify the location of the imported resource.

    To import the resource for future use, select Import from the Resources menu.

    To reference the resource, select Reference from the Resources menu. If the source file is not currently referenced by this file, specify the new reference information. (See Referencing Resources.)

The resource is added to the current file’s Resource Browser.

When you access symbols or scripts within folders, the selected folder name is displayed in the Document Folder list, and its contents are displayed in the resource display window. To return to the main resource window, click the Document Folder list, and then select Top Level. Alternatively, click the Up One Level button until the top level is reached.

Some resources, such as symbols, plant definitions, and wall styles, among others, can be inserted into a drawing directly from a list on the Tool bar when the appropriate tool is selected. Depending on the type of resource, the list may contain resources in the current document, in other open documents, and/or in the libraries.

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Using Favorites Files

Finding Resources

Identifying Duplicate Resources

Working with Resources

Using the Resource Browser

 

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