Attaching Record Formats to Symbols and Objects

Once a record format has been created, you can attach it to any object, symbol instance, or symbol definition in the same drawing file. If you attach a record format to a symbol definition, the record format will be automatically attached each time you place one of those symbols in the drawing.

Use the Data tab of the Object Info palette to add appropriate data to drawing items that have record formats, such as model number, price, and location. See Editing Object Data.

Attaching Record Formats to a Symbol Instance or Object

To attach record formats to a symbol instance or object in the drawing:

  1. Select the item.

  2. Do one of the following:

    From the Data tab on the Object Info palette, click Attach Record to display the Resource Selector. Select the desired record format to apply it.

    From the Resource Manager, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) the desired record format, and select Apply from the context menu.

Alternatively, double-click the record format resource, or drag the record format resource onto the symbol instance or object to apply it.

Attaching Record Formats to a Symbol Definition

To attach record formats to all existing and future symbols placed from that definition:

  1. From the Resource Manager, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) the symbol definition, and select Attach Record from the context menu.

  2. The Attach Record dialog box opens.

  3. Click the Attach column of each record to attach to the symbol definition.

  4. To change the default values of the fields associated with the record format, select the record and click Edit Values. Change the default values as needed, and click OK.

  5. From the Attach Record dialog box, click OK.

Existing symbol instances, as well as any future symbols placed from the symbol definition, have the record format and default values attached.

Attaching Record Formats by Editing the Symbol Definition

Another way to attach record formats to a symbol definition is to edit the definition. The attached record is included each time the symbol is placed in the drawing or imported into another drawing. Symbol instances already present in the drawing are not affected.

To attach record formats by editing the symbol definition:

  1. From the Resource Manager, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) the symbol definition, and select Edit 2D Component from the context menu.

  2. From the Edit Symbol window, deselect all items by clicking in an empty area.

  3. From the Object Info palette, click the Data tab.

  4. When no items are selected, the Data tab displays “Symbol Definition” and the name of the symbol at the top.

  5. Click Attach Record to display the Resource Selector. Select the desired record format to attach it. You can attach multiple records to the same symbol definition.

  6. Edit the default values that display for the symbol definition, if necessary. These changes affect this symbol definition only, without changing the record format resource; see Editing Default Record Values for a Symbol Definition.

  7. Click Exit Symbol at the top right of the Edit Symbol window.

Attaching Record Formats to All Symbol Definitions in a Folder

To attach a record to all of the symbol definitions in a specified symbol folder:

  1. Select Tools > Records > Attach Record.

  2. The Attach Record dialog box opens.

  3. From the Symbol Folder list, select the criteria for attaching a record.

  4.     Select None to attach the record to the symbol definitions at the root of the symbol library (symbol definitions not in any folder).

        Select All to attach the record format to all of the symbol definitions in the file’s symbol library.

        Select a symbol folder to change all of the symbol definitions in that folder and any subfolders.

  5. From the Record Format list, select a record format to be attached to the selected symbol definitions.

  6. Click OK.

A message displays the number of symbol definitions affected. Click OK.

Symbol instances already present in the drawing are not affected.

To quickly verify that a record has been attached to the symbol library, create a report. See Creating Reports.

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Creating Resources

Editing Object Data

Creating Record Formats

Creating Reports

Using Preformatted Schedules

Database Connectivity

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