Creating Plug-in Object Styles

Plug-in object styles allow you to create plug-in objects with a combination of parameters that are set by style to be identical for all instances in the file and parameters that can be set independently for each instance of the object in the file. For example, a window style can have “style parameters” for details that create a uniform appearance, such as window shape, sash, trim, muntins, etc., and “instance parameters,” such as interior and exterior wall details, that can vary as needed to accommodate different wall styles and other building conditions.

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Plug-in object styles are available only for plug-in objects that have been configured by the developer to accept styles.

To create a plug-in object style:

  1. Select an unstyled instance of the plug-in object in the drawing area.

  2. Select Tools > Create Plug-in Style.

    3. Alternatively, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the unstyled plug-in object and select New Plug-in Style from Unstyled Plug-in from the context menu.

    The Create Symbol dialog box opens.

  3. Select the destination folder for the plug-in object style, and click OK.

    4. The <Object> Style dialog box opens, populated with the parameter values of the selected instance. This dialog box appears identical to the object preferences or settings dialog box that is used to insert and edit the object, with the exception of the settings related to defining a plug-in object style.

  4. Enter the Style Name, which must be unique in the file.

  5. For each parameter, click the By Style/Instance button and toggle to the desired setting.

    6. Symbols00007.png 

    To set all the parameters on the active pane of the dialog box to By Style or By Instance, click All By Style and toggle to the desired setting; repeat for other panes as necessary.

    To import settings from a previously saved style, click Import <Category> Settings; styles from the current file and default content folders are available. Choose the style for import. Settings are imported for the active pane only; repeat for other panes as necessary.

    A plug-in object style’s By Style/Instance setting can be established only from the <Object> Style dialog box, not from the object’s settings, preferences, or properties dialog boxes. On the object settings/preferences/properties dialog box, the style/instance icons are for informational purposes only. You can change these settings by Editing Plug-in Object Styles; doing so will alter every object in the file that uses the style, including those already inserted in the drawing.

  6. For style parameters, specify the parameter value; this value is fixed for every object that uses this plug-in object style and cannot be edited from the object’s settings, preferences, or properties dialog box. Instance parameter values set here are the default values for newly placed instances; they can be edited from the object’s settings, preferences, or properties dialog box.

  7. Click OK.

The plug-in object style is saved as a resource and appears in the Resource Manager and Resource Selector as a red symbol. It can be shared with other files and users through the Resource Manager or by referencing.

To identify which plug-in style was used for an object and locate it in the Resource Manager, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the plug-in object and select Locate Plug-in Style in Resource Manager from the context menu.

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