Specifying Plant Definition Parameters

Once the geometry of a plant definition symbol is established (see Creating Plant Geometry for the Plant Definition), you can set botanical data and other parameters for a plant definition, to prescribe the default settings for a specific type of plant.

Plant definitions that have a corresponding plant database record automatically update the plant database to match any edits to the plant definition, if Update Plant Database with Vectorworks Plant Definition Changes is selected (see Concept: Plant Definition and Plant Database Integration).

Plant resources can be exported from the Resource Manager or by selecting Export Plant from the plant context menu; see Exporting Resources.

If you want to set plant Z values to the site model surface, the plant definitions and site model must be in the same file (they cannot be referenced).

Plant Definition: General Options

Every pane of the plant definition displays the Plant Symbol Name and previews, allows botanical data to be obtained from the plant database, and provides the option to obtain the 2D and 3D plant geometry from a symbol. The previews update as the plant definition changes.

Parameter	Description
Plant Symbol Name	Enter a name for the plant definition symbol; this name displays in the Resource Manager and Object Info palette
Get Plant Data	The Get Plant Data dialog box opens, to select the method of associating a plant record from the database with the current plant definition (see Concept: Plant Definition and Plant Database Integration). Plant data can be selected from either the plant database or from a plant list. The plant database opens automatically, if it is not already open (this may take several seconds). ● Select a plant record from the plant database as described in Searching for Plants. Once the correct plant has been located, from the plant database, select Vectorworks > Use Currently Selected Record. This associates the plant database record with the plant definition. ● Alternatively, click Select Plant Data to open the Select Plant Data dialog box and access plant lists (see Creating Plant Lists). Select the plant to associate from the list. From either source, once the plant database record has been associated with the plant definition, the database information updates the appropriate plant definition parameters.
Preview	Dynamically previews the plant appearance, showing how it will appear when added to the drawing with the Plant tool
Top/Plan Preview	Displays the 2D component of the plant symbol
3D OpenGL Preview	Displays the 3D component of the plant symbol, if one has been added to the symbol definition (image props, such as those provided by xFrog, can be used as 3D plant geometry)
Copy from Symbol	Obtains the 2D or 3D plant geometry from a symbol in the file or from a library; see Creating Plant Geometry for the Plant Definition
Generate	Generates 3D plant geometry when the 3D representation of the symbol used to create the plant is not suitable; see Generating 3D Plant Geometry from a Shape
Create from Image	Generates 3D plant geometry when the 3D representation of the image used to create the plant is not suitable; see Creating 3D Plant Geometry from an Image

Plant Definition: Insertion Options Pane

Specify the default insertion options for the plant definition on the Insertion Options pane.

If plant data were obtained from the plant database, the plant database values are displayed. Values and settings entered on this pane become the default for the plant definition.

Parameter	Description
Spread	Specifies the default plant spread diameter (the maximum width of the mature plant, as drawn) for both single and multiple plant placement
Height	Sets the default height of the typical mature plant at insertion
Spacing	Sets the default spacing between plants at insertion, for the Poly-Vertex Placement, Poly-Edge Spaced, Rectangular Array, and Triangular Array insertion modes
By Distance	Sets the horizontal distance between plants (Spacing) and between vertical rows of plant arrays (Row Spacing). ● Fixed Spacing: Places plants at the specified distance ● Best Fit: Places plants at the start and end of the line or array, and then distributes the plants evenly at the specified distance ● Count: Distributes the specified number of plants evenly along the line or within the array ● Same as Spacing: Sets the Row Spacing to be the same as the Spacing selection
By Distribution Rate (rectangular and triangular array)	Calculates the plant spacing, for arrays only, based on the plant area. Specify the rate: ● Plants per square unit: Spaces the plants according to the set density, with the square unit specified in the document settings ● Unit on center: Spaces the plants from center to center, according to the length units specified in the document settings
By Distribution Coverage	Calculates the plant spacing based on the actual plant area and Spread values, and places them according to the set percentage. A value of 100%, for example, indicates full coverage, with plants spaced according to the Spread.

Plant Definition: Schedule Pane

Click the Schedule pane to specify default plant values for display and reporting.

If plant data were obtained from the plant database, the plant database values are displayed. Values and settings entered on this pane become the default for the plant definition.

Parameter	Description
Latin Name	Specifies the plant genus and species (also known as the botanical name)
Update from Plant Database	Click to update the plant definition with data from the Plant Database. The plant’s Latin (botanical) name is used to determine the match between the plant definition and plant database entries. If there is no matching entry, the association cannot be made. Click Get Plant Data instead to select the associated plant database record.
Common Name	Specifies the plant common name or names
Plant/TagID	Identifies the plant with a unique code; this code appears in the plant list and on ID tags, if selected (see Plant ID Codes for the definition of common code categories)
Scheduled Size	Indicates the plant caliper or container size; displays in the Plant List worksheet
Quantity Type	Determines the Quantity value for the attached Plant record, primarily for the purpose of calculating plant worksheets with the plant cost per count or the cost per area. The Quantity Type can be defined by unit count, dripline area, or border area: ● Count: Counts the number of plants within an array of plants ● Dripline area: Considers the area, in current document units, of the drip line polygon (the tight bounding polygon around the plants) ● Boundary area: Considers the area, in current document units, of the plant array polygon as drawn.
Price Code (SKU)	Specifies the price code entry in Stock Keeping Units (SKU)
Price	Indicate the plant cost per unit of quantity; the plant cost and quantity are reflected in the Extended Price calculation in the Plant List worksheet
Schedule comments	Specifies default comments about the plant that display in the Plant List worksheet

Plant Definition: Render Pane

Click the Render pane to specify the 2D plant styles. These effects display in Top/Plan view only; plant shadows do not display in worksheet images. A document preference makes it easy to give plans a uniform appearance by applying a document-wide shadow style to all plants and massing models in a drawing (see Document Preferences: Plan Shadows Tab). Even when a document preference is set, plant definitions can be edited on the Render pane to customize the drawing’s appearance. The outline, massing, and shadow parameters can be toggled for all plants in a document by selecting View > Show > Show or Hide Plant Styles.

Values and settings entered on this pane become the default for the plant definition. These default values can be changed for individual plants.

Parameter	Description
Plant Massing
Mass Outline	Select a plant outline style The outline’s pen attributes can be changed for selected plant objects in the Attributes palette.
Mass Plants	Hides the details of plants that overlap to easily create a plant mass. A continuous outline is created around overlapping plants, and internal details are hidden. The 2D appearance of the massed group is controlled by the back polygon in the plant symbol group, so massing could cause the plant to display without a fill color. (An alternative way of hiding plant details is to use the Plant-Components classes to control the visibility of elements within the plant symbol.) Plants that contain bitmap images cannot be massed.
Plant Shadow in Plan View	Specifies special shadow effects that display in Top/Plan view only
No Shadow	Select to omit shadows from the Top/Plan view
Use Document Preference Settings	Select to use the settings from the Plan Shadows pane on the Document Preferences dialog box; click Settings to review or edit these document-wide shadow settings (see Document Preferences: Plan Shadows Tab)
Custom	Select to create a custom shadow setting for this plant definition
Offset	Enter a value for the shadow offset and select the offset unit. Factor of plant height calculates the offset based on the object’s height and the offset value.
Angle	Set the shadow angle by entering a value between -180° to 180° or by using the slider. 0° is straight up.
Fill Style	Select a fill style for the shadow
Color/Resource/Class	Depending on the fill style selected, select a fill color, resource (hatch, image, gradient, tile), or class for the shadow
Opacity	Set the shadow opacity by entering a value between 0 and 100% or by using the slider
Use Class Opacity	Select to use the class’s opacity setting (see Setting Class Properties)
Show Shadow Under Canopy	Displays the plant shadows under the plant canopy, when the canopy is transparent (the fill opacity of the 2D plant symbol is set to less than 100%)

Plant Definition: Plant Data Pane

The plant data parameters are listed; each one can be clicked and its Value displays below the list. Click Edit to change the value.

To retrieve botanical data from the associated plant record in the plant database, click Get Plant Data as described in Plant Definition: General Options.

As described in Concept: Plant Definition and Plant Database Integration, if Update Plant Database with Vectorworks Plant Definition Changes is selected in the Choose Plant Database Location dialog box, the plant database is automatically updated with any changes made on the Plant Data pane.

If you are using a plant database file from a version of Vectorworks prior to 2018, the synchronization of images between the plant definition and the plant database cannot occur even when using the Migration Manager during the version update, because the older plant database file does not include the new functionality. To fix this issue, export the records in the plant database with the File > Export Records plant database command. Then import the records back into the plant database with the File > Import Records plant database command.

Setting Plant Data Images

Up to four plant images can be selected from the Data pane. The images can be synchronized with the images in the plant database; see Editing Plant Records. The fourth option, Custom Image, is not populated by default in the plant database, so it is useful for including an additional graphic in the plant definition.

Other image sources, besides those from the plant database, can be specified from the Plant Data pane. If not using plant images from the plant definition or the plant database, prepare image files or create/locate a suitable image resource.

Parameter	Description
Plant Top/Plan Preview	Uses the plant definition image specified for the Top/Plan view. This method of displaying plant images is useful with a plant key.
Plant 3D OpenGL Preview	Uses the plant definition image specified for 3D views
Import an External File	Uses an imported image file; click Browse to select the file to import
Image Resource	Uses an image resource. From the Resource Selector, select an image resource; double-click a resource to activate it.
Plant Database Image	Uses the image that was specified for the plant within the plant database
Remove Image	If an image source had previously been specified, removes the image. <not set> displays in the Value column of the Plant Data pane for the item, and no image displays in any associated custom plant tag. The image is also removed from the plant database, when updating is enabled.