Resource Manager: Resource viewer pane

The resource viewer pane displays resources in the file selected in the file browser pane. Select a specific type of resource from the tool bar to filter the display, or select the option to show all resources. Folders always display at the top of the pane. To change the sort order, right-click and select Sort By from the context menu. You can always sort by name, in ascending or descending order; when all resources are displayed, you can also sort the resources by type.

Resource views

Three buttons on the palette tool bar control the display of resources in the resource viewer pane.

All views show the name of the resource and a preview image or representational icon for each resource. Symbol definitions display in the color associated with their type (see Concept: Vectorworks symbols). Page-based hatches, tiles, and line types also display in green.

To change the view, click a view button on the palette tool bar. Alternatively, right-click anywhere in the resource viewer pane, and select View As from the context menu.

Resource viewer menus

The context menus in the resource viewer pane provide commands to work with the folders and resources that display in the pane. Right-click on the desired folder or resource; the context menu lists commands that apply to that item.

Available commands are determined by the type of resource selected, as well as what file the resource is in. For example, commands that modify the resource (such as Edit and Rename) are only available in the active file.

Command	Description	Shortcut key equivalent
Add a Tag	Opens the Add a Tag dialog box; enter a tag to help you locate the resource with the search function. See Adding and editing resource tags.	None
Apply	Applies the selected resource to the selected drawing object	Double-click
Attach Record	Opens the Attach Record dialog box, to attach a record to the selected plug-in object, or to the symbol definition (changing all symbol instances, existing and future). See Attaching record formats to a symbol definition.	Not applicable
Break Reference	When a referenced resource is selected, breaks the link between the current file and the master file; the resource remains in the current file but is no longer referenced	None
Create Texture from Hatch	Creates an associated texture from an existing hatch; see Creating a texture from a hatch	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Delete	Deletes the selected resource from the file. When a folder is selected, deletes the folder and all resources in the folder. See Deleting or replacing resources.	Delete key
Duplicate	Opens the Assign Name dialog box; enter a name to create a duplicate of the selected resource	None
Edit	Opens an edit dialog box for the selected resource. If the resource is referenced, an alert prompts you to verify that you want to edit the resource before the edit dialog box opens. Edits made in the current file are also saved automatically to the source file, which may affect references to this resource in other files.	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Edit 2D Components	Edits the 2D component of the symbol definition; see Creating 2D components for symbol definitions and plug-in objects	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Edit 3D Component	Edits the 3D component of the symbol definition; see Editing symbol definitions	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Edit 3D Wall Hole Component	Edits the 3D wall hole component of the symbol definition; see Adding a 3D wall hole component to a symbol definition	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Edit Definition (Landmark required)	Edits the definition of the plant symbol as described in Creating plant styles	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Edit Image Attributes	Opens the Image Attributes dialog box, to edit the attributes of the imported image as described in Using image fills	None
Edit Image Effects	Opens the Image Effects dialog box, to apply Image effects to the imported image
Edit Symbol Options	Opens the Symbol Options dialog box, to edit symbol definition parameters; see Editing symbol definitions	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Edit Tags	Opens the Edit Tags dialog box to add, edit, or delete tags associated with the resource; see Adding and editing resource tags	None
Enter	Opens the selected symbol folder or script palette to display the symbols or scripts inside	Double-click
Export (Design Series required)	Opens the Export Resource dialog box to export the selected resource to another file. When a folder is selected, exports the folder and all resources in the folder. See Exporting resources.	None
Extract Image(s)	Opens the Select Folder (Mac) or Export Image File (Windows) dialog box to save a .png file extracted from the selected image-based resource. To extract images from all image-based resources in the current file execute this command with no resources selected. Select a resource folder to extract images from all image-based resources in the folder.	None
IFC Data (Design Series required)	Attaches IFC data to the selected symbol definition, changing all symbol instances, existing and future. For wall, slab, or roof styles, attaches IFC data to the style and all objects with the style, or edits the IFC data that is already attached. See Assigning IFC data to objects.	None
Import	When a resource from a different file is selected, imports the resource into the active file	None
Make Active	Makes the selected symbol or plug-in active, and activates the Symbol Insertion tool so that the symbol or plug-in can be inserted into the drawing	Double-click
Move	Opens the Move [resource] dialog box to move the selected resource to another folder	Not applicable
New [resource type] in Active Document	Opens a dialog box to create a new resource in the active file, of the same type as the resource selected; see Creating resources	None
New [resource type] in [selected file]	Opens a dialog box to create a new resource in the selected file, of the same type as the resource selected; see Creating resources	None
New Folder in Active Document	When viewing a specific resource type, creates a new resource folder, of the type being viewed, in the active file	None
New Folder in [selected file]	When viewing a specific resource type, creates a new resource folder, of the type being viewed, in the selected file	None
Open	When a worksheet is selected, opens the worksheet on screen for edits; when a script palette is selected, opens the palette	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac)
Reference	When a resource from a different file is selected, creates a reference to it in the active file; see Referencing resources	None
Rename	Opens the Assign Name dialog box; enter a name to rename the selected resource. If the resource is referenced, an alert prompts you to verify that you want to rename the resource before the Assign Name dialog box opens. The name change made in the current file is also saved automatically to the source file, which may break references to this resource in other files. Referenced symbols, gradients, record formats, hatches, tiles, Renderworks backgrounds, textures, sketch styles, wall styles, text styles, slab styles, plants, and image resources can be renamed.	Ctrl-double-click (Windows) Option-double-click (Mac) (Image fills only)
Run	Runs the selected script. Text documents that contain scripts must be run using the Tools > Plug-ins > Run Script command.	Double-click
Select Resource Location	After a search, selects the file that contains the selected resource in the file browser pane	None
Set Thumbnail View	Applies a view to the thumbnail preview of the selected symbol(s); if a symbol folder is selected, the view is applied to all symbols within the folder	None
Set Thumbnail Component	Applies a component view to the thumbnail preview of the selected symbol(s); if a symbol folder is selected, the view is applied to all symbols within the folder. The options available depend on the thumbnail view selection.	None
Set Thumbnail Render Mode	Applies a render mode to the thumbnail preview of the selected symbol(s); if a symbol folder is selected, the render mode is applied to all symbols within the folder	None
Sort By	Sorts the resources by name (when all resources are displayed) or type, in ascending or descending order	None
View As	Changes the view mode in the resource viewer pane; see Resource views	None
Worksheet On Drawing	Places the selected worksheet on the drawing for display and printing	Double-click