Concept: Record formats, reports, and schedules
Record formats
Record formats can store a wide range of data about an object or symbol, such as material cost, part number, and area. Records attached to an object or symbol definition become a permanent part of it, remaining with the object or symbol even when it is imported or cut and pasted into another drawing. Several record formats can be attached to a single object or symbol, and record values can be individually changed for each object or symbol instance to which the record is attached.
In the Vectorworks Design Suite products, you can link record formats to an external database for automated, two-way communication. See Database connection.
Reports and schedules
Reports and schedules are worksheets that provide data about the objects in a project file.
All Vectorworks users can create reports, which allow you to select record data that is attached to objects in a drawing (such as manufacturer, size, and price) and create a worksheet based on the data. You can either create a new worksheet or append database rows to an existing worksheet.
If Vectorworks Design Suite is installed, several drawing elements (doors, plants, and lighting devices, for example) have predefined data that is automatically attached to them as they are created. Preformatted reports are available for this data.
Reports and schedules are easier and faster to create than custom worksheets, but they may not provide the exact information you want. If you need more specialized functions or calculations, either start with a report and customize it, or create a worksheet from scratch. See Concept: Worksheet overview.
