Attach record to symbol and have all instances of that symbol update?

[Bruce Kieffer]

I'm having trouble making this work. How is it done?

[Pat Stanford]

It doesn't.

 

A when a Symbol Instance is created, it inherits the records and fields that are attached to the Symbol Definition. But there is not a permanent link between the Instance and the Definition. Changes to the Records/Fields attached to the Definition do not impact the already exisitng Symbol Instances.

 

You should be able to use the Custom Modification command in the Tools menu to change the field values of all the instances at once.

 

Or duplicate the symbol under a new name, attach the record and then Replace all the existing Symbol Instances with the "new' symbol. I think the Record should follow with the replace.

 

I don't think I have been very clear. If I have not, ask again and I will try to give a better explanation.

[Bruce Kieffer]

2 hours ago, Pat Stanford said:

It doesn't.

 

A when a Symbol Instance is created, it inherits the records and fields that are attached to the Symbol Definition. But there is not a permanent link between the Instance and the Definition. Changes to the Records/Fields attached to the Definition do not impact the already exisitng Symbol Instances.

 

You should be able to use the Custom Modification command in the Tools menu to change the field values of all the instances at once.

 

Or duplicate the symbol under a new name, attach the record and then Replace all the existing Symbol Instances with the "new' symbol. I think the Record should follow with the replace.

 

I don't think I have been very clear. If I have not, ask again and I will try to give a better explanation.

I completely understand. Thanks @Pat Stanford

[halfcoupler]

There is one workaround that does the trick:

 

- select all instances of the symbol you want to change.

- use the replace button of the OIP to replace these instances,- but NOT with the same symbol, choose any other arbitrary symbol you want.

- leave everything selected, and repeat the replacement with the right symbol you need which has the correct values attached.

 

VW always overwrites the record format when it is not identical to the format that you are importing.

I think somewhere in the preferances this behavior can be adjusted to "overwrite" or "merge".

 

 

Edited November 5, 2023 by halfcoupler

[Bruce Kieffer]

This is what I'm having trouble with. When I use the Attach Record... command to a symbol in the RM I get this dialog box. That's really what I want, but it seems it does not work with referenced symbols. If I go to the RM referenced symbol in the destination file and use the Attach Record... command there, it will attach the record but I cannot edit the value. To edit the value I have to edit that field in the worksheet. I wish this was simpler. I spent hours last night trying to figure out how it works. 

 

[Bruce Kieffer]

I did some more experimenting with the Attach Record... command. As I said above, it works to attach records to referenced symbols when the command is used in the destination file, but I can't edit the record value in the Attach Record... command, I can edit the value in the worksheet. I can use the Attach Record... command in the RM to symbols in the current drawing and that works, and I can edit the value either in the Attach Record... dialog box or the OIP. I cannot delete a record from a symbol using the Attach Record... command. I wish this worked with referenced symbols.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Bruce Kieffer