Bulk adjusting symbols with device definitions

[CharlesD]

Hi All-

I am really enjoying the new paradigm of storing device info in the attached record.

One unintended consequence is it seems like it might be harder to change your mind about setting signal types.

For instance, my library of devices has a signal "12G-SDI", but let's say I wanted to change it back to the pre-defined "12GV".

Right now I think I need to manually open each record in VWX and make the change. Not a problem for a small library, but tedious for a larger library.

Does anyone have a more elegant workflow for this?

Worksheets cannot update record instances in symbol definitions, right?

Edited October 10, 2025 by CharlesD
Rephrase

[Conrad Preen]

Hi Charles,

 

This is one of those where a fairly simple script can do wonders. 

 

We can discuss how to do this.

 

Conrad

[Pat Stanford]

@Conrad Preen

 

If you are looking to script this, consider using a worksheet with a DatabaseByScript criteria as that can access resources while still using the worksheet to allow a familiar user interface.

 

There is a thread floating around somewhere where I introduced the concept.

 

Or I would be happy to discuss.

[CharlesD]

Thanks @Pat Stanford.

I have reviewed some of your previous posts and I was able to create a worksheet with DatabaseByScript.

Two things I wanted to make sure I understood:

1) This is not bi-directional, right? It doesn't seem like I can edit the data of the rows of the database.

2) I am struggling to understand how to work with the "ConnectCAD Device Definition".
2.1) Where is this record stored? It doesn't appear in my Records folder
2.2) Is this record specal or diferent than any other regular record?
2.3) When I inspect the record in the Record Format Connection I see twelve fields, including "Socket groups". But when I look at adding fields from this record format to a worksheet, I only see eleveen fields, no "Socket groups". Is hints on why it's different?

 

As a note, it looks like if I create a data sheet of a symbol object it looks like I can get those fields into a worksheet-- but I'm currently not sure what a Data Sheet is, or a way to do that programatically, I'll try to RTFM.

[spettitt]

The contents of the socket groups field is more complex than a single string - it contains a JSON object stored as a string that defines the data for all of the sockets in that device.

 

Python is great at working with JSON - you could read from that field with Python, manipulate the JSON and then store it back.