Standards & Standard Naming

[willofmaine]

As I've been able to figure it out, when it comes to standardizing classes (and layers and viewports), the following seems to be the case:

Standards: When creating a new class, one has the option to "Create New Classes from Standard." The available standards are simply imported from files in the Standards folder that contain applicable sets of classes; custom standards files can be easily made.

Standard Naming: This is found under File > Document Settings, and, when it's "Enable Auto-classing" feature is selected, will re-direct auto-classed objects into classes with alternate names if and as desired, such as those listed there in "VWArch Simplified" or "AIA/NCS," or as may be custom defined with the "User" standards.

So, presumably one could create a whole new set of classes, put a file with them in the Standards folder, and use Standard Naming to have all auto-classed objects appropriately placed with respect to that new set of classes.

My question is this: is Standard Naming ONLY for auto-classed objects (as it appears to be)? And if this is indeed the case, if one wants to use "VWArch Simplified," how does one create new classes consistent with that standard, since it's not in the Standards folder and thus not available when creating new classes?

I have just realized that Standard Naming also works with creating Standard Viewports, and maybe that is its primary purpose. But my question still stands - why isn't there a file in the Standards folder for the "VWArch Simplified" classes, or even for the "AIA/NCS" classes?

Any thoughts on this subject would be most appreciated; thanks!

[Robert Anderson]

Use Standard naming to create a document (can be empty, doesn't have to have any contents in it) that has all your preferred class names, e.g. VWA Simplified. Then use File:Save As Template to save your file and put it in the Standards folder at the same directory as your VectorWorks application. Now when you create a class, you will be able to pick this file and create your preferred classes from it.

[willofmaine]

How do I use Standard naming to create a document that has all my preferred class names? In Standard naming there seems no means to actually add, or import, the classes to the file (actually, I remember reading in Help that Standard naming can't be used to create classes...).

[willofmaine]

And why, in the "Standard Naming Details" dialogue box, is it possible for one class to have more than one set of attributes? For example, the VWArch classes Area-Main, Area-Pattern and Area-Spec are all mapped to the VWArch Simplified class Areas. But Area-Main and Area-Patterns are blue, whereas Area-Spec is black. Which attributes are applicable for the Active Standard?...

Thanks! -Will

[Robert Anderson]

To create a document with all the classes and layers in a standard, first to go Model Setup and set up a model with hte number of floors you intend to use. Then use Standard Naming and select the naming standard you want. Then go to Create Standard Viewports and create viewports for all the views you will have in your drawing. (This creates the classes, design layers, and sheet layers necessary.) Now you will have a file completely set up. You can delete the sheet and/or design layers if you want, if all you want is class definitions. Now save the document as a template using the "Save as Template.." command and put the resulting file in your standards folder.

[P Retondo]

Robert, is it true that the Standards supplied with VW integrate with some PIO functions, e.g., stairs viewed on multiple levels, so that changing layer and class names from that supplied out-of-the-box would remove some of the intended functionality?

[Robert Anderson]

Pete,

Not true. PIO functionality should not be affected by the choice of standards / standard names.

[willofmaine]

Robert, thank you! I think that (creating a file with Model Setup and Create Standard Viewports) was the missing link; I had all the pieces, just wasn't quite putting them together. I'll create a file and then a template as you suggest and see how it goes; thanks. -Will