Editing user defined fields

[alfie hope]

I have just figured out how to edit user defined fields for plugin objects, but i was wondering is there a way of adding more of these fields?

I have tried the obvious, and have added more of them in the xml file but they don't come through into vectorworks...

Anybody have any ideas?

VW 2009

[Miguel Barrera]

You need to explain further which kind of fields are you trying to add to a pio. Pio's (*.vso) normally do not have a xml file associated with them. If you are referring to record fields, you can attach records to any object or add parameters to the pio object info tab through the vectorscript editor if it is a VS pio.

[alfie hope]

What does PIO stand for?

Basically, i am editing user defined fields for doors and windows by changing the xml file within my vectorworks application, but i need to be able to add more than 10 user defined fields, i have thoroughly been through the data fields that come with vectorworks and not all of them suit what i would like to appear on my schedules..

Another question though, if my vectorworks file containing user defined fields is opened up by somebody else will the data stay the same? Or must they have the xml file within vectorworks edited in the same manner?

[michaelk]

I think editing the xml file is a lot closer to the metal than you need to go. (...although I'd like to see how you did that!)

You can attach more than one record format to an object. Simply make a record format with the data fields you need, select all the doors and attach.

This data can be in the same schedule as the regular door data and the data will easily be viewable and editable by other VW users who have not modified their flux capacitors.

Example attached.

hth

mk

[Miguel Barrera]

What does PIO stand for?

Plug-In Object such as window, door, wall, stair, etc.

if my vectorworks file containing user defined fields is opened up by somebody else will the data stay the same? Or must they have the xml file within vectorworks edited in the same manner?

I would think you need the same file because it only exists in a specific folder in your computer.

I think editing the xml file is a lot closer to the metal than you need to go. (...although I'd like to see how you did that!)

The file is the DoorPreferences.xml located in the Plug-Ins\Common\Data folder. Modifying the user fields in this file will appear in the Data Tab of the door Settings.

You can attach more than one record format to an object

If the PIO is a vectorscript, you may also be able to add parameters/fields to the PIO record without breaking the script and to be safe, it should be tried on a copy first. This is more convenient because it will appear on the shape tab rather than the data tab of the Object Info Palette (OIP)

[Dieter @ DWorks]

What does PIO stand for?

Plug-In Object such as window, door, wall, stair, etc.

I always thought that it was Parametric Information Object.

[alfie hope]

michaelk thanks for the example! I think i sort of understand how you've done it, although im unsure as to how you got the fields to appear in the schedule the the defaults?

[michaelk]

Start with the standard default schedule.

Add columns (right click on a cell > Insert > Column)

or (little triangle > Insert > Column).

Then in the header row type in =(record format name.field name)

Dealing with worksheets can be unintuitive at first. Let me know if this doesn't answer your question. I'd be happy to do a step by step.

Especially if you could demonstrate editing the xml files!

mk

[alfie hope]

Yes you're right totally unintuitive!

Could you talk me through it in more detail?

In order to edit the XML files you simply locate them in the vectorworks application folder under, plugins, common, data, then insert the user field name between so for exmaple, door swing left

Got it?

Where you say "Then in the header row type in =(record format name.field name)" i don't quite understand, can you give an example of "=(record format name.field name)" with 'door swing left' in it, just so i can tell where exactly to put the name..

Thanks, Alfie

[michaelk]

Sure

The process is...

1. Create new record format w/ fields you need

2. Select all the doors > OIP Data Tab > check the box next to the new record format

3. Insert column(s) in existing schedule

4. Click the little triangle in the top left of the worksheet > make sure Database Headers is checked.

5. In this example you type into cell 4G =('MyNewRecordFormat'.'MyNewField')

MyNewRecordFormat is the name of the record format created in step 1

MyNewField is a field in that record format.

Enter whatever data you want into the cells. There is no Fill>Down feature. But you can copy one cell then select a range of cells and paste.

Or you can enter the data for a door by selecting the door > OIP Data Tab ...

then in the second box click on the field and enter the data in the 3rd box

Recalculate the worksheet after you do that or add or subtract doors.

Repeat step 4 to uncheck Database Headers to clean it up.

There is also another worksheet in the file that shows only the new record format.

The default door schedule is built the same way. There is a (hidden!) record format called 'door' with fields like 'IDLabel', 'Config', 'Top Shape' etc.

hth

mk

[VincentCuclair]

Any idea how to collect similar named fields, i.e. if I have 4 doors with identical IDs how do I get them to show in one row as opposed to having 4 rows with each door?

[michaelk]

Sum by IDs

Click on any row header in the database (ie 2.xx)

The Sum button will switch from grey to selectable.

Drag it to the ID column

hth

mk

[VincentCuclair]

Great Michael! One more in relation to this, if I want to show the number of doors with this ID in a separate column how do I get this value?

[michaelk]

Insert a new column

In the database header for the new column type in =COUNT

That should give you a count for all the summed values.

hth

mk

[VincentCuclair]

Much appreciated Michael!

[michaelk]

Just take care to watch other numeric values in the schedule. It also sums the heights and widths of the doors!

mk

[VincentCuclair]

Thanks, here it is custom however to show plan and elevation figures with dimensions and elevation values, so these values are not shown in the worksheet. Thanks for the warning though.

[alfie hope]

Thanks Michaelk! That's so helpful, with this way of attaching data, do you know how it displays when exported to other programs such as revit etc? As in, will they be able to click on a given door or window and see the data?

Alfie

[michaelk]

alfie

Great question - I have zero idea...

Maybe someone can open one of the drawings in this thread in revit and check it out.

My suspicion is that it won't. I don't remember what 2009's capabilities are with ifc, but perhaps there is a hook there?

Vincent

That sounds like a very reasonable standard. I often wish there was a way to attach the data from any field in PIO as a label in the symbol with definable - and yet adjustable- positions.

VW Spotlight does this brilliantly. But it only works on Spotlight instruments.

mk