Symbol Record Format Update?

[twhitwell6]

1 minute ago, Tom W. said:

 

You can use a Worksheet to edit the record field values for symbol instances as mentioned earlier in this thread.

 

Oh great. Im sure last time I tried this (it could have been in VW 2024) this failed to apply the information to all the instances of that one symbol. Thank you Tom 

 

[Marc Davies]

I agree with Tom.

 

If you don't have too many items listed, then you can change the data within Vectorworks using a worksheet. You can also copy and paste the data between cells in a "database" formatted worksheet. Essentially (except for any calculation columns you might set up) a database worksheet is mostly a view of the Record fields so that changing a cell, changes the data in the field of the equivalent object.

 

However, this ONLY works for instances within a drawing. Changing the definitions is not possible via a Worksheet - unless 2025 has changes which I have not seen documented.

[Marc Davies]

Our posts just crossed. It remains true that you would need to update every instance, which can be done carefully by sorting the instances and copy pasting down similar objects in a database worksheet. However, it will not update any new instances you add subsequently. You can do this by adding a blank record set to your Symbol definitions and then filling in the records within the definition. Thereafter your instances will have your "defined" records attached with data.

 

(You might already know the following, but just in case...)

To do this you need to open the Symbol editing field and MAKE SURE YOU DESELECT ANY SYMBOL GEOMETRY (a Vectorworks quirk). Then add the record and fill in the fields. Then come out of the symbol. All newly placed symbol instances will have the new data attached.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2024 by Marc Davies
editorial

[Tom W.]

17 minutes ago, Marc Davies said:

However, this ONLY works for instances within a drawing. Changing the definitions is not possible via a Worksheet - unless 2025 has changes which I have not seen documented.

 

It is possible using a Worksheet Script

[Marc Davies]

I think Pat Stanford has previously indicated the possibility - but it is beyond my own experience/ability.

[Tom W.]

4 minutes ago, Marc Davies said:

I think Pat Stanford has previously indicated the possibility - but it is beyond my own experience/ability.

 

Yes! @Pat Stanford a while back provided me with a worksheet script that allows the editing of default field values for Records attached to symbol definitions. I'm sure it's floating around here somewhere if anyone wants it.

 

Et voila

 

Edited September 25, 2024 by Tom W.

[Pat Stanford]

Not sure if this is important to this discussion or not, but changing the Record Defaults will not change any data that is already attached to an object in the drawing.

 

When a record is attached to an object in the drawing, it is set with the Record Default values, but after that there is no link between the Format and the instance (other than if you add or delete fields.)

 

If you want to change all instances of a field value you need to do that via Custom Modification or via a Worksheet (or the old fashioned manual way of changing each object individually via the OIP.)