Tool preferences button should be automatic with selection of tool

[rohantheboat]

Instead of being presented the whole resource manager every time you want to change the wall style or structure style between ones you have already used.  You could add icons of the current document used wall styles to select from in the dialog box next to the tools preference button.  It would actually give this second stage dialog box more relevance.

 

So instead of searching around your model (and hoping the wall you picked was the right style) and right clicking on a wall and saying create similar object, you could click on the wall tool, then in the second stage dialog box you could have thumbnails of all the document wall styles you have in use to chose from, then use the tool.  This system would also help a lot with tracking how many different wall styles in the file and encourage you to use ones that are already there and manage it.  You can do this with the resource manager by using search filters etc, but by activating the wall tool it should automatically filter it for you and have it right in front of you, not buried in another dialog box in the resource manager which is another dialog box itself. w  The resource manager is handy to use but also a very big beast, especially with all the different countries local conditions and libraries.  The resource manager shouldn't be relied upon during general drafting, there must be a simpler way.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2020 by rohantheboat

[Andy Broomell]

I might be misreading your post, but I think you're describing exactly how it currently works?

 

The Resource Selector in the mode bar displays Wall Styles currently used in your file:

 

[E|FA]

To clarify @Andy Broomell's post.  Note that his screenshot has the "Untitled 1" document selected.  

[rohantheboat]

Thank you.  You're both right, but what if the icons appeared inside the preferences bar, instead of opening up a drop down list and move around finding it.  The used wall could be visible without you opening anything.  The resource manager like you have stated should still exist so you can search other open documents or old projects also, but wouldn't it be nice not to have to go into all the time?  In the image below I've roughly shown how the wall icons could sit in the tool bar each time you selected the wall tool. 

 

It's more about eliminating having to open things to find things, they are just in front of you.

 

It functions just like the resource manager, it's just an automatic tiny version of it already open.  

 

Hit the plumbing button and all the most recent plumbing symbols are there, similar with electrical.  the furniture, lighting, plants buttons all automatically show the most used or favourite symbols there to pick from straight away.

 

Basically it's a permanently open, tiny resource manager tool pallete that automatically filters to the tool you have selected, without all the clutter, just symbol icons.

[E|FA]

31 minutes ago, rohantheboat said:

Hit the plumbing button and all the most recent plumbing symbols are there, similar with electrical.  the furniture, lighting, plants buttons all automatically show the most used or favourite symbols there to pick from straight away.

 

Nice idea.  To be honest, I don't use the resource manager that often.  I'm much more likely to just copy and paste.  Not always the most efficient thing to do, but I get to avoid away from Resource Manager overload.