data tag counting symbols

[bob cleaver]

Can data tags be used to count symbols instances (such as light fixtures)  on a design layer

I tried customizing an existing data tag and cannot find a 'quantity' or 'count' function  

[Pat Stanford]

I don't think so. Data tags are basically for putting information from a single object on the drawing.

 

I think we will see more capability in VW2022, but that may just be wishful thinking. ;-)

[bob cleaver]

Thank you Pat, I assume I can add a record format to count ? but hoped there was already a quantity/count function in the existing data tag options 

[Pat Stanford]

You can count the objects in a worksheet, but I don't think there is a way to get the multiple count into the Data Tag.

 

Unless you are going to write a script that will store the total to a record.field. But then you have to remember to run the script every time you make a change.

[bob cleaver]

I tried to have record formats in a symbol provide a total in a data tag without luck -

Vectorworks hopefully is aware of this need -  

[msaunders2]

Hi All,

 

I've been toiling away - to see if there's a way to get a symbol count total represented as a dynamic text in a data tag on VW 2022.

 

It seems like the functionality is there in the worksheet (by selecting location as criteria and summarising instances of each symbol) but getting a text field to link to a specific cell is a bridge too far at present.

 

If there is anything I'm missing I'd appreciate any further insight.

 

Being able to draw a polygon with a name, then display the contents of specific symbols in that named area would improve my productivity so much!

[Pat Stanford]

My understanding is that Datatags can only report data from the object they are attached to so there is no way to get them to report a sum of items.

 

It might be possible to use the Data Manager to update a custom record with the count you want and report that, but having a single tag report on multiple objects in a Loc is probably going to be a challenge.