Workgroup Hierarchy - Replace?

[MattG]

I find I regularly want to replace a symbol in a file with a symbol from a workgroup library.  I have in my workgroup a big folder of files that are referenced.  It works great for using as a shared directory for inserting symbols.

 

However when I try to replace symbols there is no ability to expand the workgroup libraries tab to allow me to select them.

 

Is there a certain type of file structure I need in place in the directory for this to work?  Anyone have any thoughts? 

[MattG]

It seems shocking to me that a @vectorworksemployee cannot answer this. 

[jcogdell]

This is a bug, I'll get it reported

 

[Marissa Farrell]

@MattGHave you refreshed your library? Also, this appears as though it's coming from a tool, is that correct? If yes, which tool?

[Lada]

Hello @MattG,

Workgroup and User libraries follow the same structure and rules as Vectorworks Libraries. This means each tool has its own set of folders which are available in Resource selectors. Please, check the list of available folders inside Vectorworks libraries. If you put your files inside one of those folders in Workgroup/User library they should be available.

[MattG]

This is not in a tool.  Let me know the folder structure they should be in.

 

Right now the folder we have linked as a "Work Group Folder" has these in "workgroup folder" - Libraries - then the .vwx files.  They all show up in there if wanting to just grab a symbol or something.  However if I have a symbol that is in a file.  I select it and choose to replace that symbol these files are not accessible. 

[Lada]

Any of these folders should work. When you add a Workgroup folder the same folder structure is being created inside it. So just put your files into the relevant folders.
Difference between the Resource manager (palette) and Resource selectors is that the Resource manager shows all folders and files inside the Libraries folder, but selectors show only relevant folders. In particular, this list is for the Symbol tool.

 

[MattG]

So someone in a workgroup directory has to make a sub directory to match that even if their file directory would not make sense in that folder structure?  Otherwise this feature would not be available?

 

It seems like there should be a better way.

[Lada]

Another option is to use Favorites. They always available in selectors. 

[jcogdell]

@MattG
When you create a Workgroup folder in the Vectorworks preferences it automatically sets up the correct folder structure for you in the location you have specified.
If you want you can add further sub-folders to help organize them but its not required.
The resource manager only display the folders in your workgroup folder if they contain a library file.
 

[MattG]

We use favorites but trying to use workgroups with multiple users across dropbox.  Workgroups seem like the correct option, I think?

[MattG]

11 hours ago, jcogdell said:

@MattG
When you create a Workgroup folder in the Vectorworks preferences it automatically sets up the correct folder structure for you in the location you have specified.
If you want you can add further sub-folders to help organize them but its not required.
The resource manager only display the folders in your workgroup folder if they contain a library file.
 

What do you mean "If they contain a library file"? I'm not sure I understand that.  I have the files with the resources in a folder that has a library directory in it in VW.  I can see them just viewing in the resource manager but am unable to see them when replacing symbols in a file.  Please see the video for an example of what I am seeing.  What am I doing wrong here?

[Pat Stanford]

The Workgroup (and User) folders are not intended to be be general purpose storage locations of things a team might need. It is intended to be a location where project or team specific VW content can be storage. This would be primarily "Default Content" and "Object Styles."

 

Put VW files with the "correct" type of objects into the correct folder hierarchy and you get those types of objects (Default = Line Types, Hatches, Door Hardware, Hoists, Irrigation, Renderworks style, backgrounds & textures, etc.) (Object Styles = Cabinets, Plants, Lighting, Soft Goods, Title Block Border, Walls-Slabs-Roofs, etc.) and they will show up when you go to create or replace an object instance.

 

You can even just put aliases to a VW file that has multiple of these defats and styles into the correct folders and they will still be found when needed.

 

If you give the file in the User or Workgroup folder the same name as the file in the Applications folder, then it will hide that file. With this you can hide styles you don't want and only show styles and defaults that you do want.

 

For other more general things (that you don't want to have to try and shoehorn in to the Objects folder structure, then Favorites files on a shared (DropBox, OneDrive, Local shared volume) are a better option.

 

HTH

[Pat Stanford]

Although VW creates the entire required folder hierarchy when you nominate a folder as a Workgroup (or User) folder, the Resource Manager (RM) only shows the folders that actually have VW files in them that contain the appropriate type of object for that folder in the structure.

 

So if you put a file with no line types into the Library:Defaults:Line Types folder, the RM will not show that folder even though you can see if in the Finder/Windows Explorer.

[MattG]

29 minutes ago, Pat Stanford said:

The Workgroup (and User) folders are not intended to be be general purpose storage locations of things a team might need. It is intended to be a location where project or team specific VW content can be storage. This would be primarily "Default Content" and "Object Styles."

 

That has not been my understanding, but then again maybe my understanding is incorrect.  So for example a group of about 8 of us in one company want to share resources (Symbols, sytles, templets, etc.) what is the correct way to have these shared items in VW available in the resource manager that can be managed by us internally?  

 

It does not seem to me that this should be this complicated or inaccessible but maybe I am just looking at this from an outsider view here. 

 

Matt