Edit symbol properties

Home tab > Symbol group > Edit menu > Replace/edit in multiple drawings, EDITSYMBOLPROPERTIES

Add, delete, move and modify symbols and their attributes using definition files that are in Excel workbook format.

Do the following:

Create a new file, or use an existing one:
- Existing – Select Open definition file and select definition file by clicking the (Browse definition file) button.
- New – Select Create new definition file and start by adding a new row to this definition file by clicking the (Add row) button.
Make desired definitions for modifying symbols, click Save to save the definition file and select Next.
Definition file column descriptions are listed below.
Select drawings where to apply symbol changes and select Next.
Used definition file and drawings where symbol changes apply to are displayed in the last window. You can optionally define a macro that is also executed. Lastly select Run.

Definition file column descriptions

Symbols

Find symbol – Symbol that is modified or deleted from the drawing.
Replace with – Symbol that is used to replace an existing symbol or that is added to the drawing.
Action – Action that is performed in the drawing. This can be Move all, Add symbol, Replace symbol, Delete symbol or Purge symbol.
Copy attribute values if attribute names match – Are attribute values copied from the original symbol to the replacing symbol if they have attributes with identical names. Default value is Yes.
Copy attribute properties if attribute names match – Are attribute properties (color, font etc.) copied from the original symbol to the replacing symbol if they have attributes with identical names. Default value is No.
Attribute mapping name – Name of attribute mapping that is used when attribute values are copied from an original symbol to an attribute with a different name in the replacing symbol. Attribute mappings can be defined on the Attributes tab.
Set insertion point – Insertion point of the symbols that are added or modified. The coordinates of the insertion point are always in relation to the scale of the original symbol. Coordinates can be either absolute or relative by using the @ sign.
Set scale – Scale of the symbols that are added or modified. Scale can be either be absolute or relative to the original symbol by using the @ sign.
Set layer – New layer of the symbols that are added or modified.
Set color – New color of the symbols that are added or modified.
Set drawing limits – New limits of the drawing. Drawing limits are given in x1,y1 x2,y2 -format. Drawing limits are always in relation to the scale of the original symbol.
Workspace – Workspace where selected action is performed. Default value is Model.
Attribute value filter – Attribute that is used to filter for which symbols the action is performed. $ -signs must be added to the beginning and the end of the attribute's name which is used as the filter or where the filter value is picked from.
Attribute value match – Value of the selected filter attribute, that is used to determine for which symbols the action is performed. Name of another attribute can also be used as the value when surrounding the name with $ -signs, for example when two attributes in the symbol need to have the same value for the action to be performed.
Comment – Optional comment/definition what this row in the definition file does.

Attributes

Attribute mapping name – Name of attribute mapping that is used when attribute values are copied from an original symbol to an attribute with a different name in the replacing symbol. Attribute mappings can be used by inputting this name in Attribute mapping name field on the Symbols tab.
Source value – Source value that is copied to the destination attribute. $ -signs must be added to the beginning and the end of the attribute's name from where this value is picked. This value can also be constructed from more than on attribute. This used for example when the original symbol has multiple attributes but the replacing symbol only has on.
Destination attribute – Destination attribute for which the action is performed.
Action – Action that is performed to the destination attribute. This can either be replacing destination attribute with source value or adding source value to the beginning or the end of the destination attribute.
Source attribute for properties – Is destination attribute changed to match the properties of the original symbols source attribute.
Value mapping name – Name of value mapping that is used when the value of this attribute needs to be changed. Value mappings can be defined on the Values tab.
Uppercase – Converts all characters to uppercase. Default value is No.
Trim – Removes excess spaces, leaving only single spaces between words.
Date format conversion – Written in sourceformat|destinationformat -format, for example d.M.yy|yyyy-MM-dd where d=date, M=month, yy=year with two digits, yyyy=year with four digits. Single "d" corresponds with the users default date format.
Comment – Optional comment/definition what this row in the definition file does.

Values

Value mapping name – Name of value mapping that is used when the value of this attribute needs to be changed. Value mappings can be used by inputting this name in the Value mapping name field in Attributes tab.
Find value – Value to find in attribute.
Replace with – Value to replace original attribute value.
Comment – Optional comment/definition what this row in the definition file does.