Block management

Block management operations are synchronous operations affecting block data, including block properties (such as area and grid settings), construction database and drawings. In COS, these properties are stored in the Hull Block object. The administration of block groups and group properties are stored in the Hull Block List object.

In the Hull project folder, this information is combined into the project administration file projectinfo.xml. A number of checkouts and locks are needed when working with block management functions and access to the project information. Two levels of locking are implemented to ensure exclusive write access to the project information:

• Check out the Block List – Only users on the current site can work with the Block List. Not used for standalone projects.

• Lock the file for writing – Only the user who obtained the file lock can access and modify the file within the site.

Note: The Block List is always checked out directly from the COS master site. This removes the need for ownership transfer to the current site, but the master site must be available. Otherwise block management functions cannot be accessed from the current site.

The following block management functions can only be fully accessed by one user at a time:

• Create new Project/Block
• Building Block Overview
• Block Groups
• Block Order
• Reassign Blocks to Group
• Quick Block Definition Tool

Therefore, if a user is using the Block Groups function, for example, the other five functions cannot be opened with full access either. Furthermore, if one of the six functions is active, it is impossible to enter a block or a drawing in the project. Therefore, it is recommended to close these functions as soon as you have made your changes.