Custom Autotext

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to make custom autotext? Maybe based off of current autotext links edited with "if, then" statements?

[Anonymous]

Or even to edit current Auto Text. For example changing <Orientation> results from North to N. ,South to S. ,etc.

[poco2013]

Autotext can use expressions which can use the IF/Then conditional within. However, all the parameters/properties used within the expression must relate to the object referenced.

[Barry Kelly]

olivia19 wrote:
Is there a way to make custom autotext? Maybe based off of current autotext links edited with "if, then" statements?

You can add custom text to your Project Info.
Then you can use that as autotext fields.

Barry.

[Ben Cohen]

Hey Barry

Have you ever contemplated using Properties instead of Autotext - completely.
There are many advantages

• Can create a pop up list

• Can restrict the field input type - eg Text or Numeric

• Can be used through out the project

• Can be accessed via GDL

• We can then branch the info into other properties. maybe even "if suburb = "Scarborough Beach" then coastal = "Yes"

There must be disadvantages but I can't think of any ?
We don't do it at work.... but maybe we should?

[Ben Cohen]

haha.. scratch that... it doesn't work
Properties only attach to elements I guess... you can't use them as a sort of global variable...

[Ben Cohen]

Okay, got it to work somewhat... This is what I did

1. Create a new classification - called 'project information'
2. Created new "project info" properties and made them available for this new classification only
3. Changed the classification of my 'Title Block Object' to 'project information'
4. Labelled the object, using autotext linked to the project info properties. This results in an object that is half object and half labels.
5. Now I can create expressions in the properties to include some 'smarts'

Not sure if this will work in practice, but it was worth experimenting with ....

[Barry Kelly]

Ben wrote:
There must be disadvantages but I can't think of any ?

Classification, properties and labels are great.
However you can't just use them as autotext.
It has to be autotext used in a label, associated to an element that must have a classification, that has a property linked to it, so that you can use that property in the label.

Plus at the moment it is not possible to lock a property value.
So if you have two title block objects, each could have different client details.
Yes you can have default values for a property and it would be unlikely that you would have multiple title blocks, but it could happen.

Barry.

[Anonymous]

I use them in schedules / Elements. For instance in a room finish schedule for a ceiling height, i will us and "IF" statement and put a dash in if the zone height is tied to the floor/roof above or a str() for the zone height if not.

I also generate a door schedule off the property information.