A property set definition specifies the characteristics of a group of properties that can be tracked with an object. For example, you could create a property set definition named DoorProps that contains property definitions for DoorNumber, DoorWidth, and FireRating. Each property has a name, description, data type, data format, and default value.
Property Sets and Property Data
A property set is an object created from a property set definition. It contains a user-definable group of related object properties. When you attach a property set to an object or a style, the property set becomes the container for the property data associated with the object.
Creating Property Set Definitions for Objects or Styles
When you create a property set definition, you specify whether the property set can be attached to objects or to styles, depending on which of the following kinds of properties you want to track:
- Automatic properties generally belong in style-based definitions. Automatic properties, even when attached to a style, can vary for each instance of the object. It is more efficient to include automatic properties in a style-based definition because the properties are immediately associated with any object that uses the style.
- Manual properties can belong to either style-based or object-based definitions. The value of a manual property associated with a style is the same for every object. For example, a Manufacturer property will probably be the same for every instance of a particular door style, so it should be in a style-based property. However, a Door Number property is different for each instance of a door, so it should be in an object-based property.
- Fields enhance the documentation capabilities within a drawing file. A field is updatable text that is set up to display data that may change during the life cycle of the drawing. When the field is updated, the latest value of the field is displayed. You can insert fields in a manual property in the property set definition or in a property attached to an object or style.
Note: Fields can be associated with hyperlinks. For example, if you insert a field pointing to a drawing in a manual property, and create a schedule table that contains that property, you can jump from the table cell with the field property in it to the drawing it is linked to.
Automatic and Manual Properties
Property sets, whether attached to objects or to styles, can include both manual and automatic properties.
- Automatic properties cannot be edited directly because they are obtained from the object or other source. For example, the physical characteristics of an object, such as its dimensions or material, are automatic properties. To change the value of an automatic property, you must modify its source. The change then appears in the property set data for the object.
- Manual properties must be edited in the property set data for the object or style. For example, object numbers (for tagging) and notes or remarks are manual properties. The value entered for a manual property in an object-based property set is saved with the object. The value entered for a manual property in a style-based property set is saved with the style and is available to all objects using that style.
- Fields are used with manual properties and are selected from a list of available fields in the software. Fields contain values that update when the value changes and can also contain hyperlinks to other drawings or other files.
Using Property Data Formats in Property Set Definitions
Property data formats control how values for numbers and text display. Both property set definitions and schedule table styles use property data formats.
Managing Property Set Definitions
To create, edit, copy, or purge property set definitions, you access the Style Manager. The Style Manager provides a central location where you can work with definitions and styles from multiple drawings and templates.
Danger: If you overwrite one property set definition with another, you may lose data. For example, a drawing might contain a property set definition with a number of manual properties. The property set is attached to doors with the manual properties entered, and is included in a schedule table. If you overwrite this property set definition with one that does not have the same properties, the values entered for the manual properties are lost. In addition, any columns in the schedule table that reference these manual properties are flagged as invalid. Changes to the schedule table that result from changes to the property set definition are displayed the next time the table is updated manually or automatically.