Description Key Editor

Use this dialog box to edit description key properties.

You can also edit description keys in the Prospector item view. However, because the DescKey Editor is a separate window, it provides more viewing area and greater flexibility.

Code and Format

These properties are required in every description key.

Code

Specifies what points match this description key during description key matching. Click in the cell and then enter a code. For more information, see Description Key Code Reference.

Format

Specifies the format used to translate the raw description into the full description. Click in the cell and enter a format. Enter $* if you want the full description to be the same as the raw description. For more information, see Description Key Format Reference.

Styles and Layer

For more information about how point style, point label style, and point layer are used to display a point, see About Controlling the Appearance of Points in a Drawing.

Point Style

Specifies the point style to be referenced by a point that is created using the description key.

To specify a point style:

• Select the Point Style check box.
• Click in the cell to open the Point Style dialog box. Select a point style.

Note: Scale and rotation values in the point style are overridden by description key scale and rotation overrides.

Point Label Style

Specifies the point label style to be referenced by a point that is created using the description key.

To specify a point label style:

• Select the Point Label Style check box.
• Click in the cell to open the Select Style dialog box. Select a point label style.

Layer

Specifies the layer for the point.

To specify a layer:

• Select the Layer check box.
• Click in the cell to open the Layer Selection dialog box. Select a layer.

Scale Override Properties

Use the Scale Override properties of a description key to specify how the point symbol is scaled when a point is created using the description key.

Scale values specified in this part of the description key take precedence over any scale values specified in the point style referenced by the description key. If scale parameters have been set, hold your cursor over in the Code column, to display a tooltip with the scale parameters and values.

Select Apply To X-Y or Apply To Z before you specify a scale using Scale Parameter, Fixed Scale Factor, or Use Drawing Scale properties.

Scale Parameter

Specifies the position (1-9) in the raw description of the parameter that contains the value used to scale the point symbol when the description key is matched.

To specify a scale parameter:

• Select the Scale Parameter check box.
• Click in the cell and select a parameter.

Note: You must select Apply To X-Y or Apply To Z before you can specify a scale using the Scale Parameter option.

For more information, see About Point Symbol Scaling and Rotation Using Description Key Parameters.

Fixed Scale Factor

Specifies a fixed scale, used to scale the point symbol when the description key is matched.

To specify a fixed scale factor:

• Select the Fixed Scale Factor check box.
• Click in the cell and enter a scale factor.

Use Drawing Scale

Specifies that the drawing scale is used to scale the point symbol when the description key is matched. Click in the cell then select Yes to use the drawing scale.

Apply To X-Y

Specifies that description key scaling is applied to the X-Y axis of a point when the description key is matched. Click in the cell then select Yes to specify X-Y scaling.

Apply To Z

Specifies that description key scaling is applied to the Z axis of a point when the description key is matched. Click in the cell then select Yes to specify Z scaling.

Rotation Override Properties

Use the Rotation properties of a description key to specify how the point symbol is rotated when a point is created using the description key.

Rotation values specified in this part of the description key take precedence over any rotation values specified in the point style that is referenced by the description key.

If rotation parameters have been set, hold your cursor over in the Code column to display a tooltip with the rotation parameters and values.

Rotate Parameter

Specifies the position (1-9) in the raw description of the parameter containing the value used to rotate the point symbol when the description key is matched.

To specify a rotation parameter:

• Select the Rotation Parameter check box.
• Click in the cell then select a parameter.

For more information, see To Adjust Point Elevation During Import and Transfer.

Fixed Rotation

Specifies a fixed rotation used to rotate the point symbol when the description key is matched.

To specify a fixed rotation factor:

• Select the Fixed Rotation check box.
• Click in the cell and enter a rotation value.

Rotation Direction

Specifies whether the values specified for the Rotate Parameter property or the Fixed Rotation property are clockwise angles or counterclockwise angles.