Assign Symbols
Symbol Source
Symbols can be assigned and modified during drawing development.
To assign a symbol to a list item, ensure the spacing value is not set and use the Create button in the palette to pick a point to insert the symbol.
An overview of symbol selection and substitution can be viewed in the video here
Standard Symbols
Symbols are included in several drawing files. The default plant library shown here, contains around 60 blocks. PlantSymbols.dwg is installed into the users roaming folder.
After assigning a plant to a particular symbol, you can modify the assignment by double clicking the block view in the palette or main dialog to open the symbol selection dialog.
Select a new symbol or make changes to properties of the existing selection to update the drawing.
By default, all symbol libraries are installed into the users roaming folder located in C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\PlantManager\symbols
Graphic Symbols
A secondary symbol source is named PlantSymbolsGraphic.dwg. This file contains more graphically detailed symbols, some with transparent fills and shadows.
See the screenshot at the bottom of this page.
Outline Symbols
In each of the library files above, symbols incorporating the word ‘Outline’ are included. These are created with non plotting outer circles and have various center marks. The symbol name is used as a flag for the software to create a separate outline around each insert or group of overlapping inserts so that the outermost edge is defined. Groups of blocks can be further defined with hatches or solid fill.
When an outline symbol is specified, an option to include a hatch to fill the outlined area is displayed in the palette and main dialog. Clicking the check box or the swatch (if a hatch is specified), opens the hatch dialog where a pattern, scale, angle and transparency can be specified.
Check out a video here
Custom library
To choose a different library file, click the browse button and select a drawing file containing symbols. A new symbol library can be created by adding blocks into a drawing file, each block sized to 1 drawing unit. Use the supplied library files as a guide to setup a new library, or add to the existing. Note symbol linework should be assigned to Layer 0 and color set ByBlock.
Current Drawing
Check ‘Current Drawing’ to browse existing blocks in the drawing to use as symbols for the current item.
Existing insertions of the block won’t be redefined for the new entry however the objects making up the block will be cloned and assigned. The existing insertion will remain unless ‘Use Existing Insertions’ is checked.
In the example at right there’s an existing block in the drawing named ‘Plant Block 22’ and insertions of it are found.
When this occurs, the ‘Use Existing Insertions’ checkbox becomes enabled but by default is not checked. Checking it will use ‘Plant Block 22’ entities to define a new block called HGA which will take the place of the original block.
In this case, Plant Block 22 will remain in the drawing without insertions – it can be used to define other blocks until it is purged.
Using this tool will enable simple blocks drawn from scratch or imported from other sources to be used as placeholders before being assigned from a plant or finish list.
Symbol Selection
Choose a symbol by scrolling through the list and making a selection.
Alternatively, use the arrows on the right hand side of the dialog to scroll through the available symbols.
Click on the desired image to make a selection. A plant assigned to a particular symbol can be redefined at any time with a different symbol type from any library.
If a slide libary is found with the same name as the symbol drawing, a selection grid is displayed – if there isn’t a corresponding slide library, a block preview is displayed – as in the case of PlantSymbolsGraphic.dwg shown here.
Block Details
Block Size Specify the size of the block to be inserted using the default units. This property can be changed after making the initial assignment and changes will be reflected in the drawing.
Label Check the ‘Label’ toggle to enable setting an attribute to be associated with the symbol. By default, the key name of the item will be set but can be changed to any text string.
Pos. Specify the label position (left-aligned) relative to the block insertion point in this edit box. By default, it is located at the top right of the block with the number 8.
Entering 0 will place it at the centre of the block. Negative integers will locate the label in the bottom left direction of the block.
You can locate the label centrally about the insertion point of the block by deleting any number and leaving the position value blank.
Mask Check to create a background mask so that the underlying geometry is hidden.
Use Existing Insertion Check this box when you want to use existing insertions to be substituted for a new block.
Slide Display
To display slides of added symbols in the selection window, create a slide using the ‘Mslide’ command and save it with the same name as the block in the same directory as the library drawing.