Define Several Representations of a Symbol in One Document - SmartSketch - Help

SmartSketch Help

Language
English
Product
SmartSketch
Search by Category
Help
SmartSketch Version
9.0(2015)

Before you begin, you must create a symbol document that contains all the different elements that you would want to show up as several different versions of the same symbol. For example, if you want a symbol to appear as either a box, triangle, or circle, you must draw the box, triangle, or circle in the document and create a symbol. You can add new elements and further modify the symbol at any time during the next steps.

You cannot include the same element in different representations. You must create a copy of that element in the document to allow it to appear in different representations.

  1. Click File > Open to open a symbol document (.sym).

  2. Select two or more elements that you want to show up as a representation of the symbol.

    You cannot select an element that is already a member of a group.

  3. On the Change toolbar, click Group .

    You cannot place one element in more than one group. To include the same element in different representations, you must copy the element and include it in a different group.

  4. Define a separate group for each representation that you want to save in the symbol document.

    You can create the representation more easily if you keep each group in a separate section of the document at this point in the procedure. Do not allow the groups to overlap. You can define a common origin for all the groups later in the procedure.

  5. On the Symbol Authoring Tools toolbar, click Symbol Representation .

  6. Select a group that you want to appear in the representation. The name of the group automatically appears in the Group Name box on the Define Symbol Representation dialog box. This name is automatically generated by the software.

  7. In the Representation Name box, type a name. The name you enter appears as a command on the shortcut menu when you place the symbol in a document.

  8. Click the Add button to enter the name in the table.

    The order in which the names appear in the table is the order in which the commands appear on the shortcut menu. For example, if you enter the following names in the table in the following order, that is the order in which they will appear on the shortcut menu for the symbol:

    Representation Name

    Group Name

    Flanged Globe

    Group 235

    Screwed Globe

    Group 236

    Bell Spigot Globe

    Group 237

    Welded Globe

    Group 238

    Soldered Globe

    Group 239

  9. Repeat these steps for each representation that you want to appear on the shortcut menu.

  10. Select each group and move it to a position that is on top of the other groups. You should position each group so that they share a common origin.

    You can adjust the symbol origin by clicking Symbol Origin on the Symbol Authoring Tools toolbar.

  11. Click OK to close the Define Symbol Representation dialog box and return to your SmartSketch drawing.

  12. Click File > Save.

You should close the symbol document before dragging and dropping the symbol into a document.

  • After saving the symbol, you should test the different representations that you defined. Close the symbol. Drag the symbol from the Symbol Explorer into a new document. Select the symbol and click the right mouse button. Make sure that the names of the representations appear on the shortcut menu.

  • You can change the name of a group by clicking a row in the table, entering a new name in the Group Name box, and clicking the Modify button.

  • You can insert or delete names from the table at any time.

  • The group name listed first in the table is the default thumbnail for the symbol.

To use this functionality, you must install the Symbol Authoring option.