Canvas X Draw contains the ability to attach specific user-definable data to any object. This information is stored with the objects and can be viewed or edited from within Canvas X Draw.
The Object Properties function allows you to assign specific information to each component of a complex object. The properties of an object can include information that will allow you to efficiently track cost, inventory, location, and availability. As a result, those who design and manufacture items such as fuel pumps, jet engines or other sophisticated components can better manage production workflow.
Attaching information to an object does not affect the size or appearance of the item. All data remains attached to the object and may be edited at any time within Canvas X Draw. Therefore, if the object is shared or used in another project, then the properties of that object are carried over into the new project.
Select a Canvas X Draw object and choose Object | Object Properties.
If the selected item does not have any properties assigned to it, then you will need to create some properties.
If the object is grouped, then you will need to ungroup it. This allows you to select the various individual items to which you wish to assign a property.
Once created, the labels are listed in the Properties panel. At any time, you can access and edit your entries by clicking on any of the properties that are listed in the Properties panel.
In this field, you may enter the name of the property; e.g., Size, Weight, Location, Part Number, Tracking Code. You can also attach multiple labels to each object. Doing so allows you to identify the object by using one of the assigned labels. Next, select an option in the Type menu. This allows you to choose the search value for the object. | |
The Type field has the following options: String, Number, Fixed List, Variable List, Boolean, Currency, or Date. String: You can place just about anything that you want in this field. You can enter a format, however, it is only for informational purposes only. Entered values will not be validated based on their format. Number: This option allows you to enter a numerical value for an object. To do so, you must use one of the following formats:
Fixed List: You can think of this as assigning a key word that can be used to search for items. Be certain to separate each word with a semicolon (;); e.g., “earth;wind;fire”. After setting this property type, you should define a set of items that appear on the list of available values for the property. Enter the desired values in the Format field; e.g., you may enter values such as “Earth;Wind;Fire” in the Format field. These entries will then appear on the list in the Object Properties palette. Variable List: This option is the same as a fixed list except that you can enter new values at the time of assignment to the object. After you define a set of values, you may want to add a new value to the set that appears in the Object Properties menu. To make these changes, you need only to enter a value in the Object Properties palette. Boolean: This is used when the value will be Yes or No. You may change the value to True or False, Positive or Negative, 0 or 1, etc. Currency: There are two format types for the currency property. They are Monetary Sign Leads (e.g., USD 100.00) and Monetary Sign Follows (e.g., 100.00 USD). The default setting for the currency property is Monetary Sign Leads. This property is set in the same manner as the previously described numbers with units. You need only to enter a value and a monetary sign in the Value field to have a default monetary sign set. The sign that you enter will then become the default setting. It will be automatically added each time that you change a value. If you enter a value and a monetary sign that differs from the default, then the change will be rejected. If the default sign was not defined, then you have to enter a number and a monetary sign each time that you change the value of the property. An advantage of not having a default monetary sign is that you are not constrained to the use of the default setting when entering a different sign. A monetary sign must always be present in the value when working with currencies. If there is not a default setting, you must enter a number and the monetary sign. Date: The Date property can be set in any of six different formats. They are grouped into two major format types:
Once you choose a Type from the above options, you must establish the correct Format. The Format section provides details for each of the Type choices and its associated Format options. | |
Assigning a format depends on which of the previously mentioned types were selected. | |
Allows you to enter a default value for an object. | |
A message or other data that is entered here will be displayed whenever you place the pointer over the property name in the Object Properties palette. To use this feature, select the Show Information Tooltips checkbox in the Functionality options in the Configuration Center. |
This means that if you were to enter the setting of “100 cm”, then “cm” will become your default setting. Therefore, when you enter a new value for the property in the Object Properties palette, you will only have to enter the number for that property. The unit will automatically be appended to reflect the unit “cm.” If you enter both a number and a unit and the unit differs from the default, then the entry will be rejected.
If you do not specify a default unit for the property, then you will need to enter a number and a unit each time that you change the value. The advantage of not having a default unit is that you can enter a different unit without being constrained by the default setting.
You can modify, delete, or add new properties. Although it is possible to add a property to two or more selected objects, you can only delete or define properties while one object is selected.
When two or more objects are selected, the list of properties that are common for all of those objects is shown. Working with common properties is similar to working with a list of properties from one object.