VectorWorks Architect and Landmark ID labels are created as plug-in objects that draw an ID symbol and an optional leader line. The symbols can automatically be kept horizontal, or can be rotated to the leader line angle.
The ID Label tool (see ID Label Tool) detects the presence of any existing record information for the object being labeled in the drawing; if the tool cannot detect record information, you are prompted to select the appropriate record from a list. The ID symbols defined to work with that record type display for selection.
The ID Label tool determines whether the ID symbol requested in the dialog box is present in the drawing. If not, it copies it in from the ID_Symbols.vwx file, and scales it to the current drawing layer scale. Once an appropriate scaled symbol is created, it is used without further reference to external documents.
The AutoIncrement, FixCurrRecord, WriteMatchIDs, DrawLeader, and KeepHoriz fields are Boolean (true/false) values; ShoulderLength and MkrScaleFactor are numerical values. All other fields are text values.
Four TagSchema record fields determine whether the ID symbol is drawn with a leader, and, if so, determine the leader’s appearance.
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If DrawLeader is false, no leader is drawn with the ID Leader object; otherwise, a leader is drawn between the ID symbol and the object to which the ID is referring. This field sets the default for the draw leader parameter in the ID Leader object, which can be changed later.
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If KeepHoriz is false, the ID symbol is drawn rotated to the leader angle; otherwise, the symbol is rotated horizontally, with a small “shoulder” line segment which is controlled using the value in the ShoulderLength field. These fields set the defaults for the KeepHoriz value and the ShoulderLength value of the ID Leader object, respectively. IDs with no leader should normally set KeepHoriz to true.
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This field, along with MkrScaleFactor, controls the appearance of the marker at the end of the leader (if any)
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This field, along with ArrowStyle, controls the appearance of the marker at the end of the leader (if any); this setting is a multiplier on a marker size of approximately 1/4”. For example, a MkrScaleFactor setting of 0.5 results in a marker of 1/8” standard size.
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The value in this field controls the default setting for whether the ID number is automatically incremented between placements
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The value in this field controls whether the contents of the current record are rewritten to match earlier IDs with the same ID entry
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The value in this field controls the writing of matching ID fields to records with identical contents in the MatchField text field
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For example, the ID Label tool reads the contents of the Fld1Spec field and writes the results to the Fld1Text field. The “Spec” field follows the format FieldName& “string constant” where the field names are fields in the data record named in the TagType field; the & indicates a concatenation, and the string constants are surrounded by double quotes.
For example, a field in the data record is called “Count.” This is a number field representing the total number of something. You want the first field in the ID to read: TOTAL: 12 when “Count” is 12. Enter the following formula in the Tag1Spec field: “TOTAL: ”&Count. There are no spaces between the ampersand and the field name, or between the string constant (in quotes) and the ampersand.
You can concatenate any number of fields and constants. For example, you could add the word “Item(s)” to the tag field definition by using the following formula: “TOTAL: ”&Count& “ Item(s)”.
There are a variety of pre-defined fields in the ID symbols that come with VectorWorks Architect and Landmark. Use these as a guideline in understanding this special formula language. This same formula convention is also used to define HVAC object tags.
If the ID Label tool cannot find the data record specified in the TagType field of the TagSchema record, the error message #RECORDNAME?# displays when the ID is placed. If any of the fields in the formula are misnamed, the message #FIELDNAME?# displays in the affected ID field. Verify the spelling of record and field names and ensure the data record is defined as described in The Data Record.
The data record named in the TagType field of the ID symbol should be part of the standard records created using the VA Records and Schedules command and should be present in the current preference set. This enables the ID Label tool to create the record automatically if it is not defined at the time the ID Label tool is used.