Accessing Existing Resources

While new resources are automatically added to the Resource Browser upon creation, resources that exist in other files must be imported into the current file through the Resource Browser palette. Default resources are automatically imported into the current file at the point of use, and display in the Resource Browser; see VectorWorks Fundamentals Default Resources.

Quick Resource Browsing

Resources in another file can be quickly browsed to locate resources and to determine whether that file should be added as a favorite.

To view the resources available in another file that is not yet a favorite:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select Browse a Document from the Files menu.

The standard Open dialog box opens.

2.	Select the file to browse, and then click Open.

The resources in the selected file temporarily display in the Resource Browser. A resource from that file can be imported into the current file, but the browsed file is not saved as a favorite.

Resources in Currently Open Files

The File list displays all currently open files and favorites.

“Active Document” displays when Always Display Active Document has been selected from the Files menu; the resources from the currently active file are always displayed.

To import a resource from an open file other than the active one:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select the desired open file from the File list.

The file name is displayed in the File list, and its resources display in the resource display window.

2.

Select the desired resource from the resource display window. Multiple resources can be selected and imported at the same time. To import the resource for future use, select Import from the Resources menu. To use the resource immediately, double-click it to activate it, or select Apply or Make Active, if applicable, from the Resources menu. (Alternatively, drag the resource onto an object or to a location in the current file.) If symbol folders are present in the drawing, specify the location of the imported resource.

Once the resource is placed or applied in the drawing, it is added to the current file’s Resource Browser (default resources are automatically imported into the current file at the point of use, and display in the Resource Browser; see VectorWorks Fundamentals Default Resources).

When you access symbols or VectorScripts within folders, the selected folder name is displayed in the Document Folder list, and its contents are displayed in the resource display window. To return to the main resource window, click on the Document Folder list, and then select Top Level. Alternatively, click the Up One Level button until the top level is reached.

Resources in Favorites

For quick access, the Resource Browser can store links to VectorWorks files that contain resources that you use frequently. You can then import resources from a Favorites file into any VectorWorks file and not have to search for the file again. Remove the link when the file is of no further use. Favorite files are remembered for future sessions.

Use the Files menu in the Resource Browser to create, use, and manage your Favorites list. Alternatively, add files (or aliases or shortcuts to the files) to the appropriate Favorites folder manually.

Making the Current File a Favorite

To make the current file a favorite:

In the Resource Browser, select Add Current to Favorites from the Files menu.

The file is added to the File list under Favorites.

The file must be saved to be added as a favorite.

Making an Unopened File a Favorite

To make an unopened file a favorite:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select Add New Favorite Files from the Files menu.

The standard Open dialog box opens.

2.	Select the file to make a favorite, and then click Open.

The file is added to the File list under Favorites.

The file must be saved in the same version of VectorWorks as the current file to be added as a favorite.

Multiple files can be selected and added as favorites at the same time; alternatively, press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Macintosh) to select all files at once.

Opening the Current Favorite

To open the current favorite:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to open from the File list.

2.	Select Open Current Favorite from the Files menu.

The file opens.

Importing a Resource from a Favorite

To import a resource from a favorite file:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to access from the File list.

The file name is displayed as the current file in the File list, and its resources display in the resource window.

2.

Select the desired resource from the resource display window. To import the resource for future use, select Import from the Resources menu. To use the resource immediately, double-click it to activate it, or select Apply or Make Active, if applicable, from the Resources menu. (Alternatively, drag the resource onto an object or to a location in the current file.)

Once the resource is placed or applied in the drawing, it is added to the Resource Browser for the current file.

Multiple resources can be selected and imported at the same time.

Refreshing Favorites from Disk

To update the resources from all favorite files:

In the Resource Browser, select Refresh Favorites from Disk from the Files menu.

All current favorite files are reloaded into the Resource Browser, to reflect any changes that occurred since they were loaded when this VectorWorks session began.

Revealing the Location of the Current Favorite

To reveal the location of a favorite file:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to reveal from the File list.

The file name is displayed as the current file in the File list, and its resources display in the resource window.

2.	Select Reveal Current Favorite from the Files menu.

Either Windows Explorer or Macintosh Finder opens to the folder that contains the file.

Removing Favorites

To remove a single favorite file:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select the favorite file to delete from the File list.

2.	Select Remove Current Favorite from the Files menu.

The file is removed from the Favorites list.

To remove all favorite files:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select Remove All Favorites from the Files menu.

A confirmation dialog box opens.

2.	Click Yes to remove all favorites.

All favorite files are removed from the Favorites list.

Adding a Favorite Manually

To create a favorite manually (not through the Resource Browser):

1.	Place the file that you want to appear on the Favorites list (or a shortcut or alias that points to the file) in one of the following folders.

 

Favorites Folder	Effect on Favorites Lists
[User]/Libraries/Favorites	The file appears only in your Favorites list ([User] is the user data folder specified in your VectorWorks preferences)
[Workgroup]/Libraries/Favorites (VectorWorks Design Series required)	The file appears in the Favorites list of any user who has the workgroup folder set up in VectorWorks preferences

The file is added to the File list under Favorites.

2.	In the Resource Browser, select Refresh Favorites from Disk from the Files menu.

Only files that are in your user Favorites folder can be removed with the commands in the Resource Browser. (See User Folders Preferences for more information.) Files that were placed in a workgroup Favorites folder must be removed manually.

Finding a Resource

Use the Find Resource on Disk command to quickly locate a resource in a file created with the current version of VectorWorks, and optionally to select that resource in the Resource Browser.

To locate and use a resource:

1.	In the Resource Browser, select Find Resource on Disk from the Resources menu.

The Find Resource dialog box opens.

 

Parameter	Description
Find resource names containing	Enter the full or partial resource name to find
Search Location	Displays the current path from which to begin searching. Click Choose to search for the resource in a different folder; select the folder to search in, and then click Choose (Macintosh) or OK (Windows) to return to the Find Resource dialog box.
Include subfolders	Select whether to include subfolders in the search process
Options
Resource types	Select to search for all resource types or for one specific resource type
Match case	Select whether the search is case sensitive
Find whole words only	Select this option to search for occurrences that are whole words only, and not part of a larger string of text

2.	Enter the search criteria and click Find.

The Find Resource Results dialog box displays the resource name, type, and file location for all resources that match the specified search criteria. Select the resource name and click Select (or double-click the resource name) to open the file that contains the resource, and then select the resource in the Resource Browser.

3.

To import the resource for future use, select Import from the Resources menu. To use the resource immediately, double-click it to activate it, or select Apply or Make Active, if applicable, from the Resources menu. (Alternatively, drag the resource onto an object or to a location in the current file.) Default resources are automatically imported into the current file at the point of use, and they display in the Resource Browser; see VectorWorks Fundamentals Default Resources.

Once the resource is placed or applied in the drawing, it is added to the current file.