Smart symbol

Module(s): Smart Symbols

You can use the Smart Symbol tool to define a smart symbol by giving it a name and assigning attributes. The smart symbol will be saved to the Library palette (\Office\Smart symbol folder).

• Draw all the elements that are to make up the smart symbol in one file. If the smart symbol is to consist of several congruent foils for different reference scales and views, place the elements that belong together beside or below each other in the workspace; this will facilitate the process of selecting foils and setting reference points.

Tip: The quickest way to create a smart symbol is to select an appropriate symbol from the Library palette, place it in the workspace and then define it as a smart symbol.

To define a smart symbol

1. Click Smart Symbol (How).
   

   Activate Smart Symbol in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Bonus Tools Smart Symbols

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Smart Symbols

   Or

   • Open the Library palette and navigate to the folder where you want to save the new smart symbol.
   • At the bottom of the palette, point to Insert element and click New smart symbol.

     The Smart Symbol Definition dialog box opens.

2. In the upper part of the Smart Symbol Definition dialog box, you can change the file name of the smart symbol.

   Note: If you use the Smart Symbol tool for smart symbol definition, you can select the folder where you want to save the smart symbol. But if you use New smart symbol in the Library palette for smart symbol definition, Allplan will save the smart symbol to the selected folder. You cannot change the folder while defining the smart symbol.

3. Define the general smart symbol properties.
4. Click Define new foil.
5. In the input options, click Layer to specify how the individual elements of the foil are arranged on layers:
   • Retain layers of elements: all elements retain their layers, even as smart symbols. However, parts of smart symbols may be hidden when you hide the corresponding layers.
   • All elements on default layer: all elements are placed on the default layer.
   • All elements on current layer: all elements are given the layer that is current during definition.
6. Select the elements for the first foil.
   

   • To select a single element, click it.
   • To select elements in a region, use the left mouse button to open a selection rectangle around the elements you want to select
   • To include all the elements in the current document, click All in the Input options or press CTRL+A. Please note that this option is not available for all tools.

   For more information on the options available for selecting elements in Allplan, see Selecting elements, overview.

   When selecting elements, you can use the Filter Assistant to apply a filter based on element types and/or properties. For more information, see Filter Assistant.

7. Enter the smart symbol’s reference point.

   Example

   New nodes are added to the Smart Symbol Definition dialog box:

   • Smart symbol definition with the settings that apply to the entire smart symbol
   • Smart symbol foils with a sub-node for each Smart symbol foil with the settings for the display parameters
   • You can view the smart symbol and its foils in the preview.
8. Now you can define the display parameters of the first foil.
9. Repeat steps 4 to 8 for additional foils.

   Tip: You can also use the shortcut menu provided in the dialog box to adjust the parameters.

10. When all foils have been defined, enter attributes in the Smart symbol definition node.
11. Click OK to apply the settings.

    Note: If you have defined the smart symbol with Snoop functionality, you can now specify the reference line and the distance to this line.
    More information on smart symbols with snoop functionality

    Allplan saves the smart symbol as an NMK file to the selected folder,