Changing an item in catalog

[Mike D]

Lets say that you "add item" to the catalog and you take a 4" recessed ceiling light, then alter the bulb size from it's default 75 watt to a 40 watt, and save the item as your own......like Mikes 4" 40watt ceiling light.

Then you place 10 or so in different places in your plan. Now if you decide that 40watt isn't bright enough; if you edit the Mikes 4" 40watt ceiling light in the catalog to a brighter bulb, does the change effect all the previously installed lights?

If the answer is no, then I'll place this request in feature requests.

Mike

[Jack Zimmer]

No it will not change all and you don't want that option to be in the program by default.

You want to be able to have the same fixture with many wattage options available.  If you close out of the program after editing or adding a new item, you are asked if you want to save these changes to the catalog. If you accept , any future inserts of that item will reflect the new settings but not any existing inserts of a previous design. You want items set within the model to be retained with that model, you do not want them automatically over written by the program defaults.

If you make such a change and have many lights (or other objects) in a plan, it is best to make the change and then insert ONE of the changed item in the model (off to the side). You can then select all items that you want to change to the new setting (hold shift key to select multiples) and then right click.

When you right click you will see an option that says 'Replace'.  When you select it, the last item you placed in the drawing area will be 'activated'. So, if you placed Mikes 4" 40 watt in the drawing last as an updated version, this will be the 'item' that replaces the ones selected in the model.

[Mike D]

Thanks Jack. After posting I realized that in the case I made, I may "want" a global change, however there ARE other times where I wouldn't want that to happen.

Thanks for the education on the replace feature....I didn't know it exsited, and that will do exactly what I wanted to accomplish.


Mike

[Jack Zimmer]

Good to hear Mike.

Remember that the replace option works for 'all' items, allowing you to do a similar 'Replace' within an items categories. It comes in real handy when the home owner switches from 2x4 to 2x6 exteror walls , or windows require changing but their postion stays the same etc.

Z

[Mike D]

That brings up another question.

If you place a new item on the plan off to the side, can you edit that new items properties, then do the replace?

And

Your 2x4 > 2x6 scenario makes me wonder..... what happens to all of the attributes to your existing exterior walls like inside & outside appearances, trim, elevations, etc.

Mike

[Allan Chesney]

Mike,

The Repalce only goes to the last item you used from the catalog not the one from the drawing.  If you change it in the drawing it will still go to the catalog version.  Change the catalog version (or a copy of it) to the details you want and it will use these.

The wall replacement will do the same thing - you would have to set the replacement wall settings to what you want first, then replace.

Allan

[Doug.S]

Also if you wish to change an item characteristic in many places at same time....simply select them all (shift click on each of the same item type), then change properties and all selected will change

You just have to remember where each item is in your design so you select them all.

This does not work for miexed item types....like selecting a wall and a window won't typically work this way....but select all of the same type of windows and it does work.