Stencils - Page 2 - D-Tools Forum

avtas1 · 10-16-2007, 10:32 PM

Any word on this process yet? I am intrested in purchasing NZ myself

Head Tool · 10-16-2007, 10:57 PM

There is a right click function add shape to D-Tools in SI but it will not give you all the current features of the shape and you will still have to manage the stencils manually. A few years ago I tried to work a deal with Altima tech to automate this process but we could not come to any equitable agreement.

If someone can forward me a document explaining exactly what they want maybe we can add this feature to a new release.

avtas1 · 07-18-2008, 02:01 PM

still nothing?

kfought · 08-25-2009, 10:23 PM

This maybe the wrong thread, but since the problem is associated with the Visio side of things and with Netzoom also working in CAD. Would CAD be a better route to go for the mating of Netzoom and Dtools? We are about to revamp the MMPD and our company has been doing design drawings outside of Dtools with Netzoom. I am wanting to get it all done in one software and the boss likes the looks of the Netzooms shapes. I am wondering if that would be a better route to go as far as CAD over Visio with merging Dtools and Netzoom. I have no experience with using CAD and Dtools, Only Visio and Dtools, so I am lost as far as how well CAD and Dtools play with each other. Any input would be appreciated.

ChristianB · 11-15-2009, 10:32 PM

I really wish for a functionality that allows me to create visio shapes that are more accurate and mfg/model specific than the generic shapes in Dtools. Most of the manufacturers provide CAD-drawings of their products, so any way of using that as an basis and then add textures etc to give it more of the real life look would be great. I like my rack layouts to mirror the actual delivery as good as possible.

NareshN · 11-16-2009, 05:46 AM

Christian,

You can design your own Visio stencils -

1. Make sure to place them in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5\Visualizations\Stencils" - this is the folder D-Tools uses to look for stencils. Once you add them here they will appear in the Stencil Tree under the custom node.

2. All your master shapes in the stencils should have either a prop.Category or prop.ComponentID (use the Shape sheet to create these cells in the User Defined Cells section). If your master shape has either one of these two properties it wil be considered a "D-Tools shape" when you drop it to a D-Tools drawing and you will be prompted to select a product from your MMPD database.

3. You can enter a value for the prop.Category to a valid Category in your MMPD database to filter the list of products displayed when the shape is dropped. So if you say prop.Category = "Wire and Cable" and drop the shape the default filter on the add product dialog will be for category = wire and cable. In a similar way you can add a prop.Manufacturer and prop.Type and set values to these cells to filter the default data shown on the shape drop. So you can have prop.Manfacturer = "AMX" and prop.Type = "Controller" to see all AMX Controllers only.

4. You can also edit products in MMPD and select masters from this stencil as the default master for a view (Line, Plan, Elevation or Schematic). Then when you drop from PDM or Product Explorer in Visio to a view this master will be used.

ChristianB · 11-16-2009, 07:34 AM

Sweet! Thanx, NareshN