Managing Stencil Files - D-Tools Forum

mbarnick · 08-16-2007, 05:01 PM

Now that I have custom stencils, I have been placing them in the Application Data/D-Tools folder. When I modify these files, I want them to be available on other machines with the least amount of manual effort. File check-in and check-out requires the files to be in the project folder. Any suggestions?

Head Tool · 08-16-2007, 05:05 PM

I think all you have to do is make them part of a template and save as a .vst file. The stencils should pull up every time you open the template.

Reed Phillips · 08-16-2007, 06:34 PM

Is this SI 4 or SI 5?

avzone · 08-16-2007, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Reed Phillips

Is this SI 4 or SI 5?

Reed, your question suggests stencils act differently between SI4 & SI5 templates. Is this true? I haven't played with the SI5 templates yet.

Head Tool · 08-16-2007, 07:35 PM

SI4 and 5 templates are different but they basically work the same.

mbarnick · 08-17-2007, 04:19 AM

I just discovered some Visio behavior that I would like to share. I thought I could keep the stencil files in the project folder as a way to back them up to the server. It took me a little while to figure out that there is a search hierarchy Visio uses for the stencils where it goes to the project folder first, which is not unexpected. The confusing part comes in where D-Tools looks for the visualizations, which is in the Application Data.D-Tools folder only. As I was editing the stencil file, I could not figure out why it didn't appear in the visualizations because my stencil changes were made to the file in the project folder.
Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to keep your stencils in the project folder? Wouldn't it make it easy for projects to be shared between computers? D-Tools Visualizations could look in the project folder too, right?

avzone · 08-17-2007, 03:13 PM

Are you using LanSync?

Head Tool · 08-17-2007, 05:59 PM

Stencils in the project folder? I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish but that would mean multiple copies of the same stencil in each project folder. Not a good idea.

If you want custom stencils to open with a specific template just put your custom stencils in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5\Visualizations\Stencils folder. They should be in the Stencil tree under Custom.

avzone · 08-17-2007, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Head Tool

Stencils in the project folder? I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish but that would mean multiple copies of the same stencil in each project folder. Not a good idea.

If you want custom stencils to open with a specific template just put your custom stencils in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\D-Tools\SI5\Visualizations\Stencils folder. They should be in the Stencil tree under Custom.

Adam, it sounds like he wants the ability to access the custom stencils on all machines rather than tied to a template. I assume he's using LanSync. If so, he would need to put it in the LanSync folder so the other machines can grab the stencil when sync'd, right?

Head Tool · 08-17-2007, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by avzone

Adam, it sounds like he wants the ability to access the custom stencils on all machines rather than tied to a template. I assume he's using LanSync. If so, he would need to put it in the LanSync folder so the other machines can grab the stencil when sync'd, right?

Hmm, I am not sure. I don't have LanSync installed on my machine. Can anyone listening test?