This command allows you to customize the symbol library. For a
printout of the default symbols, get the symbols.pdf in the Carlson
Projects folder. The default library has hundreds of 2D and 3D
symbols including National CAD Standard (NCS) symbols and MassDOT
standard symbols.
Categories are a way for grouping symbols by type for your own convenience in symbol selection. A new category is added by clicking on the "Add Category" button. An edit field then appears in the tree view on the left and waits for you to enter the category name. The input is finished by pressing the Enter key.
The category may be populated by creating a new symbol from selected entities in the drawing, by specifying drawing (.DWG) files, or by moving existing symbols from one category to another.
To create a new symbol, open a drawing which has the entities to be used in the symbol. The symbol should be drawn at unit size (scale 1:1) because Carlson will scale the symbol by the current drawing scale when the symbol is used. Highlight the category for the symbol and click on the "Create Symbol" button. A dialog appears for entering the new symbol name. Next, specify the file name for the symbol. The file name has a .DWG extension and would usually reside in the Carlson SUP directory, but you may use another path. Then the program will prompt you to select the entities from the drawing for the symbol. An insertion point for the symbol must also be picked.
The "Import Symbols" button brings up a file selection dialog
which allows you to select multiple files to be added to the
current category (to select multiple files use Shift or Control
keys along with the mouse). If the files you select are not in the
Carlson SUP directory, the program will offer an option of copying
them there. There are also Import Library and Export Library
buttons.
By default, the symbol description is the same as file name. The description for the symbol or category name may be changed by highlighting that name and clicking on "Rename" button, the name being edited is then placed into edit mode. To move a symbol into a different category, select the symbol to be moved on the tree and click an "Up" or "Down" button as many times a needed to reach the desired category. The symbols are sorted alphabetically within each category, while categories are remaining in the order placed to allow the more frequently accessed categories be on top.
Note: The symbol library is stored in an ASCII file named symbols.dta in the Carlson \USER directory.
Pulldown Menu Location: Settings
Keyboard Command: editptsym
Prerequisite: None