Summary
- Last UpdatedAug 13, 2025
- 1 minute read
The auto-numbering function is controlled by a combination of files and uses the standard PML function autonam. The function uses two files:
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dra-element-rules.pmldat - determines which element is recognized as a matching element. For ABA this is a DRWG with its function attribute equal to ‘ABAT’.
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dra-nam.pmldat - controls the format of the DRWG name.
The format of the number created is made up from a combination of text and returned values from functions supplied with the ABA user interface. The function !!abaAutoNumber(‘discipline’) returns the necessary part of the number/name to the auto-naming activity, this reply is based on the Function attribute set by the option field in the ABA Template Drawing window. Refer to Create ABA Template Drawing for further information.

The values returned are set in the Task Library as defined in the ABA Defaults file.
Each choice of the DRWG function has a TKPARA attribute that matches the requirement, for example Administration returns the result A. The user tasks are stored in the Task Library PROJ/ABA/TASK (TSKLB), ABA_Autonumber (TASK) area as TKPARA elements.