Auto Create Properties

To create multiple new properties with attributes derived from headings on the datasheet, click New Properties then Auto Create Properties. The Auto Create Properties window is then displayed:

Click on the datasheet headings from which the attributes of the new properties are to be based. As each heading is clicked on, default details derived from the heading text are listed in the window. For example:

The default object type is Equipment. If required, change this to Process Data by selecting Process_Data from the list of values available in the Object Type fields.

The rest of the default details can either be edited as described below, or in the Property Definition window accessed or by clicking on the button in the Edit field. Refer to Add New Property Definition for further information.

Specify Details of New Properties

If required, change the object type as described above.

• The default property names and captions are copies from the selected heading text. Edit these as required by direct entry into the Property Name and Caption fields.

• For properties of the Equipment object type, the default equipment type is taken from that associated with the datasheet. To change it or associate it with additional equipment types, click on the button in the appropriate Equip Type field. The Select Equipment Type window is then displayed:

Select the types of equipment to add the property to by checking the appropriate checkboxes. Click OK to exit the window. The selected types are then listed in the Equip Type field.

• For properties of the Process_Data object type the Equip Type field is not used.

• If a property is of the Process_Data object type, if the new property has units, check the Has Units checkbox (not used for Equipment property types).

• The default data type is Text. Specify a different data type in the Datatype field if required.

• To auto-map a new properties to the datasheet cell to the right of the heading from which it was derived, check the AutoMap checkbox. Check the AutoMap All checkbox to check all the AutoMap checkboxes.

• To remove a property from the window, select it and then click Delete.

Create the New Properties

Click the Create button. The new properties will then be created (and mapped to datasheet cells for those properties where this option was selected).

• For properties of the Process_Data type that had their HasUnits checkbox checked, a property definition for the units of the new property is automatically created at the same time.

• The name of a units property definition will be the name of the new property suffixed with the units suffix specified in the Please enter a new Units Suffix window accessed from the Property Definitions window (refer to Preferences - the default suffix is "Units"). The data type of units property definitions is text. Neither this or the name may be changed.

A report listing details of the created properties will be displayed: