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As we saw last post setting up a new Rule Set is pretty straight forward, picking up with where the last example left off we will select the "New Product Creation" rule set and edit this to provide different outcomes for different files in the same rule set.
First up lets create a new rule based on a common property like project name. In the video below we will see the Star Project rule is set up and moved to the top of the rule list so it is checked first, with the "Starts With" condition in place for the project property we can set that all file properties are "Reset", meaning any source file who's project property starts with the word "Star" will have copied versions added to Vault with all default property settings.
Next we add a new rule for the assembly file type (file extension is iam) and move this above the default rule so it will be assessed.
For assemblies I want to set the Author property in the file as the current Copy Design user – selecting "Set Value As" and from the options pull down I can choose the User. This means the new file will have the users name added as Author.
Next I want to set the Checked By value as blank – whats the difference between Reset and Set Blank? I',m glad you asked, "Set Blank" actually overwrites any initial value mappings and ensures the property is empty – needed for this type of property which, for a new file, should definitely be blank.
I am going to choose to reset cost as this should be recalculated, but I choose Reset instead of Set Blank, in case there is a default cost value for new files.
We continue to map, reset and set blank values for Assemblies, noting that I can actually map a value for iLogic rules (Remove iLogic Rules) which will remove the rules to prevent errors on open with the new file. To complete the example I am going to map the old file name (source file) as a keyword in the new file and update part number to the new filename (as we did in old Copy Design) meaning we have used all 4 possible property mappings.
Finally I am going to set drawing rules by creating a new rule for design documents (idw, dwg, ipn), move it above default and choose to reset all properties.
An interesting point here, when reset is applied to "Category Name" this means that the new file will be added to Vault using the default category assignment rules with default lifecycle and revision for new files. If we do not reset Category Name then the new file will have the same category as the source with the same lifecycle scheme and revision scheme, an important consideration where multiple categories may be in use.
With the new rule set applied, we complete the copy and talking a look at the new file results we see the drawing file properties are all reset and left blank, the assembly file has been filled out correctly with user names, part numbers, keywords and the check fields reset.
Leveraging these simple rule sets and imaginative conditions we can do quite a lot to manipulate the new file property sets – more can be found on the details in online help and I hope to revisit this topic with additional tips and tricks in the future.
Happy Copying!
– Allan
