Page 525 - Chief Architect Reference Manual

Creating User Defined Macros

To create a Referenced Object macro 2. In the Edit Text Macro dialog:
1. Select a text object with an arrow that is • You can use any Named Value Pairs
snapped to an object for which you associated with the object that the
would like to create a custom macro. macro is mean to describe.
2. Open the Text Macro Management dia- • Named Value Pairs do not require spe-
log and click the New button. cial formatting, but macros inserted
using the %macro_name% format can-
3. In the Edit Text Macro dialog: not be used.
• You can use any Named Values associ- • To include a Ruby macro within
ated with the object that the text arrow another Ruby macro, use this format:
is pointed to. macros.macro_name.
• Named Values do not require special • Check Evaluate and select “Materials
formatting, but macros inserted using List Line Item” from the Context drop-
the %macro_name% format cannot be down list.
used.
• To include a Ruby macro within 3. Unlike other types of macros, its validity
another Ruby macro, use this format: cannot be confirmed in the Text Macro
macros.macro_name. Management dialog.
• Check Evaluate and select “Refer- To use a Materials List Line Item macro
enced Object” from the Context drop- 1. Create a new or open a saved Materials
down list.
List.
4. Confirm that the macro is valid by 2. Click in a cell to select it, then click a
checking its Expanded Macro Value in second time to edit the cell and insert a
the Text Macro Management dialog.
macro.
To use a Referenced Object macro
1. Insert the custom macros into a Text, Contextless Macros
Rich Text, Callout, or Marker object. Select “None” as the Context for a Ruby
2. Draw a Text Line with Arrow between macro if you would prefer to define the
the text object and the object that your Context within the macro’s Value.
Referenced Object macro describes. To do this, type the Context before each
Named Value in the macro using this format:
Materials List Line Item Context
• owner.named_value
A Materials List Line Item macro can be • referenced.named_value
inserted into a cell in a Materials List.
• line_item.named_value
To create a Materials List Line Item macro
1. Open the Text Macro Management dia-
log and click the New button.

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