Item Types Dialog

Used to create custom item types and add properties to custom item types.

You can access this dialog from the following:

Ribbon: Drawing > Attach > Item Types > Item Types dialog launcher
Ribbon: Modeling > Content > Item Types > Item Types dialog launcher
Ribbon: Admin > Home > Collections

Setting	Description
Save	Saves the selected item type and all its settings in the DGN file.
New Item Type Library	Creates a new item type library. An Item type library can contain multiple item types and property types. You can also create item type libraries in a DGN library file pointed by the MS_DGNLIBLIST configuration variable. These item type libraries will be displayed in your DGN file.
New Item Type	Creates a new item type.
New Property Definition	Creates a new property in the selected item type or property type.
New Property Type	Creates a new property type. A property type is a collection of properties, which can be used by any item type in the same library. The property type displays in the Type drop-down list of property definition.
Cut	Cuts the selected item type, property type, or property definition.
Copy	Copies the selected item type, property type, or property definition to clipboard.
Paste	Pastes the cut or copied item type, property type, or property definition.
Move Property Up	Moves the property definition up one position in this dialog's hierarchy as well as in the Properties dialog. Note: You can also use the drag-and -drop functionality to move the properties up.
Move Property Down	Moves the property definition down one position in this dialog's hierarchy as well as in the Properties dialog. Note: You can also use the drag-and -drop functionality to move the properties down.
Show Differences	Opens the Item Type Library Differences dialog, which is used to compare the properties of item type libraries. You can compare the local item type library with the one in the DGNLib file. You can also select any two item type libraries and click this icon to get the difference between the selected item type libraries.
Update from Library	If the selected item type library is imported from a DGN library file, updates it to reflect changes in the DGN library. `ITEMTYPE UPDATE -nowarning`
Reset	Resets each selected item type to its previously saved version.
Delete	Deletes the selected item type, property type, or property definition.
Properties	The Properties section displays the properties of the selected item type, property type, or property definition.
Properties > Item Type	Displays the parameters and values of the selected item type. Item Name - Specifies the label for items created from the selected item type. You can choose to use the name of the item type, or to use the value of one of the property definitions. Use Item Name for Element - If set to `Yes`, and if the item type is attached to an element, the element's label in the Explorer dialog and Properties dialog will be the same as the item's label. If more than one item type attached to an element has this option set to `Yes`, then the label of the element will be the first one that the product finds.
Properties > Property Type	Displays the parameters and values of the selected property type. Is Referenced - Indicates whether the selected property type is used by another property definition.
Properties > Property Definition	Displays the parameters and values of the selected property. Type - Selects the type of property. By default there are following property types. Text Number Integer True/False Date/Time Point You can also add a property type. For example, you create a property type, say `Customer Info` that has properties, say `Name`, `Address`, and `Phone Number`. The `Customer Info` type appears in the Type drop-down list of a property definition. When you select `Customer Info`, the `Name`, `Address`, and `Phone Number` properties are added as parameters to the property. Is Array - Allows you to create multiple values of the same property. If set to `True`, in the Properties dialog, where you view the item properties, you can add multiple values of the same item type by selecting Add entry. For example, say you have a property called `Team Members` and you want to add names of team members in your project. To achieve this, first set Is Array to `True` and assign the item type to an element. Then select the element and open the Properties dialog. In the Properties dialog, in the `Team Members` row, right-click and select Add entry. An entry is created below the `Team Members` row. In the right-side of the row, enter the name of your project team member and press `<Enter>`. To add more entries, again right-click on the `Team Members` row and select Add entry and enter the name of your project team member. You can also remove an entry by right-clicking the row and selecting Remove entry. You can also remove all entries at once by right-clicking the array property and selecting Remove all entries. Is ReadOnly - if set to True, the property's value cannot be edited in the Properties dialog once the item type is attached to an element. This value will display as a read only value. If set to False, the value can be edited in the Properties dialog. Visibility - If set to Show, the property's value will be displayed in the Properties dialog once the item type is attached to an element. If set to Hide, the value will be hidden and not displayed in the Properties dialog. You can use this field to create hidden Item Type properties. Default Value - Enter the default value of the property. Units - (Displayed only when the Type is Number or Point) Selects the unit of the property. Picklist - Lets you select a Picklist for the property.
Calculated Property	Displays any expressions defined for the property: Expression - lets you add an expression to the property or displays any expression associated with a property. Use last valid value - If set to True, will display the previous value for the property in the Properties dialog. If set to False, will display the current value. Expression Failure Value - Lets you set a value to be displayed in the item's property if the expression fails to execute.
Picklist Options	Allows you to choose the Picklist Source and Options: Picklist Sources - Allows you to choose a source from where PickList can be derived. You can choose from Dgn Files and Excel Files. Note: Supported Excel file formats are .xlsx (Excel Workbook) and .xlsm (Excel Macro Enabled Workbook 2007 or later). Settings - You will see the below options based on your selection in the Picklist Sources above: None - The Picklist setting is not enabled. Dgn Files - The Picklist Settings window opens. The list displayed in the list box matches the values displayed in the Picklist dialog. Excel Files - The Picklist Settings window opens. Note: Set configuration variable ITEMTYPE_PICKLIST_EXCELPATH to point to the location of the excel file. Excel File Path- Allows you to choose the Excel File from the drop-down list. Picklist Option- Allows you to choose the Picklist option from the following: Range - Range in Excel is the difference between the maximum limit and minimum limit of the available numbers in excel Note: The fields in the Picklist Settings are enabled according to the Picklist Option selected Named Range - On selecting this you can view the Excel values in the drop-down list. Column -On selecting this, all the column values are displayed in the drop-down list. Custom -On selecting this, you can filter the excel columns based on the custom settings.
Libraries > New	Creates a new item type library.
Libraries > Save	Saves the selected item type and all its settings in the DGN file.
Libraries > Update from Library	Updates the selected item types in the DGN file that are based on library item types to reflect changes in the DGN library. `ITEMTYPE UPDATE -nowarning`
Libraries > Reset	Resets each selected item type to its previously saved version.
Libraries > Save All	Saves all the item types and their settings.
Libraries > Import	Used to import item types from a .dgn or .dgnlib file. Opens the Open dialog from where you can select the .dgn or .dgnlib file.
Libraries > Update All From Library	Updates all item types in the DGN file that are based on library item types to reflect changes in the DGN library. Item Type libraries created using Expressions feature in Update 13 will not be compatible in Update 15. The Units and Use last valid value fields will not apply to these library item types. To overcome this, you must use the key-in `ITEMTYPE UPGRADE ALL` This key-in will upgrade item types from older libraries and will make them compatible with Units and Use last valid value fields. Refer image below: Top: Update 13 Item Type library without upgrade - shows length 53.438 m as 53.438 cm after import \ Bottom: The same library with upgrade - shows correct unit conversion after import Use last valid value will be set to True after this key-in is set.
Libraries > Exit	Closes the Item Types dialog.
Utilities > Preferred Units	Opens the Preferred Units dialog that is used to select unit types that you want to be displayed in the Units property. The changes made in this dialog are local to the active file.
Utilities > Upgrade Tag Sets	Opens the Upgrade Tag Sets dialog that is used to upgrade tags sets to item types.
Utilities > Edit Picklists	Opens the Picklist Manager dialog that is used to create and manage Picklists.
Pop-up menu for Item Type Library	Right-clicking an item type library opens a pop-up menu with following choices: New Item Type - Creates a new item type in the selected item type library. New Property Type - Creates a new property type. A property type is a collection of properties, which can be used by any item type in the same library. The property type displays in the Type drop-down list of property definition. Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected item type library. Save - Saves the selected item type library and all its settings in the DGN file. Cut - Cuts the selected item type library. Copy - Copies the selected item type library to clipboard. Paste - Pastes the cut or copied item type library. Delete - Deletes the selected item type library. Open Library - If an item type library is imported from a .dgnlib file, opens the .dgnlib file.
Pop-up Menu for Item Types	Right-clicking an item type opens a pop-up menu with following choices: New Property Definition - Creates a new property in the selected item type. Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected item type. Cut - Cuts the selected item type. Copy - Copies the selected item type to clipboard. Paste - Pastes the cut or copied item type. Delete - Deletes the selected item type. Attach to Element - Starts the Attach Item tool using which you can attach an item to an element.
Pop-up Menu for Property Definition	Right-clicking a property definition opens a pop-up menu with following choices: Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected property definition. Move Property Up - Moves the property definition up one position in this dialog's hierarchy as well as in the Properties dialog. Move Property Down - Moves the property definition down one position in this dialog's hierarchy as well as in the Properties dialog. Cut - Cuts the selected property definition. Copy - Copies the selected property definition to clipboard. Paste - Pastes the cut or copied property definition. Delete - Deletes the selected property definition.
Pop-up Menu for Property Type	Right-clicking a property type opens a pop-up menu with following choices: New Property Definition - Creates a new property in the selected item type. Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected property type. Cut - Cuts the selected property type. Copy - Copies the selected property type to clipboard. Paste - Pastes the cut or copied property type. Delete - Deletes the selected property type.