Setup DataGroup System Catalogs - Concepts
Generally at some point building designers, project design teams and design firms may need to setup the DataGroup System to work with customized data. That data could be anything from a set of custom doors to a set of user defined street signs needed for modeling, tracking and reporting purposes. These are items created by the user that need to be placed during modeling. The process for setting up the DataGroup System (and the Building application) to handle those items is discussed in this section. But first we need to conceptually discuss a few key components involved that process and how those key components work together to enable the DataGroup System to manage new items and data.
DataGroup System Organization
A data file is a graphical representation of an item. It can be a PAZ, BXF, BXC, or CEL file for example. Catalog (XML) files define the association between catalog items and the data file. These item collections are the basis for the Catalog type. The catalog files tell the DataGroup System what specific data files to gather. After the data files are found, the DataGroup System filters the data to sort files (doors versus windows) according to the selected placement tool.
What About Configuration?
Administrators generally know that configuration is a necessary task, completed at times to enable project work that otherwise could not be accomplished. Configuration is not discussed here to encourage the editing of configuration files. Configuration is discussed to give a big picture of how system and Building application files direct and manage the DataGroup System to look for parametric definitions (door items) so that the application (the door placement tool) can offer these items for placement. When properly configured the DataGroup System reads the correct data (door versus window), and custom data (exit sign versus light fixture), so that items can be placed, scheduled, and reported.