OpenBuildings™ Designer Help

Named Groups Dialog

Used to create and modify named groups and hierarchies of named groups. A named group is a group of selected elements that is given a name, and can be manipulated as a single element. A hierarchy is a selection of named groups that can be manipulated as one.

You can access this dialog from the following:

  • Ribbon: Drawing > Home > Groups dialog launcher
  • Ribbon: Modeling > Home > Groups dialog launcher
  • Add to Graphic Group Dialog: Open Named Group Dialog button
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD NAMEDGROUPMGR
SettingDescription
New Named Group


Inserts a new entry for a named group in the list box. The default name (Group <n>) is highlighted to let you key in the name of your choice.
Show Named Group


(Named group selected only) Opens the Properties dialog.
Add Elements


(Named group selected only) Initiates the Add to Graphic Group tool to let you add elements to the Named Group.
Remove Elements


(Named group(s) selected only) Initiates the Drop from Graphic Group tool, which lets you remove elements from the Named Group(s).
Add Named Group to Parent


(Show Hierarchy on only - with a hierarchy and a named group selected) Lets you add a Named Group to another to form a hierarchy.
Remove Group from Parent


(Show Hierarchy on only - with a "child" hierarchy selected) Lets you remove a named group from a hierarchy.
Delete Named Group


(Named group selected only) Lets you delete a Named Group.
Select Elements in Named Group


(Named group selected only) When a named group is selected in the groups list (and it has focus), elements of the named group are selected. Alternatively, you can double-click the named group in the groups list.

When a named group is selected in the hierarchy list (and it has focus), elements of the named group and any members of contained groups of the hierarchy are selected.

Put Elements into the Displayset


(Named group selected only) Puts the elements from the selected named group(s) into the displayset.
Show Hierarchy


Redisplays the Named Groups dialog to display Hierarchies.
Named Groups Icon Bar
Named Groups List Box Displays information relating to named groups present in the active model. Columns may be displayed/hidden by right-clicking on the heading row and toggling the entry on/off.
  • Hierarchy — (Show Hierarchy turned on only) Displays names of all named groups and their attached hierarchical "child" named groups.
  • Type — (hidden by default) For use with other applications.
  • Name — Displays names of all named groups present in the model.
  • Description — (hidden by default) Displays the descriptions, if any, for the named groups in the model.
  • Elements — Displays the number of elements contained in the named groups.
  • Groups — Displays the number (other) groups contained in the named groups.
  • Selectable — If on, all elements in a named group will be selected when Graphic Group Lock is on and the Element Selection tool is used, regardless of the change propagation settings for the members. If off, then change propagation settings determine the elements of the named group that are selected. Can be toggled on/off by clicking on the entry in the Selectable column of the dialog.
  • Locked — (hidden by default) Can be used by other applications to prevent manipulation of a named group.

Right-clicking on an entry in the list box displays a pop-up menu with the following options:

  • New - Creates a new named group.
  • Rename - Renames the highlighted named group.
  • Show Members - Opens the Properties dialog.
  • Delete - Deletes the highlighted named group(s).
  • Add Link - Opens the Create Link on Named Group dialog, which is used to create links on elements that can be used to launch external documents or to connect to external systems.
  • Open Link - (Available if a link is attached) Takes you to the target of the selected link.
  • Edit Link - (Available if a link is attached) Opens the Properties dialog, in which you can make edits to the link’s properties.
  • Remove Link - (Available if a link is attached) Deletes the selected link.
  • Add to Selection - Selects the elements in the highlighted named groups.
  • Remove from Selection - Removes from selection set, the elements in the highlighted named group(s).
  • Set Displayset - Only the elements in the highlighted named group(s) display in the view window.
  • Add To Displayset - Adds to the displayset, elements in the highlighted named group(s).
  • Remove From Displayset - Removes from the displayset, elements in the highlighted named group(s).
  • Clear Displayset - Removes all elements from the displayset.

You can add an element to a named group by dragging it into the list box entry for that named group, using the Element Selection pointer.