CM-Cabinets Library User Guide
In This Topic
    Library Catalog Manager
    In This Topic

    Your custom range of cabinets are based on a library, for example CM-Cabinets, and are managed in the Library Catalog Manager [LCM] using the Catalog Properties command button.

    Library Catalog ManagerLibrary Catalog ManagerLibrary Catalog ManagerLibrary Catalog ManagerLibrary Catalog Manager

    To locate information about any part of the following image, click on the area of interest.

    Library Catalog Manager is only available with CabMaster Designer Pro and higher.

    Catalog Properties

    The Catalog Properties accessed from the LCM have extra Categories and Pages which cannot be accessed from the File menu. These are:-

    Click to view Visibilities page

    Click to view Visibilities page

     

    Library Commands

    Show/Hide Filters 

    Catalog Items

    If you untick this box, all cabinets that are a part of the catalog will be removed from the display.

    Example

    All ticked cabinets are removed from display (not deleted). Unticked cabinets, as shown, are not available in Cabinet Selection.

     

    Unused Codes

    If you untick this option it will display only those cabinets that are checked.

    This means you will only view those cabinets that you are working with. It does not delete the cabinet.

     

    Group Overrides

    When using the Library Catalog Manager you create catalog items based on the underlying library.

    If you create more than one catalog item using the same Based On cabinet, this is called a group.

     

    Actions

    Insert Unused Based Ons

    Library updates are regularly made available to customers with a valid Customer Care Maintenance annual subscription. Sometimes a new Based on cabinet is added by the library developer which you will want to add to your own customised library (.qim). See Add Missing Items/Cabinets to Catalog.

     

    Create Group Override

    When using the Library Catalog Manager you create catalog items (.qim) based on the underlying library (.qil). If you create more than one catalog item using the same Based on cabinet, this is called a group.

    Sometimes, every single catalog item in the group needs to be changed in the same way. For example, the Based on library cabinet may have a depth of 313mm but in your business, every cabinet of this kind actually is made with depth 363mm. In this case, instead of overriding the depths in each catalog item one at a time, we can do it once, using a ‘Group Override’.

    Example

    Click on one of the catalog items and select Create Group Override from either :-

    • the Actions command group
      • or
    • right click menu, as shown. 

     

    This will create a new entry called (group override) which can be edited like any other catalog item.

    Group overrides are applied before any individual overrides, so when you create a new catalog item based on the same cabinet, the group override values are applied and then any individual customisation's are applied after that.

     

    Duplicate Selected Item

    You can create a copy of an item by selecting an existing 'Catalog Item' and 'Duplicate' (option also available from the right click menu).

    This can then be customised as required by either selecting Format Catalog Item from the right click menu or double clicking on applicable item.

    Example

    The Back item has been duplicated. The item created, i.e. Back (copy), can be renamed and customised (or formatted).

     

    Delete Selection

    Deletes the selected 'Catalog Item' from the list. A message will be presented for the action to be confirmed.

     

    Export / Import

    These selections are only applicable to Developer software users.

    Export

    Export to a tab-delimited ASCII (text) or XML file into the current drawing.

    The two exporting options are also available from the File menu.

    The difference between the two is that a Minimal Size Export does not save the properties that are the same as the in-built default values. For example, if the offset of a section is zero, this line will not be exported because zero is the default. A full export will output every property in a drawing, regardless of its value. The main differences are, if transferring drawings via Import/Export :-

    Import

    Merge from a tab-delimited ASCII (text) or XML file into the current drawing.

    The importing options are also available from the File menu.

     

    The Import from ASCII and Merge from ASCII options are very similar: both load values from a text file and add them to the current drawing. If a property already exists, it is overwritten with the new value.

    The main difference is that Import clears the current properties first, so is effectively the same as starting a new drawing (or library) and then using Merge.

    Merge is the most common option, as it allows you to add a handful of property values to an existing drawing.

    OLE objects cannot be imported into a drawing or library. You will receive a warning when you try to export an OLE object, and you should delete the object then retry the export.

    XML or ASCII

    ASCII File format

    The term "ASCII file" refers to a "text" file that is readable by the naked eye (it only contains the letters a-z, numbers, carriage returns, and punctuation marks). Therefore, any file that one can read with a common editor, like simple Windows Notepad program, is considered an ASCII file.

    XML File format

    Some benefits of using XML format files are that they :-

    • are self-describing, making them easy to read, create, and extend. They are human readable, making it easy to understand how data is interpreted during bulk operations.
    • contain the data types of target columns. The XML encoding clearly describes the data types and data elements of the data file and also the mapping between data elements and table columns.
    • allow for loading of a field that contains a single large object (LOB) data type from a data file.
    • can be enhanced yet remain compatible with its earlier versions. Furthermore, the clarity of XML encoding facilitates the creation of multiple format files for a given data file. This is useful if you have to map all or some of the data fields to columns in different tables or views.
    • can be used to bulk import data into tables or non-partitioned views and to bulk export data.

     

    Save and Exit

    When all changes have been completed, you need to save the Catalog.

    It is possible to click on other menu tabs but this does not close the LCM. You must use either the Save or the Cancel command to properly exit.

     Changes to the Catalog only affect future drawings, so you may need to close current drawing and open a new drawing.

     

    Custom Range of Cabinets 

    Library Selection

    The library for viewing in the Library Catalog Manager is related to the library selected on the Home tab.

    Example of Library and Cabinet Selection

    This example shows the Library : CM-Parts on the Home tab. If you now open the LCM, the items in the CM-Parts library are made available for editing etc., as shown below.

     

    Headings

    Columns can be sorted by clicking on the headings.

    You can also hide/show columns by using the right click menu on a heading. In the following example, SubType has been unticked and is hidden.

     

    Code

    Each cabinet has a code name and a checkbox. If the Code checkbox is ticked, then these are displayed for Cabinet Selection.

    The code names in the Catalog can also be renamed to suit your business requirements and standards.

    Unticking the checkbox only removes the selected cabinets from being displayed for cabinet selection. It does not delete the cabinet.

     

    Based On

    The Based on field cannot be edited by an end user as this is supplied with the software. This is the unique code that is understood by your Customer Support Consultant, so use this when reporting an issue with a cabinet.

     

    Type / SubType

    The Type and SubType can be edited by the end user and can be used to filter the cabinet selection, as shown in the example.

    To create your own SubTypes, simply click on the cell and use the F2 key and rename.

    Example

    Filtering the selection of cabinets by Type (Floor) and SubType (Standard) provides a much shorter list.

     

    Fixed Cost

    The Fixed Cost pricing method, discussed in the following tutorials, is accomplished in the LCM and is applied to each cabinet

     

    Parameters

    The parameters for Width, Height, Depth (as applicable) are displayed for clarity. These relate to the dimensions set on the Format dialog.

     

    Description

    The description can be customised by the end user and offers a more thorough explanation of the cabinet.

     

    See Also