Attribute Layouts and Symbols in WYSIWYG

This section explains the fundamental levels of change that can be applied to Attribute Layouts and Symbols for fixtures and accessories in WYSIWYG.

Individual-Level, Document-Level, and Application-Level Attribute Layouts and Symbols

Attribute Layouts and Symbols for fixtures and accessories may be modified (1) after fixtures/accessories have been inserted, (2) at once for all the fixtures/accessories of the same type in the current file, or (3) at once for all fixture/accessories inserted into new files that are started after the change is made. These are referred-to, respectively as (1) "Individual-Level", (2) "Document-Level", and (3) "Application-Level" changes, and they supersede each other in this order: Individual Level changes supersede Document Level changes, while Document Level changes supersede Application Level changes.

Individual-Level changes

Individual-Level changes are performed from the fixture's or accessory's Properties dialog box > Fixture tab, and only apply to Attribute Layouts. For detailed information about performing such changes, see To_change_the_attribute_layout_at_the_individual_level.

Note: Allowing the Symbol to be changed for individual fixtures would make no sense if this was possible: two identical fixtures could have different Symbols, which would make it impossible to identify them as the same fixture.

Tip: Should a requirement arise whereby one specific fixture out of many of the same type needs to be identified/singled-out, change it's symbol's color by deselecting the Use Layer Color checkbox in its Properties dialog box > Appearance tab and selecting a different color.

Once the Attribute Layout has been changed at the Individual Level, that fixture/accessory will continue to appear as such in this file until the layout is changed again. Changing that fixture/accessory's Document-Level or Application-Level layout will have no effect since the Individual-Level change supersedes both these Levels.

Individual-Level changes are saved with the .wyg file. This ensures that Attribute Layouts always appear as intended by the file's creator, regardless of where (on what computer) the file is opened.

Document-Level changes

Document-Level changes are performed within the current file from the fixture's or accessory's Library Properties dialog box (accessed by right-clicking on it in the Library Browser and selecting Properties) and apply to Attribute Layouts and Symbols. For detailed information about performing such changes, see To_change_the_attribute_layout_at_the_document_level.

Once the Attribute Layout has been changed at the Document Level, new fixtures/accessories of that type inserted into this file and those already inserted will appear as such in this file until this layout is changed at the Document Level once again. This does not apply if the Attribute Layout was changed at the Individual Level for any fixtures/accessories of this type which have already been inserted into this file, since the Individual-Level change supersedes the Document-Level change. However, it does apply if the layout was changed at the Application Level, because the Document-Level change supersedes the Application-Level change.

Once the Symbol has been changed at the Document Level, new fixtures/accessories of that type inserted into this file and those already inserted will appear as such in this file until this Symbol is changed at the Document Level once again. Changing the Symbol at the Application Level after it was changed at the Document Level has no effect since the Document-Level symbol supersedes the Application-Level symbol.

Document-Level changes for both Attribute Layouts and Symbols are saved in the file's private Library. This ensures that these always appear as intended by the file's creator, regardless of where (on what computer) the file is opened.

Application-Level changes

All Application-Level changes are performed on WYSIWYG's Welcome Screen, in the same manner as Document-Level changes (accessed by right-clicking on the fixture/accessories in the Library Browser, then clicking Properties) and apply to Attribute Layouts and Symbols. For detailed information about performing such changes, see To_change_the_attribute_layout_at_the_application_level.

Once the Attribute Layout and/or Symbol has been changed at the Application Level, new fixtures/accessories of that type will appear as such whenever they are inserted into a new file until another such change is made. This does not apply if such changes were made at the Document or Individual Level since changes at both those levels supersede Application-Level changes. (It also does not apply to any existing files.)

Application-Level changes are saved in the file's private Library, the same as if those changes were made at the Document or Individual Level and for the same reason. They may also be exported to a WYSIWYG User Data (.wud) file, to be imported into other WYSIWYG installations of the same version (on other computers) or into future versions.