SysName Formatting

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SysName Formatting

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Menu: Project Explorer>Project Databases>Project SysName Format

Default command line shortcut: fsys

Related Settings:

 None


Allows control of the SysName numbering scheme. Using the SysName Format dialog you can select any field that is associated with the SysName and concatenate it into your own numbering scheme. Each of the fields selected can be formatted and the numbers can be set to sequence off of another field.

 

How it Works

The SysName Format Tool is used to generate regular expressions that are then used to parse SysName info as well as provide formatting information to masked text boxes.

 

A note on regular expressions: WireCAD makes extensive use of regular expressions (Regex). Regular expressions are a well documented string parsing tool. Much has been written on them. It is not within the scope of this quick start guide to fully explain regular expressions; however, a Google search will tell you more than you ever wanted to know.

 

Two forms of regular expression are generated: a simplified form that is used as a mask in both the Systems database and in textboxes, and a complex form that aids in the generation of queries to determine the next number in a sequence. The following are both the simplified and complex Regex for the default format:

 

 \w{1,6}-\d{1,5}

 

 (?<EQUIPMENTTYPE>\w{1,6})-(?<NUMERICSEQUENCE>\d{1,5})

 

warning

NOTE: WireCAD supports multiple formats in the same database. In order to accomplish this we use the simplified Regex as a mask. If you have any data in the Project Systems table and you change ANYTHING in ANY Format field you will change the mask and therefore the sequence. You must decide if the change is such that it warrants copying the new simplified Regex to all records in the Project Systems table in order to keep your sequence.

 

Controls

Selected Format - Selected the current SysName format. Allows addition and deletion of formats as well.

sysfmt1_zoom66

Variable List - Displays the sequence of variables in grid view that will be concatenated into the final SysName.

sysfmt2_zoom66

SeqOn - This variable should sequence on another variable's value.

Order - The order in the list of the variable.

Available Variables -

Variable

Description

Can Sequence On

Default Format (Regex)

MANUFACTURER

Manufacturer Name

X

\w{1,6}

EQUIPMENTNAME

Equipment Name/PN/Model Number

X

\w{1,6}

DESCRIPTION

The device description as contained in the global equipment library

X

\w{1,6}

EQUIPMENTTYPE

The Equipment Type as contained in the global equipment library

X

\w{1,6}

LOCATION

The location typed in the SysName edit dialog

X

\w{1,6}

ELEVATION

The location typed in the SysName edit dialog

X

\w{1,6}

STRING

any string (usually used for delimiters like dashes (-))


-

NUMERICSEQUENCE

a numeric sequence that starts with the project starting number


\d{1,5}

ALPHASEQUENCE

an alpha sequence that starts at the letter 'a'


\w{4}

USER1

the global equipment library device definition user1 field

 

\w{1,6}

USER2

"


\w{1,6}

USER3

"


\w{1,6}

USER4

"


\w{1,6}

 

More About Regex

The Format field uses regular expressions. The following are some simple examples:

\w{1,6}                        Any non number, non punctuation string from 1 to 6 characters

\w*                                Any non number, non punctuation string any length

[a-zA-Z0-9]{5}                Lower / Upper case and 0 thru 9 exactly 5 characters

\d{1,5}                        Digits 1 to 5 digits in length

\d*                                Digits any length

\\                                a slash "\". The \ is the escape character so you need two

-                                a dash except when in [] or {} then a range.

[a-zA-Z0-9_\-\,]{1,4}        Lower / Upper case, 0-9, underscore, dash, and comma.