Creating symbol definitions

The Create Symbol command creates symbol definitions from drawing objects. Symbol definitions can also be created from other symbols, text, existing plug-in objects, and groups. Viewports cannot be made into symbols.

● As discussed in Concept: Vectorworks symbols, the type of object or objects and the associated plane determine how the symbol instances will display in all views. Will you be working in Top/Plan view only, or also in 3D views?

● The type of symbol definition determines how the instances are updated later. Will you want updates to the symbol definition to change all the instances already existing in the drawing, or will you want to place variations of the symbol into the drawing, that can retain individual settings after placement?

To create a hybrid symbol, select both the screen plane objects and the 3D objects, which become the 2D and 3D components of the symbol. (If the 2D portion is not in the screen plane, select the option to convert it to a screen plane object at symbol creation.) In Top/Plan view, align the 2D and 3D objects; symbol alignment can be adjusted after creation with the Edit Symbol command.

Additional 2D components for use in a hidden line rendered viewport can be generated from the symbol definition’s 3D component; see Creating 2D components for symbol definitions and plug-in objects. You can generate as many as six 2D components for the viewport views normal to (perpendicular to) the symbol definition faces (top, bottom, front, back, left, and right) and as many as three section views (top/bottom cut, front/back cut, and left/right cute) for use in section viewports. These 2D components are visible only in hidden line rendered viewports set to a 3D view in orthogonal projection.

For objects such as plumbing fixtures, cabinets, and furniture that are typically shown uncut in section viewports even when they intersect the cut plane, you can set how the symbol should display when it passes through the cut plane: as if cut by the cut plane, or as if either below/beyond or above/before the cut plane. This setting can be overridden for individual objects in a section viewport; see Displaying individual 3D objects in section viewports.

For top/plan only (2D) symbols inserted in walls, two loci can be specified as wall break locations in the symbol insertion options. In Top/Plan view, place two loci at opposing locations with the object to convert, and select them all before converting. When the symbol is inserted into the wall, the wall breaks at the loci locations instead of the symbol bounding box.

While symbols have wall insertion capabilities in all Vectorworks products, a Design Series product is required to create wall objects.

Parameter	Description
Name	Provide a name for the new symbol. Do not use single quotes in symbol names; single quotes in names are reserved for use in scripts.
Insertion Point	Controls how the symbol is inserted, and defines the origin of the symbol definition
Plan Projection Center/3D Object Center/Plug-in Origin	Sets the insertion point according to the object’s geometry. ● In Top/Plan view, the insertion point is defined by the bounding box center. For 3D objects, the Z coordinate is defined by the object's relation to the active layer plane. ● In a 3D view, the insertion point is defined as the center of the object's bounding cube. ● If you are creating a symbol from a plug-in object, the insertion point is defined to be the same as the object's insertion point.
Next Mouse Click	Sets the insertion point manually, with the cursor, after clicking OK
Units	Determines the symbol’s size units
Page-based	When inserted, the symbol instance automatically scales relative to the page dimensions. This is useful for annotation objects that should always remain the same size on the “page,” regardless of the layer scale. A “green” symbol definition is created.
World-based	Sets the symbol size according to constant world dimensions; its insertion size depends on the layer scale. This option is typically selected.
Story-aware (3D or hybrid symbol; Architect required)	Sets the vertical reference for the symbol insertion point either to the layer elevation or to a story level. See Setting up the building structure with stories. If the story level does not yet exist in the file, the symbol instance is placed at the layer elevation until the story level is created. Individual symbol instances can be set to a different story level (Z Ref) and offset (Z Off) from the Object Info palette. The symbol definition enables the story-aware status for the instance. A story-aware symbol definition cannot be converted to a group or plug-in object symbol definition.
Z Reference	Binds the symbol instance insertion point either to the layer elevation or to the selected story level. By setting the symbol elevation to a level type, if the elevation of the associated story changes, the elevation of the symbol instance changes automatically to match.
Z Offset	Adds an offset to the insertion point elevation
Insert in Walls	Select whether the symbol will be insertable in walls. When Wall Insertion mode is enabled for the Symbol Insertion tool, objects that have the Insert in Walls option enabled will insert into walls (see Inserting symbols).
On Centerline/On Edge	If Insert in Walls is selected, select how the symbol will be inserted. On Centerline snaps the symbol’s insertion point to the center line of the wall. On Edge snaps the symbol’s insertion point along either edge of the wall.
Wall Breaks	If Insert in Walls is selected, select how the wall will break around the symbol when it is inserted into a wall
Other Options
Leave Instance In-Place	When selected, replaces the current selection with a symbol instance; when deselected, the source object or objects are deleted
Change 2D Objects from Layer Plane to Screen Plane	Converts any layer plane 2D objects into screen plane 2D objects, for the Top/Plan representation of the symbol. Normally, this option should be selected. If deselected, layer plane 2D objects that are part of the symbol will not display in Top/Plan view, and will display only in 3D views. A hybrid symbol may not be visible in Top/Plan view.
Convert to Group	Deselect this option to create a “black” symbol definition. This inserts an unmodifiable symbol instance; each instance is controlled by the symbol definition. Select this option to create a “blue” symbol definition. This inserts a group into the drawing, which is modifiable, and it is disassociated from the original symbol definition.
Convert to Plug-in Object (plug-in object required)	Deselect this option to create a “black” symbol definition. This inserts an unmodifiable symbol instance; each instance is controlled by the symbol definition. Select this option to create a “red” symbol definition. This inserts a plug-in object into the drawing, allowing the current parameters to be pre-set and saved in the symbol definition. The inserted plug-in object is modifiable and it is disassociated from the original symbol definition.
Assign To Class	Select the class the symbol will be assigned to upon insertion. The symbol can be assigned to the active class or to another class present in the drawing; alternatively, create a new class by selecting New. When a new class is created, it does not automatically become the active class.
Mirror opposite view graphics for empty 2D Components	If a 2D component contains no graphics, views of that side of the symbol mirror the opposite 2D component graphic (if available); if the opposite 2D component graphic does not exist, the 3D component displays. If a component is designed for viewing at a particular detail level, you may choose to leave the mirrored view empty and select this setting, rather than taking time to draw the mirrored component.
Top/Plan View Component	Select the 2D component graphic to display in Top/Plan view
Horizontal/Vertical Section Cut Plane (Design Series only)	Set how the symbol displays when it intersects the cut plane in horizontal and vertical section viewports. ● View as Cut when Cut in Viewport: The object displays as cut where it passes through the viewport’s cut plane. ● View as Uncut below/beyond when Cut in Viewport: The object displays uncut as if located below/beyond the cut plane. ● View as Uncut above/before when Cut in Viewport: The object displays uncut as if located above/before the cut plane. This setting can be overridden for individual objects in a section viewport; see Displaying individual 3D objects in section viewports.

3. If the Next Mouse Click insertion point option is selected, click to specify the desired symbol insertion point.

4. Specify the folder location for the new symbol in the next Create Symbol dialog box.

Parameter	Description
Folder list	Displays the file’s symbol folders; the selected folder becomes the destination for the new symbol
New Folder	Creates a new folder within the selected folder; specify the folder name
Don’t show this dialog	Hides this dialog box if you only want to see it when a file already contains symbol folders

The new symbol definition is added to the active file and displays in the Resource Manager.

Command	Path
Create Symbol	Modify